amex travel uk

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.

British Airways American Express® Cards

There’s a little holiday in the things you buy, british airways american express® credit card.

Representative 31.0% APR variable. No annual fee. Assumed £1,200 credit limit with 31.0% per annum variable purchase rate. T&Cs apply.

• Welcome bonus : Get 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £1,000 in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. New Cardmembers only¹
• Earn rate : Collect 1 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases¹
• Rewards:  Get a Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year which is now more flexible than ever. From 1 November you will need to spend £15,000 within each membership year to earn a Companion Voucher. T&Cs apply.

Companion Voucher

Companion Vouchers are even more valuable and flexible than ever and can now be enjoyed with a companion or solo. Get a Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year on the Card, which you can use to either take a companion with you in economy only on  the same flight or, if travelling solo, get a 50% discount on the Avios price when you book a British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia Reward Flight. Taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person 4 . 

Ways you can redeem your Companion Voucher 

Travel with a companion : The British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher entitles you to receive a second economy class seat for a companion travelling on the same flight as you for no additional Avios when you make a Reward Flight booking on a British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia flight 4 .  

Choose to fly solo : You can use your Companion Voucher as a solo adult travelling on a Reward Flight booking in Euro Traveller or World Traveller (Economy) or other economy cabins and receive a 50% discount on the Avios price for the flight. 

More Avios Pricing Options : Whether you’re planning on travelling with a companion or flying solo, you can access all Avios and Money and Reward Flight Saver (RFS) options, meaning your trip could cost as little as £1 in cash 6

Travel benefits

From Travel Accident insurance cover to preferential travel arrangements, we’ll help you along the way*:

• Global Assist® provides help when you travel outside of the UK, in your own language, 24/7  7 .
• Travel accident insurance protects you for up to £75,000 on public transport when you buy your ticket on your Card 7 .

*When enrolled in No Additional Charge Insurance

Eligibility

To save you time before applying for your British Airways American Express Credit Card, it's worth making sure you can say yes to all the following:

• I am aged 18 or over
• I have a current UK bank or building society account
• I have a permanent UK home address
• I have no history of bad debt
• And if self–employed, I have been working for more than one year
• I understand I will not be eligible for any Welcome Bonus award if I hold or have held any personal American Express ®  Cards in the past 24 months.

If you've said yes to all of these, then step this way. Your application could take less than 10 minutes and we may be able to give you a response in less than 60 seconds.

British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card

Representative 139.9% APR variable. £300 annual fee. Assumed £1,200 credit limit with 31.0% per annum variable purchase rate. T&Cs apply.

• Welcome bonus:  Get 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. New Cardmembers only. 2
• Earn rate:  Collect 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases 2
• Rewards: Get a Companion Voucher when you spend £10,000 each membership year which is now more flexible than ever. From 1 November you will need to spend £15,000 within each membership year to earn a Companion Voucher. T&Cs apply.
• Go further: Collect 3 Avios for every £1 spent on British Airways flights and holidays 2

Companion Vouchers are even more valuable and flexible than ever and can now be enjoyed with a companion or solo. Get a Companion Voucher when you spend £10,000 each membership year on the Card, which you can use to either take a companion with you in the same flight and cabin or, if travelling solo, get a 50% discount on the Avios price when you book a British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia flight. British Airways American Express ®  Premium Plus Cardmembers will have access to additional British Airways Reward Flight seats within business (Club World) when booking with a Companion Voucher, subject to availability. Taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person 5

Travel with a companion:  The British Airways American Express ®  Premium Plus Companion Voucher entitles you to receive a second seat for a companion travelling on the same flight as you for no additional Avios when you make a Reward Flight booking on a British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia flight.

Choose to fly solo:  You can use your Companion Voucher as a solo adult travelling on a Reward Flight booking in any cabin and receive a 50% discount on the Avios price for the flight. 

More Avios Pricing Options:  Whether you’re planning on travelling with a companion or flying solo, you can access all Avios and Money and Reward Flight Saver (RFS) options, meaning your trip could cost as little as £1 in cash 6 . 

Enhanced availability in Club World:  Cardmembers who have earned a Premium Plus Companion Voucher can access tens of thousands of extra Reward seats in Club World (long haul Business Class) when booking a Reward Flight with their Companion Voucher. So whether you're choosing to treat yourself or take a lucky companion with you, you'll be travelling in style. 

Enjoy our travel protection benefits when you travel with us*:

• Global Assist® provides help when you travel outside of the UK, in your own language, 24/7 7 .
• Travel accident insurance protects you for up to £250,000 on public transport when you buy your ticket on your Card 6 .
• Travel inconvenience insurance covers flight cancellations, delays and delayed luggage when you pay with your Card. exclusions that may apply 7 .
• £200 for flight delay, overbooking or missed connection.
• £750 for baggage delayed by airline for 6 hours.
• An additional £1,000 for extended baggage delay by airline.

To save you time before applying for your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, it's worth making sure you can say yes to all the following:

• I understand I will not be eligible for any Welcome Bonus award if I hold or have held any personal British Airways American Express Cards in the past 24 months.

British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card

Representative 108.4% APR variable. £250 annual fee. Assumed £1,200 credit limit with 28.5% per annum variable purchase rate. T&Cs apply.

• Welcome bonus: Collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £5,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership 1
• Earn rate: Collect 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent 2
• Rewards: Receive an extra 10,000 Avios for every £20,000 spent, up to 3 times a year 3
• On Business: Earn 2 On Business Points for every eligible £1 spent with on qualified British Airways Flights purchased with your Card 4

Reward your business every calendar year

With a tiered Avios annual bonus, for every £20,000 spent on the Card, you will receive 10,000 bonus Avios, up to 3 times each year. From everyday business expenses to larger supplier items you'll earn Avios in line with your business spend. With three individual tiers, your rewards balance evolves with your business. Your Avios Annual Bonus resets on 1 January each year, helping you to keep track of your rewards and maximise Cardmembers’ bonus earning potential.

Flexible cashflow management 

Your Credit Card gives you access up to 56 calendar days without interest payment terms (when you pay your balance in full) or the choice to pay your balance over time with interest 5 .

Double On Business Points

Exclusively with this Card, earn 2 On Business Points for every £1 spent with British Airways, This is in addition to your everyday Avios and annual bonus. Change, cancel or upgrade your flight booking up to 24 hours before departure of your first flight at no extra charge 6 .

PLEASE NOTE: The On Business platform is currently unavailable. When you apply for a British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card, if you don’t have an On Business Account already, you'll automatically join our loyalty programme for your business, and receive your On Business number from British Airways. To service your On Business Account and/or redeem your On Business Points, please call the On Business team on 0344 493 0748.

Visit the On Business FAQs .

To save you time before applying for your British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card, it's worth making sure you can say yes to all the following:

• The business has a current UK Bank or Building Society account
• You/The business have/has no County Court Judgements for non-payment of debt
• You are aged 18 or over
• You have a permanent UK home address
• You will pay the annual Cardmembership fee of £250 7

To access the On Business benefits, your company must not be a travel agency, ticket brokerage firm or consolidator AND your company does not have an existing corporate incentive agreement with British Airways, Iberia or American Airlines. When enrolling into the On Business programme through this British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card application progress, there is no requirement for your business to be VAT registered. (Visit  ba.com/onbusiness  for more information).

A Companion Voucher makes your Avios go further

You can get away for fewer Avios than you might think with a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher.

Use your Companion Voucher to either take someone with you on your Reward Flight for no additional Avios or reduce the amount Avios needed for a Reward Flight by 50% as a solo traveller. 

How would you use yours?

10,000 avios.

Enjoy the freedom of a solo getaway to one of 25 exciting European destinations for only 9,250 Avios + £1 return. 

20,000 Avios

Escape the everyday with a continental city break for two. Return flights to Europe for two people start at just 18,500 Avios + £2.

50,000 Avios

Jet off with that special someone to see the bright lights of New York or Dubai for just 50,000 Avios + £200 all in.

*Applies to off-peak return Reward Flight Saver flights paid in full with Avios.

Service like no other

Enjoy refund protection on all eligible items you buy using your Card in the UK.

We cover items up to 90 days and will replace or refund items up to a maximum of £200 on the British Airways American Express® Credit Card and £300 on the Premium Plus Card and the Accelerating Business Card, even if the retailer won’t.

Collect up to 90,000 Avios by inviting your friends

You can collect up to 90,000 Avios per calendar year when you refer friends to take out a BA Amex Card as soon as they’re approved. We’ll also welcome them with bonus Avios too. Terms apply. See link for full details. 

Find out more

Collecting avios, spending avios, buying avios.

• Terms, taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person. For the Credit Card Terms and Conditions apply. Introductory offers are not available if you currently hold or have held any personal American Express Card product in the past 24 months. Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 years old or over and are subject to approval. For the Credit Card, 5,000 bonus Avios will be awarded onto your Account once you have been approved and you have spent and charged a minimum of £1,000 on goods and services to the Account within three months of Account opening. For the Credit Card, you will be awarded 1 Avios for every £1 spent and charged per transaction. Avios are not earned on Balance Transfers, Cash Withdrawals, American Express Travellers Cheques purchases, Foreign Exchange, interest, any spending in excess of your credit limit, charges for returned payments, late payment or referral charges and American Express Credit Card finance charges. Written details available on request. Please note, it can take up to one month for the bonus Avios to be awarded to your Account once you have met the required spend. New Cardmembers only. Please note this offer is subject to change.​
• Terms, taxes, fees and carrier changes apply per person. For the Premium Plus Card Terms and Conditions apply. Introductory offers are not available if you currently hold or have held any personal British Airways American Express Card product in the past 24 months. Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 years old or over and are subject to approval. For the Premium Plus Card, 25,000 bonus Avios will be awarded onto your Account once you have been approved and you have spent and charged a minimum of £3,000 on goods and services to the Account within three months of Account opening. For the Premium Plus Card, you will be awarded 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent and charged per transaction. Avios are not earned on Balance Transfers, Cash Withdrawals, American Express Travellers Cheques purchases, Foreign Exchange, interest, any spending in excess of your credit limit, charges for returned payments, late payment or referral charges and American Express Credit Card finance charges. Written details available on request. Please note, it can take up to one month for the bonus Avios to be awarded to your Account once you have met the required spend. New Cardmembers only. Please note this offer is subject to change.​
• Supplementary Cards allow you to share the benefits of your American Express Card with others close to you. You will be the main Cardmember and will be liable for all charges made on the Supplementary Card(s). Additional Cardmembers must be 18 years or over. Written details available on request.
• BA American Express Credit Card Terms and Conditions apply to Avios redemptions. Reward Flights and Companion Voucher bookings are subject to availability and taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person. Companion Vouchers can only be used when redeeming Avios for a British Airways Reward Flight seat in economy only, paid with Avios. Detailed information on Companion Vouchers  can be found here  or by calling 0844 493 0750 (calls cost 7p pm plus your telephone company access charge). Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 can be used on bookings departing from outside of the UK as well as allowing the Companion Voucher holder to benefit from a 50% reduction in Avios when making a Reward flight booking with their Companion Voucher as a solo traveller. Only vouchers earned after 1 September 2021 can be used on Iberia and Aer Lingus. Visit here for full  Companion Voucher Terms and Conditions .
• BA American Express Premium Plus Card Terms and Conditions apply to Avios redemptions. Reward Flights and Companion Voucher bookings are subject to availability and taxes, fees and carrier charges apply per person. Companion Vouchers can only be used when redeeming Avios for a British Airways Reward Flight seat in any cabin, paid with Avios. Detailed information on Companion Vouchers  can be found here  or by calling 0844 493 0750 (calls cost 7ppm plus your telephone company access charge). Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 can be used on bookings departing from outside of the UK, as well as allowing the Companion Voucher holder to benefit from a 50% reduction in Avios when making a Reward Flight booking with their Companion Voucher as a solo traveller. Access to Reward Flight seats within Club World (business class) is available for British Airways Premium Plus Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021. Only vouchers earned after 1 September 2021 can be used on Iberia and Aer Lingus. Visit here for full  Companion Voucher Terms and Conditions . 
• Reward Flights are available to any Executive Club Members with an Avios balance. In addition to your Avios, the only cash amount required for  Reward Flights is to cover the taxes, fees and carrier charges. Reward Flights are subject to availability. To find out more about Reward Flights and/or Reward Flight Saver  visit here .
• Terms and Conditions apply to the British Airways American Express credit card insurance. Please see the Insurance  Terms and Conditions . Please read this to understand the limits and exclusions that may apply. Terms and Conditions apply to the British Airways American Express  Premium Plus Card insurance. Please see the insurance  Terms and Conditions  for full details. Please read this to understand the limits and exclusions that may apply. 

Applicants must be 18 years old or over. Approval subject to status and Terms and Conditions apply.

The information relating to the financial benefits and services of the Card is the responsibility of American Express Services Europe Limited and British Airways accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies.

British Airways Plc registered in England and Wales company no.1777777 of Waterside, PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 0GB, is an introducer appointed representative, for insurance mediation activities only, of American Express Insurance Services Europe Limited.

American Express Services Europe Limited has its registered office at Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9AX, United Kingdom. It is registered in England and Wales with Company Number 1833139 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

1. The 30,000 bonus Avios will be awarded once you have been approved and you have spent and charged a minimum of £5,000 on goods and services to the Account within three months of Account opening. If you have held a British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card or any other American Express® Business Card within the last 12 months, you will not be eligible for the Avios Welcome Bonus. Interest, fees (including default fees), balance transfers, cash advances (including transactions treated as cash), loading of prepaid cards, American Express Travellers Cheque purchases or foreign exchange transactions and any amounts that are subsequently re-credited to your Card Account by way of refunds or other types of credit, are not eligible towards the bonus. Your Account must be in good standing at the time of earning the bonus. All introductory offers are subject to change and can be withdrawn at any time. Please note, it can take up to one month for the bonus Avios to be awarded to your Account once you have met the required spend. 

2. Avios for Accelerating Business Card: You will be awarded 1.5 Avios for every eligible £1 spent and charged per transaction. Avios are not earned on interest, fees (including default fees), balance transfers, cash advances (including transactions treated as cash), loading of prepaid cards, American Express Travellers Cheque purchases or foreign exchange transactions; and any amounts that are subsequently re-credited to your Card Account by way of refunds or other types of credit. Please refer to full benefit terms and conditions associated with your Card Account for all eligibility criteria. Avios are issued and redeemed subject to British Airways Executive Club  terms and conditions  and will be reflected on your British Airways Executive Club account.

3. Accelerating Business Card Annual Bonus: You will be awarded 10,000 bonus Avios (Avios Annual Bonus) once you have spent and charged £20,000 on purchases on your Card, up to three times each calendar year. Interest, fees (including default fees), balance transfers, cash advances (including transactions treated as cash), loading of prepaid cards, American Express Travellers Cheque purchases or foreign exchange transactions and any amounts that are subsequently re-credited to your Card Account by way of refunds or other types of credit, are not eligible towards the bonus. Your Account must be in good standing at the time of earning the bonus. Please note, it can take up to one month for the bonus Avios to be awarded to your Account once you have met the required spend.

4. On Business Accelerator: Your Company will earn Two (2) On Business Points for every eligible £1 spent on qualifying flights directly with British Airways on the Card. For illustrative purposes, One (1) On Business Point comprises the additional earn for purchasing a qualifying flight with this Card Account (the Amex Accelerator), the other On Business Point is your base On Business Point earn. Please refer to full benefit terms and conditions associated with your Card Account for all benefit eligibility criteria. On Business Points are issued and redeemed subject to On Business Programme terms and conditions.

5. Cashflow for Accelerating Business Card: The maximum amount of time for interest free payment on purchases is 56 calendar days and is obtained only if you spend on the first day of the new statement period and repay the balance in full on the due date. If you only make a minimum payment every month, then interest rates will apply, and it will take you longer to pay off your balance.

6. On Business: Find out more about the On Business Programme, the booking process, and terms and conditions on  ba.com/onbusiness . Flights can be redeemed on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines; cabin upgrades can be redeemed on British Airways and Iberia flights. On Business flights and cabin upgrades are subject to applicable taxes, fees, carrier charges and surcharges.

7. Annual Fee: BA Accelerating Business Card: An annual Cardmembership fee of £250 will apply for each membership year. We'll charge it for each year starting on the date of your first statement and then every year after that on the same date.

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The Guide to the AmEx Travel Portal 

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Table of Contents

Who can use the American Express Travel portal?

Benefits of booking travel on amex travel, how to book travel in the portal, is travel insurance included when booking through amex travel, downsides of booking via amex travel, final thoughts on the amex travel portal.

The American Express Travel portal is similar to many other online booking sites in that it allows you to purchase flights, hotels and other travel reservations. The main difference is that only those who hold an American Express card can use it.

Certain cards come with additional perks for booking in the portal. For instance, some AmEx cards allow travelers to earn extra points for bookings, receive a 35% points rebate, pay for a portion of the reservation with points, get room upgrades and more. Terms apply.

Here's a look at what the AmEx Travel portal offers and how to use it to maximize your benefits.

American Express Travel flights, hotels and other reservations are available for American Express cardholders. Depending on which American Express card you have, you may earn additional points on your reservation or unlock additional features. Terms apply.

For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmEx Travel. They also have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through the travel portal. Additionally, American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders can book room reservations with The Hotel Collection . Terms apply.

Here are eight reasons why booking with AmEx travel could be a good idea.

1. Earn up to 5x points

When you book flight through the AmEx Travel portal, your credit card may earn additional points for the purchase. In addition, prepaid hotel reservations through the AmEx travel portal also earn extra points. These are a few of the cards that offer a bonus when making reservations through AmEx travel:

on American Express' website

• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 4 points per $1 at restaurant plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).

• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.

• 3 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases.

• 3 points per $1 on restaurants worldwide.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

• 2 points per $1 on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year.

• 1 point per $1 on purchases above $50,000 in a calendar year.

» Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them

2. Pay for reservations using Pay with Points

With American Express Travel, flights, hotels and more can be paid for with points instead of cash. Members can even choose to pay a portion of the trip with points and the rest with cash. Once your reservations have been booked, the full amount of your trip will be charged to your American Express credit card, and then a credit will be posted for the points redeemed within 48 hours.

You must redeem at least 5,000 points in order to use Pay with Points. Points are redeemed at a value of 1 cent per point when booking flights or making Fine Hotels & Resorts reservations. Other eligible travel receives only 0.7 cents per point. NerdWallet values Membership Rewards points at 2.8 cents per point if you take advantage of transferring to and booking through travel partners, so the redemption rates in the travel portal are significantly below our ideal value.

If you need to cancel your reservation, you'll receive a statement credit on your card for the cash equivalent. Members who would rather have the unused Membership Rewards points returned to their accounts must contact American Express customer service at 800-297-3276. Terms apply.

3. Upgrade flights with points

Eligible flights booked with cash can be upgraded using your American Express Membership Rewards points. You'll receive 1 cent per point credit towards the cost when upgrading a flight with points (which is again below our AmEx point valuation ).

To upgrade your flight with points, select your airline and provide your reservation details in the AmEx travel portal. You will be notified if your flight is eligible or not. If your flight is eligible, you can submit an offer to the airline for the upgrade. The airline will accept or reject your bid between one and five days of your flight's departure and you'll receive a decision via email.

If your upgrade offer is accepted, the points will be deducted from your account. Your statement will show a charge and a credit for the corresponding points.

» Learn more: You can now use AmEx points to bid on flight upgrades

4. Discounted international flights through AmEx IAP

Platinum cardholders have access to discounted flights through International Airline Program (IAP) , which allows members to book first, business and premium economy at a discount on select airlines and routes. Plus, you'll receive 5x Membership Rewards points on the booking when using your The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for the flight. Terms apply.

There are 25 airlines that participate in this program. You can book refundable and nonrefundable tickets for up to eight passengers through the IAP. Tickets can be paid with your card, points or a combination of the two. You will have to pay a $39 nonrefundable ticketing fee, however the discount received on these tickets should outweigh the fee.

5. Cancel For Any Reason insurance

CFAR is shorthand for an insurance policy that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever and receive a refund. In May 2022, AmEx launched its own version of CFAR coverage for airfare booked through the travel portal using an AmEx card.

This feature, called Trip Cancel Guard, will get you up to a 75% reimbursement on nonrefundable airfare costs, provided you cancel at least two calendar days out from your departure. You'll need to purchase Trip Cancel Guard coverage at the point of booking and if you cancel, whether through the airline directly or through AmEx Travel, you can request reimbursement online or over the phone.

» Learn more: The guide to Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance

6. 35% points rebate with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

When The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholder book flights using points through the AmEx travel portal, they can receive up to 35% of their points back . The benefit is available on first or business class flights on any airline and all economy flights with their chosen airline. This benefit provides up to 500,000 points back per calendar year.

However, as with all AmEx credits , it's not as straightforward as you may hope. You will have to designate the airline for the 35% rebate and the airline must be the same as the one chosen for the $200 airline incidental credit .

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

7. Fine Hotels & Resorts

The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. (Photo by Sally French)

Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) is a collection of resorts and benefits available only to Platinum Card members. There are over 2,000 properties worldwide that participate in this program. When making reservations with Fine Hotels & Resorts for one night or more, you'll receive the following benefits:

$200 statement credit provided once per year.

Noon check-in (when available).

Room upgrade upon arrival (when available).

Daily breakfast for two.

Guaranteed 4 pm late checkout.

Complimentary in-room WiFi.

Unique property benefit valued at least $100.

These benefits rival those that many travelers receive when booking directly with hotels to obtain elite status perks. Some locations also offer a last-night free benefit, depending upon when you make your reservation. And some of the best hotels to book using FHR credits offer especially-unique amenities.

For example, many theme park fans consider Loews Portofino Bay Hotel as the best FHR hotel in Orlando . That's because — on top of all the above benefits — guests receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access, which allows you to skip the lines inside the Universal theme parks .

8. The Hotel Collection

The Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando falls under The Hotel Collection. (Photo by Sally French)

AmEx Gold and Platinum cardholders receive elite status-level perks at more than 600 hotels worldwide. When you stay for two nights or more, you'll receive a $100 resort credit and an upgrade upon arrival (when available). In addition, you can use your AmEx Membership Rewards credit card to book and pay for your reservation entirely or partially with your points.

While you can book travel over the phone with an agent, it is often quicker and more convenient to make your reservations through the AmEx Travel portal.

Here's how to book travel in the American Express travel portal:

Go to americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/ .

Log in with your username and password.

Select flights, hotels, flight + hotel, cars, or cruises.

Enter your travel dates, cities and other relevant information.

Choose options based on your trip.

Pay with your American Express credit card, points, or a combination.

Since you need an American Express card to make reservations through AmEx travel, you may already hold a card that offers complimentary travel insurance . If you don’t get travel insurance perks through your AmEx card, you can purchase Trip Cancel Guard through when making your booking.

Trip Cancel Guard works similarly to CFAR in that it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever and get up to a 75% reimbursement of your travel costs as long as the cancellation is made two full days before your trip.

What is the AmEx Travel cancellation policy?

When you book travel through the American Express travel portal, you may be eligible to cancel your reservation within 24 hours and get a full refund. However, the cancellation policy is determined by the airline.

As such, AmEx instructs travelers to refer to the cancellation policy on the itinerary or reach out to customer service with any questions. Terms apply.

There are many appealing reasons why travelers want to book reservations with the AmEx travel portal. However, there are some downsides as well. These are some of the most common reasons why you shouldn't:

Low value for your points. Redeeming points through the AmEx travel portal yields a value of 1 cent per point or less. That's at least a 50% reduction compared to our value of Membership Rewards points.

Complicated customer service. Resolving flight or hotel reservation issues becomes more complicated when you book through a third party such as AmEx travel. The airline or hotel blames the booking agency and may not immediately resolve the problem in some instances. However, providers have no scapegoat when you book direct.

No hotel elite status benefits or loyalty credits. Most hotels require you to book directly to receive elite status benefits, stay credits or earn points. For travelers looking to take advantage of their elite status or earn status for the next year, booking AmEx travel hotel reservations is not a good idea.

Despite the above policy, hotels booked through Fine Hotels & Resorts allow you to earn elite night credit and earn loyalty perks associated with your elite status level on any hotel reservations — regardless if you book in the portal or not.

The AmEx travel portal offers numerous benefits for all American Express cardholders. If you have a Membership Rewards credit card, you can pay for all or part of eligible travel reservations using your points.

And any portion that you pay with your Membership Rewards card can earn up to 5x points. AmEx Travel also offers two hotel collections that provide additional perks similar to elite status benefits.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Amex Travel reveals the latest UK Travel Trends Of 2024

As the UK starts to look towards summer holidays, Amex Travel has revealed the top travel trends being embraced by British travellers this year.  The rise of the solo wellness trip: solo travel continues to be a rising trend, with lone getaways becoming more focussed on self-care. Throwing out the itinerary: spontaneous trips where not a single thing is planned in advance are on the rise, as people seek a break from an overly structured lifestyle. An eye on once-in-a-lifetime holidays: demand is high for memorable adventures, with many saving for a major trip at the expense of multiple smaller breaks.

The findings come from the new American Express Global Travel Trends Report which highlights the inspiration and trends driving travel bookings this year. The report surveyed 1,000 travellers from the UK, as well as travellers in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan and India.

Solo wellness travel emerged as a top trend for the UK travellers, with the majority (54%) of Brits planning to travel solo this year, while 30% will do two or more trips. Relaxing and self-care is the name of the game, with one in five travelling on their own to escape their chaotic daily lives (22%) and to reconnect with themselves (18%) as some of the top reasons to consider a solo trip. When it comes to the types of solo travel trips, one in four (25%) are choosing a classic city break, one in five (20%) want a relaxing solo beach or island getaway, and more than one in 10 (13%) would like to go on a solo trip centred around wellness activities such as a spa or yoga retreat.

Spontaneity is also key in 2024, with more than half (53%) of Brits agree that they would take a trip without planning a single activity until they get to their destination, while 46% are interested in booking a last-minute holiday in 2024. Seven out of ten (70%) agree that they like to leave unplanned time in their trip to experience local culture and activities, and a third (35%) even like to explore other cities than where they are staying.

Transformative once-in-a-lifetime holidays are in. Half (49%) of Brits agree that they are more interested in taking a major trip this year than they have been in the past, leading 53% to agree that they are saving up for a major trip this year, while 44% agree that they are prioritising one major trip over smaller holidays in 2024. One in four (27%) are going on a major trip because they want to check something off their bucket list, while 24% want to fully immerse themselves in the local culture and 20% want to push themselves out of their comfort zone by trying something new as top reasons among those planning on taking a major trip in 2024.

UK firms plan to increase business travel in 2023

American Express and Marriott Bonvoy launch new Bevy Card and enhance luxury…

What means Good Travel with Mariott Bonvoy?

93% Indians planning to spend more on travel in 2022

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