Now, American Express Travel Ends Hotel With Flight Packages After July Of This Year: What You Need to Know

Published on July 17, 2025

In a major shift for its devoted cardholders, American Express Travel said it will no longer be providing hotel and flight packages through its platform, AmexTravel.com, starting July 31, 2025. The change means the end of a decades-old offer allowing travellers to book flights and hotel stays in a single transaction, which had been on sale for more than 20 years. The change comes as travel continues to change and is part of a strategic decision for the company to simplify and sharpen its offerings to build what it does best—making your travel experience as smooth as possible.

Travellers could still book airfare or a hotel room separately using their American Express Membership Rewards or the Amex card, but the popular “bundle and save” option will be no more. Let’s take a closer look at the specifics of this reversal, what it means for American Express cardholders, and how it fits into the larger trend we’ve seen across the travel industry.

The End of Hotel + Flight Packages

Effective July 31, 2025, American Express will eliminate the option to book combined hotel and flight packages on its travel platform. For the past two decades, this service has allowed customers to combine hotel stays with their flights in one simple, often cost-effective booking process. However, in an attempt to modernise and streamline its platform, Amex is stepping away from this bundled service.

Despite this move, cardholders can still book their hotel and flight arrangements separately via the AmexTravel.com platform. The main takeaway here is that the ease and convenience of booking both travel components together will no longer be available, which may change how some travellers plan their trips.

The exact reasons behind the elimination of hotel and flight packages have not been officially disclosed by American Express. While some speculate that it could be due to low usage of the feature, others believe it may be part of a broader strategy to focus on more customised and flexible travel bookings. It’s important to note that other major players in the travel sector, including Chase and Capital One, continue to offer bundled travel options, so this decision does set Amex apart in terms of its current business model.

What Does This Mean for Travellers?

While this shift may feel like a step backward for some travellers who prefer the simplicity of bundled bookings, it is unlikely to have a significant negative impact for those who prefer greater flexibility in their travel arrangements. For some, booking flights and hotels separately may offer more control over their choices, allowing them to select the best flights, hotels, and destinations that meet their needs without being tied to a single package deal.

However, for travellers who enjoyed the convenience and potential cost savings of booking packages, this will require a change in how they approach their bookings. For instance, instead of securing both flight and hotel through one streamlined process, travellers will need to make two separate transactions, potentially leading to more time spent researching options.

The Evolution of AmexTravel.com

The move away from bundled hotel and flight packages could be part of a broader trend of simplifying Amex’s online platform. The travel portal has become increasingly popular for cardholders looking to use their Membership Rewards points for travel purchases, and this change could reflect an effort to streamline the overall user experience.

Moreover, American Express has continued to evolve its travel offerings with new services, such as the introduction of more targeted travel perks for Platinum and Centurion cardholders. These high-end benefits include concierge services, access to airport lounges, and exclusive hotel booking options, all of which offer travellers a more bespoke, personalised experience.

Broader Industry Trends: The Rise of Flexibility and Customization

American Express’s move is also part of a broader shift that is happening across the travel industry toward greater flexibility and customisation. With so many travellers craving customised experiences today, many travel suppliers are giving more control over component parts of a trip.

The elimination of bundles is a theme that has repeated over several segments, as some OTAs in the travel space have started to offer more a la carte services. This evolution enables travellers to pick and choose among all the component parts of a trip—selecting just the right hotel, just the right flight, or even just the right car rental with the ultimate precision. Further new and upcoming travel tech is providing even more choice for consumers to personalise their itineraries; services such as TripAdvisor’s “Plan Your Trip” tool—along with other artificial intelligence tools—enable travellers to devise and plan their own holiday packages, rather than relying on the old-fashioned way of bundling.

Although bundling is still popular among some travellers, especially those who want the convenience and potential cost savings, increasingly, travellers are booking a la carte products that allow them flexibility in the marketplace. Nowhere is that more true than among high-end travellers who, like American Express cardholders, are used to piecing together travel elements when they travel, hotel by hotel.

What Amex Cardholders Need to Do Before the Change

If you have upcoming trips planned and you’ve been using Amex’s bundled hotel and flight packages, it’s important to finalise those bookings before July 31, 2025. Existing reservations made before the deadline will still be honoured, meaning you won’t need to change or alter your travel plans if you’ve already booked a package.

For future trips, however, you’ll need to approach your travel bookings differently. You can still book each component separately on AmexTravel.com, and Membership Rewards points will continue to be available for both flights and hotel bookings. Additionally, American Express has not eliminated its concierge or other exclusive travel benefits for cardholders, so those perks will still be accessible.

Conclusion: Shifting Priorities in Travel

But Amex killing hotel and flight package bookings is part of the broader evolution of how travel is slowly shifting. Although it may not sit well with some travellers accustomed to the ease of booking shelved itineraries, it’s consistent with a larger trend toward more nimble booking experiences and customised planning.

For those who are American Express cardholders and like the freedom of choice, this could potentially mean new ways to tailor travel plans. But it may be a harder adjustment for those who loved the simplicity of bundling. Either way, American Express continues to cater to its cardholders with premium travel rewards and concierge services, as well as an increasingly long list of benefits.

As we look ahead, it’s obvious that the way we book our vacations is a lot more personal, and the industry is evolving to fit. It’s unclear whether or not this will pressure other businesses to follow in their footsteps, but it will surely prove a significant moment in the history of travel planning.