The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has launched a public petition asking American Express to reverse its decision to end travel advisor access to its Privileges programs through RezSaver. The organization wants the company to restore a verified booking pathway for professional travel advisors.
ASTA: Putting the Client & the Advisor First
Under the change, affected bookings must be made through American Express Travel to receive qualifying benefits, which directs those transactions away from independent advisors. Eligible Centurion and Platinum cardmembers now must choose between their qualifying travel benefits and having their advisor book and service that portion of their trip.
“When a large U.S. bank cuts off travel advisors’ access to benefits for their shared clients, cardmembers are the ones who suffer,” said Zane Kerby, President and CEO of ASTA, in a press statement. “Travel advisors coordinate complex trips in which every connection matters. American Express is forcing travelers to pull part of that journey out of their advisor’s hands simply to receive their card benefits. That introduces unnecessary complexity and creates more opportunities for service disruptions when timing and coordination are critical.”
Advisors manage itineraries that can include flights, hotels, cruises and ground transportation, providing continuity when schedules change or disruptions occur. According to ASTA, requiring clients to book individual components through a separate channel can fragment that oversight and complicate an advisor’s ability to coordinate changes across the full trip. The association maintains that cardmembers should be able to receive eligible benefits while keeping the professional relationship they rely on before, during and after travel.
“Cardmembers should not have to surrender the advisor relationship they value to use benefits for which they qualify,” Kerby added. “American Express can verify a cardmember’s eligibility without requiring that person to move their booking to American Express Travel. We are calling on the company to restore that choice.”
ASTA is seeking a verified pathway that allows professional travel advisors to book eligible Privileges benefits on their clients’ behalf. The petition gives travelers, advisors and industry partners a way to urge American Express to restore access and preserve consumer choice.
For more information, visit asta.org.
