$300 back on $1K in flights at Amex Travel with Amex Offer [Targeted, enrollment requirement]

There is a new Amex offer out this morning on Platinum cards that will give you $300 back when you spend $1,000 or more at Amex Travel. If you'll be booking flights with one of the airlines that qualify, this can be a great deal.

The Deal

• A new targeted Amex Offer is out for $300 back when you spend $1,000+ on qualifying flights through Amex Travel [enrollment required]

Key Terms

• Offer valid only for flights operated by select airlines (or a flight + hotel package) and booked directly with American Express Travel online through AmericanExpress.com/us/AmexTravelIAP, through the Amex® App, or by calling the number on the back of your Card.
• Select airlines include
  • AeroMexico
  • Air France
  • Air New Zealand
  • ANA
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Austrian Airlines
  • British Airways
  • Brussels Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • China Airlines
  • Delta
  • Emirates
  • Etihad
  • Finnair
  • Iberia Airlines
  • Japan Airlines
  • KLM
  • LATAM
  • Lufthansa
  • Qantas
  • Qatar Airways
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Swiss International Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic.
• Flights booked directly with a qualifying airline or through other third-party sites and apps, not listed as eligible, are excluded.
• Offer not valid for all other types of American Express Travel bookings or purchases not listed as eligible.
• International Airline Program benefits are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Card® and Centurion® Members (Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card Members are not eligible), on int’l tkts booked through Amex Travel for select 1st class, business class, and premium economy tickets with participating airlines, subject to availability.
• Travel must originate in and return to U.S. gateway and select Canadian gateways.
• An eligible Card Member can book for himself/herself and up to 7 passengers traveling on the same itinerary as that Card Member.
• Bookings must be made using an eligible Card in the Card Member’s name.
• Discounts are applied to the base airfare. Discounts are not combinable with other offers unless indicated and may not apply to codeshare partners.
• See offer for full terms

Quick Thoughts

If you wanted to buy flights in the near future, this could be a great offer. Saving three hundred bucks on flights is a nice win.

There are some restrictions. I was excited to book a flight on British Airways before I saw this offer, but I realized that only flights departing and returning to US or Canadian gateways qualify. I don't believe it will qualify for the offer because I'm booking a flight from Europe.

The offer states that it is good for $300 back when you spend $1,000 or more on international flights. The Amex International Airline program offers discounts for Amex Platinum cards on international airlines in premium cabins. You can read more about the program in this post. I don't know if the International Airline program fares are enforced or if any ex-US flights will work on the included airlines.

I don't think it will stack with the Pay With Points rebate for Business Platinum cards, but I think it will. The Business Platinum card can be used to pay for flights booked via Amex Travel and get up to 1 million points back per year when they redeem for flights on their chosen airline. I think this might stack because of the way Amex handles reservations, first charging the flight to your Business Platinum card and then reimbursing it with points. I don't know if the offer will start at the initial charge. It's worth a try if you're buying a qualification ticket.

Delta is one of the foreign airlines that made the list. Domestic flights would not be eligible for the International Airline program. Delta has a fairly generous change policy, so you may be able to lock in the discount now and later change to the flight you want, though you may be in for some hassle in rebooking it through Amex Travel.

Overall, this is a valuable offer that will be of interest to many. If you have an intention to use it, I would recommend that you sync it up immediately.