Amex Points Transfer to Leading Hotels of the World Requires Fee Check

American Express introduced a new redemption option last month by adding The Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club loyalty program as a transfer partner. This partnership allows American Express Membership Rewards points to be transferred to Leaders Club accounts at a 4:1 ratio. While this ratio might appear less advantageous on the surface, it can represent a highly valuable use of Amex points for hotel accommodations. This is due to the potential for redemptions through the Leaders Club program to begin at rates below 3,000 points per night, offering significant value compared to standard hotel award charts. However, a notable condition of these award redemptions is that travelers are responsible for paying any applicable taxes and fees associated with their stay. Fortunately, there is a straightforward method to ascertain these additional costs before committing to transferring Amex points. To determine the out-of-pocket expenses for stays booked with Leaders Club points, users must first understand that the total taxes and fees are not displayed if the account balance is insufficient to cover the entire redemption. For instance, a hypothetical four-night stay at the Ritz Paris next summer, priced at 40,251 points per night, would require a substantial point balance. When a user lacks sufficient points to book the full duration of such a stay, the redemption rate selection is unavailable. The workaround to discover the exact taxes and fees involves selecting the standard paid rate for the desired stay. By choosing this option, the booking platform reveals the total taxes and fees applicable to the reservation. In the example of the Ritz Paris, this amounted to 93.50 euros in city tax, which approximates to $108 based on current exchange rates, averaging about $27.10 per night. To confirm this figure, reducing the stay to a single night, for which the user might have enough points, displays the exact same tax and fee amount. It is crucial for users to ensure they select the regular refundable rate for a paid stay when checking these fees. This rate is often labeled as "best available rate" or "standard rate." Users should avoid selecting rates specifically designated as "Leaders Club exclusive" or "advanced purchase," as these may not accurately reflect the taxes and fees applicable to award bookings.