Do you qualify for the new $200 Amex Travel credit?

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The Platinum Card® from American Express might just be the all-around best American Express card. It provides the most comprehensive airport lounge access; it gifts you with automatic hotel elite status; it’s got a welcome bonus worth potentially $1,200+ in travel; it comes with hundreds and hundreds of dollars in statement credits annually.

It’s time to add another perk to the list, a bonus Amex Travel credit available for select cardmembers. It’s a $200 reimbursement for booking travel through the American Express Travel portal. This benefit was added to offset the fact that you’re probably not employing the card’s amazing travel benefits as you were pre-coronavirus. This is on top of the streaming and wireless telephone service credits (up to $40 a month through December 2020) that Amex added in May.

Here’s what you need to know about this easy $200 in travel.

Do you qualify for the $200 Amex Travel credit?

If you hold the Amex Platinum (personal version only), you probably qualify for this bonus credit. The caveat is that you have to renew your card (pay the annual fee again) before the credit will appear. As long as you’ve renewed your card (or will renew your card) between April 2020 and March 2021, you will receive this credit. In other words, you won’t get this benefit if you open the card now.

After you pay your annual fee, check out this page to see if the credit has posted. It should arrive at the beginning of the cardmember renewal month.

How to use the credit

Before you use your credit, know this: Amex Travel is an online travel agency, meaning you aren’t booking “direct” with travel companies. That’s not really a big deal unless you’re booking a hotel. With hotels, you won’t receive elite status perks, elite night credits, or redeemable points if you book through a third-party.

If you’ve never booked with Amex Travel you can compare it to an online travel agency like Orbitz or Expedia where it’s possible to book an array of travel services, like airfare, hotels, car rentals and more.

Fortunately, there are no hoops to jump through when redeeming your bonus $200 — but there are a few things to know:

• You must spend at least $200 on travel (you can meet the spending through multiple transactions)
• Qualifying purchases include airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, or tours to activate the credit
• You must use your eligible Amex Platinum card to pay
• Only the primary cardholder can use this credit
• You do not have to enroll your card
• Travel credit expires December 31, 2021

You can use the online Amex Travel portal, or call Amex to make your reservations. Statement credits usually post within a week.

Bottom line

Here is the current tally of Amex Platinum statement credits:

• Up to $200 annual Amex Platinum airline credit for incidental expenses on your selected airline
• Up to $200 in Uber credits per year
• Up to $100 in credit for Saks Fifth Avenue annually (up to $50 semi-annually)
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100)
• Through December 2020: Up to $40 in statement credits per month for select streaming and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers ($20 per month for each)
• up to $200 statement credit for Amex Travel for those who renew their card between April 2020 and March 2021

That’s potentially up to $1,000 in credits in one year alone! Not bad for a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Let me know your thoughts on this Amex Travel credit. And subscribe to our newsletter for more how-to posts like this delivered to your inbox.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.