Reminder: Deadline Approaching to Change Amex Airline Incidental Credit Preferred Carrier

If you hold an American Express card that comes with an airline incidental statement credit perk, only a few days remain for you to make any changes.

The final day to change your preferred carrier is January 31. (However, some data points suggest that if you don’t use any of your airline incidental statement credit benefit, you can switch airlines later in the year.)

Which Amex Cards Have the Airline Incidental Credit?

Two American Express cards give members a certain amount of statement credits to use with one airline they can select from a list provided by Amex:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($200 annual airline incidental credit)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($200 annual airline incidental credit)

(The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card no longer features an airline incidental credit benefit. In its place is an annual $200 Flight Credit: earn up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for a total of up to $200 back each year on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com. All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer and neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

Manual enrollment/activation is required to take advantage of the benefit. Terms apply.

Because each card is a separate product, you can select a different airline for each. For example, you might choose Delta for your Amex Platinum and go with United on your Amex Business Platinum..

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Which Airlines are Eligible?

You can choose from:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Spirit Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

Frontier is no longer an eligible airline.

What Purchases are Eligible?

An Amex rep told me the below charges should credit back:

• Airline fee charge billed after airline selection
• Airport lounge day passes and annual memberships
• Change fees
• Checked baggage fees
• Early check-in fees
• In-flight amenity fees (beverages, food, pillows/blankets, and so on)
• In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless Internet)
• Overweight/oversize baggage fees
• Pet flight fees
• Phone reservation fees
• Seat assignment fees
• Unaccompanied minor fees

Here’s what is explicitly prohibited:

• Airline tickets
• Award tickets
• Duty–free purchases
• Gift cards
• Mileage points purchases
• Mileage points transfer fees
• Upgrades

That being said, your mileage may vary. Something might code incorrectly and you could be pleasantly surprised. Or vice-versa.

Where Can You Change (or Confirm) Your Selected Airline?

Simply visit AmericanExpress.com/airlinechoice and go from there. Easy peasy.

Which Airline Should You Choose?

Think about how you may use this credit(s) this year.

For example, if you’re a regular Delta flyer who holds a Delta Amex (or two or three or four), has elite status, and rarely pays for checked baggage or onboard beverages — but know you’ll be on an American Airlines trip or two in 2024, consider choosing AA. This way, you can buy a day pass to their lounges, enjoy onboard beverages, not worry about checked baggage fees, etc.

My six-year-old is now considered an adult (in the eyes of airlines — and herself 🙂 ), so we selected Delta for our two cards. This helps pay for her guest admission into Sky Clubs. Plus, friends and family sometimes travel with us, so we’re able to pick up their Sky Club fees, too.

Final Approach

The Amex airline incidental credit is a great perk — if you’re able to use it. Just remember to select an airline (or confirm your choice) for this year.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link.