Amex Travel Credit - covid implication

[jules.]

From Live Chat just now:

Normally, the travel credits are non-refundable once redeemed.
But in the light of present conditions, if the tickets and hotel are refundable, then yes, we'll return the travel credits used (or points/refund the card equivalent to the amount charged).
We want to ensure you maximize this benefit on your card, the travel credits will be valid for another year from the date they were placed back.
May I add though it may take 14 weeks for refunds due to the volume of requests received.

In the event that the refund is processed after your card is closed, then you may call our Card Services team-phone number is at the back of your card to nominate a bank account where we can transfer the amount equivalent to the travel credit/points or what was charged to card when you booked the flight/hotels.

 

[mansai]

Just got an email indicating changes to the $450 Qantas travel credit. Mine was extended from September 2020 to March 2021

In place of the $450 Qantas Travel Credit you'll now have a credit worth up to $450 to spend on Qantas flights booked directly through Qantas, or at Qantas Hotels, Qantas Wine or at the Qantas Rewards Store by 31st of March, 20211.

That sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Daver6]

Just got an email indicating changes to the $450 Qantas travel credit. Mine was extended from September 2020 to March 2021

That sounds pretty good to me.

I hope this becomes a permanent change for all Ultimate card holders given this experience Amex Travel Qantas flights more expensive than other sources

 

[Lat34]

Just got an email indicating changes to the $450 Qantas travel credit. Mine was extended from September 2020 to March 2021

That sounds pretty good to me.

My Amex Ultimate travel credits still expire mid-April 2021 (also Mr Lat34); have never received extension notice and desperately hoping for that Qantas Hotels, Qantas Wine or Rewards Store email!!!

 

[JohnM]

My Amex Ultimate travel credits still expire mid-April 2021 (also Mr Lat34); have never received extension notice and desperately hoping for that Qantas Hotels, Qantas Wine or Rewards Store email!!!

Why not phone them and discuss your options?

 

[Gold Member]

I think I may have a found an opportunity to have my travel credits refunded without using them unnecessarily.

Amex tell me that if the airline cancels your flight, they will return the travel credit to your account as a $400 statement credit (cash equivalent). The travel credit(s) will no longer exist.

Today QF announced that most Int‘l flights will be pushed back to Oct 31st, and that there were several routes to destinations like Osaka, Santiago etc that will not recommence on that date. I don’t believe the actual dates are known or published yet for these routes. On the Qantas website flights to these destination are indeed unavailable from Oct 31st, however, Amex travel still have them listed. For example, 31st Oct SYD-SCL LATAM #806 (operated by Qantas) dep 1245 is available for cash booking and my travel credit can be applied.

Am I missing something here? Seems like an easy get out of jail card for the travel credits if you don’t want to or can’t use them before expiry.

 

[astrosly]

I think I may have a found an opportunity to have my travel credits refunded without using them unnecessarily.

Amex tell me that if the airline cancels your flight, they will return the travel credit to your account as a $400 statement credit (cash equivalent). The travel credit(s) will no longer exist.

Today QF announced that most Int‘l flights will be pushed back to Oct 31st, and that there were several routes to destinations like Osaka, Santiago etc that will not recommence on that date. I don’t believe the actual dates are known or published yet for these routes. On the Qantas website flights to these destination are indeed unavailable from Oct 31st, however, Amex travel still have them listed. For example, 31st Oct SYD-SCL LATAM #806 (operated by Qantas) dep 1245 is available for cash booking and my travel credit can be applied.

Am I missing something here? Seems like an easy get out of jail card for the travel credits if you don’t want to or can’t use them before expiry.

You may have been given the wrong information by Amex.

Last year when the international flight I had booked was going to be cancelled in June I called Amex to find out my options and they told the same thing - that I can get the used credit refunded as a statement credit. Then when the flight was cancelled, I called again to ask for a refund to statement and got a different story - no, you will only get the travel credit back to expire in 12 months. No statement credit, as it is not "cash" owing and can only be used for travel. Even though I said I was told something else by the previous customer service agent the new one was adamant that I may have misinterpreted what was said and that it will be a travel credit only. Escalated to the supervisor who said the same thing. The only way I could get the credit refunded as cash was to cancel the card and they have made this option available due to COVID as in normal circumstances you would lose the travel credit.

Things may have changed in the last 6 months but I would call again and see if you get a second confirmation.

 

[Daver6]

I agree with @astrosly This is an easy way to get an 12 month extension on your travel credit, but that's about it. Realistically, it ties your credit up though until the flight is actually cancelled plus the 12 or so weeks for the refund to be processed. Additionally you have other money tied up.

 

[Gold Member]

Damn, seems like an offshore call centre has misinformed me... there's always a first

For reference, in the time that I noticed the flight bookable on Amex Travel online until I got through to someone to confirm the flight cancellation and travel credit refund details, the flight had disappeared from their website.

I need to come up with another routing that has >90% chance of being cancelled. Not fussed if its imminent or some time in the future. Any ideas?

 

[lonewolf]

I agree with @astrosly This is an easy way to get an 12 month extension on your travel credit, but that's about it. Realistically, it ties your credit up though until the flight is actually cancelled plus the 12 or so weeks for the refund to be processed. Additionally you have other money tied up.

My travel credit expires tomorrow, Whats the best / easiest way to get it extended? Is it to make a international flight booking? Any recommendations that can help me get it extended?

 

[lonewolf]

I just called up their help, No go , They said they cant extend it.

 

[glasszon]

My travel credit expires tomorrow, Whats the best / easiest way to get it extended? Is it to make a international flight booking? Any recommendations that can help me get it extended?

Make a refundable airfare purchase and cancel it later to extend the travel credit, but try to buy the cheapest refundable ticket as Amex might decide to close this unpublished benefit if they found people refunding expensive 4 figure J tickets in order to extend the travel credit.

 

[DC3]

I just called up their help, No go , They said they cant extend it.

Post # 92, above, reported a better response last week. It may depend on the CSO that you get. HUACA?

 

[lonewolf]

Post # 92, above, reported a better response. It may depend on the CSO that you get. HUACA?

Sorry I meant to ask earlier as i saw that term mentioned before, what is HUACA mean? I initially got a overseas call center and then i got a australian call centre and the guy i spoke to told me they arent doing extensions anymore which seemed to imply they were doing it before. It might be ok, I am looking at booking a domestic flight to brisbane and use the credits instead.

I didnt quite understand some of the booking process, so it looks like my departure is with Qantas and my return flight is with Virgin (no other flights available besides virgin on that date for some reason). I got an option saying the cheapest option is a Elevate flight out and Getaway flight back ( I presume thats different economy bookings), Since I can only use my travel credit once, I have $400 to work with, I can change that option to a Fare that is Elevate in both directions. But in the details i dont see much difference because they both seem to say there are beverages or lounge access not available. I would have thought the pricier (elevate fare) would have beverages? IS there no beverages on Qantas and Virgin on economy anymore? I was looking in the months of april and may.

"

• Beverages - currently not available
• Lounge access - currently not available

"

 

[Daver6]

My travel credit expires tomorrow, Whats the best / easiest way to get it extended? Is it to make a international flight booking? Any recommendations that can help me get it extended?

Given QF have unlimited free date changes, I would be booking a domestic flight I actually will want to take in the future. Book something well in advance and look to change in to when you want to travel in future. I don't see any guaranteed way to get it extended. You could risk it by booking a future overseas flight and hope QF cancel it. But if they don't you're a bit stuck.

Make a refundable airfare purchase and cancel it later to extend the travel credit, but try to buy the cheapest refundable ticket as Amex might decide to close this unpublished benefit if they found people refunding expensive 4 figure J tickets in order to extend the travel credit.

Personally, I wouldn't rely on this. The T&Cs for these credits clearly state that if you cancel, you lose the credit.

 

[Ktan89]

what is HUACA mean

Hang Up And Call Again.

I think it's different for the type of travel credit you have. I found that if you have credit from the explorer card, they have extended this to March 31. My credit from platinum card is no extension and they were adamant about this. 3 people I spoke to from Sydney call centre said no. They want us to use the credit and book something that is refundable. They said if the hotel or airline credit back the fee, Amex will credit it back to us. Otherwise most hotels can change dates so keep pushing it back.
I find this strange they automatically extended explorer card travel voucher but not the platinum card travel voucher. In the end I booked for a hotel which I know I will visit sometime in the future.. but ofcourse I will try cancel it first and get the money back if Amex will do that when the booking gets closer.

 

[VPS]

Given QF have unlimited free date changes, I would be booking a domestic flight I actually will want to take in the future. Book something well in advance and look to change in to when you want to travel in future. I don't see any guaranteed way to get it extended. You could risk it by booking a future overseas flight and hope QF cancel it. But if they don't you're a bit stuck.


The problem with this is that you incur a $33 fee from Amex every time you want to change it and you can't change it online on Qantas because I've tried.

 

[lonewolf]

I have explorer credit but the person was unwilling to extend it. If It says it expires on the 27th, does that mean midnight/ the end of the day of the 27th. Or does that mean it expires end of 26th?

 

[jules.]

From Live Chat just now:

An update on this - I booked two refundable hotel bookings (one travel credit per booking) and cancelled my Explorer card a few days later. Spoke to the travel team via chat today to cancel both bookings. They explained that the refund would be put onto my closed Amex account, and that once processed, I would need to call them to have the funds transferred to my bank account. All in all, pretty seamless and pain free!
I intended to cancel my card at the end of my membership year anyway. I realise this isn't the best option for those who actually want to keep their card.

 

[jb747]

I abandoned the travel credit, and cancelled the card. Can't see any use for it any time soon, and don't see any value in renewing.