Why dont Emirates accept AMEX?

IloveElephants

Hi, I would like to book some flights for a friend as I have a credit card and it offers more protection so I have been advised.

On the Emirates website when choosing to pay it lists different banks but AMEX is not listed.

So I am wondering why this is the case and what is the best credit card to open just to pay for holidays/flights moving forward as I do not own a credit card other than Amex plattinimum.

Many thanks everyone. 

la531983

Any Visa or Mastercard would be fine tbh, all would carry the same protection. Can't comment on why they don't accept Amex, does seem odd. 

Slinky

Amex fees for merchants are quite a bit higher than Visa or Mastercard which is why a lot of places don't accept it,

It really is a case of Amex? That WON'T do nicely.

El_Torro

American Express has higher charges than other credit cards. This is why the rewards with Amex are higher than Mastercard or Visa. This also means that a lot of retailers / companies don't accept American Express.

If you want a credit card that is more widely accepted go with a provider that offers Mastercard or Visa. The protection is essentially the same for all 3. 

JGB1955

I may be wrong but thought that buying airline tickets for a third party breaks the 'chain' and provides no protection.

Marchitiello

Emirates does generally accept Amex but it depend from the “departing country” of that particular booking if it does accept it or not. I have not booked with them since 2020, but I believe they definitely did accept them for UK departures when I last made my booking. 

Richard1212

Whilst I have always kept Amex, I find it is refused by so many companies that I rarely use it anymore. The refusals are purely to do with Amex charging a third more than other cards. After all these years, I have long been expecting Amex to rectify this matter but they never have and don't seem to give a fig.

I keep it because it was the first premium card I ever had ( Platinum) in the days when I did a great amount of business travel, especially to The States. I really don't need it now and you have reminded me to get round to dumping it, as I do not travel too often now and, in any case, I have enough other premium cards and I mainly use my NatWest Black Card. 

daivid

Richard1212 said:

Whilst I have always kept Amex, I find it is refused by so many companies that I rarely use it anymore. The refusals are purely to do with Amex charging a third more than other cards. After all these years, I have long been expecting Amex to rectify this matter but they never have and don't seem to give a fig.

Amex use part of the revenue from higher merchant fees to provide higher rewards and what is typically thought to be better customer service than visa/mastercard card rivals. If they reduce their fees they will not be able to sustain these perks and thus will lose their USP and attractiveness. I doubt there is anyone who has Amex who cannot get a visa/mastercard as backup - I carry one of each, try the Amex then use one of the others if it is not accepted.

TadleyBaggie

JGB1955 said:

I may be wrong but thought that buying airline tickets for a third party breaks the 'chain' and provides no protection.

This was my understanding too.

SiliconChip

JGB1955 said:

I may be wrong but thought that buying airline tickets for a third party breaks the 'chain' and provides no protection.

You're certainly right for Visa and Mastercard, I'm unsure whether Amex have different rules although I'd have thought it unlikely.

[Deleted User]

SiliconChip said:

JGB1955 said:

I may be wrong but thought that buying airline tickets for a third party breaks the 'chain' and provides no protection.

You're certainly right for Visa and Mastercard, I'm unsure whether Amex have different rules although I'd have thought it unlikely.

The rule relates to UK credit products - nothing to do with the card scheme or lack of it.