american express travel contact number australia

Travel Alert – Important information regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please  click here

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19

• Where there are no applicable advisories issued by the New Zealand government or a New Zealand government agency (such as MFAT) to “Do not travel overseas” or “Do Not Travel” or that borders are closed, this Policy will provide limited cover for costs incurred from having to cancel Your Journey or One Way Trip to an approved country because You contracted Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). The Policy also provides limited cover for Journey curtailment, overseas medical expenses, and mortal remains repatriation because You contracted COVID-19 in an approved country. The list of approved countries is specified below. See Section 19 – COVID-19 Cover of this Policy for full details of the cover, as well as the limits that apply as specified in the Schedule of Benefits.
• Apart from the limited cover provided in Section 19 – COVID-19, this Policy does not cover and We will not (under any other section of the Policy) pay for claims of any kind directly or indirectly arising from, relating to or in any way connected with the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) (or any mutation or variation thereof) and/or its outbreak. To the extent that any term or condition in the Policy may be inconsistent with this exclusion, this exclusion shall prevail.
• The approved countries are: Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Northern Cyprus, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Yemen.

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL INSURANCE

Don’t travel without it

Cover for COVID-19

* This policy provides cover for costs incurred from having to cancel, curtail or change your trip because you contract COVID-19 and it is first diagnosed after the policy is issued. The Policy also provides cover for overseas medical emergency expenses incurred on your overseas trip, and transportation of remains or burial if you die during your trip, as a result of you having contracted COVID-19 which was first confirmed or diagnosed while on Your Trip (unless you were COVID-19 positive when your trip began, or you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure). 

We do not cover trip cancellation, curtailment or change due to border closures caused by COVID-19. Limits apply and vary with each plan. See Policy Wording and PDS for full terms, conditions and exclusions.

• What is covered

Cover for COVID-19 

Cover for overseas medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and trip cancellation, curtailment or change, due to your Covid-19 diagnosis. See details above.

Medical Expenses

Provides cover for repatriation/evacuation, cost of overseas emergency medical treatment, emergency dental treatment and extra accommodation costs, in the event of a medical emergency while on your overseas trip. Excludes claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions.

Travel Inconveniences

The Policy provides cover if you need to cancel, curtail or change your trip due to certain unforeseen circumstances including injury or illness (excluding pre-existing medical conditions). The Policy also covers trip delay by providing additional hotel accommodation (room only) if your flight is cancelled or extensively delayed (waiting periods apply), as well as cover for lost or damaged personal baggage and travel documents (theft report required, limits and sub-limits apply, excludes items stolen if left unattended in a public place).

24-hour Worldwide Assistance

We support you with advice and assistance services 24 hours a day, seven days a week for medical or other emergencies while on your overseas trip and which are covered by the policy. 

Optional add-ons 

Options include snow sports cover, cruise cover and rental vehicle excess cover (additional premiums apply).

Cover for accidental death, hijack and kidnap cover, and cover for personal liability incurred, while on your overseas trip (excluding liability for use of vehicles or watercraft). Cover also provided for loss of income due to an overseas injury causing temporary total disablement

Travelling against Government advice? We will not cover losses, pay or reimburse any costs, under any section of this Policy, arising from circumstances where: (a) prior to the Issue Date specified on Your Certificate of Insurance in the case of a claim for Cancellation; or (b) prior to You starting a Trip for all other claims under the Policy; an Australian State, Territory or the Federal Government or a government agency (such as DFAT) issued a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning or advising that borders are closed, for the destination You planned to travel to. Please refer to who.int, smartraveller.gov.au, dfat.gov.au or other government sites for further information.

Travel Insurance

Protect yourself and your belongings when you travel with American Express Travel Insurance. You can choose from a range of plans and cover options.

Single Trip Insurance

Our Single Trip policies are designed to provide cover for a single trip away. You can choose from a number of different plans, such as Essential, Comprehensive or Ultimate.

Coverage Optional Add-Ons

You can select from a range of optional extra covers to customise your policy. These include Rental Vehicle Excess, Snow Sports Cover and Cruise Cover.

This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document has been prepared to address some frequent coverage queries relating to the American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) . The FAQs are a summary only, they are not an exhaustive list of the coverage, terms, conditions or exclusions in the Policy.

Limits apply and vary with each plan. Please refer to the  Policy Wording and PDS  for further information on the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy.

If I am diagnosed with COVID-19 during my overseas trip, will my overseas medical expenses be covered?

Yes, if you are first diagnosed with COVID-19 while on your overseas trip and require immediate medical treatment, cover is provided for the cost of medical treatment incurred overseas. Except where you were COVID-19 positive when your trip began, or you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure.

If I’m positive with COVID-19 when my trip begins, will I be covered for COVID-19 related medical expenses during my trip?

No, you’re not covered for medical expenses incurred during your trip if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 before your departure.

If I become ill with COVID-19 before or during my Trip, will I be able to claim for costs I incur for the Cancellation or Curtailment of my Trip?

Yes, cover is provided for costs arising from a necessary and unavoidable trip cancellation or curtailment as a result of an unforeseen illness (including COVID-19) where:

• you first contract and are diagnosed with COVID-19 after the policy is issued;
• a doctor confirms the illness in writing; and
• the illness is not a pre-existing medical condition.

I no longer want to travel because I am worried about the spread of COVID-19. Are my trip cancellation, curtailment or change costs covered?

No, cover is not available in this scenario. Simply no longer wishing to travel is not covered under the Policy.

If I need to cancel, curtail or change my trip due to a COVID-19 border closure as announced by any departure or destination government, am I covered?

No, cancellation due to COVID-19 government related travel advisories and/or border closures is not covered.

If I am diagnosed with COVID-19 after commencing my trip and subsequently issued with a quarantine order, will I be covered for the quarantine costs?

Yes, additional travel or accommodation expenses incurred are covered (within the benefit limitations) as a result of a mandatory quarantine order by a local government or public health authority. Except where you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure.

I have been classified by a public health authority as a close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been required to isolate as a result of this contact. Is there any benefit that I can claim?

No, cover is not available in this scenario.

Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be eligible for the COVID-19 cover under this policy?

No, you do not need to have the COVID-19 vaccination to be eligible for cover under this policy. However, you will not be covered for any claim for cancellation, curtailment or trip change where you do not meet the vaccination protocols required by your transport provider or by any government authority (in Australia or at the destination) prior to departure.

Is there an option to purchase COVID-19 Cover on a stand-alone basis?

No, COVID-19 cover is not available on a stand-alone basis.

Are Pre-Existing Medical Conditions covered?

This policy does not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, this cover may not be right for you. Before you purchase a policy, you should consider whether a medical condition is considered pre-existing based on the definition of ‘Pre-Existing Medical Condition’ which is found on page 10 of the American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

What is a "Pre-Existing Medical Condition"?

A Pre-Existing Medical Condition generally means any medical or dental condition, illness, injury or disease that you previously required or continue to require treatment for, or that is under investigation at the time the policy is issued. It’s important to check the full definition of “Pre-Existing Medical Condition” on page 10 of the American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making your purchase, as variable limits and time restrictions apply to specified conditions.

If I need medical treatment during my overseas trip, will my overseas medical expenses be covered?

Yes, if you suffer an unforeseen illness or injury on an overseas trip which requires immediate medical treatment, cover is provided for your medical expenses incurred overseas. It’s important to always check the American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) , which excludes claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions and participation in certain sports.

Is cover provided for trip cancellation, curtailment or change due to a natural disaster at my intended travel destination?

Yes, provided there had been no official publication (prior to the purchase of the policy) warning that the natural disaster had occurred or was likely to occur. Please note that natural disasters do not include epidemics or pandemics (which are excluded under the policy).

I am unable to obtain my passport, entry visa or other required documentation in time and need to cancel my trip. Is this covered?

No, failure to hold or obtain all required documentation for your trip is not covered.

If I need to cancel my trip due to an illness or injury before my departure, am I covered?

Yes, cover is provided for trip cancellation which is necessary and unavoidable as a result of an unforeseen illness or injury as confirmed by a doctor in writing. The illness or injury must first be contracted or occur after the policy is issued. It’s important to check American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for details on pre-existing medical conditions which are not covered.

Is a video camera (or any other item) on loan or hire for the trip covered?

No, any items loaned, hired or entrusted to you are not covered

What happens if my luggage is delayed by the airline when I’m on my trip?

We will reimburse essential emergency clothing and toiletry expenses incurred (as required for a 24-hour period, up to the benefit amount under ‘Delay of Personal Baggage’ applicable to your chosen plan) if your luggage is delayed for 12 hours or more. If your luggage is delayed for more than 36 hours, the limit is increased up to the benefit amount under ‘Extended Delay of Personal Baggage’ applicable to your chosen plan.

Who is eligible for cover under the policy?

All people covered under the policy must be Australian residents and 79 years of age or younger. You must purchase your policy before your trip commences, and the trip must start and end in Australia.

When can I purchase my American Express Travel Insurance policy?

You can purchase the policy up to 12 months before your trip commences.

Will my policy be valid if I start or end my trip outside of Australia?

No. Your trip must begin and end in Australia for your policy to be valid.

Is there a maximum age on the policy?

Yes. Covered persons must be 79 years of age or younger before the date your policy is issued.

Do I need to undergo a medical examination to apply for the policy?

No. However, please note that pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

Will I be covered if I purchased the policy after the commencement of my trip?

No. Cover is only applicable if your travel insurance is purchased before you start your trip.

Is there a maximum travel period on the policy?

Yes. The maximum trip duration is 180 consecutive days.

Is pregnancy covered under the policy?

The policy provides limited pregnancy cover. Pregnancy related claims are covered under the following sections of the policy:

• Overseas medical expenses cover - If you have a sudden and unexpected pregnancy related injury or illness which occurs before the end of the 23rd week of your pregnancy
• Trip cancellation and amendment cover - If you have a sudden and unexpected injury or illness arising from your pregnancy that a doctor confirms will prevent you from commencing or continuing the trip.

There is no cover for costs associated with childbirth or the health of a newborn child, or for claims arising from any pre-existing medical condition (including any medical condition related to a previous pregnancy or if you have experienced pregnancy complications prior to purchasing the policy).

If my flight is delayed, am I covered?

Yes. We will reimburse additional accommodation expenses (up to the benefit amount under ‘Delayed, cancelled, overbooked or missed onward flight’ applicable to your chosen plan) if your flight is delayed for 6 hours or more. If your flight is delayed for more than 30 hours, the limit is increased up to the benefit amount under ’Extended Delayed, cancelled, overbooked or missed onward flight’ applicable to your chosen plan.

Is there a cooling off period?

Yes. You may cancel your policy for any reason within 14 days of issue (cooling-off period). You will receive a full refund of the premium you paid, provided:

• you haven’t started your trip; or
• you haven’t made a claim; or
• you don’t want to make a claim or exercise any other right under the policy.

What is Chubb Assistance? How does it work?

Chubb Assistance is an emergency assistance service. Support is available for emergency advice and assistance services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for medical or other emergencies while on your overseas trip and which are covered by the policy. In the event of a medical or similar emergency, simply call our emergency response team on +61 2 8907 5666 to get immediate assistance and help accessing vital services in your local area where covered by the policy

Further Questions?

Please contact Chubb on 1800 139 149 or email us on [email protected] for any questions you may have.

Any Questions?

Contact Chubb on 1800 139 149

(Monday - Friday: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm)

American Express Travel Insurance is issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL № 239687 (Chubb) and distributed by American Express Australia Limited, ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL № 291313 (American Express). Chubb and American Express only provide general advice and do not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the American Express Travel Insurance Policy Wording and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) . Terms, conditions, exclusions and sub limits apply. The Target Market Determination for this product can be found here . Please take this opportunity to also read the American Express Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Chubb Privacy Statement .

© American Express Company

Frequently Asked Questions

When can i purchase my american express travel insurance.

Single Trip:

You can purchase up to 9 months before your journey commences. Cover for Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover is provided from the issue date (the date we agree to provide insurance) until the end of your period of insurance, as stated on your certificate of insurance.

All other cover starts from the start date (the date your journey begins) and continues until the end of your period of insurance.

What is the cooling off period?

You have fourteen (14) days from the time you are issued your certificate of insurance that you are covered under your policy to decide if this insurance meets your needs.

You may cancel it within the fourteen (14) days cooling-off period. You will receive a full refund of the premium you paid, provided:

If you request to cancel your policy outside the cooling-off period, we may:

• refund any unused proportion of your premium (from the date the refund request was received until the end date on your certificate of insurance); and
• minus any administration fee;

Are Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Covered?

This policy does not cover any pre-existing medical conditions . If you have pre-existing medical conditions, this cover may not be right for you. Before you purchase a policy, you should consider whether a medical condition is considered pre-existing based on within this policy.

Is there a maximum travel period that the American Express Travel Insurance Single Trip will cover?

Yes – the maximum journey period is 180 consecutive days.

Chubb Assistance is a 24 hour emergency help line. In the event of a medical or similar emergency overseas, you simply call (reverse charge) the number shown on the card (+61 2 8907 5666) and Chubb Assistance will assist in locating immediate assistance or vital services in your area.

We support you with emergency advice and assistance services 24 hours a day, seven days a week for medical or other emergencies covered by the policy. Our international resources and global network of skilled medical and travel specialists will be there for you in the event of an overseas emergency, giving you the help and support you need, when and where you need it.

In the event of a medical or similar emergency, simply call our emergency response team on +61 2 8907 5666 to get immediate assistance and help accessing vital services in your local area where covered by the policy.

I’m pregnant - Can I get cover?

If you are or become pregnant after the issue date on your certificate of insurance, you are covered for claims that arise from your pregnancy, under:

• if you have no elevated clinical risk factors: This injury or illness occurs before the end of the 23rd week of your pregnancy, which is calculated from the last known date of your menstrual period or calculated from staging ultrasound; or
• If you have elevated clinical risk factors: This injury or illness occurs before the end of the 19th week of your pregnancy, which is calculated from the last known date of your menstrual period or calculated from staging ultrasound; and
• is not otherwise excluded within the policy
• you have a sudden and unexpected injury or illness that prevents you from going on the trip, and
• such injury or illness is confirmed by medical evidence provided by a treating doctor, and
• is not otherwise excluded within the policy.

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You will receive a welcome email shortly, amex’s response to covid-19 about travel bookings, credits and complimentary flights.

One of the many Aussies that own an Amex credit card for the travel benefits? Here’s what you need to know about the company’s latest response to COVID-19. 

Yesterday, American Express implemented a bunch of initiatives to help their customers across Australia and New Zealand whose travel plans have been affected by the international pandemic. 

For Aussies that have booked travel over the next few months, Amex has outlined exactly what you should do in order to increase your chance of receiving a refund or travel credit. 

Here’s a breakdown of the information the popular credit card provider released: 

Pre-booked Travel

For travel scheduled for the next three days, and that was booked through American Express Travel , Amex has advised that card members should take one of the following steps:  

• American Express Online bookings: contact the Amex Online Support Team on 1300 303 877 (Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm) 
• Platinum Charge Card Travel bookings (not including online):  contact Amex Platinum Travel Team by calling the number on the back of your card and choose Option 1. (Monday to Sunday between 7am and 7pm)
• Centurion Charge Card Travel bookings: contact dedicated Relationship Manager. 

For travel NOT booked via American Express Travel , Amex suggests that customers should head to the merchant’s website and contact them directly. However, if that merchant goes into administration, Amex cardholders can set up a dispute on their Online Account - simply select the transaction and click on “Have a question about this charge” then follow the prompts. 

Travel Credits 

Got Travel Credits? American Express has you covered. 

If customers haven’t redeemed their American Express Travel Credits (which expire between 1 February 2020 and 30 June 2020), Amex is extending the expiry date to the end of the year, 31 December 2020. 

The extensions will be placed automatically, and the expiry date will be updated in the next six to ten weeks and be visible in their Online Account.  

Just remember, the terms and conditions of the Amex Travel Credits remain the same despite the extended expiry dates. For example, customers can still book a trip up to ten months in advance. 

Complimentary Flights (Velocity Platinum Card) 

One of the bonus features of the American Express Velocity Platinum card is that customers receive two complimentary domestic flights every year. 

The good news for Velocity Platinum customers is that the validity of these complimentary flights is being extended to 31 December 2020, as long as they were due to expire between 1 February 2020 and 30 June 2020. (Just like Travel Credits)

Again, there is no requirement to contact American Express as they will automatically update the new expiry date on the flight. Customers can redeem their flights through Velocity Frequent Flyer whenever they wish. 

NOTE:  As the Coronavirus crisis evolves, American Express will update its customers if any more changes are made across their product range. So, to keep up to date, watch this space as new developments are unveiled. 

RELATED ARTICLE:   Qantas limits number of items Frequent Flyers can redeem at online rewards store

Want to find out more about what’s being done to help your finances in response to Coronavirus? Check out our in depth guide for everything you need to know.

Rewards Credit Cards 2020 - last updated 30 March 2024

American Express Qantas Ultimate Card

Qantas Frequent Flyer

1.25 points up to 100,000 points/year, then 1 point uncapped

Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 2 April 2024 , are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

Qantas Ultimate Card

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G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

1 point up to 20,000 points/month

Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card within 90 days. T&Cs apply. Available to new G&C Mutual Bank Card Members only. Earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points annually. T&Cs apply. Access Platinum Visa Concierge. Add an additional cardholder at no extra cost.

Platinum Visa Credit Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card

$250 $150 in the first year

0.66 points up to $3,000/month, then 0.33 points up to $6,000/month

70,000 Bonus Qantas Points. Offer applies to a new NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card when you spend $2,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days.

Qantas Rewards Premium Card

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American Express Qantas Premium Card

1 point uncapped

Receive 20,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Premium Card within 3 months of Card Membership. T&C’s apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.

Qantas Premium Card

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NAB Rewards Signature Card

NAB Rewards

$295 $145 in the first year

1.25 points uncapped

Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within the first 60 days of account opening and 40,000 bonus points when you keep your card for over 12 months (T&Cs apply). Enjoy a reduced annual card fee (from $295 to $195) for the first year. Up to 44 Interest free days on purchases (T&Cs apply). $15,000 minimum credit limit. 0% p.a. on standard balance transfer (BT) rate for 12 months (3% BT fee applies).

Rewards Signature Card

Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the NAB Rewards Signature Card

American Express Qantas Discovery Card

No current offer

0.75 points uncapped

Earn 1.75 Qantas Points on eligible Qantas products and services per $1 spent (T&Cs apply). Enjoy $0 Annual Card Fee. Get the security of Card Refund and Purchase Cover. Up to four additional Cards at no extra fee. Redeem your points for Classic Flight Rewards (T&Cs apply).

Qantas Discovery Card

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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Rewards Credit Card Awards

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Travelex FAQ

Placing an online order, order status, payment options.

Cancelling/changing an order

Travelex money card and mobile app, - top-up via the travelex website.

Note that you must use your unique reference number when paying or the transfer may be delayed.

- Top-up via the Travelex Money App

- top-up in a travelex store, - direct top-up via bpay:.

Top-ups not made via travelex.com.au or the Travelex Money App incur a fee of 1% of the amount. You must make payment using your own account.

MasterCard Biller Code: 184416 Reference No: your 16 digit Travelex Money Card number

Funds will be allocated to your default currency. To check your default currency login to your account. Top ups will generally take two business days to be processed however may take longer if the payment is not made before 2pm on a business day Australian Eastern Standard Time.

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Everything you need to know about Amex Travel

The American Express Travel portal allows you to redeem Membership Rewards points directly for travel reservations and activities rather than transfer your rewards to airline or hotel partners like Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy .

You also can book discounted premium tickets, use benefits like a 35% points rebate on certain bookings and even book premium hotels with additional perks through Amex Travel.

Let's explore this booking portal to uncover all its benefits and potential disadvantages.

What is the American Express Travel portal?

Amex Travel is the booking portal for most American Express cards . You can book flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises through the site, and you can pay with points, cash or a combination of the two.

How to book flights on the Amex Travel portal

To find flights on American Express Travel, visit this webpage . The flight booking process on the Amex Travel portal is similar to other popular sites like Kayak and Orbitz. You'll find a search box where you can enter your departure and destination cities.

If you're flexible with your departure airport, you can choose an entire city, such as New York, which has multiple airports. Additionally, you can customize your booking by selecting your preferred class and the number of travelers, and choosing between one-way and round-trip flights.

You'll see the price listed in dollars and the number of Amex Membership Rewards points during the booking process.

You can also use the options on the left-hand side to filter flights by number of stops, departure and arrival times, flight duration and airline.

Delta Air Lines is a featured airline in the Amex Travel portal. Sometimes, Delta flights appear at the top of your results, listed as "recommended," but this doesn't mean those flights are always the cheapest.

Additionally, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and are flying from an airport with a Centurion Lounge , you'll see an indicator that a lounge is available.

Points vs. cash

When paying for your flights on Amex Travel, several American Express cards offer elevated earning rates:

You can also pay with Amex Membership Rewards points to cover the cost of your flight.

You'll see the number of points required next to the cash price of a flight. You can expect a value of 1 cent per point when using Pay with Points . However, TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece when you maximize Amex's transfer partners.

Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

It's important to compare the number of points required for bookings on Amex Travel with the points you'd need to transfer to an airline program . If you can't book a flight through transfer partners and prefer to use your points, Amex Travel remains an option.

There's an additional benefit for Amex Business Platinum cardmembers: You can get 35% of your points back when paying with points on Amex Travel. This applies to first- and business-class flights on any airline plus tickets in any class on your preferred airline (the same one used for your airline incidental credits ; enrollment is required in advance). This 35% points rebate can provide a value of 1.54 cents per point, which may influence your decision to pay with cash or points.

Similarly, the Business Centurion® Card from American Express offers a 50% Pay with Points rebate on eligible flights. Note that Centurion cards are available by invitation only.

The information for the Business Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

More details about flights through Amex Travel

During the payment process, you can use points, your credit card or a combination of both. The minimum number of points you can use is 5,000, and each point is valued at 1 cent.

You can upgrade your flights using cash or points in the Amex Travel portal. This generally gives you a return of 1 cent each, and you can book using your Amex card, points or a combination of both.

During your flight search, you might come across "Insider Fares" that offer a discounted price. But to benefit from the discount, you must redeem points to cover the full fare amount.

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers have another benefit: discounted premium tickets through Amex Travel's International Airline Program . This program offers discounts on first-class, business-class and premium economy tickets from over 20 participating airlines.

To book a premium ticket using the IAP, go to the Amex Travel portal and pay with cash or points, including the Business Platinum card's 35% airline rebate. Keep in mind that not all flights are eligible and there are restrictions:

• The cardmember must travel on the itinerary.
• A maximum of eight tickets can be booked per itinerary; travel must begin and end in the U.S. or Canadian international airports.
• Tickets are nonrefundable unless stated otherwise.
• Name changes for passengers are not allowed.

Finally, note that flights booked through Amex Travel are typically treated as normal paid tickets, meaning you're eligible to earn points or miles with participating airline loyalty programs.

Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum's Pay with Points perk

How to book hotels on the Amex Travel portal

You can book hotels through American Express Travel with a Gold, Platinum or Centurion card. As with other travel portals, you can input your destination, dates, number of rooms and number of guests (with separate input fields for adults and children).

Platinum and Business Platinum cardmembers earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel reservations.

After selecting your hotel, you'll choose your preferred room and pay with points or cash. If you pay with points, you'll only get a value of 0.7 cents per point (compared to 1 cent when you book flights).

Note that these are considered third-party bookings, so you likely won't earn hotel points or elite credits for your stay . While there are reports of people receiving stay credits with Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors on rooms booked through Amex Travel, the hotel is not guaranteed to recognize your elite status in these programs or provide status-qualifying stay credits.

Related: 9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

Platinum and Centurion cardholders also have access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program through Amex Travel. This can add some great benefits to your hotel stays — and may not cost much more than booking directly with the hotel.

Here are the perks you'll receive with every FHR booking, regardless of the length of your stay:

• Room upgrade upon arrival (when available): Some room types may be excluded, but you could receive an upgrade to preferred rooms with better views or a better location in the hotel.
• Daily breakfast for two people: The provided breakfast must be, at a minimum, a continental breakfast.
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Noon check-in when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Unique property amenity: The amenity varies by hotel but should be valued at $100 or more and usually consists of a property credit, dining credit, spa credit, private airport transfer or similar amenity.

You'll need to book these stays through Amex Travel, but note that FHR is considered a separate program from Amex Travel.

In addition, if you have the personal Amex Platinum , you can also get up to $200 in statement credits every year for prepaid reservations through Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection — which we'll discuss next. Enrollment is required.

Related: A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi

The Hotel Collection

A lesser-known American Express benefit is The Hotel Collection , which allows you to book in cash or with points. Those with Amex Gold, Platinum and Centurion cards have access to this program, which offers the following benefits:

• A room upgrade at check-in (if available)
• $100 on-property credit for qualifying dining, spa and resort activities

Note that The Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum stay of two nights, though they too are eligible for the $200 hotel credit on the Amex Platinum.

How to book rental cars and cruises on the Amex Travel portal

Reserving a car in the Amex portal is relatively simple. You'll input your pickup and drop-off times and location.

You'll see rental car prices listed in cash and points. When using Pay with Points , your points are worth 0.7 cents — just over a third of TPG's valuation of Amex Membership Rewards points.

Although the format differs, you can also search for cruises on Amex Travel.

Rather than typing specific dates and numbers of passengers, you'll see four drop-down menus. These allow you to choose a destination (by region), filter by cruise lines and choose a month for travel — though not specific dates — on this first page. You can also select your desired cruise duration.

From here, you can filter by cruise duration, departure port and ship. You can sort your results by sailing date, value, price or ship rating.

On the final payment page, you can use your card or redeem points, ranging from 1 point to enough to cover the entire cost. Using points for a cruise will result in a low valuation of 0.7 cents per point, but it can be a money-saving option if you prefer not to spend cash.

There's another benefit available if you're a Platinum or Centurion cardholder (including personal and business versions of these cards): the Cruise Privileges Program .

This is available on cruises of five nights or more with select cruise lines, and it offers the following perks:

• $100-$500 in onboard ship credit (note that this cannot be used for casino or gratuity charges)
• Additional onboard amenities vary by line, such as spa vouchers, a bottle of Champagne, shore excursion credits or a private ship tour

Note that the Platinum cardmember must be one of the travelers on the cruise to enjoy these benefits.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Further things to consider about Amex Travel

When booking through the Amex Travel portal, there are a few factors to consider.

First, using Amex Membership Rewards points on Amex Travel may not provide the best value compared to transferring points to airline or hotel loyalty programs. The Pay with Points feature typically values points at 0.7 to 1 cent per point, which is far lower than our 2-cent valuation .

Additionally, the prices on Amex Travel may not always be the most competitive, so we recommend checking other platforms like Google Flights before booking your travel. Also, booking directly with hotels is advised for those seeking to utilize elite status benefits.

When you need to change your upcoming trips booked through Amex Travel, it can get complicated. You may encounter change and cancellation fees, often around $75, and making a change requires a phone call. Flight credit vouchers from cancellations can only be used for rebooking through Amex Travel via phone.

On the positive side, Amex Travel allows a 24-hour cancellation window for most reservations, and booking flights through the site generally still qualifies for earning miles and status with airline loyalty programs.

Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

Bottom line

American Express Travel offers an array of booking options, including the ability to earn bonus Membership Rewards points on select purchases. Although you can use your points to book hotels, flights, rental cars and cruises through Amex Travel, you can get more from your points when you transfer them to Amex's airline and hotel partners .

However, there are exceptions, such as when there is no award availability for last-minute travel. In addition, Amex Travel offers perks like discounted premium flights, added benefits with Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and a user-friendly interface. And with a simple redemption scheme that doesn't involve complicated loyalty programs and transfer partners, many Amex cardholders prefer it when planning their trips.

Additional reporting by Ryan Patterson and Kyle Olsen.

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Credit Cards

The complete guide to the Amex Travel portal

Carissa Rawson

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 7:39 a.m. UTC Feb. 28, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

onurdongel, Getty Images

The American Express Travel portal offers valuable benefits to American Express cardholders, including special prices. Depending on which card you hold, you may also be able to pay for travel with Membership Rewards® points and get access to perks such as discounted airfare and specialty benefits at luxury hotels. Let’s take a look at how the Amex Travel portal works, whether the benefits are worthwhile and who can access Amex Travel’s website. 

• American Express Travel offers hotels, vacation rentals, flights, rental cars and cruises.
• Luxury hotel benefits and discounted airfare are two benefits of booking through Amex’s travel portal. 
• American Express cardholders can access Amex Travel. 

How to book travel through the Amex Travel portal

Booking travel through the Amex Travel portal requires you to have an online account associated with an Amex card. While you can complete a search on the Amex Travel website without logging in, you will need to do so in order to make a booking.

After you choose whether to book a flight, hotel, vacation rental, vacation package, rental car or cruise, you’ll need to enter your travel details.

For example, if you want to book a flight through Amex Travel, you’ll need to put in your departure airport and destination as well as your dates of travel. The site will then bring up a list of matching results.

You can filter based on when the flights take off as well as how many stops you’re willing to tolerate, among other options. 

The Amex Travel site offers a wide variety of hotel stays and flights, but you’ll always want to double check elsewhere before booking since it doesn’t always feature every option. 

Once you’ve selected a booking, you’ll be taken through the checkout process. This includes providing your personal information and can also include seat requests and adding in loyalty program numbers.

To pay for your booking, you can use your American Express Membership Rewards, if you have a card that earns them, or your American Express card or a combination of both. 

After you’ve booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing your reservation information. You can also find your bookings under the My Trips section of Amex Travel.

Who can use the portal?

Any American Express cardholder can use the Amex Travel portal to book travel. But those whose cards don’t earn Amex Membership Rewards points will need to pay with their Amex card.

However, many American Express cards  earn Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel through the Amex Travel portal. These cards include (terms apply):

The Platinum Card® from American Express

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card * The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

All information about American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.

our partner

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Welcome Bonus

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Over $1,500 in travel and entertainment credits can offset the annual fee.
• Comprehensive lounge access benefit.
• Generous travel and purchase protections.
• High annual fee and spending requirements.
• Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule limits welcome bonus eligibility.
• Annual statement credits have limited use.

Card Details

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Is the portal worth using?

The Amex Travel portal can be worth using in certain cases, though it won’t always make sense. For example, some flights aren’t bookable via Amex Travel, so if what you need isn’t available you’ll want to look elsewhere.

That being said, those with certain cards are entitled to exclusive benefits that can lower prices or allow them to redeem points for travel. There are also perks for booking luxury hotels within the portal. In these cases, Amex Travel is definitely worth investigating. 

How to maximize your Amex Travel benefits through the portal

International airline program.

Available to those who hold a high-end American Express card, including The Platinum Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card from American Express and the American Express Centurion Black Card * The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , the International Airline Program (IAP) can save you money on certain international flights booked via the Amex Travel portal. 

All information about American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.

This benefit is only available on tickets booked in premium economy, business or first class, but the savings can be significant. 

For example, we looked at a round-trip flight in premium economy from San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo (NRT). Booking with Japan Airlines (JAL) directly resulted in a cost of $4,431.40, while the Amex Travel portal and the IAP charged just $3,797.40 for a savings of over $600.

Fine Hotels + Resorts ® and The Hotel Collection

American Express also offers the Fine Hotels and Resorts and The Hotel Collection to eligible cardholders. 

Fine Hotels and Resorts allows guests to book luxury hotels with special benefits. These include room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, an experience credit, late check-out, early check-in and more. 

The Hotel Collection offers similar but less exorbitant benefits. It’s directed toward more midscale properties and includes an experience credit as well as a room upgrade. 

35% rebate on redeemed points

Those who hold The Business Platinum Card from American Express are able to get a 35% rebate on points redeemed for eligible flights booked through the Amex Travel portal (up to 1,000,000 points per calendar year). 

Eligible flights include all fare classes on an airline that you select each year. It also includes first and business class tickets on any airline. 

Quick guide to Amex Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards are the points you earn with eligible Amex cards. These highly flexible and valuable points can be redeemed in a number of ways, though they tend to be most valuable when transferred to Amex airline partners.

Other ways of redeeming Amex points include:

• Gift cards.
• Travel booked via Amex Travel.
• Online shopping. 
• Statement credits. 

While these are nice options to have, you’ll generally get much less value from your Membership Rewards points by redeeming them in these ways. Finally, although you can redeem your points in the Amex Travel portal, this isn’t necessarily a good idea if you aim to reap maximum value. Even if you’re taking advantage of the 35% rebate on redeemed points for flights, you’ll only ever receive a value of 1.54 cents per point. This is lower than you’d expect when transferring your Amex points to many airline and hotel partners. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

No, travel insurance is not automatically included when booking through the Amex portal. But many of the best credit cards feature complimentary travel insurance when using your card to pay, including those from American Express. Otherwise, you may be able to opt in to travel insurance during the booking process or via a third party provider.

Those with the The Platinum Card from American Express can earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. The card has an annual fee of $695 ( rates & fees ). 

Those with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , meanwhile, earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per $1 at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, shipping providers, and purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $2 million per calendar year and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases. The card has a $695 annual fee.

All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

The phone number for American Express Travel is: 1-800-297-2977.

The number of Amex points that you’ll need to redeem for a flight will depend on the cash cost of your flight and whether you’re booking through Amex Travel or transferring your Membership Rewards points to an Amex airline partner. Amex Points are worth about one cent when booking flights through the portal, so a flight that costs $500 in cash would require about 50,000 Amex points. You’ll typically get a better deal with transfer partners than booking through the portal.

For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page .

*The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Carissa Rawson is a credit cards and award travel expert with nearly a decade of experience. You can find her work in a variety of publications, including Forbes Advisor, Business Insider, The Points Guy, Investopedia, and more. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her in your nearest airport lounge sipping a coffee before her next flight.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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