Good morning everyone, I just received my latest American Express Platinum Charge Card statement and noticed a small change to the card benefits.  If you have one of the many American Express Platinum versions, you have a ton of cardmember benefits, all listed on the Platinum benefits page.  One such benefit that has rarely, probably never, been mentioned is the Platinum Destinations Vacations benefit.  By booking a vacation package through American Express, you will receive bonus American Express Membership Reward Points based on the cost of your vacation package.  The bonus structure for booking vacation packages is changing, effective June 1, 2016.

Here are the current terms and conditions listed on the Platinum Destinations Vacations page:

Valid only for new bookings of qualifying vacation packages made with a participating vacation supplier through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, any American Express Travel office or the Agency Services Desk. May not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Payment must be made in full with a Membership Rewards® program-enrolled Consumer or OPEN American Express Card in the U.S. Platinum Card Member’s or U.S. Centurion® Member’s name. Available for U.S. Platinum Charge Card Members and U.S. Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such as Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card Members who are not also U.S Platinum Charge Card Members or U.S. Centurion® Members. Program benefits may not be available to residents outside of the contiguous United States. Card Member must travel on itinerary booked to receive the extra Membership Rewards points. If booking through a travel agency, travel agent must visit americanexpress.com/asdonline to obtain extra points for the Card Member. Participating vacation suppliers and benefits subject to change. Extra points will be credited to Card Member’s Membership Rewards account within 4-6 weeks after full payment by Card Member of the qualifying vacation package. Maximum 25,000 extra points awarded per qualifying vacation package booking, based on total value of vacation package booked with the participating vacation supplier:

• 5,000 extra points for bookings of vacation packages with total value up to $2,000;
• 10,000 extra points for bookings of vacation packages with total value of $2,000.01 – $5,000;
• 25,000 extra points for bookings of vacation packages with total value of $5,000.01 or more.

See membershiprewards.com/terms for Membership Rewards program terms and conditions.

Bonus ID: 7628.

As you can see above, there are 3 tiers of bonus Membership Reward Points: 5,000, 10,000, and 25,000 Membership Reward Points.  Based on the notice from my last American Express Platinum Charge Card statement, that bonus structure is going to end on May 31, 2016, and be replaced by a new bonus structure.  Effective June 1, 2016, if you book a Platinum Destinations Vacations package, you will earn 2x Membership Reward Points based on the cost of the vacation package.

If we go off the announced changes, the same Platinum Destinations Vacations packages will earn the following bonus Membership Reward Points.  As you can tell, the difference is pretty big in some cases, especially at the tier 3 level ($5,000+), which was probably the most popular choice for Platinum cardholders.

Personally, I have never booked a vacation package, either through American Express or elsewhere, so this change does not impact me, but I am sure there are a few Platinum cardholders out there that have booked a Platinum Destinations Vacations package.  If you have booked a Platinum Destinations Vacations package before and might book another one in the future, I suggest you book by May 31, 2016.  I would also call American Express and ask for compensation for the change in the bonus structure.  It never hurts to call and see if they will offer you “goodwill” Membership Reward Points.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.  Have a great day everyone!