How Many Points You Earn on American Express Flight Purchases

Amex points per dollar on flights depend on your card and how you book

The number of points you earn on a flight purchase with American Express varies by card and by how you book. Most Amex cards earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar on flights, but the exact rate depends on which card you hold and whether you book directly with the airline or through a travel portal. Some cards offer bonus points for flights booked through the Amex Travel portal specifically, while others earn the same rate whether you book directly or through a third-party site.

The card you carry matters more than anything else. An American Express Green Card earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. An American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar on the same purchases. An American Express Platinum Card also earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. A basic American Express card with no annual fee typically earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, including flights.

Key Takeaways

• American Express Green, Gold, and Platinum cards earn 3, 4, and 5 points per dollar on flights respectively, but only when you book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal.
• Booking through a third-party travel site like Kayak or Expedia may earn you only 1 point per dollar, even on a premium Amex card, because the purchase registers as a travel agency transaction rather than an airline purchase.
• Some Amex cards offer additional bonus points on flights during specific promotional periods, which you can check in your card's benefits guide or by logging into your account.
• Points earned on flights count toward your annual spending threshold on some cards, which can unlock additional benefits or bonus point offers.

How booking method changes your earning rate

Where you book your flight affects how many points you earn, even with the same card. When you book directly with an airline's website or call the airline's phone number, your purchase codes as an airline transaction and earns the full rate your card offers. When you book through the American Express Travel portal, you also earn the full rate because Amex processes the transaction as an airline purchase.

Booking through a third-party travel site — Kayak, Expedia, Orbitz, Google Flights, or any other aggregator — typically earns you only 1 point per dollar, regardless of which Amex card you use. This happens because the merchant code for the transaction is "travel agency" rather than "airline," and Amex's earning rates are tied to merchant codes, not to what you're actually buying. A flight booked through Expedia looks to Amex like a travel agency purchase, so it earns the base rate.

Earning rates on different American Express cards

American Express offers several cards with different earning structures. The American Express Blue Cash Everyday card earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, including flights, regardless of where you book. The American Express EveryDay card also earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases.

The American Express Green Card earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on flights booked elsewhere. The American Express Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on flights booked through other sites. The American Express Platinum Card earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on flights booked elsewhere.

Some co-branded airline cards issued by American Express earn bonus points on flights with their partner airline. For example, an American Express card co-branded with Delta may earn 2 or 3 points per dollar on Delta flights specifically, and different rates on other airlines. The exact earning rate depends on the specific card and the airline.

What counts as a flight purchase for earning purposes

A flight purchase includes the ticket itself and taxes and fees added at checkout. Baggage fees, seat selection fees, and other ancillary charges added by the airline count as flight purchases if you buy them at the same time as your ticket or directly from the airline's website. If you buy a baggage fee separately weeks after your flight, it may code differently and earn a lower rate.

Airline gift cards and airline miles purchases do not earn points at the elevated rate. When you buy an airline gift card or purchase miles directly from an airline, Amex typically codes this as a miscellaneous purchase and you earn only 1 point per dollar, even on a premium card. Booking a flight using miles you already own does not earn any points because no purchase is made.

How to check your card's earning rate

Your card's benefits guide lists the exact earning rates for flights and other categories. You can find this guide by logging into your American Express account online, going to your card details, and looking for "Benefits Guide" or "Card Benefits." The guide lists every earning category and the point rate for each.

You can also call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask a representative what rate you earn on flights booked directly with airlines and what rate you earn on flights booked through third-party sites. They can also tell you about any current promotional offers that might give you bonus points on flight purchases.

Promotional bonus points on flights

American Express occasionally runs promotions that offer bonus points on flight purchases. These promotions are usually time-limited and explore only to flights booked during a specific window. A promotion might offer an extra 1 point per dollar on flights booked through Amex Travel during a particular month, for example, stacking on top of your card's regular earning rate.

To learn about a current promotion applies to your card, log into your Amex account and look for a "Promotions" or "Offers" section. You can also check the benefits guide that came with your card or call customer service. Some promotions require you to register before you book in order to earn the bonus points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I earn more points if I book a more expensive flight?

Yes. Points are calculated as a percentage of the total dollar amount you spend, so a $500 flight earns more points than a $200 flight on the same card. A $500 flight on an Amex Gold Card booked directly with the airline earns 2,000 points (500 × 4), while a $200 flight earns 800 points (200 × 4).

What if I book a flight for someone else?

You earn points based on the card you use to pay, not on who travels. If you use your Amex Gold Card to book a flight for a friend, you earn 4 points per dollar on that purchase. The friend does not earn any points unless they pay with their own Amex card.

Do I earn points on refunds or cancellations?

When you cancel a flight and receive a refund, Amex typically reverses the points you earned on that purchase. If you earned 2,000 points on a $500 flight and then cancel and get refunded, those 2,000 points are removed from your account. If you rebook the flight for a different date or price, you earn points on the new booking amount.

Can I earn points on flights booked with airline miles?

No. When you use miles to book a flight, no purchase is made with your Amex card, so no points are earned. You only earn points when you pay with your card directly or when you purchase miles from the airline using your card.

Does my annual spending threshold count flight purchases?

Yes. Points earned on flights count toward any annual spending threshold your card may have. If your card offers a bonus after you spend $5,000 in a year, flight purchases count toward that $5,000 total.