Amex Adds 1 Million Airbnb Listings and a New $250 Credit

American Express has added more than 1 million Airbnb listings to its Amex Travel platform, and the deal comes with a new $250 Airbnb Experiences credit for Platinum cardholders. Amex announced the partnership with Airbnb on Thursday. 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.

The move marks a shift in what Amex Travel sells. For years, the platform focused on traditional hotels, offering more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries through its Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs. Airbnb roughly triples the inventory in one step.

What changes for cardholders?

The biggest changes land on American Express Platinum cards. Consumer and Business Platinum cardholders will earn 5x Membership Rewards points on qualifying prepaid Airbnb bookings made through Amex Travel. Other eligible cards enrolled in the Membership Rewards program will earn 2x points on those bookings.

Consumer Classic Green cardholders keep a different deal. They continue earning 3x points on travel reservations made directly through third-party travel websites, including Airbnb itself.

The mechanism has one important seam. Cardholders can book Airbnb stays through Amex Travel and view reservations there, but they still need Airbnb's own platform to communicate with their host or change a reservation. Amex sells the booking; Airbnb runs the stay.

Howard Grosfield, group president of U.S. consumer services at American Express, framed the deal around traveler behavior. "The place you stay often becomes one of the most memorable parts of a trip," Grosfield said. "Our research found that as many as 82% of consumers say where they stay can be as important as the destination itself."

For Airbnb, the partnership opens a channel to a premium, high-spending audience already booking travel inside the Amex ecosystem. Juan David, global head of partnerships at Airbnb, said: "Amex travelers are some of the world's most experienced travelers, and we can't wait to share these amazing Airbnb listings with them." He added that Airbnb's "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."

How does the $600 credit work now?

American Express is renaming its $600 annual Hotel Credit the "$600 Lodging Credit" to reflect the addition of eligible Airbnb Luxe properties. The structure stays the same: up to $300 in statement credits during the first half of the calendar year and another $300 during the second half.

The restrictions stay too. The credits apply only to eligible Airbnb Luxe properties, not Airbnb overall. Travelers must book a prepaid stay of at least two nights through Amex Travel, not directly through Airbnb, to qualify.

What is the $250 Experiences credit?

American Express is introducing a second benefit for Consumer and Business Platinum cardholders: up to $250 in annual statement credits toward eligible Airbnb Experiences.

There is a catch. Cardholders cannot book a food tour or dance class and expect the credit automatically. They must first book an Airbnb Luxe property with their card to activate the benefit. Once American Express confirms that booking, the cardholder unlocks the Experiences credit for the remainder of the calendar year.

The calendar-year clock creates a timing question for cardholders. A Luxe booking in January unlocks eleven-plus months of Experiences credits; the same booking in October leaves a shrinking window before the credit expires on December 31. The partnership effectively raises the annual value of the Platinum card by up to $850 in lodging and experiences credits, but only for travelers who book Luxe properties through Amex Travel rather than direct.