American Express Business Platinum 50% Back In Points Now Takes 6-10 Weeks

One of the American Express business Platinum benefits is to receive 50% back in points when you use Membership Rewards to pay with points (on all classes for one airline and any airline for first & business class flights). The 50% back in points used to post within 24 hours of making a redemption and now the wait is anywhere from 6-10 weeks.

People had been having some success calling in and getting the points manually adjusted ahead of schedule, but American Express reps have been instructed to no longer make these manual adjustments. I won’t go into details about why American Express have made this change, but I’d be surprised if this policy change isn’t here to stay.

amex pay with points

This obviously makes this benefit and American Express points significantly less valuable. For example, let’s say you’re a couple booking a flight. Previously you could book one ticket, receive the rebate after a day or two and then book a second ticket. Now you need enough points in your account for both tickets and then still won’t have access to the 50% back in points for two months (give or take). I’d also recommend reading sirtheta’s evaluation of this benefit here.

Hat tip to reader Robert additional data points and discussion can be found on DDF

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Jon
Jon (@guest_443263)
July 20, 2017 15:06

I just booked directly with the airline because it took me 800,000 points to get 8 people to Aruba. So I transferred the points directly to Delta myself at a 1:1 ration. Amex wanted 1.3 million points for the same exact flights if I booked through them. So the 50%/35% points back thing is a total scam altogether. Find airlines that transfer at 1:1 and book directly. You will use way less points to begin with.

Stvr
Stvr (@guest_397673)
April 28, 2017 14:20

“Iwon’t go into details about why American Express have made this change, but I’d be surprised if this policy change isn’t here to stay.”

This implies you have some info you can’t share?

Max
Max (@guest_397777)
April 28, 2017 18:08

I think people were doing book and cancel shenanigans to game it.

bY
bY (@guest_397781)
April 28, 2017 18:18

Can you please elaborate?

P
P (@guest_397571)
April 28, 2017 11:36

Got approved yesterday. Double whammy with this and the reduction of the rebate. I am so mad I might just going to threaten to close it immediately when I call in to activate the card. I told the CSR when she was manually approving it that my primary reason for getting the card was the 50% rebate. And I was also thinking it’s what makes it worth keeping long term. And now you even have to wait weeks to get the rebate to book another flight with it!

Miles Czar
Miles Czar (@guest_397551)
April 28, 2017 11:11

Looks like it just got even worse – come Jun 1st the 50% rebate will become 35% with 500,000 yearly cap.

James
James (@guest_397536)
April 28, 2017 10:49

This also makes you mindful of booking a trip before an upcoming AF if you were planning on closing the card.

This affects me since my AF on my card hits end of November and I plan on using it for a Boston trip in March 2018 before closing. Now I have to book at higher prices in September to make sure I get the points back before I close the account after the AF 30 day grace period ends.

NG
NG (@guest_397520)
April 28, 2017 10:31

Just a note on sirtheta’s write up, since you linked it – you can use the 50% benefit on the Biz Plat.

Ignore me – no coffee yet!

NG
NG (@guest_397519)
April 28, 2017 10:31

Just a note on sirtheta’s write up, since you linked it – you can use the 50% benefit on the Biz Plat.

Chaser123
Chaser123 (@guest_397484)
April 28, 2017 09:25

Oddly – I have always had the 50% credit within 3 days without calling. I notice this with most amex point credits even though the terms say it may take weeks. This is for both the 50% travel points back and the extra 50% on purchases over 5k. I actually get the 50% extra points for purchase over 5k the day the purchase posts, but the original point does not post until the statemnt closes. The only ponts I wait for are the regular charge points and the 2x or 3x dining and uber points.

Andrew
Andrew (@guest_397512)
April 28, 2017 10:18

This is a new development, hence the post. A month ago I got 50% points back within 3 days. The flight I booked last week still has not given back the 50% points.

If amex just refunded all the points on a booking cancellation, they wouldnt have to do this

Miles Czar
Miles Czar (@guest_397513)
April 28, 2017 10:18

AMEX only implemented this change on April 20st. I used to get them within 48 hours without calling too but unfortunately that’s no longer the case.

Alex
Alex (@guest_397473)
April 28, 2017 09:07

I just Live Chatted with them yesterday wondering where my points were. The rep said 6-8 weeks. So maybe not 10 weeks. Oh well, I’m happy to get them back, period.

bY
bY (@guest_397465)
April 28, 2017 08:48

That is crappy