Travel / news
Premium Travel's Next Big Spender Is 29, American Express Travel Chief Says
Millennial and Gen Z spending on American Express rose 40% in Q2 2026, and the two groups now make up 65% of its new customers globally, according to the president of American Express Travel.
The average new U.S. Platinum cardholder is 32 years old, while the average new Gold cardholder is 29, Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said, describing a high-value customer base that is younger than many premium travel brands had planned for.
Millennial and Gen Z spending on American Express climbed 40% in the second quarter of 2026, and together the two generations account for 65% of the company's new customers worldwide.
Hendley said those customers are prioritizing travel in their spending, and they expect perks, benefits and points to make every trip better.
The figures point to a gap between how premium travel products have traditionally been designed and who is now buying them. Every travel company with a premium offering is weighing whether the next generation of high-value customers resembles the last one, and the age data suggests it does not.
Hendley's remarks were tied to a broader discussion of how premium travel demand is being reshaped by younger, rewards-focused consumers.