Introduction
This will be a BASIC post, meaning most of you already know this, but I was a bit confused. Anyway, I have a wedding in NYC in the summer and I was debating whether to use the companion pass on Alaska or even use up some of my 75000 Jetblue points until my friends told me, “Book the Delta lie flat!” First off, I didn’t even know Delta had lie flat seats out of Seattle, but apparently to JFK, they do. Look for the bed icons (only the 3:20PM doesn’t have the flat bed seats.)
Decision to book
You guys know I’m cheap. Paying $666 for a one way is ridiculous even though I considered using some WF points. After my friends told me to book the lie flat, I remembered back to my last redeye to NYC on Alaska. I was MISERABLE when I landed and passed out in a hotel bed for 2+ hours after I landed. Even though it was a “cheap” 33,000 MR, I just kept thinking about how I can fly across the world in F for say 90,000 MR in a true F product. Eventually I realized a couple of things. One, this is 5 hours in a flat bed and compare that to the ~15 hours or so in international F, the 33K looks to be comparable. Secondly, a domestic F award is usually 25K miles, so 33K miles isn’t that much more. Third, IT’S A LIE FLAT and I’ll be so much happier when I land!!! Ultimately, I decided my quality of life was worth spending the points.
Amex Travel site confusion
I have both the personal Plat and biz Plat and I wasn’t sure how to book this on my biz Plat. When I signed in, I saw my personal Plat in the upper right hand corner of the screen. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my biz Plat to show up. Apparently this doesn’t matter so just book your travel like you normally would.
This is where you would select your business Platinum card.
And the next day you should see that 50% rebate.
Conclusion
I asked my 2 friends if they were going to keep an Amex Business Platinum just for this feature and they both said YES. I am now leaning towards keeping it just for this benefit as well. These domestic F redemptions will be roughly the same cost as coach.
You don’t have to choose the Business Plat card when you verify the information, in fact if you have a regular Plat on the same profile you should choose to “pay” with that. Since it initially charges the entire airfare to the card, you will get 5x points. Have done this numerous times and continue to get the 50% rebate and 5x points.
This is the first time I’ve heard of this and, if true, would be one of the best deal in the points world.
Do you have any proof or screen shots of this?
It’s been confirmed James, but not written about on blogs for obvious reasons. Shhhhh. 😉
Thanks for the response! I understand. You’re blog is new to me and i really like it BTW.
Does it work in combo of BRG and biz plat? Can I get 3x + 50%?
I haven’t tried but it sounds like it should work…
The only thing I don’t like about the 50% back is you need to have all of the points to cover the original price and then get the 50% back. I wish it would just bill you the 66k out of the gate. Unless I am wrong there.
Why do you have both the personal Plat and biz Plat. Was that just for promotions only?
Just for the signup bonuses. I plan on getting rid of the pers Platinum this year.
What’s the 90k F redemption you’re referring to?
Don’t forget you’ll be getting some miles back on this trip since you booked a revenue fare!
The SQ Suites redemption from LAX-NRT. Good point on the miles back. I had forgotten about that.
The same cost as coach? What domestic flight are you spending roughly 66k points RT in Y for? FWIW on a 5-hour flight on DeltaOne I would have probably done the same thing.
Haha I may have exaggerated on the domestic Y just a bit. Why you coming at me like that Ken? You are fake news! #seanspicerfacts
Hahaha just keeping you on your toes.