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The travel portal run by American Express is similar to many other online booking sites in that it allows you to purchase flights, hotels and other travel reservations. The main difference is that only those who hold an American Express card can use it.
Certain cards come with additional perks for booking in the portal. For instance, some AmEx cards allow travelers to earn extra points for bookings, receive a 35% points rebate, pay for a portion of the reservation with points, get room upgrades and more. Terms apply.
Here's a look at what AmEx's travel portal offers — and how to use it to maximize your benefits.
Who can use American Express' travel portal?
For example, American Express Platinum Card® cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with an airline or through American Express' travel portal (on up to $500,000 a year in such purchases) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmEx Travel (see rates and fees). They also have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through the travel portal. Additionally, American Express® Gold Card and American Express Platinum Card® cardholders can book room reservations with The Hotel Collection. Terms apply.
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Benefits of booking travel on AmEx's travel portal
Here are some top reasons why booking with AmEx's travel portal could be a good idea.
1. Earn up to 5x points
When you book flight through American Express' travel portal, your credit card may earn additional points for the purchase. In addition, prepaid hotel reservations through American Express' travel portal also earn extra points. These are a few of the cards that offer a bonus when making reservations through AmEx travel:
Annual fee
$895
$325
$150
$0
Earn rate on travel
• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express, on up to $500,000 spent per year.
• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked through American Express.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 4 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year).
• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).
• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express' travel portal.
• 2 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases made through American Express' travel portal.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 3 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on restaurants worldwide.
• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
Terms apply.
• 2 points per $1 on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year.
• 1 point per $1 on purchases above $50,000 in a calendar year.
Terms apply.
Learn more
» Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them
2. Pay for reservations using Pay with Points
With American Express' travel portal, flights, hotels and more can be paid for with points instead of cash. Members can even choose to pay a portion of the trip with points and the rest with cash. Once your reservations have been booked, the full amount of your trip will be charged to your American Express credit card, and then a credit will be posted for the points redeemed within 48 hours.
You must redeem at least 5,000 points in order to use Pay with Points. Points are redeemed at a value of 1 cent per point when booking flights or making Fine Hotels & Resorts reservations. Other eligible travel receives only 0.7 cents per point. NerdWallet values Membership Rewards points at 1.6 cents per point if you take advantage of transferring to and booking through travel partners, so the redemption rates in the travel portal are significantly below our ideal value.
If you need to cancel your reservation, you'll receive a statement credit on your card for the cash equivalent. Members who would rather have the unused Membership Rewards points returned to their accounts must contact American Express customer service at 800-297-3276. Terms apply.
3. Discounted international flights through AmEx IAP
Platinum cardholders have access to discounted flights through International Airline Program (IAP), which allows members to book first, business and premium economy at a discount on select airlines and routes. Plus, you'll receive 5x Membership Rewards points on the booking when using your American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ( see rates and fees) to pay for the flight. Terms apply.
There are more than 20 airlines that participate in this program. You can book refundable and nonrefundable tickets for up to eight passengers through the IAP. Tickets can be paid with your card, points or a combination of the two. You will have to pay a $39 nonrefundable ticketing fee, however the discount received on these tickets should outweigh the fee.
4. Cancel For Any Reason insurance
CFAR is shorthand for an insurance policy that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever and receive a refund. In May 2022, AmEx launched its own version of CFAR coverage for airfare booked through the travel portal using an AmEx card.
This feature, called Trip Cancel Guard, will get you up to a 75% reimbursement on nonrefundable airfare costs, provided you cancel at least two calendar days out from your departure. You'll need to purchase Trip Cancel Guard coverage at the point of booking and if you cancel, whether through the airline directly or through AmEx Travel, you can request reimbursement online or over the phone.
5. 35% points rebate withThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express
When The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholder book flights using points through American Express' travel portal, they can receive up to 35% of their points back. The benefit is available on flights with their chosen airline and provides up to one million points back per calendar year.
However, as with all AmEx credits, it's not as straightforward as you may hope. You will have to designate the airline for the 35% rebate and the airline must be the same as the one chosen for the $200 airline incidental credit. First class and business tickets also aren't eligible.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
6. Fine Hotels & Resorts
Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) is a collection of resorts and benefits available only to Platinum Card members. There are over 2,000 properties worldwide that participate in this program. When making reservations with Fine Hotels & Resorts for one night or more, you'll receive the following benefits:
- $600 statement credit (provided as $300 every six months).
- Noon check-in (when available).
- Room upgrade upon arrival (when available).
- Daily breakfast for two.
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
- Complimentary in-room WiFi.
- Unique property benefit valued at least $100.
Terms apply.
These benefits rival those that many travelers receive when booking directly with hotels to obtain elite status perks. Some locations also offer a last-night free benefit, depending upon when you make your reservation. And some of the best hotels to book using FHR credits offer especially unique amenities.
For example, many theme park fans consider Loews Portofino Bay Hotel as the best FHR hotel in Orlando. That's because — on top of all the above benefits — guests receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access, which allows you to skip the lines inside the Universal theme parks.
7. The Hotel Collection
AmEx Gold and Platinum cardholders receive elite status-level perks at more than 600 hotels worldwide. When you stay for two nights or more, you'll receive a $100 resort credit and an upgrade upon arrival (when available). In addition, you can use your AmEx Membership Rewards credit card to book and pay for your reservation entirely or partially with your points.
How to book travel in the portal
While you can book travel over the phone with an agent, it is often quicker and more convenient to make your reservations through American Express' travel portal.
Here's how to book travel in American Express' travel portal:
- Log in with your username and password.
- Select flights, hotels, flight + hotel, cars, or cruises.
- Enter your travel dates, cities and other relevant information.
- Choose options based on your trip.
- Pay with your American Express credit card, points, or a combination.
Is travel insurance included when booking through American Express' travel portal?
Since you need an American Express card to make reservations through American Express' travel portal, you may already hold a card that offers complimentary travel insurance. If you don’t get travel insurance perks through your AmEx card, you can purchase Trip Cancel Guard through when making your booking.
Trip Cancel Guard works similarly to CFAR in that it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever and get up to a 75% reimbursement of your travel costs as long as the cancellation is made two full days before your trip.
Terms apply.
What is the AmEx Travel cancellation policy?
When you book travel through American Express' travel portal, you may be eligible to cancel your reservation within 24 hours and get a full refund. However, the cancellation policy is determined by the airline.
As such, AmEx instructs travelers to refer to the cancellation policy on the itinerary or reach out to customer service with any questions. Terms apply.
Downsides of booking via American Express' travel portal
There are many appealing reasons why travelers want to book reservations with American Express' travel portal. However, there are some downsides as well. These are some of the most common reasons why you shouldn't:
- Low value for your points. Redeeming points through American Express' travel portal yields a value of 1 cent per point or less. That's a significant reduction compared to our valuation of Membership Rewards points.
- Complicated customer service. Resolving flight or hotel reservation issues becomes more complicated when you book through a third party such as this. The airline or hotel blames the booking agency and may not immediately resolve the problem in some instances. However, providers have no scapegoat when you book direct.
- No hotel elite status benefits or loyalty credits. Most hotels require you to book directly to receive elite status benefits, stay credits or earn points. For travelers looking to take advantage of their elite status or earn status for the next year, booking hotel reservations through the portal is not a good idea.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Despite the above policy, hotels booked through Fine Hotels & Resorts allow you to earn elite night credit and earn loyalty perks associated with your elite status level on your reservations. Final thoughts on American Express' travel portal
American Express' travel portal offers numerous benefits for all American Express cardholders. If you have a Membership Rewards credit card, you can pay for all or part of eligible travel reservations using your points.
And any portion that you pay with your Membership Rewards card can earn up to 5x points. AmEx Travel also offers two hotel collections that provide additional perks similar to elite status benefits.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.
All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.
To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
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