AmEx Travel Site Insane Price

sauce2k on 09/02/2019 - 15:42

Hey guys,

Anyone know why flights through Amex travel booking site is extremely expensive against booking directly from airlines? Am I missing something here?

I'm looking to fly from Syd return Chengdu,China.

Dates Leaving on 27th April returning on 4th May

Amex site: Direct flight $916 via AirChina

AirChina site: Direct flight $506

It's the same flights, however, almost $400 diff?!

I was going to get a new cc either the explorer or qantas ultimate but if this is how much they rip us off I won't be getting it..

Thanks!

Travel AmEx Travel

Comments

  • Hybroid on 09/02/2019 - 16:00

    Are they the same ticket class?

  • Samsungnote10 on 09/02/2019 - 16:12

    its the same with hotels,

    most of the time they are like 10-20% more expensive,

    sometimes you can find a hotel thats virtually the same price

    unfortuantely, its very luck of the draw

  • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2019 - 16:23

    It's called Amex tax

  • conservative on 09/02/2019 - 16:41

    Amex travel is another way of saying "pay more money to fly so AMEX can take a cut".

  • Peck on 09/02/2019 - 16:44

    My flights with Thai Air are reasonably priced on Amex.

  • TiLLiCoMe on 09/02/2019 - 17:12

    I have notice that Qantas flights on AMEX site are more expensive that booking directly from Qantas

  • MelbBargainChaser77 on 09/02/2019 - 18:55

    Ummmm, you know those credits AMEX give to offset their exorbitant credit card annual fees, well this is one way they recoup them

    • ilikeradiohead on 10/02/2019 - 04:39

      AMEX makes most of its money from the fees it charges merchants when you use an AMEX card. The rate is about 2.5% vs ~1% for Visa/Mastercard (might even be less now since the RBA started regulating interchange fees).

  • bazza1980 on 09/02/2019 - 19:33

    Amex site: Direct flight $916 via AirChina

    Don't know where you're getting $916 from? I'm getting $575 on the amex travel site using your dates, compared with $555 on the Air China site.

    • sauce2k on 10/02/2019 - 20:32

      ok this is super weird, it's coming up for me now as well but yesterday it didn't come up.

  • starburstyellow on 09/02/2019 - 19:43

    Booked 3-4 Amex travels in last 2 months. All reasonable for me with 1-5% increase only. Not as crazy as yours.

  • jhaley3180 on 10/02/2019 - 09:08

    I've recently booked several (10) international flights through AMEX travel using Virgin and Singapore Airlines. In these cases they were all exactly the same price as booking directly with the airline (I was expecting a slight surcharge). I've used AMEX travel in past years for experiences, hotels etc. And in some cases I've found them more expensive in others less. So my suggestion is double check you are booking the same ticket class (if you don't know what that is so some searching) and possibly try a different airline.

  • sippah on 11/02/2019 - 12:12
    +1

    Call them and they match the airlines price so long as they aren't on sale or some sort of special price.

  • tunzafun001 on 12/01/2023 - 17:28

    Well,

    I called AMEX 4 different times. Same result.

    They dont price match accomodation/ hotels.

    They dont price match Jetstar (but 'may' match Virgin). BUT, AMEX dont offer the cheapest Light fares. Only Choice fares upwards.

    In summary, my booking cost $196 extra, but i used a '$200' travel credit.

    A $200 travel credit is really worth $4 (unless you are booking a virgin choice fair).

    The travel credits have fallen a long way (used to be a return domestic airfare), yet we are in a time of massive Inflation.

    Bye bye AMEX.

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