One of My AMEX cards gives me $200 travel credit to use as long as I book through AMEX Travel. But the fares it offers are at least 1/3 higher than everywhere else I look (in this case i've looked at Virgin fares syd-ool and syd-bnk).
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it normal?
It almost always is more expensive, because they only get "deals" on higher class/bucket fares. However, a simple online search may give you a lower bucket fare. Amex has this mindset that its customers would pay for comfort and flexibility rather than the cheapest airfare. I dislike it, because it does not give us a choice. I have only once (ever) had a ticket cheaper via amex. SQ Business Class it was.
It took me some time to realize they are charging FULL price on tickets, a total waste of time and my so called $450 credit was wasted a few times. Now I realize it has to be cars and perhaps hotels. Very annoying.
I had a positive experience with my $450 credit yesterday. I was looking at flight to London on Cathay and across OneWorld carriers and got the same price on Amex as I did on the Cathay Pacific website and was able to use the credit. I have every year used the credit for airfares predominantly and some hotel bookings and found them to be worth it.
lkennedy
lkennedy
Member since 16 Dec 2011
Total posts 40
One of My AMEX cards gives me $200 travel credit to use as long as I book through AMEX Travel. But the fares it offers are at least 1/3 higher than everywhere else I look (in this case i've looked at Virgin fares syd-ool and syd-bnk).
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it normal?
mspcooper
mspcooper
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2013
Total posts 442
It almost always is more expensive, because they only get "deals" on higher class/bucket fares. However, a simple online search may give you a lower bucket fare. Amex has this mindset that its customers would pay for comfort and flexibility rather than the cheapest airfare. I dislike it, because it does not give us a choice. I have only once (ever) had a ticket cheaper via amex. SQ Business Class it was.
lkennedy
lkennedy
Member since 16 Dec 2011
Total posts 40
Shame. Makes the 'benefit' pretty worthless.
Firstworldissues
Firstworldissues
Member since 02 Mar 2019
Total posts 15
I have previously contacted them with the deal i have found through the airline direct and they have "found" it in their system. always good to try.
Notso Swift
Notso Swift
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Oct 2016
Total posts 32
I tend to use the credit on a hotel room, not used it on a flight in 10 years
sydney slug
sydney slug
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 27 Feb 2015
Total posts 12
Useful for hotel and rental car bookings, rarely worth using for flights.
RickBlain
RickBlain
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Jul 2014
Total posts 2
It took me some time to realize they are charging FULL price on tickets, a total waste of time and my so called $450 credit was wasted a few times. Now I realize it has to be cars and perhaps hotels. Very annoying.
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
I had a positive experience with my $450 credit yesterday. I was looking at flight to London on Cathay and across OneWorld carriers and got the same price on Amex as I did on the Cathay Pacific website and was able to use the credit. I have every year used the credit for airfares predominantly and some hotel bookings and found them to be worth it.