Earlier I wrote about how the Amex International Airline Program saved me roughly $750 on the cost of a Qatar Airways business class ticket.
Amex’s International Airline Program is available to those with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, and offers discounts on first, business, and premium economy tickets booked on select airlines, for travel originating in the US and select Canadian gateways.
This is such an awesome program, since you get a discount even on top of the sale price that an airline might be offering. So the next time Qatar Airways has a fare sale out of the US, for example, you can save even more by booking through Amex.
Earlier I shared the list of participating airlines, though reader Steve pointed out that four more airlines have been added to the program. Here’s the full list of airlines eligible for the International Airline Program:
What has changed is that the Amex International Airline Program now offers discounts on Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss. The Lufthansa Group airlines often have attractive first & business class transatlantic fares, so those fares are now eligible for even further savings through this program. This is definitely something to keep in mind the next time you’re looking to book a premium ticket on one of the 22 eligible airlines.
The Amex International Airline Program can save you money on the cost of a Lufthansa ticket
As a reminder, the basic terms of the program are as follows:
- Valid for first class, business class, and premium economy tickets booked through Amex Travel, including both refundable and non-refundable tickets
- Valid for the purchase of 1-8 tickets
- A $39 service fee applies, which is waived for Centurion Card members
- Only valid for travel originating in the US and “select Canadian gateways”
- You can use the “Amex Pay With Points” benefit to book tickets through this program
- To get quotes using this deal, you need to call 1-800-525-3355 if you have the Amex Personal Platinum Card, or 1-800-553-9497 if you have the Amex Business Platinum Card
Bottom line
The Amex International Airline Program, which is available to those with the Amex Personal Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card, just got even more valuable. From premium economy to first class, you can now save money on the cost of Lufthansa Group tickets, which I can see being valuable. Lufthansa and Swiss sometimes even have reasonable paid first class fares, and this should knock a few hundred dollars off the cost of those tickets as well.
Does anyone plan to use the Amex IAP for travel on Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, or Swiss?
We've called AMEX Travel on trips to Asia, EU at least 4 times this past year. Whenever AMEX intl program prices are compared to what Goggle flight shows, there weren't any savings compared to what we ended up booking online. In contrast, the old companion fare program we used at least 4-6 times in its last year was more effective. I must be doing something wrong?
Worked with an agent for an hour to try and find an example where an IAP LH biz seat to Europe was cheaper than google flights. We failed. SYD in biz was a similar situation. However, did find a saving on SYD in premium economy on New Zealand. Lot of work to find a saving.
@Andy. I think you could use IAP based on your second scenario whereby your travel would begin in the US.
You should just call Amex Travel and inquire. Nearly all of their agents are extremely well-versed in the ins and outs of the program.
Ah, I originally missed that travel has to originate in the US or "select Canadian gateways."
But what if a OneWorld RTW itinerary began in the US and first went to Tokyo on JAL (thus on JAL ticket stock)?
Can the AmEx International Airline program be used for OneWorld RTW fares? I'm planning an RTW itinerary that originates and terminates in Japan, so I imagine that the ticket would be created on JAL stock.
The airlines on the itinerary include JAL, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific (which are on the list), and American and Finnair (which are not). But if the ticket is issued by JAL, would that qualify?
I have said it many times, but I am shocked that this Amex Plat benefit doesn't get touted more.
Lucky just saved $750 on a single booking which more than offsets the $550 annual fee and that doesn't even take into account the $200 airline and uber credits. People love complaining about the lack of a multiplier for non-airline bookings on Amex Plat, but 3x points is chump change compared to the real dollars...
I have said it many times, but I am shocked that this Amex Plat benefit doesn't get touted more.
Lucky just saved $750 on a single booking which more than offsets the $550 annual fee and that doesn't even take into account the $200 airline and uber credits. People love complaining about the lack of a multiplier for non-airline bookings on Amex Plat, but 3x points is chump change compared to the real dollars that Lucky just saved on a single booking.
Off course if you don't book premium economy, J or F class fares with cash, then this benefit isn't for you, but it blows my mind that more bloggers don't talk about how much money you can save with this feature.
Do they use Bulk fares which gets no EQDs on United?
@ dmodemd -- I don't believe so, though hopefully someone else can confirm.
You were asked to push Amex platinum 100 times this year. All these posts on the last day are not going to make for the, shortfall. You know the punishment. When you come next year to renew your contract you will need to bend over and get paddled. 5x for each missed post.
Amex
Does anyone know which Canadian gateways work for IAP?
What's the most effective way to book one way premium awards with this service? Any way around the usual problem of one way ticket being the same price or more than a round trip?