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American Express Co. said it has launched a travel app that combines travel-planning and booking capabilities.
Developed in response to cardholders it says are looking for an app that provides travel insights, premium offers, and high-value benefits, the app guides cardholders in planning their getaway through what AmEx calls “curated travel content” and allows them to book in one place their travel plans, including airfare, hotels, and rental cars, AmEx says.
A recent survey by AmEx found that 52% of respondents feel overwhelmed by choices when booking a trip, 55% visit at least three websites to book their travel options, and 56% of Millennials and Gen Zers spend at least four hours planning trips. Planning and booking trips through a single app reduces the time and frustration cardholders feel when having to move between multiple apps or Web sites, AmEx says.
Enhancements on tap include personalized hotel recommendations, detailed overviews of a cardholders’ travel and card benefits, and additional information about the destination when traveling.
In addition to the launch, AmEx is rolling out two additional digital travel tools, Amex Passport and the Centurion Lounge waitlist. The former enables AmEx cardholders in the United States to commemorate their trips with customizable digital passport stamps, while the latter enables cardholders to track estimated wait times for AmEx lounges when these locations are at capacity.
A recent survey by AmEx found that 73% of respondents want more ways to commemorate past trips digitally, and 56% miss receiving a passport stamp when travelling internationally. Physical passport stamps are being used less frequently due to a global shift toward digital border-control systems.
The stamps, which will be stored on a public blockchain, can be shared via social media and text messages.
In related news, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has boosted cash-back rewards cardholders can earn through Chase Freedom cards. Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back on travel booked through ChaseTravel.com, the bank says. For Freedom Flex cardmembers, 9% total cash back is available if they book through Chase Travel, Chase says.
Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back on purchases at participating department stores and at Old Navy stores. During December cardholders can earn 5% cash back on purchases made using their PayPal account.
