How to Use Amex Airline Credits in 2023

Amex Airline Credits Without Travel

The Coronavirus Pandemic had us all stuck at home with zero plans to travel so we had to get creative last year, but luckily for us the new flexible airfare policies have made it easier than ever to use our credits. It’s a piece of cake to use the credits towards airfare now because all any flight changes result in a credit to your account to use later on as opposed to a refund on your credit card. Annual Travel credits can be a source of pain for people paying big bucks for premium travel credit cards like the American Express Platinum Card, American Express Business Platinum Card and the Hilton Aspire. If people can get full value from their credits, it helps to offset the annual fees. So what’s the big deal? The fees and charges officially covered by the Amex Airline fee credit are pretty restrictive compared to other premium card travel credits not to mention pretty much impossible to use if you aren’t traveling. Let’s be honest, historically people have been less than thrilled with these credits but now…. they couldn’t be EASIER! So mo more complaining. In this post I’ll explain the gray area issues and offer some “suggestions” for using your airline fee credits without even taking a flight!

UPDATE 9/29/2021 (New Data Points Added for American Airlines, Delta and Jetblue)

MUST READ: Incredible Amex Platinum Flight Discounts! Save Over 75% on Transcon Flights

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What Counts for the Airline Incidental Fee Credit

Here’s the official language from Amex:

1. Select one qualifying airline
2. Use your Card to pay for eligible incidental travel fees from that airline.
3. Get a statement credit

What I can Use Amex Airline Credit For?

Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member’s airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees.

Guide: Downgrade Options and Rules for Amex, Citi and Chase Reward Credit Cards

To further complicate matters, elite status requirements have been reduced and current status has been extended, which will make way for many more travelers to become elite. Status factors into this equation because many of the incidental fees are free for elite members. Even low level status will often yield free bags, free drinks, lounge access and premium economy (or better) upgrades. This doesn’t leave too many incidental charges for those of us lucky enough to be elites. Additionally, if you’re chasing status you want to pay cash for some of your tickets and upgrades so that they count towards qualification.

Guide: How to Choose Your Airline for the Amex Airfare Credit

Amex Airline Fee Credit: Non-Travel Options

Before we get into the options that have worked for me the last few months I want to point out these options preserve the value of your airline credits for future travel. These are not charges that would be refunded since Amex loves to unfairly claw back refunded transactions. If you’re not traveling you should be able to get the following charges reimbursed for Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines. In the past I spread the love for the Amex Platinum Airline Credits between Jetblue and Delta and never had any trouble maximizing my credits between seat upgrades and gift cards but as we all know gift cards are no longer an option. WOMP.

Check out: Guide: Best Way to Book JetBlue Mint

Vouchers for Changed or Cancelled Flights actually provide us with a unique opportunity to lock in the value of your credits for future travel.

While most people are not thrilled with getting a travel voucher in lieu of a refund for flight changes and cancellations they may actually be a good thing when it comes to your incidental credits because you’re receiving the travel voucher in lieu of a refund. If there’s no refund there’s no chance of the credit being clawed back by Amex (at least on the grounds that you also received a credit from the merchant.) This means you are probably safe booking award tickets with substantial taxes and fees since those are usually reimbursed by Amex and the taxes and fees will be credited to your airline account, not your credit card.

– Amex Travel Credit AA

• Mileage Multiplier
• Seat Upgrades

– Mileage Multiplier

When you book an AA flight you have the option to purchase additional miles at approx. 3 cents a piece. Of course, 3 cents is not a great value but you can certainly redeem those miles for way more than that, especially if they’re free. You should pay for the flight first without adding the multiplier so that the transactions are separate. For full details on mileage multiplier check out the dedicated AA page. I can once again confirm as of 11/2020 this still works.

New Data Point: Purchased Milage Multiplier for $150 (Amex Reimbursed it 3 days later)

Can I use the Amex Airline Credit for Upgrades?

Travel Booking Basics: (30K Miles Up For Grabs) Stack Offers for Tons of Extra AA Miles

YOU- Seat Upgrades

Although expressly excluded by Amex from eligible fees upgrading a seat after the initial booking has worked for me when the upgrade price was under $200, I haven’t tried anything over that amount.

Delta Travel Credit Options

Additional Collection (think E-credits)

Any changes you make to an existing flight that require additional payments code as additional collection and have been consistently reimbursed. This is especially awesome for anyone who has an E-credit on their account because they can simply find a flight that’s more expensive than the original credit amount and pay the balance with their Amex card. (Note, even if you end up having to cancel the flight, the amount is added to your e-credit, so Amex won’t try to claw back the credit since no refund will show on your account.)

– Splitting Ticket Payment between Amex card and a Delta Gift Card

Flights partially paid for with a gift card code differently than straight purchases and Amex has credited me each time I’ve done this. NOTE: I’ve never tried anything over the total credit amount.

– Seat Upgrades (Manually Adjusted)

Check out my Delta Suites Video Review Here

JetBlue Amex Airline Credit

– Even More Seats

This makes things a bit more interesting for me because I can put the Even More Seat on my Amex card and receive a credit for the full $70. JetBlue is a great choice for your preferred Airline Choice because of the way they charge to upgrade to premium economy. I find that it’s incredibly easy to use the fee credit with them every year because you pay the Even More Space fee separate from your ticket, which means it counts as a fee. Several other airlines do not let you upgrade separately for cash or at all if you booked initially in economy.

Jetblue: Crushing Life: How I Got 10,000 Miles and a 4 Star Room for $11

– Fare Upgrades

For changes to a higher fare you can call Jetblue and they’ll charge you the difference, which has worked for me in the past and should work here since Jetblue crediting cancelled flights to member’s travel banks.

– Cash + Points Bookings

Cash + Points is a redemption option offered to TrueBlue members during the online booking process that allows members to pay for JetBlue-operated flights using a combination of monetary payment and TrueBlue points, you can split the payment between points and put the balance on your American Express Card. I’ve attempted this twice and it’s triggered the fee credit both times.

Last Ditch Effort: Cheap Airfare (somewhat mixed results and data points but worth a shot if the alternative is to lose the credit completely.) Many people have reported that airfare under $150 often works to trigger the credit.

Get Your Elite Credit and Save Big: Stack Amex Pay with Points Rebate and Insider Fares

Final Thoughts

Amex allows you to downgrade premium credit cards to receive a prorated annual fee. Last week I did a detailed guide on how to downgrade for each bank, the rules and best options for each premium card. It could very well make sense for most people to downgrade Amex Platinum to Amex Gold Cards since you’re probably spending way more money on groceries and food delivery. As far as the incidental fees, to check whether certain expenses will qualify for a credit check out the specific airlines’ thread on Flyertalk.