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There is a new targeted Amex Offer out this morning for prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel: Spend $600+ on a prepaid hotel booking through Amex Travel, get 10,000 Membership Rewards points (or $100 back depending on your offer). That’s a very good offer, though we have seen slightly better offers in the past (e.g. Spend $500, get 10K / $100)). Sill, if targeted and you have a hotel booking to make, this is a great return.
The Deal
- Targeted Amex Offer: Spend $600+ on a prepaid hotel booking at Amex Travel, get 10,000 Membership Rewards points (or $100 depending on your offer)
Key Terms
- Expires 7/15/18
- Must be used for a prepaid hotel booking
Quick Thoughts
This offer is targeted. In my household, we only found it on my wife’s Everyday Preferred card. There is also an offer to spend $600 and get $100 back, though we didn’t see it on our cards (and it would be less valuable unless you do not value Membership Rewards very highly).
According to our Reasonable Redemption Values, Membership Rewards are worth around 1.82 cents each (though you could certainly get more value with the right redemption). That makes this offer worth around $182 back, which is a great deal. It’s not the best we’ve ever seen (this offer has previously come around as a Spend $500, get 10K offer), but it’s still a nice value if you have a prepaid booking to make.
Since you are booking via Amex Travel, your booking most likely will not qualify for hotel points or elite credit and you will not receive elite benefits. However, the value of this offer likely outweighs those things in many instances. While your booking must be prepaid, that doesn’t always mean nonrefundable. Check the terms of your chosen hotel. I know that when I first saw these offers, I ignored them thinking that a prepaid booking would eliminate flexibility, but it turns out that isn’t the case. Note that Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings do not qualify.
H/T: Doctor of Credit
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The offer doesn’t say anything about fine hotels and resorts bookings being excluded. Where is that term?
You’re right that the offer doesn’t expressly exclude FHR, but FHR bookings are made through americanexpressfhr.com. This offer requires you to book through AmexTravel.com. I don’t believe that Amex Travel offers carry over to FHR.
If you login to Amex Travel it shows FHR as options and it never changes the web address. That’s why I ask. I’d like to book a hotel that falls under the FHR collection but I’d choose to use a different card if this offer doesn’t apply.
Well, I could be mistaken then. I could have sworn I tried it on an Amex Travel offer a couple of years ago and it didn’t work — but maybe I’m wrong. One thing to keep in mind is that this offer requires a prepaid hotel booking of $600+. In my experience, FHR bookings usually charge a 1-night deposit immediately and then you pay the balance at the hotel. I’m 99.9% sure that this offer won’t trigger if it isn’t a prepaid booking.
If you’ve gound an FHR that would be prepaid / have a deposit greater than $600 and you try it out, let us know if it triggers the offer.
They just put a $2 trial charge on my card. I’m not sure what that does. They said the e tire amount would be charged when I check out. Maybe that doesn’t count as prepaid. Sigh. I will probably cancel and rebook.
[…] variations of an Amex Offer in the form of statement credits vs Membership Rewards (such as 10,000 Membership Rewards points or $100 w/ $600 booking with targeted offer), it’s unusual to see variations of percentages for the same […]
[…] It was really two reader comments that precipitated this question. These comments were from readers in response to yesterday’s post about a new Amex Offer to get either 10,000 Membership Rewards points or $100 back on a $600+ prepaid hotel book…: […]
Do you get to retain your hotel status benefits when booking through AMEX and staying using this offer?
No. As noted in the last paragraph, I don’t think status benefits often outweigh the value of the points, but your opinion may differ.
Thank you for clarification – for this family of 4, our elite benefits outweigh the $100 savings. But for the single or couple travelers who don’t care about breakfast, lounge access, and other benefits, this offer might come in handy.
Man, the Amex travel website for booking hotels stinks.
it would be super helpful if anyone on ur team has used Amex Travel w/ offers like this and do a trip report so we know what to expect. Youre rite that the booking most likely will not qualify for hotel points or elite credit and you will not receive elite benefits. Thats pretty big for me personally and not sure if the value of the points offer outweighs all that if the price is higher. $600+ means a good number of nights but 5x on plat helps. hmm.