AmEx Flight Credit Coming up, What's Everyone Booking?

tunzafun001 on 17/12/2021 - 01:49

Well, we've got a couple of Amex travel credits coming up and no idea what to do with them. Still have last years as well, which was a cancelled flight that got an extra 12 month extension.

We used to travel a lot, but now have a little one (who isn't old enough to be vaccinated yet), so travel is basically out until that happens.

Have activated the Harvey Norman offer…but man I hate Harvey's. Maybe a bigger TV, but more likely to buy a cheapy Ecko or Lindsar 4k cheapy from TGG. Don't really need anything. In fact the opposite, partner and I moved in together and have 2 of everything!

So thinking booking a flight / hotel that can be cancelled, and this credit postponed as well.

Any tips on who / where to book these days, sadly with the goal ultimately to cancel and use it later?

Thanks

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Comments

  • bobokingdom on 17/12/2021 - 07:26

    At least you have the option for HN, my credit expire on the first week of Jan 2022 and I was told my only option is to book something for the next 10 months and hope for the best. :(

    • tunzafun001 on 17/12/2021 - 12:01

      You sure. They sent me the HN offer, I didnt accept it. Next minute my travel credit was gone and they just applied the promotion automatically. I still have the offer (not taken up) but it's already applied anyway.

      • bobokingdom on 17/12/2021 - 15:48

        If you look at the offer, you can either book a trip or Harvey Norman credit.

  • HardQuiz on 17/12/2021 - 07:34
    +1

    I remember seeing a thread here someone booking a refundable airline/hotel and Amex refunded the credit with a new expiry date.

    Edit #1 Since I despise HN and wish you don’t have to use your credit with them, see the comments: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/661458

    Edit #2 Another thread: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/650635

    • tunzafun001 on 17/12/2021 - 12:04

      Cheers Vlad. This is what Amex advised me to do as well. I think this time I will close the card after cancelling so the credit will come back as cash (basically an annual fee return). If you cancelled your AMEX in 2020…good call for the 18 month wait.

  • Peck on 17/12/2021 - 14:28

    I am in a quandry about holding onto my Amex cards. I am paying something like $1800 pa in fees.
    T'was good when I was travelling as I was using my travel credits, 1 free night Accor, plus airport lounges etc.
    And my 2 sons got Platinum Supplementary cards off mine, giving them airport lounges.
    The gloss has now gone off travelling with Covid plus other medical issues that I have.
    But I enjoy the bit of a game with the Amex offers.

    • daft009 on 20/12/2021 - 00:41

      Plenty of offers to offset the high annual fee.

      So many supermarket credits, David Jones credit, restaurant credit. 4.5% cashback last year.

  • daft009 on 20/12/2021 - 00:43

    I booked some flights for September 2022 with my travel credit

  • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2021 - 13:38

    I want to cancel my card, but I have $400 credit and no idea what to do.

    Currently, I'm not traveling or looking to travel with everything going on.

    • tunzafun001 on 22/12/2021 - 14:10
      +1

      If you book something refundable, then cancel the card, then cancel the booking. The credit is returned as a cash refund to a BSB account.

      If the card is left open, you just get a credit back with another 12 months. Fair to say the whole system is going to implode very soon.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2021 - 14:41

        Basically book a hotel which is refundable, cancel the card and then cancel the booking and AMEX will refund me?

        Will amex contact you, or do you need to contact them after you cancel the refunded hotel?

        I wouldn't say it's broken, I just think they need more options for people esp at the moment with how travel is.

  • tunzafun001 on 29/12/2021 - 21:24

    The t&cs contradict what the agent told me. They still say that all bookings that are cancelled will lose the WHOLE credit and flights will incur a $55 fee. What a shit show Amex has become.

    I was on hold for 2 hrs. Got nowhere. Just booked a random refundable hotel (as directed). If they dont refund/ renew i will just follow @easternculture s lead and get my annual fees back via the ombudsman.

    Fyi - My august flight that was cancelled, the credit has dissapeared. Though i was ensured it will return in 11 weeks. I rang amex last week and "their computer was real slow" and couldnt advise.

    • May4th on 05/01/2022 - 20:37

      any updates on how you went? i'm in the same boat with my credits

      • tunzafun001 on 05/01/2022 - 20:53

        Not yet. But my partner tried to book something, but the Amex travel site crashed new years eve. Couldnt log on all day. So couldn't use the credit. Took screenshots. So even more to deal with.

        • jaypeee on 29/05/2022 - 15:14

          Any updates now? Looking at booking, cancel card, cancel booking - cash refund..

          • tunzafun001 on 29/05/2022 - 20:31

            @jaypeee: So one of the travel credits was changed to a statement credit (paired with Harvey Norman option). I used this for a refundable hotel. I cancelled this and it came back as a standard account credit for $200.
            The other was a normal flight booking. That cane back in full as another flight credit to use in 12 months.
            The 3rd was a hotel booking. Now another travel credit with a 12 month expiry.
            So your idea should work fine (as long as they havent changed the t&cs around covid). When i booked mine both t&cs were on the website.. 1 lot said a cancellation will forfeit your credit, the other said it was fully refundable. I screenshoted the later. Amex were aware both t&cs were up and just said "sorry about that". ..

  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2022 - 14:57

    Yeah, no idea what to do with this travel credit.

    Traveling ATM is a shitshow.

  • ddhar on 13/01/2022 - 11:40

    I used my credit for TAS trip hotel. Platinum Edge so not restricted to just flights. I also combined it with the $100 credit offer from Amex travel for more savings.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2022 - 13:39

      I have Explorer, I think it's available for Hotels too.

      I just have nothing to book, currently not traveling as I'm building a house.

      I have no need for a hotel room, I'm single.

      It's limited for someone like me unfortunately, wish they had other options.

      • ddhar on 14/01/2022 - 15:43

        Any friends or family you can 'see' the credit to? I believe you can make a booking on their behalf and still use the travel credit?

        • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2022 - 23:50

          I emailed a couple mates interstate, but they've cancelled all travel plans.

          It's too risky ATM

          Let's be honest, I could book something and it's cancelled because of Covid so I would be interested in knowing what's happening with my credit if that's happened.

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