American Express Travel Fees and How to Avoid Them

American Express travel fees can add up quickly, but there are ways to avoid them. American Express charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on all transactions made outside the US, which can be a significant expense for international travelers.

To avoid this fee, consider using a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, such as a credit card from a bank that doesn't charge this fee. Some credit cards, like the Capital One Venture, don't charge foreign transaction fees, making them a great option for international travel.

Traveling by air can also incur additional fees, such as the American Express travel insurance fee, which can range from 2% to 4% of the trip cost. This fee is usually added to the total cost of the trip.

As a Platinum cardholder, I can choose a qualifying airline and enroll to receive up to $200 of statement credit for incidental airline fees each year.

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You can use this credit for checked bag fees, in-flight purchases, seat assignments, and airport-lounge day passes when you pay for them using your American Express Platinum Card.

The Platinum Card may come with no foreign transaction fees, but it does carry a $695 annual fee for cardholders.

If you do a great deal of international travel, you could easily eclipse that annual fee in savings on just a few trips overseas.

American Express also offers a wide variety of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees, often included among the membership benefits from a number of American Express rewards credit card programs.

These cards may come with higher annual fees, but if you travel extensively, you could save a significant amount on foreign transaction fees.

You can save up to $200 of statement credit for incidental airline fees each year with the Platinum Card.

While these fees might seem small, they add up quickly when traveling frequently, making this credit a valuable perk.

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American Express offers a wide variety of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees. However, these cards often come with higher annual fees, which can be a trade-off for frequent international travelers.

The Platinum Card, for example, has a $695 annual fee but offers no foreign transaction fees. If you travel extensively, you could easily save more than the annual fee on just a few trips abroad.

As a Platinum cardholder, you can also get up to $200 of statement credit for incidental airline fees each year, including checked bag fees, in-flight purchases, seat assignments, and airport-lounge day passes.

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As a Platinum cardholder, you can choose a qualifying airline and enroll to receive up to $200 of statement credit for incidental airline fees each year.

Incidental airline fees include checked bag fees, in-flight purchases, seat assignments, and airport-lounge day passes when paid for using your American Express Platinum Card.

These fees add up quickly when traveling frequently, so this benefit can be a significant savings.

You can use this credit to offset the costs of traveling, making your trips more affordable and convenient.

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Using your Platinum card can save you money on rental car insurance.

If you rent a car with your card, you can enroll in a program that provides secondary rental-car insurance, covering damages beyond what your primary insurance would.

Renting a car with your card also gives you peace of mind when it comes to travel disruptions.

If your flight is delayed for more than six hours for a qualifying reason, you can get reimbursed for purchases made during the delay, up to $500 per trip.

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Foreign transaction fees can be a significant added expense when traveling abroad. These fees are charged by credit card companies for each purchase made in a foreign currency, and they can add up quickly.

For example, a foreign transaction fee for a small gift at a souvenir shop might only be a few cents, but larger purchases like hotel bookings and car rentals can amount to hundreds of extra dollars spent during your trip.

American Express, in particular, offers a range of credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, which can be a huge perk for frequent international travelers. However, these cards often come with higher annual fees, which may not be worth it for those who don't travel abroad often.

Some American Express credit cards with no foreign transaction fees include the Delta SkyMiles cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card, which has a $0 annual fee.

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Foreign transaction fees are additional charges applied to your credit card bill for each purchase made abroad in a foreign currency. These fees will apply to purchases made both online and in person when traveling internationally.

A foreign transaction fee can be a small amount, like a few cents, for a small gift at a souvenir shop, but larger purchases like hotel bookings and car rentals can be quite a bit steeper.

For example, these fees can amount to hundreds of extra dollars spent during your trip.

American Express credit cards with no foreign transaction fees can help you save money on these fees, but it's essential to consider the annual fees associated with these cards.

Some popular American Express cards that offer no foreign transaction fees include the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, and the Platinum Card.

Here are some examples of American Express cards with varying annual fees:

Before choosing a credit card, it's crucial to consider whether the savings on foreign transaction fees will outweigh the annual fees.

The excise tax offset fee is a charge you'll encounter when transferring points to certain frequent flyer programs. This fee can be as high as $30, as seen in the example of transferring 50,000 Amex points to Delta SkyMiles.

You can use your points to cover the excise tax offset fee, but it's not a good use of your rewards. Using 6,000 points to avoid the $30 fee would redeem each point at just half a cent apiece.

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If you're looking to avoid the foreign transaction fee on your American Express card, there are a few options to consider.

You can avoid the fee by transferring your Membership Rewards points to a hotel program's currency, as this is not subject to the fee.

However, if you're looking to book flights, you're in luck. Transfers to international airline loyalty programs are also exempt from the fee, and you can often use these points to book domestic flights.

For example, if there's award availability, you can use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points on Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines.

You can also consider booking flights through American Express Travel, as these are treated the same as paid tickets and are thus eligible for rewards.

It's worth noting that no other transferable points program charges a fee for these transfers, so you can transfer points from Citi ThankYou Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards to JetBlue without any added charge.

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Here are some popular American Express cards with no foreign transaction fees: