American Express it brings Airbnb to the travel rewards platform.
The company on Thursday announced a new partnership to bring more than 1 million Airbnb listings to the Amex travel portal and allow cardholders to earn rewards when bookings stay. It currently does not allow members to redeem points to pay for Airbnb bookings.
The launch adds Airbnb rentals to Amex’s hotel portfolio, which includes more than 3,400 properties in its Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs.
Amex members with a consumer or business Platinum card can now also apply a $600 annual lodging credit — formerly known as a hotel credit — to Airbnb’s top Luxe lodgings and benefit from a new $250 statement credit toward eligible Airbnb Experiences after making a Luxe booking.
“We are excited to bring more choice and flexibility to American Express Card Members with this exclusive partnership. 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,” said Juan David Borrero, head of partnerships at Airbnb, in a news release.
Membership points vary by card:
- Consumer and Business Platinum Card members earn five times the membership rewards on prepaid Airbnb bookings through Amex Travel.
- Consumer Classic Green Card members earn three times the points for travel bookings made directly through third-party sites, including Airbnb.
- Other eligible rewards members earn double points on prepaid Airbnb bookings through Amex Travel.
The change comes as competition among premium credit cards continues to increase.
Last year, American Express raised the annual fee on its premium Platinum card to $895. In addition, it has invested in cardholder benefits such as new airport lounges and in big-ticket events and experiences as a way to attract more high-paying customers.
Earlier this month, it announced the expansion of Centurion Lounge, with renovations to four existing lounges and new ones planned for Newark Liberty International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. The Newark lounge will be the largest in the chain.
The partnership also comes as Americans continue to choose luxury travel and experiences, even as airfares, gas and hotel prices rise. Despite higher costs, more than half of Americans report making no changes to their travel plans this summer, a new study by travel insurer Squaremouth found.