Unlocking the full potential of your American Express Membership Rewards points has never been easier, thanks to the 35% Airline Bonus. This incredible feature allows you to stretch your points further when booking flights, making it a valuable tool for frequent travelers. Whether you’re planning a business trip or a dream vacation, here’s everything you need to know about this bonus and how to make the most of it.

How the 35% Airline Bonus Works

The 35% Airline Bonus is an exclusive benefit for certain American Express cardholders, particularly those with the Business Platinum Card®. Here's a breakdown of how it works:

1. Book Your Flight: Use your Membership Rewards points to pay for all or part of a flight through American Express Travel.
2. Eligible Flights: The bonus applies to First and Business Class tickets on any airline, as well as any fare class with your selected qualifying airline, offering flexibility based on your travel preferences.
3. Receive Points Rebate: After booking, 35% of the points you used will be credited back to your Membership Rewards account, up to 1,000,000 points per year.

For example, if your flight costs 70,000 points, you’ll get 24,500 points back, reducing the net cost to 45,500 points. This rebate lets you stretch your points even further, helping you save for future trips.

Popular Destinations Using the 35% Airline Bonus

Here are a few examples to show how you can use this bonus to reduce the effective cost of your flights:

• New York City to Paris (Business Class)
  • Points Required: 100,000
  • Rebate: 35,000 points back
  • Effective Cost: 65,000 points
• Los Angeles to Tokyo (First Class)
  • Points Required: 140,000
  • Rebate: 49,000 points back
  • Effective Cost: 91,000 points
• Chicago to London (Business Class)
  • Points Required: 90,000
  • Rebate: 31,500 points back
  • Effective Cost: 58,500 points
• Miami to Buenos Aires (Business Class)
  • Points Required: 85,000
  • Rebate: 29,750 points back
  • Effective Cost: 55,250 points
• San Francisco to Sydney (First Class)
  • Points Required: 150,000
  • Rebate: 52,500 points back
  • Effective Cost: 97,500 points

Key Considerations

While the 35% Airline Bonus is a powerful perk, there are a few important details to keep in mind:

1. Eligible Cardholders: This benefit is only available to holders of the American Express Business Platinum Card®.
2. Booking Conditions: The rebate applies only to flights booked through American Express Travel using points. Flights booked elsewhere do not qualify.
3. Selected Airline: You can select one airline each year to receive the rebate on any fare class, and this choice can only be changed once per year.
4. Points Cap: The points rebate is capped at 1,000,000 points per year, which is plenty for most travelers but worth noting for high-volume users.
5. Rebate Timing: The rebate may take 6-10 weeks to process, so plan your points usage accordingly.
6. No Partial Rebates: If you only use points to cover part of the flight cost, you’ll only receive a rebate on the points portion of the payment.

Why the 35% Airline Bonus Matters

This benefit can make a big difference for frequent travelers, turning what would be a full redemption into a discounted points cost. By getting up to 1,000,000 points back annually, you can book more flights, upgrade to premium cabins, or save points for future adventures.

Final Thoughts

If you hold the American Express Business Platinum Card®, the 35% Airline Bonus is a must-use perk. Whether for personal vacations or business travel, this feature allows you to maximize your Membership Rewards points, making luxury travel more attainable while saving for future trips.

Don’t miss out—start planning your next journey and see just how far your points can take you!