For years, American Express has offered cardholders the chance to book stays at some of the world’s most exclusive luxury hotels through American Express Travel. Starting today, Amex is expanding that program to include a new type of stay: Airbnb.
The credit card company announced a partnership with Airbnb on Thursday that will bring more than 1 million Airbnb listings to Amex Travel. The deal means eligible U.S. cardholders can now book Airbnb properties directly through the American Express Travel website or app, and earn Membership Rewards points on prepaid stays.
But the biggest changes are for American Express Platinum cardholders, who will gain a new way to use their existing $600 annual lodging credit, along with access to a new $250 Airbnb Experiences credit.
American Express is adding more than 1 million Airbnb listings
Previously, Amex Travel primarily offered traditional hotel accommodations, including more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries through its Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs. Adding Airbnb gives the platform a much larger selection of places to stay.
“The place you stay often becomes one of the most memorable parts of a trip,” Howard Grosfield, group president, U.S. consumer services at American Express, tells Fast Company. “Our research found that as many as 82% of consumers say where they stay can be as important as the destination itself.”
The partnership also gives Airbnb a new way to reach travelers who are already using American Express to book their vacations.
“Our global community of hosts makes it possible to find the right place for every kind of trip, from a family reunion to a weekend away,” Juan David, global head of partnerships at Airbnb, tells Fast Company. “Amex travelers are some of the world’s most experienced travelers, and we can’t wait to share these amazing Airbnb listings with them.”
One important distinction is how the partnership works. While cardholders can book Airbnb stays through American Express Travel and view their reservations there, they’ll still need to use Airbnb’s platform to do things like communicate with their host or change their reservation.
Platinum cardholders can now earn 5x points on Airbnb stays
The partnership also changes how eligible American Express cardholders earn rewards when booking Airbnb properties. For Platinum cardholders, the biggest addition is earning 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid Airbnb reservations made through Amex Travel.
Consumer and Business Platinum cardholders will earn 5x points on qualifying prepaid Airbnb bookings through Amex Travel. Other eligible cards enrolled in the Membership Rewards program will earn 2x points on those bookings.
Consumer Classic Green cardholders will continue earning 3x points on travel reservations made directly through third-party travel websites, including Airbnb.
The $600 Platinum hotel credit is getting a makeover
Perhaps the most significant change for Platinum cardholders involves a benefit they already have. American Express is renaming its $600 annual Hotel Credit the “$600 Lodging Credit” to reflect the addition of eligible Airbnb Luxe properties.
The credit still comes with some restrictions. Platinum cardholders can receive up to $300 in statement credits during the first half of the calendar year and another $300 during the second half, for a total of $600 annually.
Those statement credits apply only to eligible Airbnb Luxe properties, not Airbnb overall, and require travelers to book a prepaid stay of at least two nights through Amex Travel rather than Airbnb directly.
American Express is introducing another benefit specifically for Consumer and Business Platinum cardholders: up to $250 in annual statement credits toward eligible Airbnb Experiences.
But there’s a catch. Cardholders can’t simply book a food tour or dance class and expect to receive the credit. They’ll need to book an Airbnb Luxe property with their card first to activate the benefit. Once American Express confirms that booking, the cardholder unlocks access to the Experiences credit for the remainder of the calendar year.
So, if you book a Luxe Airbnb in January, you can book Experiences through December and receive the credit. But because the credit expires at the end of the calendar year, travelers who unlock it late in the year will have less time to use it.