American Express Business Travel Launches Solutions Providing Traveler Security Measures and Easing International Processes; Comprehensive Business Traveler Insurance Program.

NEW YORK -- Enhanced Passport and Visa Services Offering Adds New Convenience to Overseas Travel

American Express Business Travel announced today the launch of two new services for U.S. customers, Global Travel Shield(*) and a Visa & Passport(**) services, that ease many worries associated with both domestic and international travel, while simplifying the business traveler experience. Global Travel Shield is a portfolio of door-to-door travel insurance products and the new Visa & Passport service expedites the laborious documentation process often associated with traveling overseas.

Global Travel Shield

Travel insurance has been offered for several years for leisure travel. However, it has not been readily accessible to business travelers and since the terrorist events of September 11, the demand for business travel insurance has dramatically increased. Yet 20% of today's business travelers still have no insurance at all.

To ease the worries of many business travelers, American Express is introducing Global Travel Shield. Global Travel Shield provides thorough protection for enrolled travelers through a full spectrum of door-to-door coverage, including:

--Emergency Medical & Dental Expense -- Covers the cost of emergency medical and dental services incurred while traveling

--Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation -- Covers the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation services as well as travel costs for a bedside visitor if the traveler is hospitalized away from home for five or more days

--Baggage Loss -- Point-to-point protection for damaged, lost or stolen baggage, laptops and other equipment, including those checked-in, carried-on and at hotels

--Baggage Delay -- Covers the cost of necessary replacement items after a baggage delay at the traveler's destination away from home

--Airflight Insurance -- Covers accidental loss of life and serious accidental injuries, including those incurred while traveling to and from the airport

--Trip Cancellation/Interruption -- Reimbursement for nonrefundable costs if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a covered reason

--Trip Delay -- Covers the cost of hotel accommodations and other necessary expenses for up to two days if a flight is delayed or cancelled or if the traveler misses a connection

Global Travel Shield insurance products are available in one package including Airflight Insurance, Baggage Loss/Delay, Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation and Emergency Medical and Dental Expense, or travelers can customize their own packages by purchasing individual benefits.

Coverage extends to all business and personal trips in a covered year, regardless of where the traveler is going in the world, where the ticket is purchased and how it is paid for.

Visa & Passport Services

The Visa & Passport service is a solution designed to support the varying needs of international travelers by providing the means necessary to easily obtain a visa or passport for their journey. This solution is available in several packages.

As part of the first offering, the service providers(**) act as an information conduit providing critical contacts for travelers to obtain a visa or passport - easing the research process.

For a more enhanced, consultative package, the service providers(**) proactively review international passenger records (PNRs), pushing necessary documents and applications to the traveler, helping to ensure accuracy of applications and materials to avoid delays due to errors, monitoring and supporting the process until all documents are obtained and updating the traveler on the status of their submitted requests.

"The new Enhanced Visa & Passport Service has provided Westinghouse travelers with the added service they were looking for when traveling internationally. Travelers are now proactively getting passport and destination-specific visa information, requirements and applications provided to them after they make their international reservations," stated Cindy Keating, Travel Program Manager at Westinghouse Electric Company.

"This service will save numerous phone calls when travelers are finalizing their plans and will reduce their anxiety when leaving for their trip. Most importantly, our travelers are starting their trips confident they have the correct and necessary travel documents to proceed to their destination countries without incident," continued Keating.

About American Express Corporate Services

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks, recording $19.9 billion in worldwide travel sales in 2004. More information on expense management tools from Corporate Services can be found at http://www.americanexpress.com/corporateservices.

The American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

(*) The Global Travel Shield insurance product is underwritten by AMEX
    Assurance Company, Administrative Office, De Pere, WI. Coverage is
    subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of Master Policy
    AX0126 or Policy Form Number AX0127.

(**) The Visa & Passport services product will be provided by Travisa
     Visa Service Inc. and CIBT, Inc.

Travisa Visa Service Inc.
1731 21st. St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

CIBT, Inc.
8280 Greensboro Drive #500
Mclean, Virginia 22102

American Express acts solely as sales agent for travel suppliers
and is not liable for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. CST#
1022318-10, TA# 002- Registered Iowa Travel Agency, TA# 149-
Registered Ohio Travel Agency, NV# 2001-0126, ML#1192, Washington UBI#
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