Changes to how you use your $450 Travel Credit

[Spacetravel]

Has anyone had experience cancelling a reservation with the new credit? I booked a flex Econ fare with the travel credit last membership year (only a bit over a month ago) but I need to cancel my booking and rebook as Amex travel are being extremely unhelpful and said I can't change a flexible economy fare because the new price is lower, that discussion is for another thread.

If I cancel the booking for a refund, I already received the travel credit to my amex. Is the system smart enough to take the $450 off me or because I had it credited it will stay? I know when I rebook I won't receive the credit again, that is ok if they don't take it off me.

 

[Daver6]

Has anyone had experience cancelling a reservation with the new credit? I booked a flex Econ fare with the travel credit last membership year (only a bit over a month ago) but I need to cancel my booking and rebook as Amex travel are being extremely unhelpful and said I can't change a flexible economy fare because the new price is lower, that discussion is for another thread.

If I cancel the booking for a refund, I already received the travel credit to my amex. Is the system smart enough to take the $450 off me or because I had it credited it will stay? I know when I rebook I won't receive the credit again, that is ok if they don't take it off me.

I don't have first hand experience with your scenario. However, without going into specifics because you know, fight club, a similar thing has happened with a different Amex cashback offer. Ie, flight cancelled and refunded but the credit wasn't clawed back.

 

[vetrade]

The changes to the Ts & Cs in May also include some AMEX nitpicking regarding lounge access. I noticed that the complimentary lounge passes now only apply to bookings made after the card's anniversary. So, when you pay your annual fee ($450 in my case) you become eligible for the 2 QF lounge passes and 2 Centurion passes but you can't apply them to any flight booking made prior to the card anniversary (as you were previously able to) even if the flight/s are to be taken during the current membership year. Given that flights are often booked many months in advance of travel, this change just dilutes the overall attractiveness of the AMEX card.

 

[Daver6]

The changes to the Ts & Cs in May also include some AMEX nitpicking regarding lounge access. I noticed that the complimentary lounge passes now only apply to bookings made after the card's anniversary. So, when you pay your annual fee ($450 in my case) you become eligible for the 2 QF lounge passes and 2 Centurion passes but you can't apply them to any flight booking made prior to the card anniversary (as you were previously able to) even if the flight/s are to be taken during the current membership year. Given that flights are often booked many months in advance of travel, this change just dilutes the overall attractiveness of the AMEX card.

How would they enforce that with the QF lounge passes? In fact, how would they even enforce that in the Centurion lounges? Swiping your card won't tell them when you booked the flight you're on, especially if you used a different card to book the flight.

 

[vetrade]

How would they enforce that with the QF lounge passes? In fact, how would they even enforce that in the Centurion lounges? Swiping your card won't tell them when you booked the flight you're on, especially if you used a different card to book the flight.

It seems they have changed their systems to be date sensitive. In the case of the QF lounge passes, they simply don't show up on the QF website as they did in the past. When I rang QF to enquire I was told the passes only show up and become available to be linked to a flight once you make an eligible QF spend after your AMEX card annual fee has been paid.

From the Ts & Cs: "Within 2 weeks of processing your first spend on selected Qantas products and services each anniversary year on your Card, you will receive an email from Qantas confirming the Qantas Club Lounge Invitations are available for use."
12. As a primary Qantas American Express Ultimate Card Member, if you’re eligible to receive the complimentary Qantas Club lounge pass benefit, redeeming your Qantas Travel Credit through americanexpress.com.au/travel will not count towards your spend on selected Qantas products and services. You will need to make the eligible Qantas spend directly from qantas.com.au.

If the same approach is applied to the Centurion Lounge passes, I would not be surprised if swiping your card at the lounge, does, in fact, differentiate between bookings made before or after the anniversary date. The AMEX website doesn't explain that so I'll be making a call to them to clarify that.

 

[Daver6]

It seems they have changed their systems to be date sensitive. In the case of the QF lounge passes, they simply don't show up on the QF website as they did in the past. When I rang QF to enquire I was told the passes only show up and become available to be linked to a flight once you make an eligible QF spend after your AMEX card annual fee has been paid.

But you could purchase flight A in year 1 for year 2. In year two you just need to spend with QF to get the passes (ie carbon offset would do it). Now that pass is available to use from your flight purchased in year 1 for travel in year two.

From the Ts & Cs: "Within 2 weeks of processing your first spend on selected Qantas products and services each anniversary year on your Card, you will receive an email from Qantas confirming the Qantas Club Lounge Invitations are available for use."
12. As a primary Qantas American Express Ultimate Card Member, if you’re eligible to receive the complimentary Qantas Club lounge pass benefit, redeeming your Qantas Travel Credit through americanexpress.com.au/travel will not count towards your spend on selected Qantas products and services. You will need to make the eligible Qantas spend directly from qantas.com.au.

If the same approach is applied to the Centurion Lounge passes, I would not be surprised if swiping your card at the lounge, does, in fact, differentiate between bookings made before or after the anniversary date. The AMEX website doesn't explain that so I'll be making a call to them to clarify that.

At the Centurion lounge, how would they have any idea when you booked your flight? I just can't see how they'd have access to that information.

 

[vetrade]

But you could purchase flight A in year 1 for year 2. In year two you just need to spend with QF to get the passes (ie carbon offset would do it). Now that pass is available to use from your flight purchased in year 1 for travel in year two.


At the Centurion lounge, how would they have any idea when you booked your flight? I just can't see how they'd have access to that information.

Maybe you are correct Daver6 but I am not confident your assumptions are correct. Re: Centurion Passes - if you used your $450 credit to book with QF, they would sure know when the flight was booked

 

[Daver6]

Maybe you are correct Daver6 but I am not confident your assumptions are correct. Re: Centurion Passes - if you used your $450 credit to book with QF, they would sure know when the flight was booked

Even if you did that, I'm not so sure they information is going to shared to with a lounge dragon. Even if it is, what about the 99% of times people are accessing the lounge not having booked using that method? They have no ability to prove one way or another, so covering that edge case seems like a waste of effort on their behalf.

The reality is, I'm only guessing though.

 

[encryptededdy]

So, when you pay your annual fee ($450 in my case) you become eligible for the 2 QF lounge passes and 2 Centurion passes but you can't apply them to any flight booking made prior to the card anniversary (as you were previously able to) even if the flight/s are to be taken during the current membership year. Given that flights are often booked many months in advance of travel, this change just dilutes the overall attractiveness of the AMEX card.

There is no relation between the lounge passes and how the flights were booked. The QF lounge passes are completely governed by the normal QF lounge pass rules, and the Centurion passes can be used with any flight from the SYD/MEL international terminals.

The Centurion passes are granted every card anniversary, and the Qantas passes are granted as soon as you charge a flight booked directly with Qantas to your card*, once per membership year.

*in practice, other non-flight spend with Qantas can trigger this too

 

[Ktan89]

Just had a look at the survey today too. Told them all their bright ideas to improve the card sucks!
Also put in notes that Krisflyer was 1 of the main reasons why I got the plat card.. they need to switch thay back

 

[SOPOOR]

Just had a look at the survey today too. Told them all their bright ideas to improve the card sucks!
Also put in notes that Krisflyer was 1 of the main reasons why I got the plat card.. they need to switch thay back

Im sure there next campagin will be
"We've listened to your feedback, at our customers request we have made those changes!"

 

[kpc]

Where do you see if you have a Amex credit and the expiry date? In the past when you click on book Travel Online, you get a pop up box where the credt available and the expiry date is shown. Possibly because I don't have a current travel credit, I don't see anything when I click...

 

[SOPOOR]

Where do you see if you have a Amex credit and the expiry date? In the past when you click on book Travel Online, you get a pop up box where the credt available and the expiry date is shown. Possibly because I don't have a current travel credit, I don't see anything when I click...

When you hover does the travel credit show up?

 

[kpc]

When you hover does the travel credit show up?

Nope but it maybe because I don't have a current credit?

 

[mick]

Nope but it maybe because I don't have a current credit?

Yes, that's correct. If you look at my earlier post here, you'll see that it indicates I have a $400 and $450 credit available. I've since used them both and they no longer display when I logon.

 

[Familyman1]

Nope but it maybe because I don't have a current credit?

FYI: I'm sure I have a Qantas Travel Credit of $450 but I can't see any record of it on the Amex site. Are we both looking in the wrong place? Can someone please check if you can still hover your mouse over the Travel Credit to view the expiry date and Terms and Conditions. I just can't find a Travel Credit link.

 

[Undercover Investor]

so, I've let my two travel credits ($450 Plat Charge, $400 Plat Reserve) fallen off the radar by a couple of days they all got forfeited.

I reached out Chat support to discuss a possibility to extend them just for a couple of days. Obvious result: No go!

When I addressed that a reminder email would be very helpful for those whose credits are expiring soon, the agent response was: "An automated reminder is not generated for any card member having travel credit or free flight benefit on eligible cards." A very disappointing response.

Does anyone has an email address to I could forward my feedback on?

Card member receives email reminders on every single Amex offers saved to their card, every little $10, $20 cashback.

Yet there is no comms about expiring travel credits, flight benefits, one of the biggest if not the biggest benefit of the card.

 

[SOPOOR]

so, I've let my two travel credits ($450 Plat Charge, $400 Plat Reserve) fallen off the radar by a couple of days they all got forfeited.

I reached out Chat support to discuss a possibility to extend them just for a couple of days. Obvious result: No go!

When I addressed that a reminder email would be very helpful for those whose credits are expiring soon, the agent response was: "An automated reminder is not generated for any card member having travel credit or free flight benefit on eligible cards." A very disappointing response.

Does anyone has an email address to I could forward my feedback on?

Card member receives email reminders on every single Amex offers saved to their card, every little $10, $20 cashback.

Yet there is no comms about expiring travel credits, flight benefits, one of the biggest if not the biggest benefit of the card.

I would try AFCA, youve got nothing to lose.
Or maybe call again

 

[Daver6]

so, I've let my two travel credits ($450 Plat Charge, $400 Plat Reserve) fallen off the radar by a couple of days they all got forfeited.

I reached out Chat support to discuss a possibility to extend them just for a couple of days. Obvious result: No go!

When I addressed that a reminder email would be very helpful for those whose credits are expiring soon, the agent response was: "An automated reminder is not generated for any card member having travel credit or free flight benefit on eligible cards." A very disappointing response.

Does anyone has an email address to I could forward my feedback on?

Card member receives email reminders on every single Amex offers saved to their card, every little $10, $20 cashback.

Yet there is no comms about expiring travel credits, flight benefits, one of the biggest if not the biggest benefit of the card.

Maybe call up and request to speak to the cancellation team. Suspect threatening to cancel over this might elicit some kind of response.

 

[bussyboy]

I reached out Chat support to discuss a possibility to extend them just for a couple of days. Obvious result: No go!

When I addressed that a reminder email would be very helpful for those whose credits are expiring soon, the agent response was: "An automated reminder is not generated for any card member having travel credit or free flight benefit on eligible cards." A very disappointing response.

Was it even a human on the other end of that?