No, American Express does not require its cardholders to set up travel alerts.
American Express utilizes industry-leading fraud detection capabilities that recognize when cardholders are traveling, eliminating the need for manual notifications.
But it’s important for Amex cardholders to keep their contact information updated in case Amex needs to get in touch while you’re away to verify certain transactions.
This can be done through the American Express website or the Amex mobile app to manage their account on the go.
What is a Travel Alert?
A travel alert is a notification that a credit card holder sends to their card issuer to inform them about their upcoming travel plans. This alert serves to inform the company that they might see transactions from different states or countries in the coming days or weeks.
Travel alerts can be beneficial for both the cardholder and the credit card issuer. For the cardholder, setting up a travel alert can prevent any unexpected blocks on their card due to unusual activity. When a credit card issuer detects unfamiliar transactions that deviate from the customer’s typical spending patterns, they may flag it as potential fraud and temporarily freeze the card.
By notifying the financial institution ahead of time, cardholders ensure that their credit card will remain active despite any unusual spending patterns they may exhibit during their travels. This can help minimize any potential inconvenience caused by a locked card and allow the cardholder to focus on their trip without monetary disruptions.
Some credit card issuers no longer require travel alerts on their cards, as their fraud detection algorithms have become more advanced and can differentiate between legitimate and suspicious transactions.
