Booking flights or hotels with Amex Travel – do you lose rights?

[Ash]

Amex platinum gives 2 MR if you book flights, hotels and car hire via Amex Travel.

Does that mean you lose certain rights which are afforded to you if you book direct?

[dougzz99]

I don’t think you lose rights as such, but you put an admin layer between you and the provider, be that an airline, car rental firm or hotel.

[JDB]

If you book hotels via Amex Travel it’s sometimes actually an Expedia booking so you might lose any loyalty benefits you may have. With a flight booking you effectively lose the ability to communicate with the airline about your booking which can be a right pain and you get 2MR for booking with an airline direct (not sure if that stacks with Amex Travel which can sometimes split bookings out in to a commission/fee and separate airline flight reservation). Basically, Amex Travel is just another travel agent that is not only taking a fee/collecting a commission out of your pocket for doing very little but they are also unhelpfully interposing themselves between you and the supplier.

[Ash]

Thanks all.

I agree.

Is it the Preferred card that gives 2 MR on flight/hotel bookings. I didn’t know Platinum did the same.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

You don’t lose EU261 rights for flights as what matters is the operating airline not who you bought the tickets from if that’s what your thinking.

I’m not familiar enough with Amex travel to be able to say you wouldn’t get hotel qualifying nights / points.

[JDB]

Ash wrote:

Thanks all.

I agree.

Is it the Preferred card that gives 2 MR on flight/hotel bookings. I didn’t know Platinum did the same.

yes, sorry that is only on the the Gold, coincidentally also a much preferred card.