Extension of $800 Travel Credit on the American Express Platinum Card due to COVID-19 Travel Situation

The Platinum Card from American Express is an impressive metal card that comes with a hefty annual fee of S$1,712 each year. One of the perks that come with this card is S$800 travel credit (made up for S$400 air travel credit and S$400 lodging credit) - you should definitely try to book an IAP rate for flights to really maximise this benefit as it is not uncommon to find IAP rates at least 15-20% cheaper than the public rate. Since I do not personally foresee any use for the travel credit in the months ahead, I have decided to call up the Travel team to ask for an extension.

Click HERE to find out more about the benefits of The Platinum Card!

Photo Credit: American Express

American Express has been delighting her Platinum (and Centurion) Members with the Double Rewards Campaign which started last month - all members can earn up to 15.6 miles per dollar on eligible purchases! Just this morning, American Express has also announced a S$500 Statement Credit (S$750 for Centurion Members) for Everyday Essentials which really helps to offset some of that annual fee. During a short phone call with American Express and the travel team, I have been informed that my S$800 Travel Credit that was due to expire in August 2020, will be extended until 30 November 2020 in light of the current travel situation.

However, since this will be a manual extension, I will not be able to use the travel credits online via the American Express Travel website. Instead, I will have to contact the American Express Travel team directly (either via phone or email) to utilise this credit. While this is a slight inconvenience, you can always look up the desired rates on the American Express Travel website before sending a screenshot (or pick up the phone if you are worried about rate fluctuations) over to the team. 

Photo Credit: Singapore Airlines

As a quick reminder, all Platinum Members receive the S$800 travel credit and that really helps to justify that S$1,712 annual fee each year. The S$400 Lodging Credit cannot be used towards an eligible Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection (THC) booking anymore but there are some exclusive deals (albeit at lesser-known properties) that you can take advantage of from time to time. On the other hand the S$400 Airline Credit is fantastic when you stack it with an IAP rate - at the time of writing, the IAP rate for a return-trip to Seoul on Singapore Airlines Business Class is only going for S$1,963.70 (this is significantly cheaper than the S$2,534.70 that Singapore Airlines is charging directly for the same fare class).

Planning to get an American Express card? Using any of the following MGM referral links will earn you either bonus MR Points of KrisFlyer miles depending on the card that you will be applying for: 

• The Platinum Card - 40,000 MR Points Bonus. 

• American Express Platinum Credit Card - 15,000 MR Points Bonus

• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card - 7,500 KrisFlyer Miles Bonus 

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