American Express US Cardholders Can Now Book Airbnb Through Amex Travel

American Express US has added Airbnb to its Amex Travel platform. As of October 22, 2026, eligible cardholders with US-issued Amex cards can book more than one million Airbnb listings on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel app, and earn Membership Rewards points on those stays.

The bigger story is on the US Platinum Card, which now has two credits that work with Airbnb, along with a stricter rule for its hotel credit starting in 2027. For Canadians, this only matters if you hold a US Amex card, but it shows how far Amex is pushing Amex Travel beyond hotels.

What's New for US Amex Cardholders

Airbnb stays now appear alongside hotels in Amex Travel. Once you book, the trip shows up in your Amex Travel account, but you'll manage the stay itself on Airbnb, including messaging your host, adding guests, and making changes.

The earning rate on Airbnb depends on which card you hold:

Card	Earn rate on Airbnb	How to book
US Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card	5X	Prepaid bookings through Amex Travel
US Classic Green Card	3X	Bookings made directly on third-party travel sites, including Airbnb
Other eligible Membership Rewards cards	2X	Prepaid bookings through Amex Travel

Two Airbnb credits on the Platinum Card

The US Platinum Card's $600 (USD) Hotel Credit has been renamed the Lodging Credit. It still pays up to $300 (USD) in statement credits twice a year, and it now covers prepaid Airbnb Luxe stays of two nights or more booked online through Amex Travel.

Amex has also tightened the credit. From January 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings will need a minimum two-night stay to count, matching the rule The Hotel Collection and Airbnb Luxe already follow. Today, a single night at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property qualifies.

You'll still get the Fine Hotels + Resorts perks, such as breakfast and late checkout, on a one-night stay after that date. You just won't get the statement credit for it.

There's also a new $250 (USD) Airbnb Experiences Credit. Once you book a prepaid Airbnb Luxe stay with the card, you unlock up to $250 (USD) a year in statement credits for Experiences bought directly from Airbnb. Experiences that send you to another platform to finish the purchase don't count.

Airbnb Experiences are tours and activities run by local hosts, such as food tours, cultural outings, and classes, and you book them on Airbnb the same way you'd book a stay.

Both credits apply to the US Consumer and Business Platinum Cards.

The key detail is that both credits need an Airbnb Luxe booking. A regular Airbnb doesn't count toward the Lodging Credit and won't unlock the Experiences Credit, even if you book it through Amex Travel.

What is Airbnb Luxe?

Airbnb Luxe is Airbnb's top tier of listings. Airbnb describes it as luxury homes, "from private islands to alpine escapes," that are rigorously inspected to make sure everything is right.

Think large villas, estates, and design-forward homes rather than a one-bedroom apartment. Each Luxe booking also comes with a dedicated trip designer who can help arrange the stay, and nightly rates sit well above a typical Airbnb.

A regular listing still earns 5X on the Platinum Card when you prepay through Amex Travel. It just won't touch either credit.

Nothing Similar in Canada Yet

American Express Canada hasn't announced anything like this, so Canadian Membership Rewards cards don't get the extra earning or the new credits.

If you also hold a US Amex card, this is worth knowing about. Our comparison of the Canadian and US Platinum Cards covers how the two stack up, and our guide to US Membership Rewards covers the program on that side of the border.

Why I'm Looking at Airbnb Again

Once I got into the hotel status game, I never really looked back at Airbnb. Elite perks, points, and consistent standards made hotels the easy choice for most of my trips.

Lately, though, hotels in some cities have gotten expensive. Seoul is a good example, and so is Tokyo.

When I searched hotels around Ginza and Tokyo Station recently, six of the eight prices on the map were over $1,000 (CAD), and one topped $5,900 (CAD).

When hotel rates climb that high, a well-reviewed Airbnb can be the better value, especially for longer stays or when you need more space.

So for me, this partnership is a reminder to check both options again, instead of defaulting to a hotel every time.

Earning Points on Airbnb from Canada

Without a US card, your options for earning extra on Airbnb are limited, but there's one that's easy to use. The British Airways Club pays 2 Avios per dollar on Airbnb stays, as long as you start from British Airways' dedicated Airbnb link and enter your Club number.

Complete the booking in one browser session with cookies turned on, or the Avios may not track. You'll still earn your usual credit card points on top.

The usual shopping portals don't help much here. Rakuten Canada currently shows no cash back for Airbnb, and we couldn't find Airbnb among the Aeroplan eStore's earning partners. Aeroplan does let you redeem points for Airbnb eGift Cards, starting at 14,000 points, but that's a way to spend points rather than earn them.

Conclusion

This is a smart move for Amex in the US, where it brings Airbnb under the same roof as Fine Hotels + Resorts and makes the Platinum Card's lodging credit easier to use.

If you hold a US Platinum Card, the new Experiences credit is the piece worth planning around, since a single Airbnb Luxe booking unlocks it for the rest of the year. If you're in Canada with Canadian cards only, the British Airways Club link is the simplest way to earn something extra on your next Airbnb stay.