AmEx Travel Credits - Anyone Used More than One for a Single Booking? and Is AmEx Becoming Rubbish?

tunzafun001 on 05/01/2023 - 18:24

Have 3 x $200 Platinum Edge travel credits to use (from previous cancelled trips + yearly credit).

Decided to book 3 nights in QLD ($405) and use 2 x $200 credits…. turns out you can't do it (only one credit can be used per booking).

Tried to do it in 2 bookings. Two nights is $380. So goes from $135 per night, to $190 per night…and you can't book a single night anyway.

I just got off the phone to Amex who said they might be able to do something. Put me on hold, came back and said she can't.

Said alternatively, since I see there is a current promo for new Plat Edge customers with no annual fee, how about you keep the travel credit and just waive the annual fee for a 6 year card holder instead. Then I'll just do the booking as a normal payment. No can do.

I don't see any value in Amex any more.

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Comments

  • Trance N Dance on 05/01/2023 - 18:30

    Lol the Plat Edge is still one of the best value CCs out there. $195 annual fee with an annual travel credit of $200, what more can you ask for?

    • tunzafun001 on 05/01/2023 - 21:03
      -1

      But you're not really getting $200 value out of the travel credit.

      ie. if I booked 6 nights with my scenario.

      6 nights outright = $780 (might be able to get 10% cashback etc on top). Use any other card that also earns points.

      Vs

      6 nights outright via Amex Travel = $810 - one travel credit

      or

      3 x 2 night bookings Via Amex travel (using travel credit) = $1140 - $600 (but you had to pay that $600 anyway as an annual fee).

      There used to be statement credit offers, shop small etc to justify the annual fee, but the statement credit offers have been very poor for anyone living outside the eastern states this year, and all the good offers are only offered once. So I got the $10 off Liqourland, Woolies etc in my first year. Never seen them again.

      Westpac and Citi have much better offerings on their cards these days.

      • Trance N Dance on 05/01/2023 - 22:00

        So whatever you're looking to book minus a $200 travel credit isn't a $200 travel credit? If you're finding a lower price via an OTA or with the hotel direct, just call up Amex and they'll usually match it and apply the travel credit.

        I've been getting Liquorland/First Choice every few months over the last 3 years. Yes the statement credit offers have dropped a bit as of late but they're still decent (at least for me and others I know who have the card).

        Citi can't offer enough to make me deal with them, they're called shittibank for a reason.

        • tunzafun001 on 05/01/2023 - 23:11

          Price match would be good. Just saw the hotel direct would be almost exactly $200 cheaper (negating the value of the travel credit entirely).

          Edit - According to Flight Hacks and earlier posts, Amex dont match pricing.

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/288372

          • Trance N Dance on 06/01/2023 - 00:02

            @tunzafun001: Might have changed since that post, but they price matched my airfare booking domestic business booking. Has to be like for like.

            edit: Also may be because it was after hours and done via the London travel office.

            • tunzafun001 on 06/01/2023 - 00:28

              @Trance N Dance: Will certainly give it a crack in the morning, cheers. I think Amex travel are only contactable here 9am till 5pm.

              Just did a bit more research on the top 10 hotels offered in the area vs booking.com. All Amex hotels are an almost consistent $40 per night more. Much nicer hotel selection outside AMEX travel as well.

              Also just noticed, booking through the hotel we are looking at direct is $55 less per night+ complimentary free breakfast (normally $25) + room upgrade (the room upgrade is an extra $75 per night via Amex). So if you booked 4 nights with the better room, Amex will be $210 + $300 more (minus the $200 travel credit..sort of). So at least $310 worse off even with the credit. A bit of an eye opener to be honest.

              Will stick with flights (they are generally only 5 -10% more expensive in my experience). Was going to use it for car hire, but you can't drop the car at a different location to pickup via Amex, so rules us out there.

            • tunzafun001 on 06/01/2023 - 22:22

              @Trance N Dance: Called up regarding the price match. Got a straight up no.
              Said they are considering it in the near future as they are getting a lot of feedback around price competitiveness.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/01/2023 - 18:57

    Wish they still had the option to spend it with HN like they did for that 1 year COVID was really bad.

  • ddhar on 05/01/2023 - 20:38

    Your inability to stack travel credits does not mean AmEx is bad value. In fact, AmEx can sometimes be cheaper.

    It was possible to 'stack' two travel credits in 2021 when AmEx did that extension offer (that could be applied to Travel or HN). That ship has sailed though and the world has largely opened for travel in 2022. I think your best option is to use one of your travel credit and keep the rest for future travels.

    • tunzafun001 on 05/01/2023 - 21:08

      Yeah, had a trip cancelled in May, and got until today to use it. Just a random date (Jan 5 expiry). Should be a heap of peoples credits expiring today.
      Thought all good, I'll use them all at x hotel. But will have to make multiple bookings back to back, with reduced value.
      The flights are coming from Travel Bank. So can't use it there.

  • sitdowndisco on 05/01/2023 - 22:01

    I had 2 x $450 Qantas credits that I thought could only be used one at a time. Interestingly, when I called them and asked, the lady on the phone didn’t even hesitate. She applied those credits like it was the policy.

    So I’m not sure what the policy really is. Maybe I just got lucky. Whatever the case, you might get lucky if you keep calling.

    • HardQuiz on 06/01/2023 - 05:38

      Agree, keep calling and eventually you’ll get an agent who agrees to do it.

      Also as mentioned above, try different call centres by calling during non-business hours.

      • tunzafun001 on 06/01/2023 - 22:18

        Amex travel is closed outside business hours these days.

  • Lunarboogie on 07/01/2023 - 11:14

    If you're struggling to use the credit, next time consider selling them. You could easy get $120 for the $200 credit.

    • Trance N Dance on 07/01/2023 - 13:01
      +1

      At $120 that's a horrible return, that's a bigger hosing than the price difference Amex sees.

      • tunzafun001 on 08/01/2023 - 01:00

        Why would you pay $200 a year, just to sell it for $120…Just going to cancel the card.

    • lgacb08 on 07/01/2023 - 14:15

      Anyone reading this post won't even bother paying a cent for that measly credit. So $120 is a bit of a stretch.

      • Lunarboogie on 07/01/2023 - 16:32
        +1

        You see amex credit being sold on the classifieds regularly so there is a market for it. Their prices for hotels in SEA at least are competitive so if you can save $80 per night on a $200 hotel stay, porque no?

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