Using AMEX Travel Credit for Qantas Ultimate

Hi All,

Found flights on Qantas return for $411 Sydney to Auckland. When go to book the same flights through the AMEX Online Travel site the flights are over $650. Is this a standard thing that they don't have access to any sale prices, when other travel sites manage to sell them.

If turns out that this is the case it makes the $450 credit not as effective in delivering value if can't access sale fares.

Welcome anyone elses experience with using travel credit.

Thanks

David

Hi David, I have noticed when using the AMEX online site you normally pay a premium. Its is best to use up the credits then forget about AMEX's site for the remaining annual period. This also includes hotels as they are marked up when comparing to other websites.

I have found the best use of Amex points ( they have two points systems ) is booking flights via Asia Miles. Second best is to transfer to one of Amex Airline partners when you are ready to book a flight. Using the Amex points for hotels or just about anything else comes at a premium. Using the 450 travel credit for hotels is about the best option there but you need to accept the same hotel can be booked directly for about $100 less. I try and average down, ie book one night at the hotel with the credit and two or three other nights direct.

My experience with the travel credit is that domestic flights with QF and VA tend to be identically-priced on Amex's website, but international flights are more variable.

I found the same price variance with a domestic QF flight recently. I telephoned the AMEX travel number and the agent booked it for me, using my $450 annual credit, matching the price on the QF website. She advised at the time the prices should be the same.

I recently used the credit for SYD-MEL during peak (xmas) and found the Amex site and QF.com matched.

For domestic flights when doing your flight search go to the Qantas site first, find the times then narrow your search parameters down to those specific times on the Amex site. Your more likely to find the best price.

I'm based in London and will be for the next few years, I've been trying to find QF codeshare flights in Europe on the Amex website so that I can use my $450 credit. Has anyone else found this and can offer any advice?