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If you’re looking for the best travel credit cards, you’ve likely heard about sought-after travel perks provided by American Express. Among its suite of exclusive benefits is the annual Amex airline credit, which offers savings for frequent flyers.
With an annual value of $200 to $250 on qualifying airline transactions, this credit might help justify Amex’s reputation for high annual fees. Here’s what you need to know about the Amex airline fee credit and how to maximize it.
- How does the Amex airline credit work?
- Incidental fees covered by the Amex airline credit
- 4 caveats to be aware of
- 1. Airline codes matter
- 2. What counts as “incidental fees” can be inconsistent
- 3. Use it or lose it
- 4. You’re stuck with one airline
- How to get the most value from the Amex airline fee credit
- FAQs
How does the Amex airline credit work?
The airline fee credit is available on select American Express credit cards, all of which have an annual fee. If you’re a cardmember of one of the following cards or plan to open an account, you’re on your way to accessing this valuable perk.
| Credit value | Annual fee | |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Up to $200 | $695 (Terms apply) |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Up to $200 | $550 (Terms apply) |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Up to $200 | $695 (Terms apply) |
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by FinanceBuzz.
But before planning your next trip, you’ll need to activate this benefit by choosing a qualifying airline. Only the primary cardmember or an authorized account manager can choose a preferred airline, and it can be changed once per year.
To make your selection, log into your online American Express account or call the phone number on the back of your card.
Participating airlines include:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Spirit Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
Incidental fees covered by the Amex airline credit
After choosing your airline, receiving the airline fee credit is straightforward. Only eligible incidental charges from your selected airline will qualify for the Amex airline fee credit.
Simply make qualifying purchases using your card, and you’ll receive a statement credit up to your card’s benefit value.
| Incidental fees that qualify | Incidental fees that do NOT qualify |
| Airline fee charges | Airline tickets |
| Airport lounge day passes | Award tickets |
| Checked baggage fees | Mileage points purchases |
| Overweight/oversize baggage fees | Mileage points transfer fees |
| In-flight amenities | Gift cards |
| In-flight entertainment (excluding WiFi) | Duty-free purchases |
| Pet flight fees | Upgrades |
| Phone reservation fees | Charges not made by your selected airline |
| Seat assignment fees | Charges made before selecting your airline |
| Cancellation fees | |
| Unaccompanied minor fees |
You have the whole calendar year to redeem the full value of the credit. Each year, at the end of January, the credit value resets on your account, regardless of when you activated the benefit.
4 caveats to be aware of
There are a few details you should know to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. Although this card benefit is a great incentive for travelers, you’ll need to pay close attention to the fine print.
1. Airline codes matter
Amex automatically applies the airline credit to your statement based on the identifier code the merchant uses. Airlines tag all card-based transactions with a merchant code or industry code that describes the purchased product or service.
Merchant codes on goods and services can differ between airlines. If your airline codes a purchase differently than you expected, you might not receive credit.
2. What counts as “incidental fees” can be inconsistent
We’ve listed eligible and ineligible incidental fees above, but since merchant codes trigger which purchases the Amex airline credit is applied to, what counts as an incidental fee can sometimes vary from airline to airline.
For example, gift cards are on Amex’s list of ineligible purchases. Some cardholders, however, have had airline gift card purchases reimbursed unexpectedly. Fair warning, though, since the credit shouldn’t technically apply to this type of purchase, it’s unreasonable to expect it to work.
When using your Amex card through your selected airline, stay on top of your statement activity to see if a specific purchase type qualifies. But don’t spend money you otherwise wouldn’t have in an attempt to trick the system and earn credits for unofficial uses. Doing so could put your account on the fast track to being shut down.
3. Use it or lose it
The Amex airline credit renews every calendar year. However, if you don’t use the maximum value of your credit by Dec. 31, you’ll lose any remaining credit on your card.
Since the credit doesn’t roll over to the following year, ensure you account for this during upcoming travel. When possible, make your purchases strategically to max out the airline fee credit each year well before your year-end statement closes.
4. You’re stuck with one airline
Aside from the credit being limited to airlines that participate in the program, Amex requires you to stay loyal to one airline each year.
If it’s your first time selecting an airline, you can do so at any time. But as soon as you make a selection, you can’t switch it until the following January. If you end up flying with your selected airline infrequently that year, you may have a hard time maxing out your credit.
If you have an extenuating circumstance and need to switch your selected airline mid-year, you can call the phone number on the back of your card to see if Amex will make an exception. This courtesy, however, is on a case-by-case basis.
How to get the most value from the Amex airline fee credit
Taking advantage of this airline credit can help you travel for less, if you use it wisely. Here are a few ways to make smart choices when enrolling.
- Research your airline options: If you already have elite status with an airline, you might already get similar perks through the carrier. Consider a different airline so your Amex travel benefits have greater reach.
- Choose your enrollment date strategically: When opening a new account, remember that the credit is applied each calendar year. That means if you get a new card in November, you’ll only have a limited window of time to use it up before your statement closes on Dec. 31. On the flip side, you’ll also receive another airline credit the following January.
- Pay attention to your purchases: Keep tabs on your statement to see which purchases received the airline credit. Also note how you made the purchase (for example, online vs. in-person). This intel helps you make educated purchasing decisions when using your Amex card toward the credit.
- Stay on top of your remaining value. Throughout the calendar year, review how much of the benefit value is left so unused airline credit isn’t wasted. You can see how much of the credit is available through your Amex online account.
The airline fee credit isn’t the only travel benefit offered by Amex, but it’s a valuable perk you’ll want to get the most out of. And with the annual fees associated with these credit cards, any opportunity to recoup travel costs is a good thing.
FAQs
Can you use the Amex airline credit for gift cards?
No. American Express offers the fee credit for incidental fees and doesn’t consider gift cards bought at the airline as an incidental fee.
What American Express cards come with the airline fee credit?
Cards that come with up to a $200 annual airline fee credit include:
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card card offers up to $200 back per year ($50 in statement credits each quarter) on eligible flight purchases. Note that you’ll need to activate this benefit by choosing a qualifying airline.
Can I cash out my Amex airline fee credit if I don't use it?
No, you can’t cash out your Amex airline fee credit. So, if you don’t take advantage of the credit, you won’t get any remaining cash value.
Does the Amex airline fee credit renew?
Yes, the American Express airline fee credit renews every year, but you won’t get to roll over any unused portion of the fee. Your credit actually resets. So make sure you get the most out of your card and use your airline fee credit every year.
Do I still earn Membership Rewards on purchases reimbursed by the Amex airline fee credit?
Based on the published American Express terms and conditions, it appears you’ll still get your Membership Rewards on those purchases since they aren’t listed as excluded.
Fabulous Rewards for Hilton Fans
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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Current Offer
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
14X points on eligible purchases within the Hilton portfolio, 7X points on qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines/select car rental companies or Amextravel.com, 7X points at U.S. restaurants, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases