Amex Platinum Travel Credit?

[K-in-Boston]

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@ddm2k1 wrote:

The short of it is - AmEx makes you book through their website in order to receive the travel credit, up to $200, whereas Chase will credit back anything falling under the "Travel" category, up to $300. 

For annual fees that are the same, I'd much rather get the higher credit and be able to use it on purchases from Kayak, Priceline, etc. - exactly where and how I want to use it. I can still find 4 and 5 star hotels through 3rd party sites with ease, and have room selection, as well. 

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It's key to note that this is an additional $200 Amex Travel credit that is not an advertised feature of the card and is in addition to the $200 airline credit.  While certainly they are not as easy to use as Chase for many people, this is $400 total vs Chase's $300 for the same AF.

[ToxikPH]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Correct, unlike hotels, with airlines you will almost always earn FF miles and elite qualifying credits no matter how you book a revenue flight, with the exception of some consolidator fares (these will usually be all-in-one vacation packages or bulk fares from a travel agent).

@ToxikPH Do you have the regular Amex Platinum Card, or a cobranded one?  Mine has not renewed yet, but the credit should show up at the beginning of the month following renewal on the regular Amex Platinum Card.

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@K-in-BostonI have just the vanilla platinum. To answer your second post I renewed August 2020 so fall into that window too. When I messaged Amex they said that I just wasn't eligible for this offer for some reason.

[ddm2k1]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

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@ddm2k1 wrote:

The short of it is - AmEx makes you book through their website in order to receive the travel credit, up to $200, whereas Chase will credit back anything falling under the "Travel" category, up to $300. 

For annual fees that are the same, I'd much rather get the higher credit and be able to use it on purchases from Kayak, Priceline, etc. - exactly where and how I want to use it. I can still find 4 and 5 star hotels through 3rd party sites with ease, and have room selection, as well. 

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It's key to note that this is an additional $200 Amex Travel credit that is not an advertised feature of the card and is in addition to the $200 airline credit.  While certainly they are not as easy to use as Chase for many people, this is $400 total vs Chase's $300 for the same AF.

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That's good if one will be spending at least $200 on each airfare and hotel AND be booking through AmEx's website, right? 

However, if I'm driving out of state and just need lodging, I am thinking I will fare better with Chase, so long as all else - including prices - are the same? 

I have both AmEx Platinum and CSR (and AmEx Mariott Bonvoy). My Platinum hasn't gotten much use as of late - for both reasons pertaining to booking requirements and not (officially) being a revolver.