AMEX Velocity Platinum free flights questions

[desafinado74]

Hi guys,
I am a holder of the AMEX Velocity Platinum card.
I am planning to use the free return flights in November this year (MEL-SYD RT)

I would like to know, while booking the free flight over the phone, is whether you can
add / pay for extra baggage allowance ? (Going up to SYD to catch an ANA flight to Japan)

And, how far ahead can you book this free flight ?

 

[blueythecat]

Hi guys,
I am a holder of the AMEX Velocity Platinum card.
I am planning to use the free return flights in November this year (MEL-SYD RT)

I would like to know, while booking the free flight over the phone, is whether you can
add / pay for extra baggage allowance ? (Going up to SYD to catch an ANA flight to Japan)

And, how far ahead can you book this free flight ?

You can book as soon as flights are available for booking on the VA website - so you are fine to book now.

Not sure about the excess baggage allowance - the AMEX phone operator should know though.

 

[desafinado74]

You can book as soon as flights are available for booking on the VA website - so you are fine to book now.

Not sure about the excess baggage allowance - the AMEX phone operator should know though.

Ok thank you . I will give AMEX a call.

 

[blueythecat]

Ok thank you . I will give AMEX a call.

No worries, good luck with your booking!

 

[Haplo]

My experience with the reserve card is that the free flight is like a cash fare when you manage your booking on the virgin website so you can upgrade/add baggage, etc.

 

[desafinado74]

Thank you Haplo. I will book the free flights and see what happens.

 

[AnnaB]

I was also wondering regarding the free flight, do we get points and SC's?
If I book PER-SYD but want to fly ahead to say BNE, can I add a flight but have the bag go all the way through and not have to check in again in SYD?

 

[blueythecat]

I was also wondering regarding the free flight, do we get points and SC's?
If I book PER-SYD but want to fly ahead to say BNE, can I add a flight but have the bag go all the way through and not have to check in again in SYD?

Generally (almost certainly) no SC's or points with the free AMEX flights.

You should be able to add a segment onto BNE if you book PER-SYD, you could either book with AMEX travel at the same time as you redeem the free flight or afterwards and ask at check-in for your bags to be tagged through to BNE.

 

[deva22]

Interesting data point:

Just booked an AMEX velocity platinum flight, and it booked into Q class which = discount economy (elevate, et al) which on zone 1 | 0 - 750 miles = 15SC each way.... very interesting.

 

[blueythecat]

Will be interesting to see if the credit or not.

 

[Robbo3]

Generally (almost certainly) no SC's or points with the free AMEX flight.

Flew the family Canb to Bris return a few weeks ago using free AMEX flights. 2 * Velocity Platinum and 1 * Platinum Edge. To my surprise received SC's and points on all 3.

 

[AnnaB]

Flew the family Canb to Bris return a few weeks ago using free AMEX flights. 2 * Velocity Platinum and 1 * Platinum Edge. To my surprise received SC's and points on all 3.

Would be great to get the SCs. It would be my first ever status as I would reach silver *lol* Not much for some of you but it will make my internal flights with Delta in the US a bit easier as I wont have to pay for luggage

 

[deva22]

Would be great to get the SCs. It would be my first ever status as I would reach silver *lol* Not much for some of you but it will make my internal flights with Delta in the US a bit easier as I wont have to pay for luggage

Make sure u fly comfort+ at a minimum, get those triple SCs for not much extra $

 

[AnnaB]

Make sure u fly comfort+ at a minimum, get those triple SCs for not much extra $

Already booked comfort+, no way I would even try to spend hours flying US domestic economy Especially after some of the posts I have seen on AFF Love extra SCs though, will be a great bonus. Thanks for the heads up

 

[Moopere]

Just another data point here. I just finished two 'free' flight bookings, one on the Velocity Amex and the other on the Amex Edge. Both flights have appeared on my velocity statement as providing SC's _and_ FF's including gold bonus FF (!!!!).

Been using both these cards for years and this has never happened. My suspicion is that they have already transitioned out of the old system and into the new one, starting officially in March, whereby there is no longer a 'free flight' but instead is a $200 travel credit. Having said that though, I'm not sure if I've been notified of this change with relation to the Velocity Amex card ... maybe its going to retain the so-called fee flight?

Anyway, its all good - I've got to make Plat before end of march so I can eek out HH Diamond for a year Mucked myself about late last year and made some basic errors. Ended up with 1000+ SC but not enough sectors, then, got the sectors, but dropped below 1000SC (arrgghhh!!!!).

 

[gwilli1]

Another one here , who received SC & Points on my free flights last weekend . I'll take it !!