ASTA Takes on American Express Over Cruise Credit Change That Cuts Out Travel Advisors

Cruises booked outside of Amex Travel, with advisors, are no longer eligible for the card's onboard cruise credit.

The American Society of Travel Advisors is pushing back hard against American Express after the credit card giant quietly changed the terms of its popular onboard cruise credit benefit — a change that effectively penalizes cardholders who book through independent travel advisors.

Under the new policy, the onboard cruise credit available to eligible Amex cardholders applies only to cruises booked through Amex Travel, the company's own booking platform. Cruises booked through independent advisors — even when paid with an Amex card — no longer qualify.

For travel advisors, the change is both a financial and a philosophical blow. "This is Amex using its credit card benefit as a weapon to steer business away from advisors and toward its own platform," said one ASTA board member. "It's anti-competitive and it hurts consumers who rely on professional advice."

ASTA has formally requested a meeting with American Express leadership and is urging its members to communicate the change to their clients. The organization is also exploring whether the policy change constitutes a violation of any consumer protection standards.