American Express Expands Travel Platform With Airbnb Integration

American Express, Airbnb, travel

American Express and Airbnb have announced a partnership that will offer eligible American Express U.S. Card Members more choices of places to stay when traveling and additional ways to earn points.

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    With this partnership, eligible U.S. Card Members can book stays with Airbnb through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and earn rewards, the companies said in a Thursday (Oct. 22) press release.

    This brings more than 1 million Airbnb listings to Amex Travel and enables Card Members to select from Airbnb’s city apartments, family homes and premium private residences as well as American Express’ hotel offerings, the release said.

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    When meeting the specified terms, eligible Card Members can earn Membership Rewards points on prepaid bookings, and U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Card Members can earn an annual $600 Lodging Credit and a new $250 statement credit, per the release.

    “By partnering with Airbnb, we’re giving Card Members more choice alongside the rewards, service and exceptional value that define American Express Membership,” Howard Grosfield, group president, U.S. consumer services at American Express, said in the release.

    Juan David Borrero, head of partnerships at Airbnb, said in the release: “Both of our companies exist to help people travel more and better, and this partnership helps people see more of the world by making travel more rewarding.”

    The PYMNTS Intelligence report “How Consumers Decide Which Credit Card to Pay With” found that credit card rewards, offers and benefits are key factors in a consumer’s decision of which card to use for a purchase.

    One in four cardholders rotate which credit cards they use when shopping to maximize their rewards, according to the report.

    “Cards with robust rewards systems get recommended more often to cardholders’ friends and family,” the report said. “In fact, these systems are a stronger incentive than financial- or rewards-based referral systems.”

    In some other recent moves, American Express teamed up with Bread Financial to launch an NFL-related cards rewards program; enabled U.S. card members to pay with points on everyday purchases within Apple Pay’s checkout experience; and partnered with Fanatics to launch a co-branded credit card, add sports-focused rewards options and deepen its presence across Fanatics’ commerce and events ecosystem.