Thanks JohnK and Cynicor. I've just received a Welcome "Unlock all your card benefits" email for my Son's supplementary card as we ordered a replacement card last week and it has the T & Cs for the $200 travel credit.
"2. Card Members are eligible for one travel credit per year on fee renewal date from 1 October 2013. The $200 travel credit can be redeemed against any single eligible travel booking of $200 total value or more when booking through
americanexpress.com.au/platinumtravel. The travel credit can be used for 365 days from date of issue and cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year. Supplementary Card Members are not eligible for this benefit.
Refunds may be permitted based on supplier cancellation policy. The amount refunded will be the value of the booking, less supplier fees and the $200 contributed by American Express. There is no refund on the $200 credit. Once a booking has been cancelled the travel voucher for that year will be forfeited. Changes to bookings are permitted subject to supplier terms and conditions. Booking amendment fees may apply. Membership Rewards points will not be earned on the $200 Platinum Travel Credit. For online redemptions made through
americanexpress.com.au/platinumtravel, the credit is applicable to eligible pre-paid Flight, Hotel and Car Hire bookings only. The credit may not be used towards Cruises or Experiences. The credit may not be used towards Hotel and Car Hire bookings that are reserved on the American Express Travel website where payment is made directly to the supplier (i.e. Fine Hotels & Resorts). For redemptions by phone, the transaction must be for pre-paid return international flights departing from Australia on eligible carriers only. Please contact your Platinum Travel Service for a full updated list of eligible airlines. Travel services provided American Express International, Inc. ABN 15 000 618 208."
I've bolded the relevant sentences and what I've been told is correct that "There is no refund on the $200 credit." However I wonder about the sentence "Changes to bookings are permitted subject to supplier terms and conditions. Booking amendment fees may apply." as I've asked if I can change the booking to another hotel and retain the $200 travel credit and I've been told no. I wasn't trying to be given the $200 - I just wanted to change the booking to another hotel and I would have assumed that if I found a hotel through the Amex Travel site where I made the original booking and used the $200 travel credit that I should have been able to do that, since my original hotel booking did allow refunds until the day before.
I wonder if "subject to supplier terms and conditions" means that the term "supplier" means I could only make a change to the booking at that hotel or if "supplier" means the company they used to book the hotel through? On my Hotel Voucher it says: "For Supplier Use Only. This is a prepaid reservation. Only additional services and incidentals to be charged to customer. Payable through HOTELBEDS PRODUCTS,S,L,U - B38877676 acting as agent for the service operating company, details of which can be provided upon request."
I've just looked up Hotelbeds S.L.U. and came up with this:
"HOTELBEDS, S.L.U. operates an online database of hotels that operate worldwide. It provides access to an accommodation portfolio of hotels ranging from leisure resorts to city breaks and from budget to 5-star luxury hotels; and ancillary products, such as transfer services, car hire, attraction tickets, and excursions. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. HOTELBEDS, S.L.U. operates as a subsidiary of TUI Travel PLC."
I've just looked at the email I received when I made the booking for this hotel and under "Terms and Conditions - Changes and Cancellations" it says:
"If you want to change or cancel the arrangements you have booked in any way, we will try to help you, although we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to do this as changes are subject to availability at the time and to the transport or accommodation providers' terms and conditions. For any changes that can be made, we will charge the price that applies on the day the change is made. Changes and cancellations are subject to charges, from us and from the supplier. Please read our terms and conditions, and the information on the voucher to find out more.
Please note, in the event of a booking amendment or cancellation, American Express reserve the right to apply the following service fees and conditions in addition to any charges assessed by the relevant airline and or supplier.
(a) Amendment Fee: $33.00 per person, per change
(b) Cancellation Fee: $55.00 per person
(c) Refunds: Any applicable refunds will be credited to your American Express Card. No Membership Rewards points will be refunded. No cash refunds will be given."
I would be interested if others think the T & Cs listed above read to mean that I should be able to change to another hotel booked through the company they used or if it would only be the hotel we're booked with now. If I could change the booking to another hotel it should be a $33.00 per person amendment fee, not the $55 Cancellation Fee I have been quoted.