Book a flight the American Express way

MANILA, Philippines - Many American Express cardmembers still choose Membership Travel Service despite the mass trend of online bookings. These cardmembers prefer the professional service and flexibility that Membership Travel Service has to offer.   

Ardy Roberto, who heads Salt and Light Ventures, a firm that has produced well-attended learning seminars such as “John Maxwell Live in Manila” and “Mind Mapping” by Tony Buzan, books airline tickets for business travel using his American Express Platinum Credit Card.

Roberto and wife Tingting, who is Salt and Light co-founder, travel two to three times in a year to bring in speakers and writers whom they identify in book fairs and other venues in the US. He has been using the Membership Travel Service, available to American Express Cardmembers who hold the Platinum and International Credit Cards, for six years. 

“Online tickets are deeply discounted but they won’t allow me to make changes without getting penalized,” Ardy says. “Even when I am in the US, I have the option to e-mail my travel counselor and am sure to get an answer within 12 hours.”

Award-winning author Ardy Roberto prefers to book airline tickets through his American Express credit card.

Anthony Chua, a senior executive of a manufacturing company among the top 500 Philippine firms, enjoys a different benefit through his American Express Platinum credit card. A competitive swimmer, Chua, 42, calls the Membership Travel Service to look for hotels with gyms and pools that are at least 25 meters when he is abroad and preparing for the competitions in his age group. 

Bent on winning medals for the country, Chua has an Olympic gold for the 50-meter freestyle competition which he won “outside the pool,” he smiles. He relates that the rightful owner of the medal auctioned off the piece for the benefit of the tsunami victims of Aceh, Indonesia some years back. He went for the gold, bagged it and uses it to push himself beyond his natural limits.

He explains his passion this way: “Some people like watches; others like cars. I enjoy swimming! It keeps me focused and fit.”  

For more information on American Express Credit Cards and the Membership Travel Service, call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 81-417.