amex travel credit seat upgrade

Use your Amex Platinum airline-fee credit to upgrade to a better seat

Reader Questions are answered twice a week by TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Ethan Steinberg .

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards on the market, though it comes with a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ) to match. One of the easiest ways to recoup that upfront investment is by taking advantage of the card's up to $200 annual airline incidental fee credit , though over the years Amex has made that credit harder to use . Enrollment Required. TPG reader Adam wants to know if he can use the credit to pay for seat upgrades ...

[pullquote source="TPG READER ADAM"]I recently used my Amex Platinum to pay for an upgrade to Economy Plus for a United flight from Houston to Honolulu. It was my understanding that the $200 travel credit is for Wi-Fi, food/drink, luggage, etc, but does not include upgrades. Amex actually reimbursed me the $139 for the upgrade. Is this new or does it just depend on how the charge is coded? Thanks![/pullquote]

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Great question Adam. Unfortunately, Amex doesn't provide a whole lot of clarity on what charges are eligible for this annual travel credit . This credit is even more restrictive when you compare it to the up to $300 annual travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which gets automatically applied to a broad range of travel purchases , including airfare, hotels, ride-hailing services and more. By comparison, Amex only lists which charges are excluded for this credit, with the following list appearing in the terms and conditions under the Amex Platinum application:

"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. "

Related: Which American Airlines expenses trigger the American Express airline fee credit ?

From this, we can see that upgrades are not eligible for reimbursement. While Adam definitely got a more comfortable seat flying in Economy Plus on the longer flight to Hawaii , technically all he did was pay to select a better seat; he didn't actually upgrade to a higher class of service . This is an important distinction, as if he'd paid to upgrade from economy to business class he would not have been reimbursed by Amex.

This means that selecting preferred seats ( Economy Plus on United , Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines and Comfort+ on Delta ) is one of the most consistent ways to get value out of your Amex Platinum airline-fee credit. Especially on longer flights, including transcontinental or international trips, those extra few inches of legroom can really go a long way.

Things start to get a bit murkier when it comes to upgrading to premium economy. Some airlines will let you pay extra to select premium economy seats after booking, and depending on how the purchase codes it might trigger the Amex Platinum airline fee credit. This is much less consistent though, and unfortunately if the credit doesn't trigger automatically you won't have much luck calling in and asking for it to be manually applied to a purchase like this.

Related: Top cards with airline-fee credits: Make change, cancellation and baggage fees a thing of the past

Bottom line

One of the biggest complaints about the Amex Platinum is how hard it is to use the all-important $200 annual airline incidental fee credit. While Adam wasn't expecting to get reimbursed for his purchase of an Economy Plus seat, this is actually a great use of the credit and one of the most surefire ways to get value out of it on longer trips.

Thanks for the question, Adam, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy , message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected] .

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

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How to use your Amex airline fee credit

American express annual airline fee credits reset each calendar year. use them before you lose them.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

American Express offers premium travel benefits on many cards, including annual airline fee credits. The catch is that these credits reset each calendar year, so it's important you use them before the reset.

Eligible cardholders can benefit from annual airline fee credits up to $250 to cover incidentals, such as seat upgrades, checked bags and in-flight refreshments. The Amex cards that offer these credits often come with steep annual fees, so it's important to use the full benefit in order to offset those costs.

The good news: You can book future travel and use the credit now. For example, if you're planning a vacation for next year, you can purchase the flight and add any checked bags or seat upgrades to your reservation now, therefore using your annual airline fee credit to offset the cost of incidentals.

Amex cards that offer annual airline fee credits

• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Up to $200 credit ( see rates and fees )
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express : Up to $200 credit ( see rates and fees )
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : Up to $250 credit ( see rates and fees )

How to check the status of your airline fee credit

Checking whether you have any credit left is simple and best done via americanexpress.com instead of the Amex app:

• Log in to your Amex account
• Navigate to "Benefits"
• Scroll below "All Benefits" or select "Travel" to find the airline fee credit, which will read something like "$200 Airline Fee Credit"
• Expect to see either the credit you have remaining or a statement saying you used the full credit

Note: Before you can take advantage of the credit, you have to select an airline to benefit from this perk. You should do this before you book your travel.

Check progress on other credits

While you're checking your airline fee credit balance, consider checking any other credits that expire at the end of the year. Enrollment may be required to take full advantage of the credits.

• American Express® Gold Card : Monthly $10 statement credit toward eligible dining at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment Required.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the U.S. annually (Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only, benefits renew annually); *up to $300 statement credit per calendar year on eligible Equinox memberships (enrollment required; visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll); up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership(subject to auto-renewal); up to $20 in statement credits each month ($240 annually) when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (enrollment required) Terms apply for all benefits.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies (up to $200 semi-annually), up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe, up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases and $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. Enrollment required.

Don't miss: I saved $350 on my vacation by paying with the Amex Gold Card—here's how you can, too

*Starting in 2023, statement credits for the $300 Equinox Credit benefit will be provided on an annual basis of up to $300 per year and will no longer be provided on a monthly basis of up to $25 back per month. See offer terms for details.

Information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, click here .

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International Airline Program  

As a Platinum Cardmember, you can take advantage of the International Airline Program 1 , which offers you discounted on tickets, complimentary upgrades, or special airfares on some of the world’s finest airlines to destinations around the world.

Complimentary Upgrades

Travel in superior comfort and arrive refreshed. Enjoy complimentary upgrades from Business to First Class when travelling to destinations around the world. Appreciate roomier seats, premium service and more relaxing journeys. Simply use your Platinum Card to purchase an eligible ticket in specified classes. Participating airlines:

• ETIHAD AIRWAYS 2 Applicable Class: First Class Upgrade from Business

Book your flights using your Platinum Card by calling Platinum Card Travel Service at 1-800 801 6564 within the U.S or Outside U.S. call collect at 1 954 503 8868. 

Special Airfares

Whether you are jetting off for a romantic weekend abroad or taking a holiday, you can save with special discounted airfares through the International Airline Program. All you have to do is use your Platinum Card to purchase an eligible ticket in specified classes through Platinum Card Travel Service. Discount varies by airline and class of service.  

Participating airline:  

• DELTA 3 Applicable Class: First, Business and Economy

Book your flights using your Platinum Card by calling Platinum Card Travel Service at 1-800 801 6564 within the U.S or Outside U.S. call collect at 1 954 503 8868.

Terms and conditions

1. The International Airline Program (the “Program”) offers a discounted companion ticket, complimentary upgrade, special class fare or discounted fare on participating airlines to holders of an eligible Basic and Supplementary American Express Platinum Card as described in your American Express Welcome Brochure or are otherwise identified to you by American Express (“Eligible Cardmember”). In order to take advantage of the Program, the Eligible Cardmember’s account must be active (meaning not cancelled). 

2. Valid for booking and travel until 31 December 2018. Offers  vary by origin/destination and are subject to availability. Tickets must be purchased using Platinum Card issued by Platinum Travel Service for American Express Centurion Members only. Terms and conditions apply as per published fare rules. Contact your Centurion Service for further details.

3. Valid for bookings made until 31 July 2018 for travel until 31 December 2018. Offers and aircraft vary by route and are subject to availability. Tickets must be purchased using Platinum Card or The Centurion Card through American Express Travel Services. All travel must be via DL operated flights or no DL coded flights operated by the following Delta Connection operators: Delta Connection / Shuttle: Compass (CP), Express Jet (EV), GoJet Airlines (G7), Endeavor Air (9E), Shuttle America (S5), Skywest. This offer is not combinable with any add-ons, discounts, coupons or special credit vouchers. Tickets are non-transferable and non-endorsable. 12% First Class (J,C,D,I,Z) and 7% Discount in Economy Class (Y,B,M,H,Q,K,L,U,T,X,V). Terms and conditions apply as per published fare rules.

Best credit cards for flight upgrades to first class

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• When choosing a travel credit card for first-class upgrades, you can choose a general travel credit card with transferable rewards or you can choose an airline credit card.
• With an airline credit card, you'll have a smooth path toward first-class upgrades, and you'll often receive several other airline-specific perks.
• If you're looking for a general travel credit card that isn't focused on a specific airline, make sure the card lets you transfer your rewards to various airline loyalty programs.
• For the best odds of grabbing a first-class upgrade on your next flight, consider earning airline elite status, looking for less-busy flight options or even paying for upgrades with credit card rewards.

Nothing beats the luxury of first class — you can enjoy a roomy seat while sipping champagne, which can make even the longest of flights enjoyable. Generally speaking, if you want to fly first class, you can either pay full price for a ticket or hope for an upgrade.

Although first-class flight upgrades aren’t as common as they used to be, it’s still possible for people with elite airline status to get rewarded for their loyalty with a bump into first class. With a good travel credit card , earning those upgrades becomes even easier. And if you aren’t automatically upgraded, you can always use your credit card rewards to upgrade yourself.

Here are some of the best credit cards for first-class upgrades:

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card: Best for Alaska Airlines

The Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card , which comes with a $95 annual fee, earns an unlimited 3X miles for spending on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases; 2X miles on eligible gas purchases, cable purchases, streaming services and local transit purchases; and 1X miles on all other purchases. New cardmembers can also earn a limited-time online welcome offer, which includes 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card earns 2X miles on eligible Delta purchases, 2X miles at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets and 1X miles on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll get a $0 intro annual fee for the first year (then an annual fee of $99 per year), no foreign transaction fees and other card perks. For a welcome offer, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in your first three months.

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines with no annual fee

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card earns 2X miles on eligible Delta purchases, 2X miles at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. This card also comes with a $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a welcome offer of 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 within the first six months.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best for travel card beginners

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which is a general travel credit card, is a good fit for those new to travel credit cards . It comes with a $95 annual fee, along with a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. Also, note that points are worth 25 percent more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Cardholders will earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards ; 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025); 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs); 2X points on other travel purchases; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for luxury travelers

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a general travel rewards card that’s best suited for luxury travelers since it comes with a high annual fee of $550. This card also includes a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, along with no foreign transaction fees and numerous travel-related statement credits and benefits. Plus, points are worth 50 percent more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

For rewards, you’ll earn 10X points on hotel stays, car rentals and Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 10X total points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025); 5X points on air travel through Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on restaurant and general travel purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.

How to choose a credit card for airline upgrades

When choosing a travel credit card for first-class upgrades, you’ll have two main options: You can choose a general travel credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, or you can choose an airline credit card, such as the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.

With an airline credit card, you’ll have a smooth path toward first-class upgrades, and you’ll often receive several other airline-specific perks such as free checked bags, lounge access and companion tickets. Airline credit cards also typically give you higher rewards rates when you book through the airline, which is one more incentive to help you become a frequent flyer and earn elite status.

If you’re looking for a general travel credit card that isn’t focused on a specific airline, make sure the card lets you transfer your rewards to various airline loyalty programs. That way, you can redeem those rewards for first-class upgrades through different airlines.

How to improve your chances of a flight upgrade

Pick an airline and work your way up to elite status.

Airlines reward their most loyal customers, so it’s time to choose an airline and become a frequent flyer. Make sure the airline services the airports you’re most likely to fly into. For example, you probably don’t want to pick Alaska Airlines if you’re located in the Midwest. If you’re an international traveler, avoid small, primarily domestic carriers and look for a major airline that can get you across the globe.

Once you’ve chosen your airline, use it for every trip. Yes, you might find a flight that’s a few dollars cheaper on a competing carrier, but building elite status with an airline comes with its own rewards — including occasional first-class upgrades.

Avoid busy flights

To get a free first-class upgrade, you’re going to want to be on a plane that has empty seats in first class. That means skipping busy flights in favor of less popular ones. How can you tell which flights are the most popular? Look at the price. The cheaper the flight, the less popular it’s likely to be.

If you can book flights during the middle of the week, you’ll have a better chance of finding an empty seat in first class. Midweek flights are also less popular with business-class flyers, which is good for you because business-class tickets often get upgraded to first class before coach tickets. The fewer business-class passengers on your flight, the more likely you’ll get upgraded.

Pay for your upgrade with points or miles

You’re going to be competing with a lot of other travelers for those first-class upgrades — so the best way to ensure you get one might be to just pay for it. That’s where a good travel credit card can help you. If you have a lot of points or miles on your travel credit card, you can easily upgrade your ticket to first class.

The bottom line

The right travel credit card can improve your odds of first-class upgrades. But if you’re hoping to grab a first-class upgrade on your next flight, there’s a lot more you can do to improve your chances, such as earning elite status, looking for less-busy flights and paying for upgrades with credit card rewards.

Related Articles

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Best United Airlines credit cards

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How to Use Amex Airline Credits in 2023

January 1, 2022 12 Comments

In This Post

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

Bored? Looking for a fun way to get your points and miles news, tips and tricks? Check out the video on YouTube and please subscribe!

What Counts for the Airline Incidental Fee Credit

Here’s the official language from Amex:

• Select one qualifying airline
• Use your Card to pay for eligible incidental travel fees from that airline.
• 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 .

Eligible incidental travel fees from your designated airline that you purchased with your card. You’ll receive a statement credit covering those fees, typically 2–4 weeks after you pay for them.

Thanks to the new flexible change fee policy, triggering the Delta credit has never been easier. If you make any changes to your existing airfare like upgrades or flight changes the additional charge will code as “Additional Collection” and trigger reimbursement. If you’re purchasing new airfare you should  pay part of the ticket cost with a Delta gift card and charge the remaining balance to your Amex card . This will also code as “additional collection” and trigger the Amex airline fee credit. While I have had success on charges over the amount of your credit (i.e. $200 or $250) I always try to keep it right around that number.

Reader Interactions

October 17, 2021 at 7:41 am

I recently (October 2021) tried the mileage multiplier on AA with my Amex Gold card and it didn’t work. Datepoint

October 20, 2021 at 6:56 am

Well that’s a big bummer- do you recall the date the transaction posted? I’m going to see how long mine took in the past.

December 15, 2021 at 2:32 pm

I take it all back. It took forever, like a month but Amex did credit the mileage multiplier on AA for my October flight. Since then I upgraded to the Platinum card and get to start all over again before the end of the year 🙂

December 21, 2021 at 12:16 pm

I’m glad it worked 🙂

October 28, 2021 at 9:23 pm

delta is saying they wont give me the credit for a upgrade when did that last work for u?

November 4, 2021 at 4:13 am

Are you trying to get the credit from Delta or Amex?

November 7, 2021 at 8:37 pm

Anyone knows if Delta’s Trip Protection will be re-imbursed by the Amex airline credit? My feeling is that it won’t because it probably will be charged by a travel insurance company instead of Delta, but I am not 100% sure.

November 11, 2021 at 1:55 pm

That is an excellent question- I’ll ask around.

December 24, 2021 at 12:57 am

I have less than a week to use my $100 delta incidental credit. I’m not flying. What can I use the credit for.

Amex delta incidental credit

December 7, 2022 at 10:28 am

I’m glad you updated for 2022! Just trying to use my last $131 AMEX platinum credit available with Delta. I guess I’ll buy DL gift card and book a 2023 flight using the remaining benefit.

December 9, 2022 at 5:48 pm

Hi, for the jetblue points plus cash option, is there a limit to the cash amount? You think 300 Usd will be fine?

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The Pros and Cons of the Delta Reserve Card From American Express

By Kim Hawk

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My introduction to travel credit cards began with Delta co-branded American Express cards. In 2008, I signed up for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card during a flight to Puerto Rico . Fast forward to 2023, and I upgraded from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express to maintain Medallion status and access to Delta Sky Clubs. This upgrade made perfect sense as I fly Delta often—my home airport happens to be the airline's main hub. Signing up for this card even rewarded me with enough points for a round-trip flight from Atlanta to Paris .

This card is a no-brainer if you’re a Delta loyalist like me, but it can be a good option for other frequent travelers, too. Keep reading to learn about the card's benefits and determine whether it's worth adding to your wallet.

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card worth the $650 annual fee?

Shortly after I signed up for the card, Delta announced an increase in the annual fee from $550 to $650. Initially, I was disappointed, but the more I understood the increase in benefits that come with the price tag, the more I realized this card is worth the hefty fee. Before upgrading from the Delta SkyMiles Platinum to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, I considered a few factors. At the time, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex had an annual fee of $250 (it’s now $350). While I had the card, I paid for entry into the SkyClub a few times. At $50 per visit, that added up.

With access to SkyClubs included with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex card and the enhanced companion pass, frequent use of the perks easily offset the $650 annual fee.

Additionally, while this card does not offer a high mileage earning rate per dollar spent (more on that below), it does help me reduce flight costs. I usually pair the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card to maximize my travel savings.

Another important factor is that this card accelerates the attainment of Silver Medallion status by providing $2,500 toward the $5,000 MQD requirement (I’ll explain this further below too). Because it's the lower tier, people often overlook the perks of Silver Medallion status, but they're worthwhile for frequent fliers: Cardholders get priority boarding and a discount on CLEAR Plus membership , which renews each year you have the card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card benefits and perks

• Luxury lounge access: Cardholders get complimentary unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges, and will receive four one-time-use guest passes each year. Starting on February 1, 2025, the unlimited access benefit will be reduced to 15 visits per year unless you spend $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. After the 15 visits have been exhausted, you can purchase additional visits at $50 per person.
• Medallion Status fast track: Recently, Delta revamped its system for earning medallion status in 2025 and beyond. Previously, to earn Medallion status, SkyMiles members had to meet specific threshold qualifications in two categories: MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) and MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars). The process has been simplified to only measure MQDs. For 2025 status, the MQD thresholds range from $5,000 MQDs for Silver Medallion status to $28,000 for Diamond Medallion status. With the Reserve’s MQD Headstart & Boost benefit, cardholders will receive a $2,500 head start toward the threshold for earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year and will earn one additional MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
• Companion certificate : Cardholders receive an annual companion certificate for a free domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight in First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin for a friend booked on the same flight.
• $240 Resy credit : Receive up to $20 in monthly statement credits at participating US Resy restaurants. Plus, unlock exclusive reservations with Global Dining Access by Resy.
• $200 Delta Stays credit: Book a hotel stay and get up to $200 back on prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays.
• $120 rideshare credit: Streamline your commutes and earn up to $10 in statement credits each month on rideshare purchases in the US with select providers.
• TakeOff 15: Save on travel booked with points with a 15% discount when using miles to book Delta flights through the airline’s website or app.
• Complimentary upgrade list : Even without Medallion Status, cardholders can be added to the upgrade list after Delta’s elite members to potentially be bumped up into Comfort Plus or First Class.
• Fee credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: Breeze through security with a statement credit to cover the application fee for either program. You’ll receive a $100 statement credit for Global Entry and up to $85 for TSA PreCheck.
• Hertz President’s Circle Status: Elevate your car rentals with complimentary Hertz President’s Circle Status, offering exclusive benefits like priority service and vehicle upgrades.
• No foreign transaction fees: There are no extra fees on international purchases.

Current welcome offer

New applicants can currently earn 60,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases during the first six months of card membership.

Book a Delta flight with your Reserve card and earn three points per dollar.

How to earn miles

Cardholders earn three miles for every dollar spent (3X) with Delta and one mile (1X) for all other purchases. While there aren’t many options for earning extra miles through card spending alone, you can maximize your miles accumulation by “double dipping” on certain buys within the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal. When using the Delta Reserve card for purchases in said portal, you'll earn at least one mile per dollar spent; depending on the retailer, though, earnings can be anywhere from 1X to 9X per dollar. I’ve double-dipped using the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card to purchase electronics and appliances from Samsung in the portal, earning around 5,700 SkyMiles this way.

How to redeem miles

Cardholders have options when it comes to redeeming SkyMiles for flights. You can redeem the total miles needed for the flight or opt for the cash and miles method. As a cardholder, when you redeem miles in increments of 5,000, you'll receive a $50 discount for each increment applied to the cost while booking a flight. I usually book a domestic flight using 10,000 miles to get a $100 discount. This allows me to space out mile redemptions for future trips.

Additionally, I watch for Delta Flight deals , where trips paid for with miles often come with a 15% discount. By strategically combining these methods, I can maximize the value of my SkyMiles and stretch out the benefits of the signup bonus. Recently, I took advantage of a sale and booked a roundtrip ticket from Atlanta to Paris for just 75,000 SkyMiles. The cash value of the flight was $707.

What I wish I knew before signing up

Most perks are unavailable if you buy the cheapest Delta fare, Basic Economy (fare class E); in these seats, you are not eligible for the complimentary upgrade list, nor can you access the Delta SkyClub or use the companion certificate.

I am excited about the new Hertz Club President’s Circle status benefit. I frequently use Hertz for rental cars. This benefit helps me skip the counter at the airport and makes me eligible for complimentary upgrades when available.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed the gradual removal of perks from other Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. At one point, I could access Delta Sky Clubs with a Delta SkyMiles Gold card. However, with all the credits and benefits the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card provides, this card is here to stay in my wallet for now.

See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Delta SkyMiles Gold , Delta SkyMiles Platinum , Delta SkyMiles Reserve , Hilton Honors Surpass

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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How to Upgrade Your Airline Seat Without Breaking the Bank

F lying in first or business class might seem like it’s a privilege reserved only for ultra-wealthy travelers. But plenty of ordinary people fly in premium airline seats all the time. If you’re savvy about how you pursue an upgrade on a flight, you can score a spot in the front of the plane without paying exorbitantly.

Of course, many travelers cash in credit card points or airline miles to sit in business and first class, or receive a complimentary upgrade for being a frequent flier and having elite status. But what if you don’t have a travel credit card or status with an airline? Flying premium might still be in reach—and within your budget. 

There are a few strategies you can try to upgrade your seat without shelling out too much extra money. Some tactics require extra planning before your trip, while for others, getting to the airport early is essential. Here are several ideas on how to upgrade your airline ticket without breaking the bank.

Be strategic

Want an upgrade? You’ll want to put yourself in the best position to score, especially if you aren’t a frequent flier or don’t have an airline’s credit card in your wallet.

One simple way to try for an upgrade: Check how full your flight is , which you can do directly on your airline’s website. Some really savvy travelers go further than that and specifically search for tickets on emptier flights to have a better chance at getting upgraded.

For example, say you wanted to fly United Airlines from Newark to Boston , and the airline operated 10 flights to Boston on the day you wanted to travel. If your travel plans are flexible, you would want to avoid booking the most full flight or ones with United MileagePlus elite members waiting for upgrades, as the likelihood of getting a free upgrade is slim.

There’s no guarantee that you’ll get an upgrade on an emptier flight or one that’s departing late at night or early in the morning, but you have a better shot than on a completely full plane, especially without elite status .

The myth that dressing nicely can score you an upgrade is just that: a myth. So you can leave your three-piece suit at home, but make sure to pack your manners.

You won’t know unless you ask, and that can also apply to scoring an upgrade. Some seasoned travelers have gotten upgraded during check-in at the airport or at their gate.

There’s no easy way to do this and no guarantee it’ll work. It’s also a lot less likely on popular routes like New York to Los Angeles and on international flights. But if you’re looking for a sample script, here’s one I’ve found has worked for me in the past:

“Hi, I noticed some seats open on today’s flight and wondering if those upgrades have cleared. If they have, and there’s still room, I’d love to be considered for an upgrade.” It's simple and straightforward.

Remember that gate agents have pretty stressful jobs dealing with harried travelers all day, so don’t be too put out if you get a no. But if you get a yes, rejoice and then relax in your more comfortable seat!

Pay for more legroom

If none of these options work out, you aren’t doomed to a cramped seat near the lavatory at the back of the plane. Several major airlines in the U.S., and even some low-cost carriers, have cheap premium seats you can pay for in cash or with a small amount of miles. Here are a few:

Not only does Delta’s Comfort+ seat offer up to three inches of extra legroom to stretch out, but travelers also get a dedicated overhead bin to place their bags. That means no more jostling with economy passengers for the last bin to place your suitcase in. What’s great about Comfort+, and makes it popular among even frequent fliers, is how cheap seats can be. Even if you don’t have tens of thousands of miles in your Delta account, you can still fly Comfort+, with some short-haul routes (typically between the same region of the US) for as low as 5,000 Delta SkyMiles each way.

American’s Main Cabin Extra includes more legroom and earlier boarding. A traveler in Main Cabin Extra can also enjoy beer, wine, spirits in addition to the free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks served in regular coach. Seats start at just $20.

If you’re tired of having your knees jammed against the seat in front of you, JetBlue’s Even More Space is the way to go. JetBlue already has a reputation for having the roomiest economy seats among US airlines, but travelers who want extra space can book an Even More Space seat. These seats offer up to 38 inches of legroom—perfect for stretching out—and a few cool perks like early boarding and access to a priority security lane at a handful of airports, which will certainly make your travel companions who didn’t book the seat jealous.

While it's not an airline that has the best reputation for its service, Spirit's Big Front Seat is a pretty comfortable upgrade. The Big Front Seat measures 36 inches in pitch and 18.5 inches in width, giving travelers six inches of additional legroom compared to Spirit’s standard seats. And as the name suggests, these seats are located at the front of the plane. Depending on which aircraft you’re on , there are between four and 10 seats, so make sure you purchase ahead of time as the BFS has proven pretty popular among budget travelers.

Breeze Airways

Budget carrier Breeze Airways is known for connecting smaller regional airports across the country. If you’re flying in Breeze’s cheapest economy seat—called “Nice”—it could be worth it to pay a bit extra for the “Nicer” fare class, which is roomier and has more perks. “Nicer” seats have extra legroom (up to 39 inches in pitch, depending on the plane). Upgrades usually cost about $100, which might sound steep. But they also come with a free checked bag, a free carry-on bag, priority boarding, and a complimentary drink and snack, making the fare well worth the cost.

Alaska Airlines

Seattle-based carrier Alaska Airlines offers up to four inches of extra legroom in its Premium class. Passengers in Premium on flight routes of 350 miles or longer will also score free beer, wine, and spirits. Plus, upgrades from regular economy start at just $15.

Get up to six inches of extra legroom in United’s Economy Plus class. The roomier seats are at the front of the economy cabin and are relatively inexpensive, with upgrade fees starting at about $20. If you’re a frequent United flier, you could spring for the annual subscription to Economy Plus—it’s $599 and allows unlimited upgrades on any flight for a year. 

Consider premium economy

Although more expensive than buying an extra legroom seat, sometimes upgrading to premium economy is worth the price (which is usually about double the price of an economy seat, on average). If you’re flying long-haul or on an international route, research if your airline has a premium economy cabin. Typically, on these longer routes, premium economy seats are much more spacious and more comfortable, with full leg rests and deeper reclines. There are other perks too, like priority check-in and boarding, as well as more upscale food and beverage service. If your airline offers all of these bells and whistles in the premium economy cabin, paying for the seat would be a good investment.

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You Can Now Use AmEx Points to Bid on Flight Upgrades

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Let the bidding begin. American Express has announced a new plan — titled Upgrade With Points — that allows consumers to bid on seat flight upgrades using Membership Rewards.

If you're an AmEx Membership Rewards member (consumer, business or corporate), you can now use your points — or a combo of points and cash — to bid on seat upgrades from 18 different airlines. Upgrades are available for first, business or premium economy seats.

How it works

Here’s how the program works:

Log onto MembershipRewards.com .

Scroll through the partner airlines to find yours.

Enter your reservation information to make sure you're eligible for an upgrade.

If everything is a go, you'll see an option to use Membership Rewards points, or a points and cash combo, to bid on a seat upgrade.

Within five days of your flight, you'll receive notice from the airline indicating whether your offer was accepted or declined. AmEx will also send notice of the decision.

If your bid won, head to the corresponding airline's website to get a copy of your updated itinerary.

Should you need to change your reservation, don't worry about being locked into the seat upgrade. You can edit or cancel your bid at any time up until you receive notification from the airline. Again, this typically occurs within five days of your flight.

Is it a good deal?

If you really want that seat upgrade, you'll want to present a solid bid — but the higher you bid, the less of a return you'd be getting per point. While the criteria for accepting bids is completely up to the airline, AmEx says some things considered are the offer amount, number of bids and seat availability.

Given that it's pretty easy to redeem Membership Rewards for at least 1 cent of value per point, if you're not getting at least that much value from the upgrade, consider saving your points for something else.

A couple of final notes:

You can use the Upgrade with Points program even if you didn't use an American Express card to purchase the original ticket.

Upgrades aren't available on U.S.-based airlines at the moment.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: How to earn and use AmEx Membership Rewards NerdWallet’s top travel credit cards 3 great cards that earn AmEx Membership Rewards

On a similar note...

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[Expired] How To Upgrade Your Flight Using Amex Membership Rewards Points [2024]

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What Is the American Express Upgrade With Points Feature?

Who can use amex upgrade with points, how do you use amex upgrade with points, better ways to use your points: business class to fiji for 82,000 points, better ways to use your points: roundtrip to europe in business class for 88,000 points, bid directly with the airline, transfer points for mileage upgrades, use upgrade certificates, when should you use amex upgrade with points, final thoughts.

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Update: The Amex Upgrade With Points program has been discontinued and is no longer available.

In 2019, American Express launched the ability to upgrade flights using your Amex Membership Rewards . This operates differently from standard upgrades, which you negotiate directly with the airline.

Traditionally speaking, flight upgrades have been managed in 1 of 3 ways: mileage upgrade awards, paid upgrades, or upgrade certificates. But Amex’s offering is unique — to date, Amex is the only U.S. bank to allow upgrades straight from your rewards account rather than, say, converting your points to airline miles and using them that way.

In this guide, we’re going to break down the upgrade system, how it works, and when you should use it. After all, who doesn’t love flying in business class?

American Express has long allowed you to use Amex points for flights , but this new feature also allows cardholders to bid for upgrades on already booked flights. This works similarly to bidding for upgrades directly with an airline but allows you to skip the unfortunate aspect of using cash to pay or otherwise transferring your points in order to try and score an upgrade that way.

What’s nice about this is that it is still considered a cash upgrade by the airline, which means availability is better than using miles . Another plus is that Amex has 20+ partners with whom you can upgrade — and plenty of these are not transfer partners of Amex , so you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to convert your Amex points anyway. Here are the partners with whom you can use your Amex points to upgrade:

• Air Mauritius
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Caribbean Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Fiji Airways
• Garuda Indonesia
• Kenya Airways
• Philippine Airlines
• Sata Azores
• South African Airways
• TAP Air Portugal

As you can see, there are plenty of options that span across the globe. Importantly, you can use this program even if you haven’t booked with the AmexTravel.com  portal — this is worth noting because the portal requires you to use an Amex card to pay, which you may not want to do. All you need is your confirmation number and last name and you’ll be able to check if your flight is eligible for an upgrade, regardless of where you’ve booked it. In that same vein, flights booked with the travel portal will, obviously, qualify.

Unlike many of Amex’s other Membership Rewards features, like the Pay With Points rebate , this program is available for all cardholders whose cards earn Membership Rewards . Be aware, however, that the value of your redeemed points can vary according to the card you have. At best, you’ll be redeeming your points for a value of 1 cent each; at worst, they’re only worth a half-cent each.

The cards you’re likely most familiar with will all have a value of 1 cent each. These will all allow you to redeem 1,000 points for $10 of value :

• American Express ® Business Gold Card
• American Express ® Gold Card
• The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express
• The Platinum Card ® from American Express

There are also a handful of less common cards whose points are only worth half a cent (netting $5 in value for every 1,000 points you redeem).

Hot Tip: American Express also expressly notes that if your upgrade request goes through, it won’t qualify for an airline fee credit, the Pay With Points rebate, or any additional bonus points for flights earned by certain cards, such as the Amex Platinum card.

It’s not difficult to use the Upgrade with Points feature. First, you’ll need to navigate to the American Express website and log in. Once logged in, click in the upper left-hand corner on the menu button. Navigate down to Rewards and then Membership Rewards Home .

You’ll then need to select Book or Upgrade Travel .

This will take you to  another  screen, where you’ll click Explore Upgrades .

On the next page, you’ll select the airline with which your flight is booked. You’ll then be prompted to enter your booking code and last name .

As a side note, American Express does have all their partner airlines listed as options for upgrades. In practice, however, the process is far from smooth . For this article, we first booked test flights with Aeromexico, Air Canada, and Icelandair and attempted to upgrade them via Amex’s program. Not one of those flights was eligible . Finally, out of frustration, we booked one with Fiji Airways (because we know it often allows cash upgrades) and eventually managed to even enter  the portal that allows you to bid.

Of course, this may be a result of the current COVID-19 situation, but it seems more likely that it has to do with airlines not wanting to sell upgrades when there’s still a possibility of full-fare business class customers booking a ticket. This makes sense, as this is the case with regular upgrade bids, but it’s definitely disappointing to see with the Amex program. We’d hoped it would have slightly elevated access to upgrades.

Just be aware that purchasing a ticket does not automatically mean that it will be eligible to upgrade using your Amex points.

Once you’ve gained access to the upgrade page, you’ll see a meter with a slider bar showing how many points you’re willing to bid.

As you can see here, the meter to bid for this flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Nadi (NAN)  starts   at 88,580 points . That’s no small chunk of change! At this rate, the likelihood of your bid being accepted at 88,580 points is Poor. This is mind-boggling. Do note that American Express says there is no minimum amount you must bid, but we weren’t able to slide the meter to fewer than its starting point of 88,580 points.

In order to slide the meter over to Excellent , you’d have to bid upwards of 281,000 Amex points — and the upgrade would still not be guaranteed. Amex will value those points at $2,810, but if you’d redeemed them for maximum value, the real cost of those points would be at least $5,610. Add in the cost of the economy ticket, which is around $900 roundtrip, and you’ll be out a total of $6,510 in points and cash for this bid. By comparison, the actual cost to buy a round-trip business class ticket on this flight hovers around $4,000 .

If you’re averse to using so many points, you can also choose to supplement your bid with cash :

At this rate, however, you have to wonder what the benefit of doing this via American Express is rather than heading directly to the airline. A possible perk that we can see, that you can find buried within Amex’s FAQs for the program, is that you’re able to bid and use more Amex points than you actually have . If the airline accepts your offer, you’ll simply be negative Amex points until you can earn enough to offset the charge. This could be useful if you absolutely must  have an upgrade and don’t somehow have the cash to pay for it, but it’s not a great idea.

Once you’ve placed your bid, you simply need to wait. Usually, the airline will let you know within 5 days of your flight if your upgrade offer has been accepted.

Is It Worth Using Amex Upgrade With Points?

While it can be nice to use Amex points to bid directly on an upgrade, it’s honestly not the best use of your rewards . Why? Because the most value you’ll ever get with your points when redeemed this way is just 1 cent. Considering that there are a number of ways that you spend your points for more than 2 cents per point, you’re leaving money on the table when using them like this.

A much better option would be to transfer your points to an Amex airline partner and book an award ticket in business class. This can cost you much less than bidding for an upgrade — which isn’t even a guaranteed method of getting into business class!

Amex has 18 airline transfer partners across all 3 major alliances: Skyteam , Star Alliance , and Oneworld . This means that no matter where you’re going, it’s likely you’ll find an airline or its partner is flying there . Most people are familiar with the big U.S. airlines, Delta, United, and American, but have less information about some of the foreign carriers that make up these alliances.

That’s a shame, because, while the U.S. airlines have done their level best to gut their award programs, many international carriers (like Avianca ) still offer some very generous reward redemptions . Let’s review 2 better options for flights you can book when transferring your Amex points to an airline partner.

In our above example of upgrading using your Amex points, the meter adjusted according to how “favorable” your bid was for an upgrade. The meter  started  at 88,580 points on a one-way ticket in business class to Fiji. At 88,580 points, the chances of being upgraded were considered poor. This is, of course, in addition to the cash price you’ve already paid for your ticket.

What if you were to save 6,000 points and fly  that exact same flight   in business class without having to pay for an economy class ticket or hope your bid clears in time? Qantas is a transfer partner of Amex at a 1:1 ratio, and its transfers are usually instant.

Both Qantas and Fiji Airways are a part of Oneworld, which means you can book that nonstop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Nadi (NAN) for 82,000 points one-way :

Considering that in order to move your chances of an upgrade to “excellent” you’ll have to bid upwards of 280,000 Amex points, transferring and booking instantly with Qantas becomes a downright steal .

Let’s look at ANA , a Japanese airline and Star Alliance member. American Express Membership Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio to ANA and transfers are usually instant.

ANA’s reward travel program relies on a distance-based award chart. As a member of Star Alliance, it offers flights to Europe on Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, and Turkish Airlines. The total cost of a roundtrip flight in business class is 88,000 miles.  That’s it. There and back — even in United’s  awesome  Polaris class — will set you back 88,000 Amex points and $147 in taxes and fees.

The cash price for this ticket was $2,289 — relatively cheap for a transatlantic business class flight, but it makes sense given the current travel climate.

Even at this rate, you’re redeeming your Amex points at a value of 2.4 cents each , more than double what you’d be getting by using upgrading with Amex points. You’re also getting round-trip in business class instead of one-way. Finally, you’re only out of pocket $147 for taxes and fees rather than paying for an entire economy ticket in cash.

What Alternatives Are There To Using Amex Upgrade With Points?

If you’re able to use Amex rewards to upgrade a ticket, that means the airline is selling upgrades. Instead of using the Amex Upgrade with Points option, you may want to consider bidding directly with the airline rather than doing so through Amex’s system.

There are a number of reasons you may want to do this:

• Upgrades purchased directly with an airline usually qualify for additional bonus points if travel is a bonus category on your card. This can be true with cards like the Amex Platinum card (5x Membership Rewards points on flights purchased directly with the airline), the Citi Prestige ® Card (5x ThankYou Points on all air travel), and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® (3x Ultimate Rewards points for travel).
• If your bid is accepted, you can use the airline fee or travel credit offered by your card to offset the cost . For Amex Platinum cardholders, this works if the airline is the 1 you’ve selected for airline fee reimbursement . For Chase and Citi cardholders, this works for any airline.

All of the big 3 U.S. airlines offer the ability to upgrade your flights using miles. They vary according to which airline you’re flying with, but they all have basically the same premise: use your earned airline miles to instantly upgrade yourself to business class .

Of the big 3, Delta is the only American Express transfer partner. You can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers are usually instant. Upgrading with miles is available for both domestic and international flights, but the value at which you redeem your SkyMiles will vary depending on your flight.

United is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers are usually instant. You can redeem your miles for an upgrade to business class , though United will also charge you a copay if you aren’t booked in a certain fare class. This copay is waived for Premier members to select locations.

American is perhaps the most difficult airline with which to earn miles as it’s not a transfer partner of any of the major flexible currencies. It does, however, offer credit cards from 2 different banks , that will allow you to increase your balance if upgrading with miles is on your radar. American has a standard award chart that will show you to see how many miles you’d need to upgrade, unlike United and Delta that both rely on a dynamic pricing system.

This last option only applies to those who have flown enough to earn status with an airline, but it can be a good alternative to using Amex Upgrade with Points if you have any certificates available.

United, Delta, and American Airlines all offer regional and global upgrade certificates to their elite members when they meet certain qualifications.

United has its PlusPoints , which are awarded to Platinum and 1K members at varying rates. In order to find instant upgrade availability on a flight, you’ll need to search for PZ upgrade space. You can do this by using United’s Advanced Search feature. If PZ is at least 1, you can use PlusPoints to upgrade . Otherwise, you’ll be waitlisted with the hope of upgrading closer to departure as PZ space opens up.

Unique to United is the ability to use your PlusPoints for flights with ANA, Lufthansa and Copa Airlines . Neither Delta nor American allow you to use your upgrade certificates on partner airlines.

Delta also offers upgrades to its Platinum and Diamond members, with Platinum members allowed the option of selecting Regional Upgrade Certificates for their Choice Benefits, and Diamond members able to select Global Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit. The process is similar to United’s in that if there is no immediate upgrade availability available, you’ll be placed on a waitlist and will hopefully have the upgrade clear by your departure date.

American offers systemwide upgrades to its Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members. Like Delta, this is a benefit you’d select upon qualifying for status. It offers confirmed upgrades on flights with availability or will otherwise waitlist you.

If we haven’t already made it clear, using your Amex points to upgrade is not the best use of your Membership Rewards points . There are still some reasons you may want to use them, however.

• When your flight has no award availability and you’re not willing to wait to see if any opens up, you may want to consider using them — a lot of them — to make a favorable bid on a flight.
• If you’ve already booked your flight and don’t want to use cash to upgrade, using Amex Upgrade with Points could serve as an option.
• If you have too many Amex points to burn, this could make sense for you. This is especially true of small businesses with large reserves of points who aren’t worried about maximizing every point they spend.

American Express is unique in that it allows you to use your Amex points for upgrades on its partners . However, the value that you’ll receive for your points while doing so isn’t great. There are plenty of other options available for snagging those business class seats, and most of them will cost you fewer points than using Amex’s program.

However, if there’s no award availability, or you have piles of Membership Rewards and aren’t concerned with maximizing value, Amex provides an easy, all-in-1 way to spend those points without having to fuss with airlines or transfer partners.

The information for the Citi Prestige ® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use american express points to upgrade a flight.

You can! In 2019 Amex launched the ability to redeem your points for an upgrade with 1 of 22 airlines.

What airlines does American Express partner with?

American Express has 22 upgrade partners:

• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airlines

How many Amex points does it cost to upgrade to business class?

The amount of Amex points it takes to upgrade to business class varies according to airline and flight. American Express allows you to bid as many or few points as you like for an upgrade.

What can you do with Amex Membership Rewards points?

Amex points are some of the most versatile around. You can redeem them for flights, hotels, upgrades, gift cards, and statement credits, among other options.

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About Carissa Rawson

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.

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American Express Business Platinum benefits guide 2024

Ashley Barnett

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 6:04 a.m. UTC April 9, 2024

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With an eye-watering $695 annual fee (terms apply), there’s no denying that The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is an expensive card. But without a doubt, it’s also one of the best business travel cards , thanks to its extensive array of perks and ability to earn flexible, valuable Membership Rewards® points . Although the annual fee is high, it’s offset by valuable perks like statement credits, airport lounge access and top-notch travel and purchase protection¹.

All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Amex Business Platinum Card overview

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is one of the best cards for high-end travel benefits, lifestyle perks and ways to make your business run more smoothly. Of course, it all comes at a significant cost (a $695 annual fee). Therefore, it’s important to assess the card’s features to see if it’s worth it for you and your business. 

Those features include access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, elite status with select hotel and rental car partners, airline fee statement credit and CLEAR ® Plus reimbursement, business-focused statement credits like Dell, Adobe, Indeed and much more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Looking for an Amex Business card with a less-lofty annual fee? Our list of the best American Express business cards will help you choose the right one for you.

Major Amex Business Platinum Card benefits

Travel benefits .

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , like the consumer version, The Platinum Card® from American Express , is a powerhouse for premium travel benefits. Let’s break it down: 

• Airport lounge access: You will have access to a wide range of airport lounges. They include The Centurion® Lounge ; Delta Sky Club® lounges (when flying on a same-day Delta flight; limited to 10 annual visits starting Feb. 1, 2025); Priority Pass Select lounges upon enrollment (but not Priority Pass restaurants); Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner; Plaza Premium lounges and Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa Group (access varies depending on what airline and cabin you’re flying).
• Hotel elite status: You’ll receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with enrollment. This offers benefits such as 25% bonus points on eligible hotel purchases, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi access and room upgrades at select properties (when available).
• Rental car elite status: You’ll get complimentary elite status with Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle and National Emerald Club Executive. One of the best parts of elite status, at select locations, is the ability to skip the line and go straight to your car at the start of your rental. In addition, you may receive car upgrades and waived second driver fees. Enrollment is required.
• Other hotel benefits: You will also get access to Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection programs through Amex Travel. Perks include complimentary breakfast for two (varies by property), early check-in when available, late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi and room upgrades when available (certain rooms may not be eligible for upgrade). At select properties, you’ll also receive an experience credit of at least $100. The credit can be used towards purchases of on-site services, such as dining or spa treatments. Experience credits vary by property and will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the credit.
• Airline fee credit: You’ll receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental airline fees charged to your card. One qualifying airline must first be selected in advance before receiving this benefit, which can cover fees such as changes and cancellations, seat selection, upgrades, checked bags, lounge access and more.
• CLEAR Plus reimbursement: You can get a credit for up to $189 per calendar year for Clear Plus membership fees. No advance enrollment is required for this benefit; pay with your Business Platinum card to automatically receive a statement credit.
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement : You’ll also receive statement credits to reimburse your application fees for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85). This benefit is available every 4 years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.
• Pay with Points airline bonus: With The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , you’ll get 35% of your points back (3.5 extra points for every 10 points redeemed – up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year) when booking a flight with points through Amex Travel. This applies to flights in any cabin on your selected qualifying airline, or for first or business class flights on any airline.

Small business benefits 

As a small business card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers tailored statement credits and perks to help companies run more smoothly (enrollment is required for select benefits):

• Adobe statement credit: You’ll get up to $150 back in Adobe statement credits for eligible annual prepaid business plans for Creative Cloud for teams or Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for teams through Dec. 31, 2024.
• Dell statement credit: You can get up to $200 back semi-annually ($400 per year) on U.S. purchases with Dell technologies through Dec. 31, 2024. 
• Indeed statement credit: Through Dec. 31, 2024, you can also get up to $90 back quarterly ($360 per year) via statement credits for purchases with Indeed.
• Wireless credit: You’ll receive up to $10 back per month ($120 per year) in statement credits for wireless telephone service purchases made directly through a wireless provider in the U.S. on your Business Platinum card.

Insurance and protection benefits

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. has a robust array of travel and purchase protections¹. These include: 

• Trip delay insurance: Trip delay insurance applies to eligible round-trip travel expenses paid for with the Business Platinum. Coverage is good for up to $500 per trip, and for incidental expenses that apply (including meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and more) when a trip is delayed by six hours or longer. You are eligible to file two claims per 12-month period.²
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Trip cancellation and interruption insurance will apply to eligible round-trip travel purchases charged to the Business Platinum card. This coverage is good for up to $10,000 per covered trip with a maximum benefit of $20,000 per eligible card every 12 months.³
• Baggage insurance: You’ll get automatic baggage insurance when paying with the card on a common carrier (like an airline or cruise line). This coverage is good for up to $2,000 per person for checked baggage and up to a combined $3,000 per person for checked and carry-on baggage.⁴
• Cellphone protection: Paying your cellphone bill with your card provides cellphone protection. There is a maximum of $800 liability per claim, and each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. There’s also a limit of two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period. You can maximize this perk by combining it with the wireless credit benefit above.⁵

Bonus points for spending

While The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. isn’t the best card to use for all spending categories, there are certain instances where it does make sense to use it — like on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, as well as on large purchases — cardholders earn: 

• 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel.
• 1.5 points per $1 at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, shipping providers, and purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $2 million per calendar year.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

Additional benefits worth noting

• Global Dining Access with Resy: Global Dining Access perks include Priority Notify at all of Resy’s thousands of restaurants worldwide. This gives you special access to primetime tables at many of the most in-demand restaurants across the U.S. and internationally.
• Secondary Auto Insurance Coverage: Rental cars booked with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. receive secondary car rental loss and damage insurance⁶. Consider getting a credit card with primary rental car insurance if you want primary, as compared to secondary, coverage.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. has access to over 1,400 airport lounge locations worldwide with the Amex Global Lounge Collection.

First, to make the most of the Amex Business Platinum, be sure to maximize your points potential by meeting the minimum spending requirements to earn a welcome bonus.

Then, enroll your card in the statement credit offers such as those with Adobe, Indeed, Dell, select U.S. wireless telephone service providers, CLEAR and more. Also, sign up for hotel and rental car elite status programs that are included with the Business Platinum. Travelers will want to utilize lounge access, Resy benefits and more. 

Maximize the points you earn by putting larger purchases on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Beyond earning as many points as possible, you’ll also want to maximize the value upon redemption .

Both cards serve different purposes. While The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is geared more towards frequent travelers with more premium perks like lounge access, the American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is tailored to those with high spending who may not travel as frequently.

Overall, it’s better to spend on the Amex Business Gold card, with bonus-earning spending categories that include purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media, U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, transit purchases such as taxis or rideshare, and more.

All information about American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. does not come with a traditional preset spending limit. The amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

Yes, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. comes with travel insurance, including trip delay insurance², trip cancellation and interruption insurance³ and baggage insurance⁴.

The publicly available offer for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. waxes and wanes. The current offer is for 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership. However, you may be targeted for even higher offers through your Amex account or via a tool like Cardmatch or even mailers.

¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

²Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

³The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

⁴Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

⁵Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

⁶Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Chris Dong is a travel, loyalty, and credit cards reporter. He has covered travel and personal finance content for national print and digital publications including The Washington Post, Business Insider, The Points Guy, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. When he’s not on the road, Chris calls Los Angeles home after nearly 10 years in New York City.

Ashley Barnett has been writing and editing personal finance articles for the internet since 2008. Before editing for USA TODAY Blueprint, she was the Content Director for an international media company leading the content on their suite of personal finance sites. She lives in Phoenix, AZ where you can find her rereading Harry Potter for the 100th time.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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