More Mileage with

Travel Rewards

How to use Travel Rewards: what you can getaway with.

There are so many things to love about travel: soaking up the scenery, tasting new cuisines, and uniquely experiencing all that the world has to offer. These memories are made only sweeter when the Membership Rewards earned1 from your spending can be used to take you on your next trip.

Getting a Credit Card for travel has long been a no-brainer for frequent travellers. But anyone can reap the Credit Card benefits offered for travel by American Express. Some Cards offer a complimentary annual travel credit, which can be spent within 12 months from when your annual fee is paid. Read on to find out what other travel perks might be available to you, and find the best travel benefits Credit Card for you.

Flights: What we bring to your tray table

Finding the best airline Credit Card for international travel will depend on what you’re looking for. Some Cards, like the Platinum Card and Explorer Card, will offer a travel credit², which can be used for hotels, car hires or flights when booking through American Express Travel. Others, like the Essential Card, offer you the option of transferring points to a range of airline partners, allowing you greater flexibility in using your rewards to make travel plans. If, you regularly travel with a particular airline, like Qantas, it would make sense to own a Card that accrues points earning you Qantas Frequent Flyer benefits³. Loyalty to a particular airline might also grant you other little luxuries – like kicking back with a glass of red in the Qantas Lounge before you take off.

Redeeming your Membership Rewards points for flights is easy with American Express: search for destination options through the American Express Online Travel. Once the flight is selected, you can then choose to purchase with travel credit, points⁴, or a combination of travel credit, points, and Card payment. Now all that’s left to think about is all the ways you can relax on your trip!

Hotels and accommodation: Check out what you can check-in

So which Credit Card is best for travel? A Card that offers rewards you’ll look forward to using! You can save money on accommodation by redeeming Membership Rewards Points¹ across various properties. Staying in certain hotels as a Platinum Card Member may also entitle you to more benefits, including a room upgrade, or flexible check-in and check-out times when booking through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program⁵.

Getting a Credit Card for travel can also further reward your spending: you can use points on bundles, which confirm your airfares, hotels and car hire in one booking. It may be a lot to consider purchasing, which is why it’s worth checking what rewards program you may be eligible for. A number of American Express Cards are currently offering bonus points for new American Express Card Members, after you meet the minimum spend criteria - which is great motivation in helping you reach your travel goals sooner. Budgeting your spending is also made simple with features like Plan It^® ⁶ which allows you to pay off your purchase in equal monthly instalments and means you can book your bundle knowing exactly how much to pay off each month after you finalise your itinerary. Terms and Conditions, and a fixed monthly fee applies for Plan It^®.

Car hire: Here’s the steer

American Express travel comes with the often-overlooked perk of car hire. Once you’ve made your booking, you’ll be sent an email confirming your itinerary - including a voucher for car hire that can be used as credit with a range of providers. Getting to and from the airport will be a breeze on your next domestic holiday – as will sightseeing, and the experience of taking a leisurely drive and exploring new territories with a loved one.

Travel Insurance: Safe travels

Some American Express Cards include domestic and international travel insurance⁷ when you use the Card to pay for the return trip, which means you can spend less money on taking out a single policy for a specific trip, and more money on the kinds of experiences and luxuries that excite you about travelling in the first place: fine dining, cocktails, artisanal products, and experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime.

More importantly, travel insurance affords you protection whilst you’re travelling, if the unlikely or unexpected happens - and that security is a luxury that’s priceless.

As with all insurances, terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

Airport Lounge Access: Relax, we’ve got you

Credit cards with lounge access⁸ are a gift when you’re wondering what to do between check-in time and boarding time. Whether you’re filled with anticipation at the beginning of your trip, or reminiscing as your holiday draws to a close, you can kick back in a comfortable setting, with complimentary food and drinks, and enjoy the quiet ambience of the lounge away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. Or, you can make productive use of the down time by going through your inbox and catching up on work, using the high-speed Wi-Fi and charging points located throughout the lounge. These amenities offer you the time and space to refresh yourself as needed.

When accruing points for these added travel benefits, it’s worth remembering that tracking your spending and Card usage will enable you to maximise your rewards. It’s as simple as checking which Credit Card benefits best suit the purchase you’re about to make - if one Card offers more points for dining, use that to pick up your restaurant tab.

Be mindful that some Cards may have a high annual fee - though when there’s so many rewards to collect, getting a Credit Card for travel can usually pay for itself. What are you waiting for? Pull up a map and daydream about where your Card can next take you on holiday.

To explore more, for existing Card Members, check out here.

Not a Card Member yet, find out more here.

1. Membership Rewards Program. To earn or redeem Membership Rewards points, Cards must be registered to the American Express Membership Rewards program, and be active and current in their payments.

When paying with a combination of your American Express Card and Membership Rewards points, only the value applied to the Card is eligible to earn Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions apply when booking on the American Express Travel website. Please visit the Membership Rewards website to view the full Terms and Conditions (membershiprewards.com.au/termsandconditions).

Travel services provided by American Express International, Inc. (ABN 15 000 618 208). Incorporated with limited liability in Delaware, USA. American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). ® Registered Trademark of American Express Company.

2. Travel Credit.The following Travel Credit amounts are offered on a yearly basis to holders of the following American Express Cards:

American Express® Platinum Card: $450 Travel Credit. amex.com.au/platinumtravelcreditterms

American Express Explorer® Credit Card: $400 Travel Credit. amex.com.au/explorer-travelcreditterms

American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card: $200 Travel Credit. amex.com.au/platinumedge-travelcreditterms

American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card: $400 Travel Credit. amex.com.au/platinumreserve-travelcreditterms

Qantas American Express® Ultimate Credit Card: $450 Travel Credit. amex.com.au/qantasultimate-travelcreditterms

If your Card has a Travel Credit benefit, the Primary Card Member is eligible for an annual Travel Credit, subject to the full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions. The Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking by selecting the Travel Credit when you checkout. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels and car hire when you prepay in advance. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. To check the expiration date of your Travel Credit if you have not already redeemed it, please visit americanexpress.com.au/travel; log in and click Travel Credit . If your booking is cancelled, and your Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. Your account must be in good standing and you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. If you cancel your Card, change your rewards program or Card type, you will no longer be eligible for the Travel Credit.

Platinum Travel Credit. Platinum Primary Card Members are eligible for an annual $450 Travel Credit, subject to the full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions at americanexpress.com.au/platinumtravelcreditterms. The Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking by selecting the Travel Credit when you checkout. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels and car hire when you prepay in advance. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. If your booking is cancelled, and your Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days.

Qantas Travel Credit. Qantas American Express Ultimate Primary Card Members are eligible for an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, subject to the full Qantas Travel Credit Terms and Conditions . The Qantas Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking for Qantas Flights (i.e. a QF flight number on your ticket) by selecting the Qantas Travel Credit when you checkout. All Qantas Flight travel is subject to Qantas Conditions of Carriage. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. The Qantas Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. If your booking is cancelled, and your Qantas Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Qantas Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Qantas Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days.

3. Qantas Points. As long as your account remains current and in good standing. You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and the earning and redemption of points are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program available at qantas.com/frequentflyer. Qantas Points and bonus Qantas Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions, and exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include cash advances, interest, balance transfers, fees and charges for traveller's cheques and foreign currencies - these do not earn Qantas Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions. You will earn 0.5 point per dollar spent with Merchants classified as 'government', including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies, including where you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant.

4. American Express Travel Online. You can redeem points for prepaid travel of a nominated value through American Express Travel Online with the point-of-purchase redemption capability. Travel bookings using points may be made for any person, provided all your Accounts are kept in good standing and are not overdue. All travel bookings are subject to availability. Subject to the American Express Travel Online standard booking Terms and Conditions.

5. Average AU$800 value based on Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings in 2021 for stays of two nights. Actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability and use of benefits. Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade; call Platinum Travel for details. Special amenity and / or Experience Credit and Platinum benefits vary by property; call Platinum Travel for details. Experience credit[s] will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the Experience Credit. Advance reservations are recommended for certain Experience Credits. Valid only for new Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings made through Platinum Travel Service, Business Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, or American Express Travel Online. Available for Australian Platinum Charge Card Members and Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such who are not also Australian Platinum Charge Card Members or Centurion Members. Payment must be made in full with an American Express Card in the Australian Platinum Card Member's or Centurion® Member's name. Primary Card Member may be able to use Membership Rewards® points and /or Travel Credit on the American Express Travel website or on request through Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service, as payment towards Fine Hotels + Resorts, if the selected hotel and room type provides you the option to prepay in advance. Platinum Card Member or Centurion Member must travel on itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in and room upgrade are based on availability and are provided at check-in. Benefit restrictions vary by Fine Hotels + Resorts property and cannot be redeemed for cash, and may not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Benefits and additional Fine Hotels + Resorts promotions are only applied at checkout and expire at checkout. Participating Fine Hotels + Resorts properties and benefits are subject to change. Limit one benefit package per room, per stay. Three room limit per Card Member, per stay. Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits.

- Benefits vary by property; call Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service for details.

- The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day.

- Complimentary In-Room Wi-Fi is provided. In the case where a Property includes cost of Wi-Fi in a mandatory resort fee, the Card Member will receive a daily credit from the Property in the standard amount that the Property charges for Wi-Fi. The credit will be issued on the Card Member's final statement upon check-out.

6. Plan It^TM.

You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan.
Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account.
Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle.
You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created.
This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be notified to you before you create the Instalment Plan.
View the full Plan It™ Instalment Terms and Conditions here.

7. American Express Australia Limited identifies insurance providers and products that may be of interest to some of our Card Members. In this role, we do not act as an agent or fiduciary for you, and we may act on behalf of the insurance provider, as permitted by law. We want you to be aware that we receive commissions from providers and commissions may vary by provider and product. Also, in some cases, an American Express entity outside of the country may be the reinsurer and may earn reinsurance income. The arrangements we have with certain providers, including the potential to reinsure products, may also influence what products we identify. We do not require you to purchase any insurance product, and you may choose to cover your insurance needs from other sources on terms they may make available to you. Please take this opportunity to read the American Express Financial Services Guide.

American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). AFSL No. 291313.

®Registered Trademark of American Express Company.

8. Access to the American Express Lounges

The following Terms and Conditions govern the entry to the American Express Centurion® Lounges at the Sydney International Airport and the Melbourne International Airport.

Eligible Cards

(a) The Cards listed below that are current and issued by American Express Australia Limited and American Express International (NZ), are eligible to enter The Centurion Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne International Airports:

American Express® Centurion Card

American Express® Platinum Card

American Express® Platinum Business Card

American Express® Corporate Platinum Card

American Express® Qantas Corporate Platinum Card

American Express Explorer® Credit Card

American Express Business ExplorerTM Credit Card

American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card

David Jones American Express Platinum Card

Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

American Express Velocity Platinum Card

American Express Airpoints Platinum Card

American Express® Elevate Premium Credit Card

(b) Internationally issued American Express® Centurion and American Express® Platinum Cards that are current are eligible to enter The Centurion Lounge.

At the discretion of American Express, other American Express Card Members may also enter The Centurion Lounges.

Access to The Centurion Lounge

(a) American Express Centurion, American Express Platinum, American Express Business Platinum and American Express Corporate Platinum Card Members, have unlimited complimentary access to The Centurion Lounges for each American Express Card Account and are entitled to bring their children 17 years of age or younger and up to 2 guests into the lounge. Card Members wishing to bring additional guests will be subject to a charge that is to be processed on the Card Member's American Express Card. Please refer to the reception desk at The Centurion Lounge for the applicable charges.

(b) All other eligible cards are entitled to a total of two entries into The Centurion Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne per calendar year (1st January to 31st December). The entries may be used by the Primary Card Member, Additional Card Member or a guest travelling with a Card Member. Complimentary access is available for the Card Member's children 17 years of age or younger. Card Members wishing to bring additional guests will be subject to a charge that is to be processed on the Card Member's American Express Card. Please refer to the reception desk at The Centurion Lounge for the applicable charges.

General Conditions of Entry

(a) The Centurion Lounge at Sydney International Airport and Melbourne International Airport are operated by Plaza Premium Lounge Management (“Lounge Operator”). To access The Centurion Lounge, Card Members must present the following upon each visit their eligible physical American Express Credit or Charge Card and upon request, same-day airline ticket on any carrier.

(b) A Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian.

(c) The Lounge Operator reserves the right to remove any person from a lounge for inappropriate behaviour or failure to adhere to lounge rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent.

(d) Access to The Centurion Lounges is subject to space availability. The Centurion Lounge hours may vary and are subject to change without prior notice. Amenities may vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. In-lounge services and amenities are complimentary.

(e) American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by the Card Member or visitor inside the American Express Lounges.

(f) Use of The Centurion Lounges is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express and the Lounge Operator. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.