Do You Have to Book Through Amex Travel to Get 5x Points?

American Express Membership Rewards points are valuable, and cardholders often aim to maximize the 5x points on eligible travel. This guide clarifies the conditions for earning this premier rate on various travel purchases.

Understanding the 5x Points Benefit

The 5x Membership Rewards points benefit signifies that cardholders earn five points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases, a substantial increase over the standard earning rate. This accelerated earning primarily applies to specific American Express cards, notably The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express, which offer enhanced rewards for significant travel spending.

The categories eligible for this 5x earning rate are generally limited to flights and prepaid hotels. For flights, this typically includes airfare purchased directly from passenger airlines or through the American Express Travel portal. Prepaid hotel reservations also qualify, provided they are booked through American Express Travel.

This benefit rewards direct travel bookings or those made through the dedicated Amex Travel platform, distinguishing these expenditures from general spending categories. The 5x points are generally capped at a certain spending threshold per calendar year, such as $500,000 on eligible flights for The Platinum Card, after which the earning rate reverts to 1x points per dollar.

Qualifying for 5x Points on Travel

Earning 5x Membership Rewards points on travel hinges on specific booking methods and purchase types. For prepaid hotel bookings, qualification for the 5x points benefit strictly requires that the reservation be made through the American Express Travel website or by calling their travel consultants. If a prepaid hotel booking is made directly with the hotel or through a different third-party online travel agency, it will not earn the 5x points, even if paid with an eligible American Express card.

The criteria for earning 5x points on flights offer slightly more flexibility, depending on the specific card. For The Platinum Card from American Express, cardholders can earn 5x points on flights purchased directly from passenger airlines or when booked through American Express Travel. This provides the convenience of booking directly with an airline while still securing the enhanced earning rate. Conversely, for The Business Platinum Card from American Express, the 5x points on flights are typically earned only when the booking is made through the American Express Travel portal.

It is important to note that these eligible travel purchases must be charged to the same eligible Platinum Card to qualify for the 5x points. Additionally, certain types of travel purchases are explicitly excluded from the 5x benefit, such as non-prepaid hotel bookings, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages not booked through AmexTravel.com. Any modifications made directly with a hotel or airline for a booking originally made through American Express Travel may also disqualify the purchase from earning the additional points.

Maximizing Points on Other Travel

While the 5x points benefit is a significant draw, many travel-related expenses do not qualify for this accelerated earning rate. Purchases such as car rentals, cruises, and non-prepaid hotel bookings typically earn points at a lower rate. For most eligible American Express cards, these types of travel expenditures, when not qualifying for a specific bonus, generally earn 1x Membership Rewards point per dollar spent. This standard earning rate applies to a wide array of purchases outside of the defined 5x categories.

Some American Express cards may offer different bonus categories for broader travel spending. For example, the American Express Green Card typically awards 3x points on eligible travel purchases, encompassing a wider range of categories like airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and third-party travel websites. The Business Gold Card also offers 3x points on select travel purchases made through AmexTravel.com, including flights and prepaid hotel packages. These alternative earning rates provide opportunities to maximize points on travel not covered by the 5x benefit.

When booking travel that does not fall under the 5x points criteria, or when choosing to book outside of the American Express Travel portal for non-5x categories, it is important to understand the applicable earning rate. For instance, if a hotel stay is paid at check-out instead of being prepaid through Amex Travel, it will not earn 5x points and will instead accrue points at the card’s standard rate, usually 1x. Understanding these distinctions allows cardholders to strategically use their cards to maximize their Membership Rewards earnings across all travel-related spending.