Amex Platinum Member Airfares: How To Access This Premium Flight Discount Program

Premium travel credit cards come with some pretty significant benefits, including lounge access, elite status, statement credits, and travel protections. But American Express also offers another lesser-known benefit for Platinum-branded cardmembers: Amex Platinum Member Airfares.

Formerly known as Amex International Airline Program, this program provides discounts on select international premium-cabin fares and some domestic economy fares booked through Amex Travel for cardholders of the American Express Platinum Card^® and the The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Let's take a look at the American Express Platinum Member Airfares, the airlines that participate, and whether it's worth taking advantage of.

What is Amex Platinum Member Airfares?

Platinum Member Airfares is a benefit for eligible cardmembers of the Platinum Card^®. It's the new iteration of Amex's International Airline Program, a benefit that dates back more than 20 years.

The newest version provides discounts on paid premium-economy, business-, or first-class tickets on participating airlines for select international flights. It also offers savings on select domestic economy tickets with limited participating airlines. To qualify, tickets must be purchased through Amex Travel.

Discounts can apply to refundable, restricted, and nonrefundable fares. Amex says Platinum Member Airfares can provide discounts of 10% on average — though these could be higher, lower, or just nonexistent. It really depends on your route and the availability in the program on the day of your search.

Airlines participating in Amex Platinum Member Airfares

The following airlines participate in Amex Platinum Member Airfares:

• Aer Lingus
• Aeromexico
• Air Canada
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Discover Airlines
• El Al Israel Airlines
• Emirates
• Etihad
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Icelandair
• Japan Airlines
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• La Compagnie
• LATAM
• Lufthansa Group
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Singapore Airlines
• SWISS
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

How To Book a Flight Using Platinum Member Airfares

To book a flight through Platinum Member Airfares, you'll need an eligible Platinum card — such as the Platinum Card^® or Business Platinum Card. You can book up to eight passengers on a reservation using these discounts, which could add up to significant savings.

First, log in to your account. Then, select the Travel dropdown from the toolbar at the top of the screen. You should see a section for Platinum Member Airfares.

Credit: American Express

Once you're on the search page, enter your flight details, including your travel dates and cabin class. Then, hit the search button.

Credit: American Express

Amex Travel will populate the results, though not every flight will be eligible for Platinum Member Airfares. Eligible options will have a banner at the top of the result. You can also filter for Platinum Member Airfares-eligible flights by clicking the checkbox on the left-hand side of your screen.

Credit: American Express

After selecting your flight, continue through checkout. Be aware that you'll need to pay with an American Express card to book through Amex Travel, including any Platinum Member Airfares.

Related: Complete Guide to the American Express Travel Portal

Are the American Express Platinum Member Airfares Worth It?

In theory, it's great that you'll be able to save an average of 10% on your flights, but does that really work? In short: It depends.

It always pays to double-check pricing on other sites, as Amex Travel may not always offer the lowest fares. This is true for flights with and without using the Platinum Member Airfares discount.

However, there are some instances where it can save you a few hundred dollars. This is a one-way ticket from Seattle (SEA) to London (LHR). Google Flights shows that this routing costs $3,379.

Credit: Google Flights

However, Virgin Atlantic participates in the Platinum Member Airfares discount. Searching for the same flight on the Amex Travel website shows the same ticket available for just $3,076. That's around 9% off of the cheapest rate bookable elsewhere.

Credit: American Express

While you can find even greater deals, these are few and far between. In a few searches while writing this article, some Platinum Member Airfares results were slightly more expensive than booking directly with the airline, even after the discount.

That makes the program worth checking before booking an international business-class flight, but don’t assume every search will uncover a buy-one-get-one-style deal.

Maximizing Points With Amex Platinum Member Airfares

Amex Platinum Member Airfares apply to paid tickets, so you're generally not able to redeem points for booking. However, you can use American Express Membership Rewards points through Amex Travel to cover the cost.

We generally don't recommend this method since Amex only offers 1 cent per point when redeeming this way. That's far below recent AwardWallet user redemptions, which peg the average value of an Amex point at 1.99¢ each.

However, the Business Platinum Card changes the math. Cardholders get a 35% Pay With Points rebate when redeeming Amex points on eligible flights (up to 1 million points back per year). This applies to flights on your selected qualifying airline. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

How to Apply

Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)

Find Out Your Offer You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

Find Out Your Offer You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual Fee:$895

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a powerhouse for business travelers, offering cardholders up to $1,150 in yearly Dell Technologies credits, up to $360 with Indeed, $250 for Adobe business plans, and $120 for U.S. wireless services. The card includes extensive lounge access, a $200 airline fee credit each year, up to $209 CLEAR+ credit, Marriott Bonvoy^® and Hilton Honors™ Gold Statuses, exclusive Fine Hotels + Resorts^® benefits, and a TSA PreCheck^® or Global Entry fee credit. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.

• As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
• See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
• Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
• Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
• Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
• Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
• 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Terms Apply.

• Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
• Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
• Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
• Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
• 2X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.

While you might not get the best value for your Amex points, it's still a solid option. These tickets are treated as paid airfare, even when you use points through Amex Travel. That means you can still earn redeemable miles and elite status credit, unlike with most standard award flights.

If you’re chasing airline status, this can be a useful way to lower your out-of-pocket cost while still earning elite credit. Just make sure to compare your options first. In some cases, transferring your Amex points to an airline partner and booking an award flight may require fewer points.

Bottom Line

Amex Platinum Member Airfares is a benefit for eligible Platinum-branded cardholders, providing discounts on premium-cabin flights along with some domestic economy flights on a set of select airlines. While it doesn't always offer the best price around, there are situations where taking advantage of this perk can be incredibly helpful.

Add in the ability to redeem your Amex points toward your flight, and it's worth considering before booking paid premium-cabin tickets.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express (Rates & Fees)