Amex Travel Credit - covid implication

[NoName]

Thanks. Sounds as it may no longer be possible to use the 2nd years travel credit and cancel before the annual fee is charged. I think I will just cancel and get on to the next churn.

 

[Chicken]

Thanks. Sounds as it may no longer be possible to use the 2nd years travel credit and cancel before the annual fee is charged. I think I will just cancel and get on to the next churn.

The think is, my 'previous' travel credit was removed, and converted by AmEx into a $200 statement credit for Hardly Normal and AmEx travel (just like everyone else), so this could have 'broken' the normal cycle.

 

[NoName]

Thanks. Sounds as it may no longer be possible to use the 2nd years travel credit and cancel before the annual fee is charged. I think I will just cancel and get on to the next churn.

Well 1 day later and the year 2 travel credit shows up. Thankfully I noticed before my planned cancellation call later this morning. Obviously I will use it and then cancel.

 

[blacksultan]

does anyone know if the qf ultimate credit can be used for a hotel booking? i remember reading something to that effect sometime ago.

 

[shamolly]

Got $400 travel credit with Amex Explorer that I need to use up.

On chat a few days ago I was told by Amex that if I book a flight for which the airline only allows refunds in the form of airline travel credit, then I could spend $400 using the Amex travel credit, cancel the flight, and then while I would have lost the $400 Amex credit I'd still have the $400 airline travel credit. It follows also that I should spend as much of the $400 as possible on the flight, since I'll forfeit anything I don't spend.

Does anyone else know whether this is correct, or have any experience with it? Though I saved the chat, I've had some issues with incorrect advice from Amex before.

This isn't a great outcome but would let me at least salvage something from the credit.

 

[get me outta here]

I would like to know the answer too. Also, if needing to be cancelled would it be converted to any sort of credit. Presumedly not, even if it was a refundable booking.

does anyone know if the qf ultimate credit can be used for a hotel booking? i remember reading something to that effect sometime ago.

 

[VPS]

Got $400 travel credit with Amex Explorer that I need to use up.

On chat a few days ago I was told by Amex that if I book a flight for which the airline only allows refunds in the form of airline travel credit, then I could spend $400 using the Amex travel credit, cancel the flight, and then while I would have lost the $400 Amex credit I'd still have the $400 airline travel credit. It follows also that I should spend as much of the $400 as possible on the flight, since I'll forfeit anything I don't spend.

Does anyone else know whether this is correct, or have any experience with it? Though I saved the chat, I've had some issues with incorrect advice from Amex before.

This isn't a great outcome but would let me at least salvage something from the credit.

I booked a fully flexible fare to be safe and then cancelled it - got the refund in the form of a travel credit from Qantas until end of December 2023 so I'm OK with that

 

[kpc]

FYI....I booked a fully refundable hotel late last year using an expiring $200 travel credit and a few extra dollars. I cancelled the booking by ringing Amex today and they told me I'll get the dollars back and the $200 travel credit valid for another 12 months ...and got an email confirning this as well

 

[lonewolf]

hey guys, If I was to make a flight booking and a hotel booking at the same time (because i have to use my travel credit in one go which is annoying), Can i then cancel just my hotel booking (refundable booking room selected) and get the credits back for that.

Amex travel told me that was the way i can extend my travel credits is to make a refundable hotel booking, But i wasnt sure if that would still work if i have a flight booking ont he same booking? I want to keep the flight, just want to be able to cancel the hotel.

The other problem i have is, the flight is for 4 nights, so the hotel room has to be for 4 nights as well? which means i actually have to end up paying on top to cover the hotel room for 4 nights and then cancel it to get extra credits back. a bit annoying.

 

[kpc]

FYI....I booked a fully refundable hotel late last year using an expiring $200 travel credit and a few extra dollars. I cancelled the booking by ringing Amex today and they told me I'll get the dollars back and the $200 travel credit valid for another 12 months ...and got an email confirning this as well

2.5 weeks later the $200 travel credit and the $ have hit my Amex account.

 

[danielwang002]

does anyone know if the qf ultimate credit can be used for a hotel booking? i remember reading something to that effect sometime ago.

I would like to know the answer too. Also, if needing to be cancelled would it be converted to any sort of credit. Presumedly not, even if it was a refundable booking.

Nah, QF ultimate credit could only be used towards QF flights

 

[Infrequent]

Confession: I've been a bit distracted over the last six months, so I probably missed any chance to salvage some true value from the travel credits, however, could I ask...

In terms of almost-expired travel credits (on the QF ultimate card*) - is the best technique to book any future flight as a full flex, and then cancel it at some point** in order to be able to extend it to a point where it could actually be used?

(The credits expire very soon, but any possible travel would be over a year away, so it can't be used directly on those flights).

** "At some point" ... I was thinking sooner, based on the line from VPS above {"I booked a fully flexible fare to be safe and then cancelled it - got the refund in the form of a travel credit from Qantas until end of December 2023 so I'm OK with that"} but is such a long extension guaranteed, or would I be better of waiting until after the 12-months-before-travel window?

*Yep - QF Ultimate ... the worst card for people in WA ... even before COVID! I'm a mug aren't I ... and I've had it for years, no churning, losing travel credits left, right and centre!

 

[Chicken]

*Yep - QF Ultimate ... the worst card for people in WA ... even before COVID! I'm a mug aren't I ... and I've had it for years, no churning, losing travel credits left, right and centre!

Ah, the classic saying: only buy what you need, don't let promotions make you buy what you don't need / more than you need!

 

[Infrequent]

is the best technique to book any future flight as a full flex, and then cancel it at some point** in order to be able to extend it to a point where it could actually be used?

Any suggestions?

Sorry if it is obvious or doesn't make sense! (I'm not used to making bookings based on the "fine print" ticket conditions - so not aware of the traps/pitfalls/etc...)

Thanks!

 

[Chicken]

Any suggestions?

Sorry if it is obvious or doesn't make sense! (I'm not used to making bookings based on the "fine print" ticket conditions - so not aware of the traps/pitfalls/etc...)

Some people seem to have had their problems resolved this way / this outcome.

However, this is not black and white written as a rule, so it could be risky to book / make decision based on this, or you could be disappointed when this doesn't happen to you.

I have always booked based on an itinerary which is realistically achievable, and based on the principle of being self insured even when i have a commercial insurance policy, in order to minimise the disappointment and disaster recovery process.

So say, if I were living in West of Australia Western Australia right now, and I like wine, I would book something like Perth to Margaret River (is there an airport there?) ; Or Perth to Broome if I like the beach. These would be realistic journeys.

I would not book like PER - SYD. Even if AmEx or QF gives you full cash refund, the amount of work chasing waiting on the phone checking statements following up are just not worth $400 of face value to me.

You have to decide if taking a risk with the path you mentioned with the months of chasing on the phone and headache is worth it.

Or just better off booking something like MEL to OOL for a friend in Melbourne and ask them for a bottle of wine in return and just leave it at that.

 

[SOPOOR]

i have a cancellable hotel booking using travel credit that im trying to cancel, ive called up, now twice on hold for 1 hour +

i just realised that I can cancel online too, will I get my travel credit back or is it better to call and confirm with them over the phone?

 

[yangry]

i have a cancellable hotel booking using travel credit that im trying to cancel, ive called up, now twice on hold for 1 hour +

i just realised that I can cancel online too, will I get my travel credit back or is it better to call and confirm with them over the phone?

Did you end up cancelling by phone or online? And were you able to get your travel credit back?

 

[SOPOOR]

Did you end up cancelling by phone or online? And were you able to get your travel credit back?

I ended up getting through.
The cancellation process was very quick,
Travel credit refunded (sorry can't remember if it was 1 hour/day/week/month), valid for 12 months

I'm assuming the reinstatement for 12 months is a covid execption

 

[yangry]

Thanks, sopoor.

Just to close the loop on this. I wasn't game enough to click on cancel myself (I want to know for sure that the Travel Credit will be reinstated) but I contacted Amex Travel's online chat and the gent sorted it out within minutes.

 

[SOPOOR]

Thanks, sopoor.

Just to close the loop on this. I wasn't game enough to click on cancel myself (I want to know for sure that the Travel Credit will be reinstated) but I contacted Amex Travel's online chat and the gent sorted it out within minutes.

Actually now that you mentioned the fear of not getting it back,
I am now sure that I called and was reassured of the credit refund