Booking a big trip abroad in the months ahead? Check your Amex account first: A handful of targeted Amex Offers will put up to $200 back in your pocket when you book flights with Etihad, Air France/KLM, or Virgin Atlantic – and travelers are reporting a few more for other airlines, too.
The timing of these offers couldn’t be much better. Airfare is up almost universally this year, thanks in large part to a spike in jet fuel prices after the start of the war in Iran. A statement credit won’t undo all of that, but it can take some of the sting out of your next trip.
Here are the offers we’ve spotted:
- Etihad Airways: Spend $1,000-plus, get $200 back on purchases made by Dec. 31, 2026
- Air France/KLM: Spend $1,500-plus, get $150 back on purchases made by Dec. 15, 2026
- Virgin Atlantic: Spend $2,500-plus, get $200 back on purchases made by Dec. 13, 2026
But that isn’t all that’s out there. We’ve also seen reports of some cardholders being targeted for more of these offers with a handful of different airlines, including:
- Delta: Spend $2,000-plus on bookings made through American Express Travel®, get $250 back through Nov. 30
- Air New Zealand: Spend $1,800-plus, get $350 back through Dec. 31
- ITA Airways: Spend $1,250-plus, get $225 back through Nov. 30
Like all Amex Offers, these are targeted, so there’s no telling what (if anything) you’ll find on your American Express cards. While we’re seeing these most often on Membership Rewards-earning cards like the *amex gold* and *amex platinum*, they’re also cropping up on co-branded Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors cards, too.
The big catch: Your flight must originate in the U.S. and be charged in U.S. dollars, and you’ll need to book directly with the airline. A roundtrip from New York to Paris works, while a one-way home from London (for example) does not.
Keep in mind, you only need to book by the deadline, not fly – so a prepaid fare for next spring or summer counts. And you can hit the spending threshold across multiple purchases if you have multiple flights to book or are booking for other passengers, in addition to yourself.
Just know that if you cancel and get a refund, Amex can (and likely will) claw back these credits.
Booking With Points? These Can Still Work
These offers aren’t just for cash fares. They should also trigger when you pay the taxes and fees on an award ticket – so long as you book on the airline’s website, pay in U.S. dollars, and your trip starts in the U.S.
Now, the spending thresholds are high enough that a single economy award won’t come close. But a big business class redemption? That’s not out of the realm of possibility anymore – especially after the fee hikes we’ve seen from some of these programs this year.
Flying Blue raised fees on award tickets back in March, with one-way business class awards from the U.S. to Europe now carrying roughly $450 in taxes and fees. Book a roundtrip for two in business class, and you could clear the $1,500 threshold, netting $150 back.
Virgin Atlantic is even pricier. After its latest fee hike in April, Upper Class awards to London run about $700 in taxes and fees one-way – and nearly $1,000 coming home. A roundtrip for two from the U.S. would top $3,000 in fees alone, easily clearing the $2,500 mark for that $200 credit.
That $200 doesn’t make Virgin’s fees any less painful. But if you’re already set on that redemption, there’s no reason to leave the credit on the table.
Thrifty Tip: The “originate in the U.S.” rule matters here, too. Book your award as a roundtrip starting in the U.S. – those steep fees on the return leg from Europe should only count toward the spending threshold if they’re part of the same U.S.-originating ticket.
Where to Find Amex Offers
If you haven’t used Amex Offers before, think of them as digital coupons exclusively for Amex cardholders for purchases like airfare or hotels, as well as dining, entertainment, or everyday shopping. Add one of these to your Amex card, use that card to book an eligible Marriott stay, and Amex will give you the discount right back as a statement credit on your account within a few days.
To check if you’re targeted, simply log in to your American Express app and scroll down near the middle of the screen – there should be a box called “Offers.”
If you’re using the desktop version of the American Express website, you’ll find Amex Offers about halfway down the homepage. Here, you can view all the Amex Offers that are currently available, see which ones you’ve already added to your card, and even review your lifetime savings with the Amex Offers program.
Just remember that if you have multiple Amex cards, you’ll need to cycle through them, as the offers will differ for each card. If you see an offer you like, simply add it to the card and make a qualifying purchase at that business with your card. You should receive a statement credit for the offer within a few days of making a purchase.
Thrifty Tip: Amex displays up to 100 offers at a time. If you’re not seeing the one you want, try adding a handful to your card, logging out, and then logging back in to see if you get some new ones!
Not familiar with Amex Offers? See our complete guide to using Amex Offers.
Bottom Line
A handful of new Amex Offers can put up to $200 (or more) back in your pocket when you book flights with Etihad, Air France/KLM, or Virgin Atlantic. Reports of similar offers for Delta (booked through Amex Travel), Air New Zealand, and ITA Airways are floating around, too.
The big catch: Your trip must start in the U.S., you’ll need to pay in U.S. dollars, and you must book directly with the airline before each offer expires in mid-to-late December. But with airfare – and award fees – still elevated, every bit of savings helps.
