Hotel booking via AMEX plat travel

[RooFlyer]

I usually use my TA to book overseas hotels, or book myself but I thought I'd give AMEX Plat Travel a go (AMEX Plat charge card) through their web site.

Looking at a Doubletree in India, for the same room, the Amex rate is A$152, whilst the hotel non member rate, is A$127 or $138 with breakfast (and I could get a member discount). As far as I can tell, both rates include taxes etc.

There are probably more MR points with booking via Amex, but is it typical for the Amex price to be +15% more than book direct?

 

[Pleb Status]

As I received a $50 statement credit offer, I made a booking through Amex travel and found that if you are flexible with your hotel choice, you can get some reasonable rates equivalent to other sites. However, without the statement credit 'carrot', I would normally look elsewhere using discount codes and/or rebates to get better value.

 

[zig]

I have always found the rates higher through Amex than anywhere else - either direct or third party bookings. I have only made a few bookings if there has been a special promotion on, or to use my travel credit.
Another thing I have found is that sometimes there are some room categories that haven't been available through Amex that might be available directly through the hotel.

 

[Pleb Status]

I have always found the rates higher through Amex than anywhere else - either direct or third party bookings. I have only made a few bookings if there has been a special promotion on, or to use my travel credit.
Another thing I have found is that sometimes there are some room categories that haven't been available through Amex that might be available directly through the hotel.

Always is a bit harsh. For example, comparing apples vs apples, a hotel I booked on the weekend was AUD1635 total at Amex travel and AUD1698 total at Expedia (and associated sites for a refundable room rate). I did not need a refundable rate so booked at Agoda for less.

IME, Amex travel does tend to offer only refundable rates which makes them appear more expensive than other travel sites however. Their target customers are most likely businesses who want flexibility more than private customers.

 

[zig]

Always is a bit harsh. For example, comparing apples vs apples, a hotel I booked on the weekend was AUD1635 total at Amex travel and AUD1698 total at Expedia (and associated sites for a refundable room rate). I did not need a refundable rate so booked at Agoda for less.

IME, Amex travel does tend to offer only refundable rates which makes them appear more expensive than other travel sites however. Their target customers are most likely businesses who want flexibility more than private customers.

Glad you were able to find favourable rates. I can only speak from my experience, which is that whenever I have checked rates, they have always been more expensive. It might be harsh, but it has been my experience.

 

[greenfrog86]

I usually use my TA to book overseas hotels, or book myself but I thought I'd give AMEX Plat Travel a go (AMEX Plat charge card) through their web site.

Looking at a Doubletree in India, for the same room, the Amex rate is A$152, whilst the hotel non member rate, is A$127 or $138 with breakfast (and I could get a member discount). As far as I can tell, both rates include taxes etc.

There are probably more MR points with booking via Amex, but is it typical for the Amex price to be +15% more than book direct?

I think a more appropriate comparison would be Amex vs booking aggregator (expedia, agoda, hotels.com etc) as the direct hotel website will often have 'best price' claims so will always be cheaper when booked directly (they're saving the fee paid to other sites so will sometimes be about the same price but throw in extras).

Having said that I've sometimes found good deals with Amex, especially where they have some hotels discounted quite a bit. But overall they aren't my go-to place for booking hotels

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, my experience with AMEX plat travel web site is complete. I recounted today's experience in the 'Travel Mistakes' thread.

 

[Ewing]

Well, my experience with AMEX plat travel web site is complete. I recounted today's experience in the 'Travel Mistakes' thread.

Made my last ever booking via the Plat travel web site recently. It was a prepaid rate at $399 for the night.

I turned up at the hotel on Saturday to no record of my booking, and no rooms available as they and every other hotel in the area were completely booked out.

I called American Express, and nobody was there with access to reservations - nobody would be in until Monday. Fortunately I knew someone staying in the same hotel and ended up in a fold out bed in their room otherwise I could have potentially been homeless for the night.

The manager called Expedia (it turns out Amex are just an Expedia reseller) who had the reservation but didn't send it to the hotel.

Still no response from Amex...

 

[turtlemichael]

I tend to do my reservations through the Hilton website but I can recall two instances where I checked out Amex Plat Travel rates and they were substantially better than available directly. One was the Saxon in Johannesburg where we got their largest suite plus a few other extras including the USD100.00 to spend on site. This room was cheaper than the standard room and about 20% of the direct booked price. I suspect it might have been a mistake rate but it was fully honoured. I reckon I saved $200 per night with an infinitely better room. The other was Sea Peppers in Launceston where the Amex rate was $80 per night below the hotel website best rate for the dates I wanted.

So the lesson for me is that if I want to do something out of the ordinary I should at least investigate Amex Plat Travel.