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While travel is still limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, credit card issuers are looking for the ways cardholders and travelers can take advantage of their travel credit cards and loyalty. Thus, American Express is temporarily waiving all excise fees till the end of the year due to the pandemic and the CARES act.
This waiver applies to Membership Rewards point transfers to the U.S. airlines performed through December 31, 2020. Plus, American Express is retroactively refunding previously charged fees for point transfers made in 2020.
If you visit American Express' website to request points transfer to a U.S. airline, you will see the following message:
"As a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent CARES Act passed in the United States on March 28, 2020, we are temporarily waiving all excise tax offset fees on point transfers to [airline's name] through December 31, 2020."
Thus, if you take advantage of the offer, you can save up to $99 (a maximum excise fee for a single transfer) on each points transfer to a U.S. airline.
U.S. airlines, which are American Express partners within the Membership Rewards program, are Delta, JetBlue, and Hawaiian Airlines.
Credit cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points are American Express® Gold Card, The Platinum Card®, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Blue from American Express®, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, and some business credit cards.
Note that points transfer fees are not charged when you transfer Membership Rewards points to foreign frequent flyer loyalty programs like Executive Club by British Airways, LifeMiles by Avianca, or Flying Blue by Air France/KLM.
