Travel agents in the American Express Travel U.S.
Representative Network said this week that they were unfazed by the new
American Express co-branded Plenti credit card and loyalty card. Its users can
redeem points with online travel sites such as Hotels.com and Priceline, but
not with American Express agents.
Rep network members enjoy a unique advantage in the
marketplace: American Express cardholders can redeem their Membership Rewards
points with them.
But agents essentially shrugged their shoulders about not
having that option with the Plenti card, because they saw the no-annual-fee
card as one aimed at price-sensitive consumers instead of the affluent
travelers who are their target market.
“I don’t view it as a conflict,” said Michele Howey, owner
of Pennsylvania Travel, a rep network agency in Paoli, Pa. “The type of card
members we would look for are gold or platinum who travel and have a higher
income level.”
She said she expected Plenti cardholders to be the type who
might call and ask questions but would then book online.
“They’re not looking for a full-service travel agency,” she
said.
The Plenti card is
“tender neutral,” meaning that it allows consumers to earn points even when
they use other credit cards or cash when making a purchase with retailers who
participate in the Plenti loyalty program.
Consumers earn two points per dollar spent when using the
Plenti credit card. They earn one Plenti point per dollar spent when using
another credit card, debit card or cash with the loyalty card.
The Plenti loyal coalition formed in March. In addition to
American Express, coalition members include major U.S. brands such as AT&T,
Exxon, Macy’s, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and others.
Consumers can link their Plenti cards to other loyalty
cards, and they can earn points with hundreds of online retailers, including
travel sites.
Plenti is a member of Membership Awards, so cardholders can
transfer those points to Plenti.