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Best Airline and Hotel Rewards Programs of 2024

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Table of Contents

How we picked the best travel rewards programs

Best airline rewards program, best hotel rewards program, save money by booking with points and miles, the bottom line, methodology.

Big airline and hotel brands want your loyalty, which is why each has its own distinctive program that rewards you (the traveler) with its version of reward currency (points, miles). Yet understanding how even a single one of these programs — never mind several — actually work and compare with one another takes a tremendous amount of time and energy.

That’s where we come in.

NerdWallet’s editorial travel team spent months collecting data, analyzing the fine print and generally nerding out to determine not only the best travel loyalty programs, but also the best airline and best hotel of 2024. Check out all of our Best-Of winners .

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to our travel loyalty program rankings. If you’re just starting to collect points or miles, you may want to know what program will give you the best return on your investment. On the other hand, frequent travelers chasing a higher status may want to know what program makes earning most effortless.

With this in mind, we prioritized elements of rewards programs that offer clear, objective and measurable benefits. Then, we boiled these elements into a single overall rating across airlines and hotels.

Here’s what we compared:

Airline rewards

Rewards (mile) value .

Elite status benefits .

Hotel rewards

Rewards (point) value.

We rated each hotel brand and airline in each of the two categories on a five-point scale, then used a weighted average of these ratings to determine an overall winner. Use the links above to learn more about how we built these ratings.

» Learn more: Book smarter travel this year: The best travel credit cards might surprise you

Winner: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

For travelers who only care about earning miles and elite status, Alaska’s Mileage Plan crushes the rankings.

Because Alaska still rewards miles based on distance flown rather than the amount spent, and because it hasn’t muddied the earning qualifications for its elite status programs as some others have over the past two years, Alaska offers the best value per dollar spent for frequent flyers.

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values Alaska Airlines miles at 1.3 cents each .

Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles, including its Pualani elite program, took second place among airline rewards programs because of its modest spending requirements and valuable rewards.

American Airlines beats out the other legacy carriers (namely Delta and United) by a strong margin.

Finding Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines at the bottom of these rankings is unsurprising, given how these airlines prioritize low fares and other benefits over elite status membership.

But seeing Delta Air Lines near the bottom might be surprising for anyone who hasn’t followed its elite status devaluation meltdown . Because Delta’s elite status levels are so costly to earn, they are effectively worth less.

» Learn more: Best airline credit cards today

Winner: World of Hyatt

Focusing only on the value of hotel points and elite status perks puts the World of Hyatt in first place among hotel loyalty programs. Point value and status benefits are the two categories where Hyatt excels, putting a wide range between itself and the second-place Choice.

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.2 cents each , far more than any other hotel program.

Best Western finds itself in last place, which makes sense as it's a budget-conscious hotel brand.

The mega programs of Marriott, IHG and Hilton are muddling in the lower half. Since many frequent travelers chose between these large programs, seeing them score so poorly is interesting.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards today

Points and miles can be redeemed for award flights or stays within these top travel rewards programs. But before you start using points and miles, you have to earn them.

Beyond flying or booking hotel stays, another way to amass a large number of travel rewards is to earn a sign-up bonus for a travel credit card.

on Bank of America's website

on Chase's website

on Wells Fargo's website

If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for award flights, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from an airline card in that you can book flights with multiple carriers, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.

The more high-end the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs.

That said, a brand-specific airline or hotel card can net you benefits like waived baggage fees or free breakfast , which can have meaningful dollar value.

Alaska Airlines is one of the few airlines left that still rewards miles based on distance flown versus amount spent, making it one of the reasons it is the best airline rewards program of 2024.

World of Hyatt has been at the top for several years now, unsurprisingly, because of the high cent-per-point value and elite benefits.

No matter which airline or hotel status you choose to chase, it’s important not to let your points and miles pile up .

Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.

Best Airline Rewards Program

How we picked the programs to evaluate.

For an airline to be eligible, it had to be based in the U.S. and have a publicly available rewards search calendar with availability from 15 days to eight months from the time of search.

Nine airlines fit these criteria: Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United. No other U.S.-based airlines met these criteria.

How we chose the winner

We looked at the rewards rate and elite rewards rate. We rated each of these factors separately, then determined an overall rating based on the weighting described below.

How we rated and weighted each factor:

Rewards rate (57.1%). We determined the dollar value of each program’s rewards miles and the earnings rate of miles. To determine the rewards rate, we multiplied the value of each mile by the earnings rate, then multiplied by 100. For example, if an airline’s rewards miles were worth $0.01 apiece (the value of rewards miles) and 10 miles were earned per dollar spent (the earnings rate of miles), its program would have a 10% rewards rate. (In this example, the two equations would be: $0.01 x 10 = 0.1, then 0.1 x 100 = 10, or 10%.)

Elite rewards rate (42.9%). We determined (a) the value and (b) the cost of earning elite status with each program, and determined an overall value by dividing (a) by (b). 

How we assigned star ratings

For each factor, we subtracted the lowest value from the highest value to determine the range. Then, we split this range into five separate “star rating” ranges. We assigned each airline program an appropriate star rating based on where its value fell in the range.

How we verified our data

We independently spot-checked data collected to ensure accuracy. Information about loyalty programs was verified on the airlines’ websites.

Best Hotel Rewards Program

To be eligible, a hotel brand had to have properties in the majority of states in the U.S. and offer a loyalty program with a publicly available rewards search calendar. Rewards booking availability from 15 days to eight months from the time of search was also required.

Seven hotel brands met these requirements: Best Western, Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham.

We compared the rewards rate and the value of the elite status program. We rated each of these factors separately, then determined an overall rating based on the weighting described below.

Rewards rate (53.8%). We determined the dollar value of each program’s rewards points and the earnings rate of points. To determine the rewards rate, we multiplied the value of each point by the earnings rate, then multiplied by 100. For example, if a hotel’s rewards points were worth $0.01 apiece (the value of rewards points) and 10 points were earned per dollar spent (the earnings rate of points), its program would have a 10% rewards rate. (In this example, the two equations would be: $0.01 x 10 = 0.1, then 0.1 x 100 = 10, or 10%.)

Elite status value rate (46.2%). We determined (a) the value and (b) the cost of earning elite status with each program, and determined an overall value by dividing (a) by (b). 

For each factor, we subtracted the lowest value among all programs from the highest value among all programs to determine the range. Then, we split this range into five separate “star rating” ranges. We assigned each hotel program an appropriate star rating based on where its value fell in the range.

We independently spot-checked data collected to ensure accuracy. Information about loyalty programs was verified on the hotels’ websites.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Choosing the Best Loyalty Programs for You in 2024

Here are the best ways to get rewarded by airlines, hotels—even credit card companies—this year..

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Airline and hotel loyalty programs are free to join, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up.

Photo by Gary Lopater on Unsplash

AFAR partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the AFAR editorial team.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by AFAR.

A new year means new opportunities to rack up points and acquire elite status in the myriad loyalty programs of the travel industry. Whether you’re new to the game in 2024 or simply looking to switch your brand allegiance, there’s plenty of good news. Despite a trend of more stringent elite qualifications and the overall inflation of points and miles, select programs still reward travelers with plenty of perks, points, and VIP benefits. Here are the top travel loyalty programs to consider joining in 2024—and some tips on how to get started.

Important basics of loyalty programs

The first thing to know about airline and hotel loyalty programs is that they are free to join, meaning you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up. Points and miles expire in some programs but not all—so in many cases they can lie dormant in an account for extended periods. It’s a myth that you can’t belong to multiple loyalty programs. You can—and you should!—belong to numerous ones, including international programs. For example, I am a huge fan of the Air France/KLM Flying Blue program and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program. If you plan to join multiple programs, it’s a good idea to track points and miles in a single spreadsheet or use an app such as AwardWallet , which tracks the balances of your loyalty programs in a single place.

For those looking to attain elite status, note that qualification years for elite programs vary among hotel and airline programs. For hotel programs, the elite status qualification year follows the calendar year (i.e., January 1 to December 31). This is also true for the airline loyalty programs of Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. But the elite qualification year for Delta runs from February 1 to January 31, and for American Airlines from March 1 to February 28. Additionally, if you earn elite status in one qualifying year for any of these programs, it will extend for the rest of that year and through the entire next qualifying year.

In many cases getting a cobranded credit card boosts your points balance for a specific airline or hotel group and offers options for achieving elite status faster. Getting a general travel credit card can also lead to significant points accrual plus the freedom to transfer points to multiple hotel and airline programs.

Finally, all points and miles aren’t created equal. Points and miles of every program should be viewed as different currencies. Just as the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso, and the Euro carry different values, so do the points and miles of, say, American Airlines, United, and Delta.

Choosing a hotel loyalty program

Of the four big hotel loyalty programs —Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and World of Hyatt— Marriott Bonvoy is the biggest, but not necessarily the best. It’s great if you can achieve Platinum Elite status or higher, but that requires staying at Marriott Bonvoy hotels a minimum of 50 nights per year. Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at about one cent each (i.e., 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points typically covers a hotel valued at $500). Also, Marriott Bonvoy charges taxes and resort fees on award bookings. Loyalty program newcomers or those who have been at the points game only a few years should instead consider World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors.

World of Hyatt is the most highly regarded hotel loyalty program in the world of points and miles because its points are the most valuable of any hotel or airline loyalty program. Thanks to World of Hyatt’s fixed, published award chart—versus the dynamic pricing of competitors—it’s not uncommon to score an award booking for which points are valued more than two to three cents apiece. For example, I successfully booked the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme for 40,000 points per night for an April 2024 stay (versus €1,450 per night), yielding a points value of more three cents per point. World of Hyatt also rewards travelers as they climb the elite ladder with Milestone Rewards , and its top status, Globalist, requires only 60 nights per year. (To give you some perspective, Marriott’s top status, Ambassador Elite, requires more than 100 nights per year and more than $23,000 of qualifying spend per year.) World of Hyatt waives taxes and resort fees on award bookings, which can amount to significant savings, especially at posh beachfront properties.

If you don’t feel like working (or booking overnights) for elite status in 2024, fast-track to Gold or top-tier Diamond status with Hilton Honors by getting one of its cobranded credit cards. While most hotel cards give you an elite bump, Hilton goes all out, granting top Diamond elite status to those who have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Gold status with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card . These cards often carry welcome offers of more than 150,000 bonus points, which is enough to experience several free nights to test out elite status. Another fast track to hotel elite status is through The Platinum Card® from American Express . Just by being a card member, you’ll be granted Gold status in Hilton Honors and Gold status in Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required).

Choosing an airline loyalty program

In the past few years, much has changed within the loyalty programs of the “big four” domestic airlines in the United States: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines. (They collectively account for 74 percent of U.S. airline seats sold per year.)

A lot of attention has been given to the unpopular modifications Delta recently made to its SkyMiles program . However, United made comparable changes in previous years—it just happened to be better timed and thus flew under the radar. Even considering Delta’s elite status qualification changes, Delta’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum statuses are still easier to achieve than similar tiers on United in 2024. Since both Delta and United’s elite statuses remain tied to spending requirements with each airline, they’re sure to remain popular among business travelers whose companies are paying for their tickets.

But if you are trying to get status on your own dime, status with American Airlines is easier to achieve. Why? Elite status on American Airlines is based on Loyalty Points, which can be accrued in so many ways beyond flying. With American’s shopping, dining, hotel, and event platforms, it’s easy to rack up Loyalty Points. Plus, all purchases using the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard count as Loyalty Points (at a rate of one point per dollar spent), and 10,000-point bonuses are awarded after hitting 40,000 Loyalty Points and 90,000 Loyalty Points levels in a membership year. Personally, I was able to earn 77,404 Loyalty Points in the last quarter of 2023 alone, and I’m now looking at top-rung Executive Platinum status for 2024, even though I flew only three times on American in 2023.

Then there’s Southwest, which made elite status easier to earn in 2024 compared to 2023. However, elite status on Southwest is separate from Companion Pass status; and since Southwest already gives free bags and does not have class differences, it makes elite status changes a bit of a non-event. For those who do seek elite status, here’s what you’ll get: A-List perks include same-day flight change and same-day standby benefits, priority lanes, and a dedicated phone line. A-List Preferred benefits are the same as A-List’s, plus two drinks per flight, free internet, and 100 percent bonus points on flights.

In general, if you live near a hub for a specific airline, it might make sense for you to attempt to earn elite status with that airline (like Delta in Atlanta or United in Denver). The catch, however, is that with so many people using that strategy, you’ll probably never get upgraded in a hub city if you have a lower-tier elite status (as you’ll be competing with so many fliers with higher status).

Going beyond airline and hotel loyalty programs

Points programs through credit card companies can also be considered loyalty programs—and they’re the most straightforward. You are part of the loyalty program just by having the card—no elite ladder to climb. The best examples are the travel credit cards from American Express, Chase, and Capital One, all of which have their own respective rewards programs. You earn based on your spending and often score bonus points in specific categories. These credit card rewards programs partner with hotel and airline loyalty programs so that you can transfer your credit card points to select hotels and airlines. Moreover, these credit cards function as loyalty programs do: Cardholders have access to VIP events and elite-like offerings given through proprietary booking engines. To get these perks—plus welcome offers and other benefits such as generous statement credits—consider applying for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve® , or The Platinum Card® from American Express .

While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.

Best Airline Rewards Programs for 2024-2025

You don't have to be a points and miles expert to find a frequent flyer program that suits your travel habits. When choosing an airline rewards program, you'll want to consider a few key criteria, such as flight options, network coverage and how easy it is to earn a free flight. To help everyday travelers weigh their options, U.S. News evaluated 10 leading airline rewards programs u sing a methodology   that takes into account each program's earning and redemption values, benefits , network coverage and airline quality ratings, among other features. Our approach places emphasis on the ease of earning miles and redeeming free flights for basic members. Browse our Best Airline Rewards Programs ranking and detailed program profiles to find the best program for you.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

American Airlines AAdvantage

Southwest Rapid Rewards

United MileagePlus

# 4 Best airline rewards Programs

HawaiianMiles

# 5 Best airline rewards Programs

Delta SkyMiles

# 6 Best airline rewards Programs

FRONTIER Miles

# 7 Best airline rewards Programs

Free Spirit

# 8 Best airline rewards Programs

JetBlue TrueBlue

# 9 Best airline rewards Programs

Allegiant Air Allways Rewards

# 10 Best airline rewards Programs

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7 Professional Travelers Share Their Absolute Favorite Travel Rewards Program — and Why

Top experts pick their favorite travel loyalty program.

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For frequent travelers, having a go-to loyalty program can be a game-changer. If you tend to fly on planes, stay at hotels, or spend on credit cards — or like me, you do all of the above — sticking with a program (or two) can make travel more accessible, enjoyable, and sometimes, downright luxurious. And if you play your cards right (pun intended), the rewards can add up relatively quickly. 

Take my favorite travel rewards program of the moment, Bilt Rewards. Bilt lets me earn points on rent payments, my biggest monthly expense, without incurring additional fees. These points, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points , Chase Ultimate Rewards points , and Capital One miles , are considered a transferable currency. That means they are programs that are more versatile than traditional airline miles or hotel points since you can move them to a variety of loyalty accounts on an as-needed basis. In the case of Bilt, I can transfer my existing points to more than a dozen travel programs instantly, including the two that I am most loyal to. With Hyatt and American — my hotel and airline of choice, respectively — I can stay at luxury hotels or book business-class flights by transferring my Bilt points. 

Wondering what programs other experienced travelers can’t live without? I asked eight professional jet-setters (and trendsetters) what their favorite loyalty programs are — and how they maximize those rewards.

World of Hyatt

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

“My love of luxury hotels had a very definitive start a little over 10 years ago when another miles and points enthusiast introduced me to the Hyatt loyalty program, now known as World of Hyatt. I had been deeply entrenched in the world of luxury airline travel with miles for several years at that point, but never cared where I stayed once I got to my destination — until my first stay at a luxury hotel, using Hyatt points, changed my perspective entirely. World of Hyatt offers a combination of value, strong loyalty recognition, and transfer accessibility. I regularly book award stays valued at over two cents per point, upgrade perks as an elite member are consistent, and what I don’t earn from stays, I can transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards for redemptions. While their global footprint isn’t the largest, they make continuous efforts to expand their portfolio through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, and their focus is very clearly on establishing a strong luxury positioning. The established Small Luxury Hotels partnership and the upcoming integration of Mr. and Mrs. Smith-marketed properties are both great examples of ways Hyatt thinks outside of the box to bring members additional opportunities to earn and redeem points on luxury stays.” — Michelle González, Luxury Travel Expert and Creator ( @laxtoluxury )

American Express Membership Rewards

Silas Stein/Getty Images

"My favorite rewards program is Amex Membership Rewards and has been since day one. I got my first Amex credit card over 10 years ago when I was fresh out of college and working as an executive chef, and it literally opened up the world to me. Thanks to Amex points, I learned very quickly that if you spend smarter, you travel better. I’ve traveled to almost 80 countries, flown across the globe in style on the most aspirational first-class airlines, and spent countless nights at the most luxurious hotels. Most importantly, I’ve created lifelong memories and had travel experiences that I never thought were possible. There are two main reasons why I prefer Amex above all others. First, you can earn a significant amount of points without needing to spend substantial amounts of money to earn them by using the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, and Amex Green cards. I’ve done this all while living within my means and keeping my credit pristine. Secondly, there’s so much power behind these points when they are redeemed properly. When transferring Amex points to its airline and hotel partners, you are able to substantially increase the value of these points by leveraging the award charts and breaking away from the fixed value of the points when used directly with Amex Travel." — Tommy Lonergan, Partner at Freedom Travel Systems ( @travelliketommy )

Delta SkyMiles

Courtesy of Delta Airlines

There is an airline loyalty program that I think pound for pound, knocks most of the other competition out. Delta’s SkyMiles program has so many benefits that I have discovered. I love how Delta makes it easy to earn miles which I can then use to book flights and vacation packages. Then, I really enjoy the perks at each status level, especially as I level up like being able to upgrade faster and easier. I appreciate Delta’s SkyTeam alliance partners and redeeming miles with over a dozen other affiliated airlines. Delta also makes me feel like I am appreciated because when I choose to fly with them, I receive personal greetings and have even gotten handwritten letters congratulating me on my new status placed in my seat before I boarded. They also sent me my own Delta location tag that will track my bag wherever. Outside of the loyalty programs, I enjoy their lounges, which are world-class and make my airport experience more relaxing. — Jeff Jenkins, Host of Never Say Never on National Geographic ( @chubbydiaries )

Editor's note: Delta SkyMiles has recently changed how travelers earn status and its lounge admissions policies. Read more here .

American Airlines AAdvantage

"As a full-time traveler, my favorite loyalty program is American Airlines. Determining the best loyalty program is subjective. All loyalty programs, obviously, have their strengths and weaknesses — and it’s really about what you prioritize as a traveler and where you land when it comes to the tier. The first thing I tend to look at is the advantages of utilizing partner airlines, because I travel internationally so often. American has quite a number of partners in the Oneworld alliance; it’s a huge advantage to have partners all over the world to redeem miles. For instance, I love Qatar Airways Qsuites, it’s my favorite way to fly. In my opinion, it’s the best redemption of American miles. As an Executive Platinum Elite member, I receive free upgrades domestically, and that also includes flights to Mexico. Of course, these are subject to availability but I’ve received numerous upgrades between Los Angeles and New York. For the price of an economy ticket, I often get a lie-flat business seat for that journey." — Valerie Joy Wilson, Solo Travel Expert ( @trustedtravelgirl )

British Airways Executive Club

"My favorite loyalty program is the British Airways Executive Club because I find the benefits to be amazing, especially as someone who is a British-American dual citizen. I live in New York and frequently travel to the United Kingdom. Plus, I don't have to spend a lot of money to earn top-tier status, because, with British Airways, I earn points toward status based on distance flown, not just the cost of the ticket. This makes it easier to achieve Oneworld Emerald status, which gives me a lot of great benefits, even on domestic economy flights on British Airways partner American Airlines. For example, I get exit row seats, three bags at 70 pounds each, and access to the exclusive Flagship First check-in area with American Airlines. Even better, I get to enter some of the best airport lounges in the world with this status, like the Qantas First Lounge at LAX, all complimentary." — Will Taylor, TV Host and Content Creator ( @brightbazaar )

Air Canada Aeroplan

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

"I really like the Air Canada Aeroplan rewards program, because it offers so many benefits. Earning points is easy and redeeming them is incredibly flexible. I can accumulate points quickly by transferring credit card points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and Bilt Rewards points at a one-to-one ratio to Aeroplan. Redeeming my Aeroplan points is also so flexible because they can be used for Star Alliance partner airlines, as well as non-alliance partners like Emirates, Etihad, Bamboo Airlines, and Oman Airlines. This opens up numerous options for finding award flights worldwide. The online search feature is quick, accurate, and user-friendly, making the process of redeeming points enjoyable. One of the best things about the Aeroplan program is that I can add a stopover for just an additional 5,000 points, and the stopovers are bookable online. This is perfect for me because I love exploring multiple destinations and maximizing my travel experience. Plus, transfer bonuses are occasionally available when transferring credit card points to Air Canada Aeroplan, which helps me earn even more points. Overall, I think Air Canada Aeroplan is an excellent rewards program that offers a wide range of benefits for its users." — Max Do, Loyalty and Rewards Expert ( @maxmilespoints )

Alaska Mileage Plan

Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

"As a videographer and owner of a media company that travels around the world, Alaska has been my loyalty program of choice for the last several years. I have held airline status on three different airlines, but never received anywhere near the same number of upgrades per flight taken as I do on Alaska. In the old days, airlines awarded you miles based on the distance flown (instead of the money spent), Alaska is one of the few that continues to do this, which benefits me when I fly on cheaper fares over longer distances. They partner with a unique group of airlines all over the world, which makes it easy to use their miles to travel globally for competitive rates. Plus, they have the best chocolate chip cookies." — Ian Agrimis, Founder of Capture Unlimited ( @agrimisadventures )

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Find the best country for you: », u.s. news announces the 2022-2023 best travel rewards programs.

World of Hyatt earns its first No. 1 ranking in the hotel rewards category.

U.S. News 2022-2023 Best Travel Rewards

Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Cruise Lines and Best Vacations, today revealed the 2022-2023 Best Travel Rewards Programs to assist everyday travelers with finding the best loyalty program for their travel needs.

The 2022-2023 rankings highlight nine airline and 15 hotel loyalty programs that offer the best rewards and perks for everyday travelers. For the second consecutive year, U.S. News took into account each program’s flexibility with members, awarding additional points to programs that have paused point or mile expiration, extended elite status and made it easier for members to attain elite status.

For the first time, World of Hyatt takes the No. 1 spot on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs ranking for offering a variety of ways for members to earn and redeem points, an array of hotel options for every budget and a unique option to earn a free night by staying at five different Hyatt brand hotels. Wyndham Rewards, known for its award availability and large network of hotels in popular vacation destinations, comes in at No. 2, followed by Marriott Bonvoy at No. 3, Choice Privileges at No. 4 and IHG One Rewards at No. 5.

For the eighth consecutive year, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan claimed the top spot as the Best Airline Rewards Program for offering travelers one mile for every mile flown (or 500 miles, whichever is more), the ability to earn and redeem on eligible flights with 20-plus partner airlines and numerous member benefits. Delta SkyMiles maintains the No. 2 spot, thanks to its award flight options at lower point thresholds and high airline quality rating, while United MileagePlus ranks No. 3 for its large network of flight routes and easier path to elite status.

“After more than two years of limited travel and disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic, several rewards programs continue to be flexible with members,” said Erin Evans, managing editor of travel at U.S. News. “The top-ranked programs benefit consumers seeking ways to save money as flight fares and hotel costs continue to rise. Travel rewards programs that make it easier for members to earn and redeem points for free flights, free nights and more, and that offer a variety of member perks, dominated the top spots in our rankings.”

U.S. News analyzed travel rewards programs in two categories, airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs, using a comprehensive and transparent methodology that factors in membership benefits, network coverage, the ease of earning and redeeming points or miles, hotel property diversity and airline quality rating scores, with expert and editor analysis.

2022-2023 Best Travel Rewards Programs Rankings See the full rankings here .

Hotel Rewards Programs 1. World of Hyatt 2. Wyndham Rewards 3. Marriott Bonvoy 4. Choice Privileges 5. IHG One Rewards

Airline Rewards Programs 1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan 2. Delta Skymiles 3. United MileagePlus 4. HawaiianMiles 5. Southwest Rapid Rewards

For more information on the Best Travel Rewards Programs , explore Facebook , Twitter and Instagram using #BestRewards.

Media Contact: Michelle Day, [email protected] , 202-955-2212

About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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Ranking the best online travel agency rewards programs

When I was in graduate school, I would book conference lodging for other students. In doing so, I collected thousands of dollars of rewards through online travel agency (OTA) programs. But, even if you're only booking for yourself, you may find value in booking through OTAs .

Many travelers use OTAs to compare prices and book travel and although OTAs are easy to use, you won't always get the best price. You may not even get elite night credits and perks at hotels when you book through OTAs. So, it's best to compare what you find through an OTA against booking directly with the travel provider.

However, not all OTAs offer rewards programs and some programs provide only minimal value. So, today I'll describe and rank the best OTA rewards programs.

Get the latest points, miles and travel news by signing up for TPG's free daily newsletter .

What to know before booking through an OTA

First off, know that booking through an OTA may not be the best option. You won't find some travel providers, such as Southwest Airlines , on most OTAs. And, you may find a lower price when you book directly.

Besides, you usually won't earn hotel points and perks when you book through an OTA . Instead, you usually must book directly with the hotel loyalty program to get elite earnings and perks. On the other hand, you'll usually earn airline miles when you buy your ticket through an OTA . But, the airline might classify your ticket as bulk or consolidated. And, this may yield fewer miles.

Finally, if things go wrong, you might find yourself caught in the middle of a finger-pointing match. Specifically, the OTA and travel provider may blame each other if your flight is canceled or your hotel is overbooked . So, both parties may claim the other needs to rebook you or provide compensation. Unfortunately, some travelers have learned this the hard way when trying to cancel travel during the coronavirus pandemic .

So, it's important to realize the potential pitfalls and consider the benefits of booking directly with the airline or hotel . But, if you decide to book through an OTA, you might as well choose one that earns plenty of rewards.

Related: Online travel agency vs. booking direct: Your guide to the best way to book your next hotel

Ranking the top OTA rewards programs

• Hotels.com Rewards : Best return on hotel bookings
• Orbitz Rewards : Best perks for frequent users
• Booking.com Genius : Best for easy to earn status that can provide confirmed upgrades and breakfast
• Expedia Rewards : Best for redeeming for a wide variety of travel
• Trip.com Rewards : Best for onsite perks when you need them

Now, let's take a closer look at each of the programs and options for maximizing your bookings.

Hotels.com Rewards

Hotels.com's loyalty program is called Hotels.com Rewards . And, in addition to being one of the most straightforward OTA rewards programs, it offers substantial value. Plus, you can book many top hotels through Hotels.com , including hotels perfect for a summer vacation or family vacation .

Earning and redeeming

The Hotels.com Rewards program offers you a reward night for every ten nights you stay. The value of your reward night is equal to the average rate you paid across the ten nights. However, this calculation doesn't include any taxes and fees. So, let's assume you:

• Stay seven nights in a hotel with a nightly rate of $100 before taxes and fees
• Stay three nights in a different hotel with a nightly rate of $200 before taxes and fees

In this case, you'd earn a reward night worth $130. However, you'll still need to pay taxes, fees and other incidental costs on your reward night. And, there's a $5 redemption fee if you redeem your reward night using the desktop or mobile web site. But, you can avoid paying the $5 redemption fee if you use the mobile app when you redeem.

Some strategy is helpful when using your reward night. If you use your reward night for a stay that costs more than the value of the reward night, you must pay the difference. But, if you use the reward night for a stay that costs less than the reward night, you'll forfeit the difference. So, you'll want to use your reward night on a stay with a nightly rate just slightly higher than the reward night. When you do, you'll get an almost 10% return on hotel spending through this program.

Related: 7 of the most interesting Hotels.com properties

Elite status

Hotels.com Rewards offers basic status and two tiers of elite status. Specifically, the base level status is called Rewards. And, Rewards status provides the following perks:

• Secret prices
• Earn and redeem as described in the previous section

You can earn Silver status by staying ten or more nights within a membership year, which is based on the date you created your account. Silver perks include the following:

• Priority customer service
• Hassle-free guarantee: Hotels.com will help minimize property charges or cancellation fees if you need to change or cancel a reservation.
• Price Guarantee Plus : If you find a better price on exactly the same stay, Hotels.com will match it and refund the difference.
• Guaranteed Wi-Fi at VIP access properties
• Extra perks at select properties

Once you reach 30 nights in a membership year, you'll earn Gold status in the Hotels.com Rewards program . Gold elites enjoy all the same perks as Silver elites, along with complimentary room upgrade, early check-in and late checkout subject to availability at VIP Access properties.

As you can see, Hotels.com Rewards elite status has few tangible benefits. So, the main reason to use this program is earning and redeeming. After all, getting a reward night after every ten nights is pretty sweet.

Related: Can you earn elite status and benefits when booking through Hotels.com?

Orbitz Rewards

Orbitz launched its Orbitz Rewards loyalty program in October 2013. And, like Hotels.com Rewards , Orbitz Rewards aims to be simpler than the average OTA rewards program.

Whenever you book travel through Orbitz, you'll earn Orbucks based on the kind of purchase you make:

• 1x on flights and packages (1% return)
• 3x on hotels, vacation rentals and activities (3% return)
• 5x on hotels and vacation rentals booked on the Orbitz app (5% return)

Orbitz deposits Orbucks into your account when you book. Then, you can cash in Orbucks toward hotel stays at more than 385,000 hotels worldwide. When you do, one Orbuck equals $1 off your hotel stay.

You can use Orbucks to pay for part or all of a stay. If you use Orbucks, the Orbucks you redeem will be subtracted from the total amount due. Unfortunately, you can't redeem Orbucks for anything besides hotel stays and vacation rentals.

Related: How do you cancel airline tickets issued by a travel agency?

Orbitz Rewards offers elite status to frequent bookers. You'll get Silver status just for signing up, which gets you the following perks:

• Access member-only prices
• Earn Orbucks when you book flights, hotels and packages
• Access to Rewards customer service line

You'll earn Gold status by staying four nights in a calendar year. On top of the perks provided to Silver elites, Gold elites also get unique amenities at VIP Access properties.

And, you'll get Platinum status after staying 12 nights in a calendar year. In addition to the perks available to Gold elites, Platinum status unlocks the following perks:

• Up to $50 Orbucks in reimbursement for travel expenses each calendar year
• Seat assignments and upgrades, bag fees , in-cabin pet fees and inflight Wi-Fi all count
• Apply for TSA PreCheck for free every five years
• Get free room upgrades and early check-in when available at VIP Access properties

Earning Platinum status could be worth it if you can use the $50 Orbucks credit for eligible travel expenses. This is especially true if you don't already have one of the top credit cards for TSA PreCheck .

Related: 5 reasons to get TSA PreCheck now

Credit card

If you're looking to boost your earnings with Orbitz, you could open the Orbitz Rewards Visa Credit Card. This no annual fee card earns Orbucks at the following rates:

• 10x on Pay Now properties booked on the Orbitz app (10% return)
• 8x on Pay Now properties booked on Orbitz.com (8% return)
• 6x on all flights booked on Orbitz.com (6% return)
• 5x on all other Orbitz.com purchases (5% return)
• 2x on all other purchases (2% return)

However, remember that you can only redeem Orbucks for hotel stays and vacation rentals booked through Orbitz. But, if you use Orbitz frequently, this card may be a good choice. The card also comes with lost and stolen baggage coverage . Plus, as a cardholder, you'll get a 6-month CLEAR trial membership and $60 off automatic renewal.

Related: Should you get TSA PreCheck or CLEAR — or both?

Booking.com Genius

The Booking.com Genius loyalty program is a bit different than most of the other programs described in this guide. Specifically, there aren't any chances to earn or redeem rewards within this program. And, there's no cobranded credit card for this program. But, you can earn elite status. And, best of all, it's easy to do so and lasts for life.

The Booking.com Genius loyalty program has two elevated Genius levels. And, once you earn these levels, you'll keep your status for life.

To earn the first level, Genius Level 1, you must stay twice within two years. But, this level only provides one perk: a 10% discount at select hotels.

But, Genius Level 2 isn't much more difficult to earn. To earn Genius Level 2, you must stay five times within two years. And, Genius Level 2 provides the following perks:

• 10% and 15% discounts at select hotels
• Free breakfast at select hotels
• Complimentary room upgrade at select hotels

You can see which hotels offer discounts, free breakfast and room upgrades when you search.

So, as a Genius Level 2, you can ensure an upgrade. After all, you can book into an upgraded room at select hotels for no extra cost. And, this gives much more value than a space-available upgrade.

You won't earn any rewards within the Booking.com Genius program . But, if you're looking for a deal or upgraded room , you may find it sorting by hotels with Genius perks.

Related: Booking.com makes a big move against resort fees

Expedia Rewards

Expedia's rewards program, named Expedia Rewards , provides a loyalty program that's similar to Orbitz Rewards . However, with the Expedia Rewards program, you can redeem for a wider variety of travel.

When you make travel purchases through Expedia, you'll earn points based on the kind of travel purchased:

• 2 points per $1 spent on hotels, cars, packages, things to do and cruises (1.4% return)
• 1 point per $5 spent on full-service airlines (0.14% return)

Also, you'll earn double points on all bookings made through the Expedia app. Plus, as we'll discuss in the next section, elite members can earn points faster.

When you're ready to redeem, simply sign in to your account and start the booking process. Once you get to the checkout page, select "Use my points" under the payment section. If you don't want to use all your points on this booking, enter the amount you wish to use.

However, if you are booking a hotel, you'll need to "Pay now" if you're using points. And, if you're booking airfare, you'll need enough points to cover the entire cost. For every 140 Expedia Rewards points you redeem, you'll save $1. So, each point is worth about 0.7 cents. But, points are worth double when you book a VIP Access hotel.

Related: The complete guide to the Expedia Rewards loyalty program

There are three membership tiers in the Expedia Rewards program . You'll earn Blue tier status simply for joining Expedia Rewards. And, at the Blue tier, you'll get the following perks:

• Save an extra 10% or more on select hotels with member prices
• Earn Expedia points
• Hotel price guarantee (Expedia will match any lower price you find until midnight before your stay)
• Early access to sales and other exclusive member offers

You'll move to Silver status if you spend $5,000 on eligible bookings or stay seven nights within a calendar year. In addition to the perks available at the Blue tier, Silver elites get the following perks:

• 10% more points when you book
• Extra perks at VIP Access hotels , including 250 bonus points just for booking
• 24/7 expedited customer service via the Silver member number

And, you'll earn Gold status if you spend $10,000 on eligible bookings or stay 15 nights within a calendar year. On top of the perks available at the Silver tier, Gold elites get the following perks:

• 30% more points when you book
• Free room upgrades when available at VIP Access hotels
• 24/7 expedited customer service with specialized Gold agents via the Gold member number

The perks provided by the Expedia Rewards program aren't all that impressive, nor is the earning. I'd recommend giving this program a pass unless you have a compelling reason to book through Expedia.

Related: Why points and miles are a terrible long-term investment

Credit cards

If you are all-in on the Expedia Rewards program, you may want to consider one of the following cards:

Expedia® Rewards Card from Citi

• 3x points on eligible Expedia purchases and 1x points on everything else
• Automatic Silver status
• Earn one elite-qualifying hotel night toward Gold status for every $2,500 in purchases on your card each calendar year
• No foreign transaction fees
• No annual fee

Expedia® Rewards Voyager Card from Citi

• 4x points on eligible Expedia purchases, 2x points at restaurants and on entertainment and 1x points on everything else
• Automatic Gold status
• $100 annual air travel fee credit
• 5,000 bonus points if you spent $10,000 in the prior cardmember year
• $95 annual fee

The information for the Expedia Rewards Voyager and Expedia Rewards Card from Citi has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Battle of the mid-tier hotel cards: Which card outshines the others?

Trip.com Rewards

Trip.com's rewards program, named Trip.com Rewards, is similar to Expedia Rewards and Orbitz Rewards . In particular, you can earn and redeem rewards on flights and hotels. And, you can earn elite status based on your activity within the program.

When you make travel purchases through Trip.com, you can earn points in three ways:

• 25 Trip Coins per $100 spent on flights
• 80 Trip Coins per $100 spent on hotels
• Up to 140 Trip Coins per hotel review

But, as I'll discuss in the next section, members with elite status can earn 10% or 30% bonus Trip Coins.

When you're ready to redeem your Trip Coins, you have options. You can exchange Trip Coins for flight and hotel promo codes, instant savings on hotels and hotel perks. But, if you redeem for instant savings, 100 Trip Coins are worth $1. To use Trip Coins for instant savings, simply select "Save with Trip Coins" during the booking process. However, some bookings may not have this option.

It's unclear how much value can be obtained from Trip Coins when you redeem for promo codes and hotel perks. But, based on the instant savings redemption rate, I wouldn't place too much value in Trip Coins.

Related: Why you might not get housekeeping service during your next hotel stay

There are four membership tiers in the Trip.com Rewards program. And, to advance to higher levels, you must earn tier points by booking flights and hotels. Specifically, you'll earn tier points as follows:

• Flights : Earn 25 tier points for every $100 spent
• Hotels : Earn 80 tier points for every $100 spent

Now, here's what you need to know each membership tier.

Interestingly, membership tiers are adjusted each month based on the tier points you've earned in the last 12 months. As such, it requires a fair bit of spending to reach the Platinum and Diamond tiers in this program.

Additionally, members at higher tiers in the program get additional perks. You can exchange zero Trip Coins for these perks when booking hotels marked with "Trip Coin Benefits":

• Gold members : One free breakfast, room upgrade, late checkout and free cancellation
• Platinum members : Two free breakfasts, room upgrades, late checkouts and free cancellations
• Diamond members : Four free breakfasts, room upgrades, late checkouts and free cancellations

However, you must select perks at the time of booking. Perks are provided on a limited, first-come-first-served basis depending on hotel availability. Especially since the high membership tiers require a lot of spending to reach, I wouldn't put too much value in these perks.

Related: The best credit cards to jumpstart elite status

Earn airline miles with OTAs

Finally, some OTAs allow you to earn airline miles for hotel bookings. Three of these OTAs are Agoda (through its PointsMAX program), Points Hound and RocketMiles .

Some of these programs advertise up to 10,000 airline miles per night in earnings. But, in practice, I've yet to find a good enough value to use any of these programs. However, these OTAs can be a good option if you want to earn more miles in a program you already use. Likewise, you may be able to use these OTAs to generate account activity in little-used programs. And, this activity may allow you to keep your points and miles from expiring .

Related: Using Rocketmiles to earn points and miles on hotel stays

Maximize your OTA booking

When booking through an OTA , you may be able to quadruple-dip on rewards. Specifically, you may be able to earn all of the following:

• OTA rewards
• Online shopping portal rewards
• Credit card rewards on the purchase amount
• Travel provider rewards

However, there are some caveats. You can still earn airline miles when you book through an OTA . But, most hotel loyalty programs won't offer elite earning or benefits on OTA bookings . And, some OTA rewards programs may not provide rewards when you click through an online shopping portal. So, be sure to read the fine print for your OTA and travel provider.

Related: TPG reader question: Which credit card should I use in shopping portals?

Bottom line

Although I regularly used OTAs when I traveled less frequently, now I usually book directly with major airlines and hotels . After all, elite earning and perks matter at hotels now that I live on the road as a digital nomad . And, it's often easier to deal with flight cancellations or changes when you book directly with the airline.

But, I do still use OTAs in some cases. I'll book through an OTA when I stay at a hotel that isn't part of a major hotel loyalty program . And, I'll book flights through an OTA if it offers a much lower price. Plus, I often book through Priceline when I use AutoSlash for cheap car rentals .

Several OTAs offer strong rewards programs. Hotels.com Rewards earns the top spot on my list, but Orbitz Rewards and Booking.com Genius also offer solid value propositions. So, if you decide to book through an OTA, it may be worth using one that provides rewards and perks.

Additional reporting by Nick Ewen.

The Best Hotel Rewards Programs in the World—And Shortcuts for Building Loyalty With Each

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. We don't review or include all companies, or all available products. Moreover, the editorial content on this page was not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of Condé Nast Traveler's editorial team.

UPDATE: Welcome offers for the cards listed below may be out of date. Confirm the current welcome offers on each card issuer's site.

Choosing the best hotel rewards program hinges on a whole host of factors—where you travel and how often you travel being chief among them. But your travel style is a driving factor too: Are you the kind of person satisfied by free waffles at breakfast or are you not happy until you have your own butler ? With these variables in mind, we evaluated all the major hotel groups to narrow down our list of the best hotel loyalty programs, the ones that offer the greatest perks, upgrades, and benefits in exchange for your loyalty. With many, it may be in your best interest to apply for the brand's credit card to maximize your hotel points and possible discounts. Read on for our guide to the five best hotel rewards programs around the world. 

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Here’s what you should consider when choosing a hotel loyalty program:

• How many properties the brand has: The more, generally, the better.
• Where those hotels are in the world: Are they in places you plan to visit?
• What it takes to achieve status: Will you have to stay a little or a lot to unlock perks?
• What benefits do you get: Are we talking free Wi-Fi or free suites?
• How easy it is to earn and redeem points: In other words, how quickly can you earn free nights?

No brand is perfect in all these categories, and different hotels have different strengths. So consider this your guide to sorting out where you should spend your time and money. After all, choosing a hotel rewards program is a commitment: Once you start earning points, it’s best to stick with one brand over the long term to maximize your return. When you’re just starting out, your reward may be as small as a free bottle of water or free Wi-Fi. But over the long haul, it’s possible earn valuable status, which can improve every one of your upcoming stays—not to mention plenty of suite upgrades and free nights at some of the world’s best hotels.

Bar at the Miami Beach Edition

Marriott Bonvoy

Why we love it The Bonvoy program  offers you access to more than 7,000 hotels across 29 brands and 130 countries, so you can essentially throw a dart at a map and find a hotel where you can redeem your points for a free night. You'll earn 10 base points per dollar for booking at Marriott, Starwood, and Ritz-Carlton properties like the Readers' Choice Award-winning St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach Edition . You can also earn points through ordering Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries, renting a car with Hertz, booking cruises through Cruises Only, or spending in addition to your room, whether that's a round of golf, a spa treatment, or room service. If you'd rather rack up airline miles than Bonvoy points, you can do that too: Earn up to two miles per dollar on the same qualifying charges noted above, and the list of participating airlines is extensive, including Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, Virgin Atlantic, and more.

Signing up for the loyalty program automatically makes you a member; stay 10 nights and you'll be elevated to Silver Elite, where you'll earn 10 percent more points on hotel stays; 25 nights earns Gold Elite and 25 percent more points; 50 nights means Platinum Elite and 50 percent more points, and so on (the highest status is Ambassador Elite, which requires 100 nights per year and spending $20,000 on qualifying purchases).

Things to note   There are eight hotel tiers, and the points needed for a free night at certain hotels vary by the tier and the season (there's off-peak, standard, and peak). Marriott has published its reward chart so you can figure out exactly which hotels will cost what. Free nights at Marriott hotels start at 7,500 points for Category 1 hotels and go up to 85,000 per night for Category 8 hotels. Needless to say, there's a lot of range, but no matter what category you book, you’ll get your fifth night free when you book four consecutive nights.

The credit card to help maximize your points If you plan to dive into Bonvoy, signing up for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express credit card is essential to earning more points quicker. You'll earn six points per dollar at Bonvoy properties, three points per dollar at U.S. restaurants and flights booked directly with the airline, and two points per dollar on all other purchases. Plus, as far as perks go, you'll get a statement credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, one free award night every year after your card account anniversary, and unlimited airport lounge access when you enroll in Priority Pass Select membership for yourself and two guests (enrollment required, terms apply). There's a hefty $650 annual fee ( see rates and fees ), but the perks (and a hearty welcome offer of 150,000 points if you make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months) more than balance it out.

Bottom line Even if you don't apply for a credit card, you have nothing to lose by simply becoming a Marriott Bonvoy member. Joining is free, and you'll get perks like free Wi-Fi, members-only rates (at least a two percent discount on weekdays and a five percent discount on weekends), and the ability to check in with your phone. Racking up points and moving to higher status levels is as simple as staying at a participating hotel, and given the sheer number of properties under the Bonvoy umbrella, this isn't hard to do.

Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Credit Card here.

View of the Opera House from the Park Hyatt Sydney.

World of Hyatt

Why we love it Hyatt may be one of the “smaller” global players, with around 1,000 hotels, but it has a strong luxury hotel and resort portfolio around the world, including hotels like the Park Hyatt Sydney , one of Australia’s best hotels, the luxe Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa , and the Hot List-winning Thompson Dallas . If you're looking to stay in luxurious hotels in major cities in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, or Asia, World of Hyatt should be on your radar.

The loyalty program is admittedly a bit complicated—particularly if you’re new to rewards programs—but there are solid rewards awaiting those who weed through the fine print. The program revolves around four levels of status: Member, Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist. While Member status requires nothing but signing up, the other tiers are unlocked by booking nights at Hyatt properties. The more you stay, the higher your status—and the more points you earn. All World of Hyatt members earn five points per dollar on all Hyatt purchases. Discoverist status adds a 10 percent bonus to your point accrual, Explorist a 20 percent bonus, and Globalist a 30 percent bonus. 

Besides the earning potential, World of Hyatt includes a few valuable perks at higher status tiers—all of which have lower stay and points requirements due to the pandemic. Explorist, which requires 15 qualifying nights or earning 25,000 points in a year, includes free room upgrades and access to club lounges at various properties. Globalist status, which requires 30 qualifying nights or earning 50,000 points per year, nets you suite upgrades upon availability and 4 p.m. late checkout, plus all the perks of the Explorist tier. 

Things to note While low-end hotels start at just 5,000 points per night, Park Hyatt hotels don't come cheap. The Park Hyatt Paris Vendome , for example, will run you 30,000 points per night, meaning you’d have to spend at least $6,000 in a year at Hyatt properties to earn a free night, discounting any other partner programs or welcome bonuses that pad your points balance.

Hyatt also partners with nearly 30 airlines, including American, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. You can choose to earn Hyatt points or partner miles on your stays, though you'll earn miles at a rate different from Hyatt points. You can also convert Hyatt points to any airline partners' frequent flier miles.

The credit card to help maximize your points The quickest way to earn status and points is by applying for the  World of Hyatt Credit Card , which automatically catapults you to Discoverist status. Plus, cardholders get five “qualifying night credits” every year, which count toward the total number of nights you’ll need to stay to earn status. To reach the Explorist tier, for example, you’d need to stay just 25 nights instead of 30.

The card also helps you earn points faster when you use it to book Hyatt stays, with four bonus points per dollar spent on top of the existing five-for-one structure. In other words, you’ll get nine points per dollar when you book a Hyatt with this card, something that helps you achieve status faster. You'll earn two bonus points per dollar spent at restaurants, flights booked directly with the airline, on local transit, and on gym memberships—perks that help you earn points with purchases you're already making.

Bottom line World of Hyatt is a great option if you spend a lot at hotels and want free nights (and upgrades) at high-end hotels. But this program isn’t as flexible as some others—and you’ll need to earn your way to higher status levels to really start unlocking big benefits.

Learn more about the World of Hyatt Credit Card here.

Pool cabanas at the Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills

Hilton Honors

Why we love it This program is top-tier thanks in part to Hilton’s massive geographic footprint. With more than 5,000 hotels in 100 different countries, the brand has places to stay pretty much everywhere, including excellent luxury options, including the Conrad Tokyo and the Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills , and plenty of mid-tier choices in just about any city you'd want to visit.

Like Hyatt’s program, Hilton’s revolves around four levels of membership: Member, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. Member benefits are pretty minimal, like free Wi-Fi and earnings of 10 points per dollar spent on Hilton bookings. To hit Silver, you'll need to complete four stays or 10 nights and you'll earn 12 points per dollar—plus you get the fifth night free on reward bookings. Gold status gets you a little more, adding space-available room upgrades and complimentary breakfast. You'll have to complete 20 stays or 40 nights in a calendar year, or earn 75,000 base points in a year to reach this tier, which earns you 18 points per dollar on Hilton bookings.

To get all the way up to Diamond, you'll need to stay 60 nights or earn 120,000 base points, which equates to spending $12,000 with Hilton. That’s a lot of spending. Luckily, there’s a hack, in the form of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which comes with complimentary Diamond status. With Diamond status, you earn 20 points per dollar; but when using the Aspire card, you get a bonus 14 points per dollar. That adds up to 34 points for every dollar spent at Hilton, a killer earn rate. Diamond guests also get a ton of other perks on every stay, including room upgrades, access to Executive Lounges at hotels, guaranteed rooms even on last-minute bookings, and even the ability to gift a friend Diamond status. Downside? There's a $450 annual fee ( see rates and fees ).

Things to note Hilton Honors doesn't publish a reward chart, meaning you can't look up how many points you'll need to get free nights. Instead, you'll need to start a booking to check rates or use Hilton’s tool that searches the maximum standard room reward price for a particular property. It’s a lack of transparency other programs don’t suffer from.

You'll need a ton of points to stay at any of Hilton's higher-end hotels, too. Places like the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island will run you 95,000 points per night on average. (You’d have to spend at least $2,800 with Hilton to earn that many points.) 

The credit card to help maximize your points If a $450 annual fee is too much, know that Hilton and American Express have partnered for another card that has no annual fee: the  Hilton Honors American Express Card ( see rates and fees ). Cardholders earn seven points per dollar on Hilton stays, five points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and three points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. While you won't get automatic Diamond status, you'll be starting at Silver. 

Bottom Line Hilton's lack of a reward chart is annoying, but if you’re a true loyalist to the brand, you’ll get serious perks once you achieve Diamond status. Pick up the Aspire card, and you’ll get there instantly, with enough benefits that the card pays for itself. Those seeking more flexibility, though, may find other programs more rewarding.

Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Card here.

Learn more about the hilton honors american express aspire card here., ihg rewards.

Why we love it You have tons of choice when it comes to IHG's 6,000-plus properties. You can go ultra-luxe at Six Senses Hotels & Resorts and Regent Hotels, go for boutique hotels and villas through Mr & Mrs Smith , or make a Kimpton your home base for a city stay. (Tried-and-true basics like Holiday Inns are also in the mix here.)

As for the IHG Rewards program, there are five levels starting with Club, which mainly offers free Wi-Fi during stays and access to exclusive member rates. You'll earn 10 points per dollar spent on IHG's main brands, and five points per dollar on Staybridge and Candlewood Suites stays. One level up is Gold Elite, which includes late check-out and a 10 percent bonus to your point accrual. Platinum Elite bumps that bonus up to 50 percent and add perks like complimentary room upgrades, while the Spire Elite level includes a 100 percent bonus on point accrual, early check-in, and an automatic bump to Five Star in Hertz's Gold Rewards program. The highest level of IHG rewards is the invite-only Kimpton Inner Circle , which is extended to Kimpton-loyal, high-status IHG Rewards members, and includes the same perks as Spire Elite, but with a free night at new Kimpton properties and a complimentary appetizer or dessert at most Kimpton restaurants. 

When it comes to spending those points, know that IHG doesn't have a fixed amount of points to book any of its hotels, so you'll find out exactly how many points you need when it comes time to book. For reference, an overwater bungalow at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives typically costs around 100,000 points per night, while the Kimpton De Witt Hotel in Amsterdam usually costs around 40,000 points per night. 

Things to note If you want to skip to the front of the line, IHG offers a pay-to-play status level: InterContinental Ambassador membership. For $200 a year (or 40,000 points), you'll get automatic Platinum Elite status, guaranteed one category room upgrades at InterContinental properties, and a complimentary weekend night at InterContinental, Kimpton, and Regent hotels. If you stay at a Six Senses resort, Ambassadors also get both complimentary breakfast throughout their stay and a complimentary 50-minute massage. It's particularly useful if you're loyal to InterContinental hotels or are planning a stay or two at a Six Senses Resort (honeymoon, anyone?). 

The credit card to help maximize your points Compared to other hotel co-branded credit cards (or the cost of the InterContinental Ambassador membership), the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has a relatively low annual fee of $89 and tons of perks. Firstly, cardholders get automatic Platinum Elite status and are given both an annual free night to be used on properties worth 40,000 points and under and a fourth night free when redeeming points for stays four nights or longer. Plus, you'll get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit to cover the application fee. Cardholders earn a whopping 25 points per dollar spent at any IHG property, two points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and one point per dollar on all other purchases. 

Bottom line You can easily make IHG Rewards work for you—especially with the help fo the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card , with its 25 points per dollar earnings on IHG properties. Plus, despite the nebulous nature of redeeming points, you can find plenty of deals and good uses for your rewards points to make this loyalty program a worthwhile investment.

Learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card here.

Wyndham rewards.

Why we love it Wyndham doesn't have quite the luxury offerings of other hotel chains, but don't let that dissuade you from diving into Wyndham Rewards. This loyalty program's greatest asset is its flat-rate redemptions: Whether you stay at a Days Inn in Topeka or at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort , free nights cost just 15,000 points each. If you can find the right place to stay—like the Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay in Phuket—you can score incredible deals on high-end hotels. 

In the United States, you'll have about a dozen Wyndham Grand hotels to choose from, along with a variety of vacation rentals in places like Palm Springs, California; Aspen, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina. And thanks to a partnership between Wyndham and Caesars Entertainment, 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points let you book a night at any Caesars property, including places like the Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace .

Earning is straightforward too: You'll earn 10 points per dollar spent on Wyndham Rewards hotels, or 1,000 points per stay, whichever is greater. You can also earn 100 points per day on car rentals with Avis and Budget. As with most hotel rewards programs, you can earn elite status by staying frequently at Wyndham Rewards hotels. Wyndham Rewards tiers include Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Platinum and Diamond come with amenities like free Wi-Fi, early check in, and late check out.

Unlike other hotel loyalty programs, there isn't a credit card to help you maximize points, as the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card will only set you up with Gold status and minimal points earnings, like five points per dollar on Wyndham stays and gas, and two points per dollar on dining and groceries. 

Things to note While you can convert Wyndham points into airline miles the same way you can Bonvoy and Hyatt points, you shouldn't: The conversion rate is bad, at five Wyndham points to one airline mile. Wyndham's not great if you're looking for high-end options in Europe; there are fewer than 10 Wyndham Grand hotels in the entire continent. And a huge number of the company's hotels are lower- or mid-tier properties, like Days Inn and La Quinta.

Bottom line Wyndham's program doesn't require any number crunching or spreadsheet gymnastics. It makes a lot of sense if you want to bounce around China, as there are almost 20 Wyndham Grand resorts around the country, and there are enough around the U.S., especially once you factor in the ability to stay for free at Caesars properties.

Additional reporting by Meredith Carey.

See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Bonvoy Brilliant ; Hilton Honors Aspire ; Hilton Honors ;

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Jpmorgan chase acquiring a leading travel and loyalty business, jpmorgan chase to transform its end-to-end travel capabilities by acquiring cxloyalty’s modern and scalable technology platform.

New York, December 28, 2020 –  JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and cxLoyalty Group Holdings today announced they have signed an agreement for JPMorgan Chase to acquire the Global Loyalty business of cxLoyalty Group Holdings. The deal includes cxLoyalty’s leading technology platforms, full-service travel agency, gift card, merchandise, and points bank businesses.

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to deliver exceptional travel benefits at-scale to our large and rapidly growing customer base. People across the globe want to vacation and travel again, and hopefully that will become a reality for many in the near future. Acquiring the travel and rewards businesses of cxLoyalty will provide enhanced experiences to our millions of Chase customers once they are ready, comfortable and confident to travel,” said Marianne Lake, Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Lending at JPMorgan Chase.

cxLoyalty is a leading loyalty and technology solutions company with over 40 years of experience. Their expertise in designing, administering and fulfilling loyalty programs complements JPMorgan Chase’s reputation of providing customers with elevated and differentiated value. The deal is expected to accelerate the strong foundation built in loyalty, including for Chase’s Ultimate Rewards platform and cxLoyalty’s existing clients, to enable a more holistic, end-to-end customer travel journey for all customers. The cxLoyalty brand and existing client relationships will continue to be led by cxLoyalty Group CEO Todd Siegel.

“JPMorgan Chase is the right partner to further invest in our leading loyalty business,” said Todd Siegel, Chief Executive Officer of cxLoyalty. "This partnership allows us to strengthen and expand our technology solutions, rewards content and world class personalized customer experience for our Fortune 500 clients and their millions of customers, globally.”

Ms. Lake adds, “We welcome Todd and cxLoyalty to JPMorgan Chase, and look forward to creating more value for our shared customers and clients.”

JPMorgan Chase credit card customers will continue using Ultimate Rewards as usual and over time, will have access to enhanced travel experiences.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.2 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Communications Officer, Chase, [email protected]

Ashley Dodd, head of Card Communications, Chase, [email protected]

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Travelers reached their breaking point this summer. Is loyalty dead?

• Many travelers are questioning their loyalties to airlines and hotels.
• The government is concerned, too. Just last week, the Department of Transportation launched a probe into the loyalty programs of America's four major airlines.
• Here's how to know when it's time to jump ship.

When it comes to travel, is loyalty dead? 

That's the question many travelers have been asking themselves during a record-breaking summer.

Andy Abramson did it when American Airlines delayed his recent flight from Orlando to Las Vegas. When a representative told him he couldn't get on an earlier flight because he didn't have enough status, he said, "That was my breaking point."

Abramson, a communications consultant from Las Vegas, said he'll avoid American Airlines from now on, preferring Southwest, Delta – or really, any other airline.

Recent research suggests many other travelers are beginning to reach their breaking point, too. About 1 in 10 consumers reported poor experiences with an airline or hotel this year, according to a recent survey by the XM Institute , a customer service consultancy. Roughly half of those surveyed say they decreased or entirely eliminated their spending with the offending company as a result.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

The government is concerned, too. Just last week, the Department of Transportation launched a probe into the loyalty programs of America's four major airlines . It wants to ensure that customer rewards are protected from "any practices that would diminish their value, benefit, or availability."

Ari Lightman, a professor of digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University, said inadequate customer support, degradation in service quality and a negative perception of travel companies are making them question their loyalties.

"That's especially true for the younger generation, which doesn't have any perceived loyalty to a specific travel brand," he added.

American Airlines said Abramson's delay was related to maintenance and that all passengers are treated the same way when it comes to rescheduled flights. "Our team’s mission is to look after all our customers," a spokesperson added.

You're carrying too much luggage. Here's how to lighten up.

Bad service: Want better customer service when you travel? You must be joking

Why are travelers near their breaking point?

There are two main reasons many travelers are questioning their loyalties.

First, there's a shortsighted focus on profits in the travel industry. Demand for travel is soaring, there's less competition, and companies are taking advantage of this seller's market by raising prices and providing even less service. It's perfectly awful.

"Cost-cutting in a time of tight margins in an era of consolidation has fueled extreme attention to profits," said customer service expert Chip Bell.

Second, travel companies are devaluing and diluting their loyalty programs. The days of quickly redeeming hard-earned loyalty points for a free flight or hotel room are long gone. 

Now you practically need to be an insider to get any benefit from a loyalty program, said experts like Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner . 

"There are also concerns about loyalty points becoming stale or diluted over time, or rules changing without warning that dilute the value of the program," he added.

So should you switch travel companies?

If you're having second thoughts about your loyalties, join the club. Here's how to know when it's time to jump ship.

• When service is consistently bad . If you experience frequent delays, cancellations, or unhelpful customer service, you need to start thinking about switching, said Mario Matulich, president of CMP, a customer service consultancy. "If a competitor offers significantly better rewards, lower prices, or superior services, switching providers is an easy choice," he said.
• If your company isn't sorry for what it did. "Service recovery" is a term for how a company makes up for the problem with the guest, such as an apology letter or a reversal of charges. If your company isn't interested in recovery when something goes wrong, maybe it's time to move on, said Rob DelliBovi, CEO of RDB Hospitality. "If there's no service recovery, you should consider switching," he added.
• If you get a better offer. If someone takes better care of you, maybe it's time to switch sides, said Melissa Copeland, a principal of Blue Orbit Consulting, a customer service consultancy. "You'll know it's time when you aren't enjoying your experiences anymore," she said. She recently did that with a hotel chain to which she'd been loyal for years. "I tried another brand, and I had a great experience," she said. Now, she's considering a switch to that brand.

Bottom line: You'll know when you're ready to move on.

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How bad has it gotten?

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it: Many businesses are taking advantage of the surge in travel by raising prices and cutting customer service. Complaints to my consumer advocacy nonprofit organization have more than doubled in the first half of this year as this trend accelerates. 

The stories are similar to Abramson's. Large travel companies are cutting back on their customer service or automating certain functions. They're adding new rules to maximize their profits – rules that make the company more money but drive customers crazy. 

But some companies will fight for your business. Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads , recalls a minor incident that reminded him that some companies still appreciate his business. 

It happened after having what he calls a "not so great" dinner experience at a Hilton. As he left the restaurant, a manager asked him how he liked his dinner, and he casually mentioned his disappointment. "Dinner was on the house," he said. 

Can you guess which hotel he booked next? 

That's right, Hilton got his business again. 

"Hilton went above and beyond," he said.

My advice: Do a little research to find companies that will fight for your business and won't take you for granted. They're still out there.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Travel Loyalty Programs Deep Dive 2022

Importance of loyalty programs highlighted by covid-19, how do hotel and airline loyalty programs work, key financial indicators used in this report, u.s. airline loyalty programs are most valuable, u.s. airlines benefit from a more consolidated market, airline partners are important for enthusiasts, but credit card partners drive revenue, airline loyalty is a growth industry, even during the pandemic, despite lower revenues, hotel loyalty programs are extremely important to their business, hotel loyalty contributions declined during the pandemic, hotel loyalty revenues were more resilient than other revenue streams during pandemic, the changing face of business travel, growth of short-term rentals, sustainability becomes paramount, impacts loyalty , can a new breed of travel players stir up loyalty , conclusions, related reports.

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• A Deep Dive into Google Travel Part III: Hotel Distribution From East to West April 2024
• The Past, Present, and Future of Online Travel March 2024
• Outbound Travel 2024: Asia’s Big Year, Europe’s Slowdown February 2024

Report Overview

As travel demand returns, loyalty programs are on the operating table. Companies are betting big on reinventing their loyalty programs, and it is high time. Many point programs had run stale years before the pandemic, becoming increasingly commoditized and a complicated tale of conversion rates, qualifying dollars, and blackout dates.

Maybe counterintuitively, loyalty program membership has boomed over the past two years, despite the fact that demand for flights and stays were dramatically down in 2020 and 2021. But loyalty companies cannot rest on their laurels, as the pandemic has changed traveler behavior and demands. Loyalty programs will need to follow suit to match a new travel mix.

In this report we first discuss the financial state of loyalty programs, focusing on key indicators like membership numbers, recognized revenues, liabilities, cash flow, member value, and loyalty contribution. We then analyze how Covid-19 has changed traveler demands, and how loyalty programs should respond.

What You'll Learn From This Report

• The financial state of the six largest airline and five largest hotel travel loyalty programs.
• Comparisons of membership numbers, recognized revenues, loyalty cash flows, member value, and loyalty contributions.
• The impact of Covid-19 on traveler behavior, and how this impacts loyalty programs.
• A discussion on how loyalty programs can respond to changing market forces and competition.

Executive Summary

Everyone knows loyalty programs are important to the largest travel players, but how important exactly is a harder question to answer. In a heavily competitive market, travel players keep their cards close to their chests when it comes to loyalty. 

We used a patchwork of public filings, earning calls, investor presentations, and franchise disclosure documents to paint a picture of the size of loyalty programs for the largest airlines and hotel companies. A major exception to that rule is Accor, which provides very limited financial data about its loyalty program and was therefore excluded from most of the analysis in this report. 

Travel loyalty programs are coming out of this pandemic stronger, with programs having recruited more members, and having increased revenues related to the programs. Loyalty revenues also did not drop as much as other operational revenues.

As airlines and hotels report differently on their loyalty programs, we are unable to provide a direct comparison between the sectors. U.S. airlines are much better at monetizing their loyalty programs than their European counterparts, benefiting from a more consolidated market and more valuable co-branded credit card partnerships. 

What is interesting is that the U.S. airlines also have better point redemption rates (members spending their points), which we believe is an important indicator of the overall health of loyalty programs. One of the dangers of loyalty programs is that members never get to redeem their points, become disenchanted, and drop out. 

Hotels take a much more individualistic approach to loyalty. They are dealing with a highly fragmented market, but have much more competition on the ground, which stops them from forming partnerships with other players in the same space. Marriott reports on its figures differently than the other players, and we are therefore unable to compare its performance to the rest of the hotel industry. When taking Marriott out of the equation, Hilton and Hyatt have the strongest loyalty programs.

Covid-19 has changed how people travel, though, and despite strong performances over the past two years, loyalty programs need to continue innovating to respond to these changing demands. 

We see four factors as most important for loyalty programs to consider moving forward:

• Business travel might never come back as it was. Loyalty programs need to, and are, adapting to less frequent business travel and more leisure travel. Hotel companies are introducing and acquiring all-inclusive and resort brands to respond to this shift in demand, and offer a heightened focus on experiences in their loyalty programs.
• The short-term rental sector has seen strong growth over the past two years, with loyalty programs needing to adapt to this. Marriott has seen success with its own Homes & Villas brand as an additional offering to its members, while Expedia Group is merging its loyalty programs to incorporate its rental brand Vrbo.
• Sustainability is ever more important to travelers, and we feel the discussion on loyalty programs need to move into that direction as well. Loyalty programs are intrinsically linked to excessive travel, which might not be fit for this century anymore. Companies need to find ways of baking sustainability into earning credits and should be at the center of loyalty partnerships, linking to other sustainable brands.
• Finally, younger travelers might not want complicated point programs anymore, with simple cashback programs offered by companies like Hopper rapidly enticing new members. This will drive further innovation into the travel loyalty space.

In a previous version of this report we compared airlines and hotel loyalty revenues, but it was correctly highlighted to us that airlines report on gross loyalty revenues, while most hotels report on loyalty revenues net of redemption costs. Furthermore, despite reporting indicating differently, Marriott reports on gross loyalty revenues, unlike all its competitors. This has been clarified in the report.

As travel demand returns, loyalty programs are on the operating table. Companies are betting big on reinventing their loyalty programs, and it is high time. Many point programs had run stale years before the pandemic, becoming increasingly commoditized and a complicated tale of conversion rates, qualifying dollars, and blackout dates. 

Maybe counterintuitively, loyalty program membership has boomed over the past two years, despite the fact that demand for flights and stays were dramatically down in 2020 and 2021. 

While Skift Research estimates that global hotel revenues declined by 60% in 2020, Hilton grew its Honors member base from 103 million at the end of 2019 to 112 million a year later, and 128 million by the end of 2021. Marriott Bonvoy member numbers similarly grew from 141 million to 160 million between 2019 and 2021.  

The largest three U.S. carriers Delta, American, and United all have over 100 million members. The loyalty programs generated 2019 cash flow of $6, $5.9, and $5.3 billion for Delta, American, and United respectively. The majority of this income comes through lucrative credit card partnerships. 

Loyalty members effectively saved the airlines by continuing to spend on their airline credit cards, even when they were not allowed to fly during the pandemic. Major airlines used their loyalty programs to raise billions of dollars. American Airlines’ AAdvantage was valued at $24 billion, and United Airlines’ MileagePlus at $22 billion, far more than the airlines’ standalone market caps during the pandemic. 

In this report we discuss the state of loyalty programs as the industry comes out of an all-encompassing pandemic. We analyze both the financial health and demand drivers of loyalty programs to understand whether and how programs should adapt to the changing business climate. 

Brief Note on Methodology and Loyalty Program Particulars

The largest hotel companies increasingly focus on an asset-light business model, meaning that they work with third-party owners who own the real estate and either work with the hotel company under a franchise agreement or management contract. 

When a loyalty member pays for a stay in an affiliated hotel, the hotel owner pays a percentage of, generally, the room revenue to the franchisor. The franchisor collects these fees and uses them to pay a hotel or a third-party when the loyalty member redeems the points for a hotel stay or other purchase. 

Third-party partnerships or co-branded credit cards work much the same, where the partner purchases loyalty points from the hotel company, to then distribute to its users when they spend money on their credit card. 

As most hotel companies have a range of partnerships with credit card companies and other partners like airlines and car rental providers, calculating the exact value of points is challenging, especially when estimating the ‘breakage,’ or how many points will expire unused. 

Franchise disclosure agreements show that hotel owners can pay anything from 2 to 5% of the value of a booked room to the hotel company as a loyalty program fee, on top of other franchise fees. 

We should note, however, that it is likely that lower loyalty fees mean that companies use other fees to top up loyalty income. Since fees paid by owners are directly related to the value of points and redemptions, it is not in the interest of the company to charge very low loyalty fees. As each company reports on fee structures differently, and definitions on what is included and excluded from these fees vary, the below table is only highlighting the fees that are reported on, and should be used as an indication only.

* Franchise disclosure documents do not specify exactly what the terms “eligible” and “qualifying” refer to, but hotel owners will generally pay a percentage fee over the price of the room paid by loyalty members, and in some cases over all additional spending by these members as well.

** Marriott charges a loyalty program fee based on spending by loyalty members, as well as Marketing Fund contribution of 2% on all room sales. In 2019, 36% of the Marketing Fund was allocated to promoting the loyalty program. With loyalty member contribution around 50% for Marriott, we calculated that about 2% * 50% * 36% = 0.36% of loyalty member spending will be paid in fees for the Marketing Fund and used for loyalty program purposes. 

Airline loyalty programs work in a similar way to hotel programs, with one major exception.b Airlines do not work with franchise agreements, and therefore do not rely on outside stakeholders for a large part of the fees collected to operate the program.

However, airlines do tend to run their loyalty programs as separate companies, with the airline “purchasing” points from the loyalty programs just like any other third-party partner.  

Airlines and hotel companies report on loyalty program financials through different metrics. Most will provide an overview of the recognized revenues and liabilities, which are often split in current and non-current liabilities. 

As points are earned by members, the hotel and airline loyalty programs receive cash, either from hotel owners, airlines, or third-parties like credit card companies. This cash is initially seen as a liability and reported as deferred revenue, since the points have not been redeemed yet and therefore the company has not provided the service yet.  

Only once points have been redeemed, points have expired, or the company believes points will not be redeemed (a process called ‘breakage’), will the previously deferred revenue be recognized. Hotels report on their revenues net of redemption costs, so in effect reporting on the profit made from its loyalty program. 

After inquiring with Marriott’s Investor Relations team, and despite all reporting indicating that Marriott follows the same reporting standards as other hotels, Skift Research understands taht Marriott in fact reports on deferred and recognized revenues before the cost of redemption has been deducted. 

Like Marriott, airlines report on gross loyalty revenues, not taking into consideration the cost of redemption. 

In this report we compare loyalty program recognized revenues against passenger revenues generated by airlines, and room revenues from hotels. Due to the differences in reporting on revenues, these two sectors cannot be compared, and the discussion is only intended to provide a competitor analysis within each sector. 

As hotel companies, through their asset light business models, do not collect room revenues, but instead operate primarily based on management and franchise fees, we have also compared loyalty program liabilities to these operating revenues.

The Current State of Travel Loyalty Programs

The largest travel brands in the world rely heavily on their most loyal customers. This is of course the case in every industry, but the travel industry has a rich history of recognizing those customers through loyalty point programs. 

Below we highlight the most important financials related to airline and hotel loyalty programs, analyzing the performance of the programs of the six largest airlines and five of the largest hotel companies. 

Recognized revenue mostly represents the redemption of previously earned loyalty points.

American’s AAdvantage, Delta’s Skymiles, and United’s MileagePlus programs respectively generated $4.3 billion, $3.5 billion, and $3 billion in recognized revenue during 2021, well ahead of European airlines. 

Marriott is the only hotel company that also reports gross recognized revenues, and can therefore be compared to the airline industry. At $2 billion the company generated more than European airlines, but still fell significantly short of the U.S. airlines.

For the other hotel companies, the data shows that Hilton has the most recognized revenue, but Hyatt’s loyalty program has the highest share of total room revenues.

When normalizing the data for the number of members, amongst the companies that report on gross revenues, the three largest U.S. airlines still come out strongest, with redemptions per loyalty member between $30 and $40. IAG outperforms its rival European competitors, while Marriott achieves around $12 per member.   

Amongst the hotels that report on revenues net of redemption costs, Hyatt stands out for its relatively small loyalty base, but with a value of $10 per member after redemption costs. This is undoubtedly better than the $12 gross achieved by Marriott.  

We believe that having a healthy redemption rate is important for loyalty programs, as one of the dangers of loyalty programs is that members never get to redeem their points, become disenchanted, and drop out. The data shows that the U.S. airlines and Hyatt lead the way.

Above we have already established that the U.S. airlines record much higher recognized and deferred revenues than European carriers. When analyzing the number of members of these airlines with the amount of paying passengers carried, it is clear that U.S. airlines are able to attract many more customers to their loyalty programs. 

The loyalty member bases of United and Delta are as high as 62% of the number of passengers these airlines carried in 2019, while this is around 20% for the European airlines.

Also when we look at loyalty contributions (which refers to loyalty members earning and burning points for flights), for which data is more patchy, American Airlines’ member contribution to ticket revenues was 61% in 2019, with members contributing 56% more flight revenue in their first year of membership than non-members. For Delta, over 60% of revenues stemmed from its loyalty members in 2019. 

European Airlines do not seem to achieve these impressive figures. Only thirty-three percent of people flying with one of IAG’s airlines, for example, is an Avios member, although it is unclear what the total contribution to top line revenue is of these members. 

What this likely highlights, though, is the much more competitive landscape in Europe. According to data from IATA, 28 airlines service 80% of all flights in Europe, while in North America that is only seven airlines. This leaves U.S. airlines in a much stronger position to attract members through strong airport hubs, while European travelers are much more likely to rely on different airlines for different destinations.  

A key reason that loyalty generates so much cash for especially U.S. airline loyalty programs are lucrative co-branded credit card deals. In effect, credit card companies buy miles and points from the airline loyalty programs to pass on to card users when they spend money. 

This is beneficial for both parties. Delta Skymiles members, using co-branded American Express cards, represented 9% of total network volumes for AmEx, and as much as 21% of card member loans in 2021. 

Company filings show that sales to third parties account for about two-thirds of cash flow for all three major U.S. airlines. While these companies have an extensive list of third party partnerships, the reality is that practically all third-party point sales are to credit card companies. Delta provides a further breakdown which is telling of the importance credit card companies play. Out of $4 billion in 2019 cash flow that Skymiles generated from non-air partners, $3.9 billion (97.5%) came from sales to credit card companies with only $100 million (2.5%) coming from all other non-air third-parties. 

Of course, it is important for airlines to offer partnerships, and this is especially clear when looking at redemption behavior. For Delta, only 3% of points are redeemed with third parties, but for United this is 20%. And during the pandemic, both airlines and hotel companies have used third party partnerships to keep customers engaged and to get new members. 

Largely thanks to third party partnerships, the pandemic did not stop the growth of loyalty members. It also did not stop people from earning and redeeming points, although there was a clear slowdown in both. 

Delta’s earn and burn rate clearly shows the growing value of its loyalty program as travelers earn more points than they redeem. During 2020, overall earn and redemption rates were down considerably compared to previous years, but the earn to burn ratio shot up to 154%, highlighting how loyalty members continued to earn points, mostly through co-branded credit card spending, without redeeming them. 

Although, as discussed above, most hotel companies are not seeing the same loyalty revenues as the major U.S. airlines, loyalty members are an extremely important part of hotel businesses. Hilton sees the highest share of room bookings made by its Hilton Honors members, with the loyalty contribution hovering around 60%, which is made up of a combination of people earning and burning points. 

In terms of loyalty contributions, all major hotel companies have successful loyalty programs. Loyalty members contribute between 30% and 60% of room nights. Here we were able to add Accor to the analysis, and we can see how competing in the European market, which is far less brand consolidated than the U.S., makes attracting high loyalty contributions much harder. 

Hotel loyalty members tend to spend more, with Wyndham for example reporting that its loyalty members “spend two times more than non-members on average.” Franchise disclosure documents from Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group show that members paid higher average daily room rates (ADR) than other guests, and importantly, this continued during the pandemic. 

ADR paid by loyalty members, as a % of average brand ADR 

While airlines and hotels were able to rely on continued spending through co-branded credit cards, actual travel bookings by members did decline. Hotel brands saw some significant shifts in the share of rooms booked by members. For the majority of brands in the U.S. that reported on these numbers, loyalty contributions dropped during the pandemic. 

The exceptions were economy brands Comfort Inn and Days Inn, which likely attract more interstate traffic and road warriors, which would have been impacted less by the pandemic. Furthermore, extended-stay brand Hawthorn Suites saw loyalty contributions increase as the overall segment performed strongly due to more options for people to work remotely.    

Loyalty member contributions to room nights, by brand

The reduction in loyalty contributions for these brands are significant in dollar values, and offer opportunities as demand starts picking up. While most brands have suspended expiration dates of points, changing working conditions and expectations might lead to travelers joining different loyalty programs if they suit their new reality better. 

As a way of providing some idea of the scale of this potential shift, we could consider the size of the Holiday Inn brand, which saw a drop of 7 percentage points in loyalty contribution, from 49% to 42%. With room sales in the Americas of $3.76 billion in 2019, at 2019 values, this drop would result in a loss of $263 million in room revenue spend from loyalty members. This quarter of a billion dollars is now up for grabs and could be redistributed to other brands if there is no incentive for these members to return to Holiday Inn. Multiply this for all brands that have seen a reduction in loyalty contributions, and we are talking billions of dollars.    

Despite loyalty contributions being down during the pandemic, recognized revenues from loyalty programs still declined less during 2020 than other revenue streams for hotel companies. Asset-light hotel companies collect the majority of their revenues in the form of management and franchise fees (which we refer to here as operating revenue). 

The slower decline in recognized revenue, highlights that redemptions still did not fall as steeply as other fees collected by the hotel companies. The hiatus in business travel, for example, will have driven many avid travelers to redeem their points for leisure trips, while at the same time no longer accumulating points via work trips. This means that the pendulum swings away from “higher earn than burn”, to “more burn than earn”. 

It might also indicate that, although expiration dates for points were largely suspended, hotel companies will likely assume that breakage (loyalty points that are earned but never redeemed) will be higher as not all demand will return to pre-pandemic levels. When points ‘break,’ the company gets to keep all of the cash paid for them, without needing to deliver any corresponding service. Therefore higher breakage lets companies recognize more revenues today that would have before been recorded as a future liability. 

Finally, companies have been successful in growing alternative offerings into their portfolio. Marriott, for example, has had success in growing its short-term rental offering through Marriott Homes & Villas, with 95% of bookings for rentals coming from Bonvoy members, and 30% of those bookings being paid with points. Accor’s ALL program has focused heavily on offering experiences outside of hotel stays on which points can be redeemed. 

Gulf Air history

The founder of the airline was British pilot and entrepreneur Freddie Bosworth. In the mid-twentieth century, he provided air cab services from Bahrain to Dhahran and Doha.

In 1950, he established the first commercial airline in the Middle East, Gulf Aviation. The fleet consisted of 7 British Avro Anson multi-purpose aircraft and 3 De Havilland DH-86B biplanes.

After the death of Freddie Bosworth in 1951 (he died at an air show), 22% of the company’s shares were transferred to the British carrier BOAC. In 1973, the authorities of Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Abu Dhabi bought Gulf Aviation, dividing the shares equally (25% of each monarchy), and changed the name of the airline to Gulf Air.

In the 1970s, the fleet is updated – introduced passenger wide-body Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and narrow-body Boeing 737. Route network of the airline expands to Amsterdam, Athens, Hong Kong, Paris and other cities. In 1980, Gulf Air joins IATA and launches flights to Frankfurt, Riyadh, Damascus and later to Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and Pakistan.

In 2003, Gulf Air appears in the branded loyalty program – Falcon Frequent Flyer. And in 2007, the sole owner of the airline becomes the Kingdom of Bahrain (in 2002, Qatar left the capital, later – Abu Dhabi and Oman). The authorities expand the fleet of modern aircraft Airbus A320neo and A321neo.

Today Gulf Air is one of the largest airlines in the Middle East (second only to Emirates).

Gulf Air’s fleet of planes

Gulf Air’s fleet includes 31 planes. A total of 5 models are represented:

• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – 7 planes (+3 ordered);
• Airbus A321neo – 6 planes (+3 ordered);
• Airbus A320neo – 6 planes (+6 ordered);
• Airbus 321ER – 4 planes;
• Airbus 320-200 – 8 planes.

* There are 2 versions of Airbus A320neo – for 136 and 150 passenger seats.

Guld Air flight destinations

Gulf Air’s only direct flight to Russia connects the capitals of both countries – Manama and Moscow (Domodedovo). Flights from Moscow to other cities have a connection at Bahrain International Airport (BAN).

Popular destinations

• Russia – UAE. Route: Moscow (DME) – Manama (WAN) – Dubai (DXB). The flight from Russia to Bahrain takes about 6 hours, from Bahrain to UAE – 1 hr. 25 min. Total travel time without taking into account the connection is about 7 hours.
• Russia – India. Route: Moscow (DME) – Manama (WAN) – Delhi (DEL). Total travel time – about 10.5 hours (excluding transfers).
• Russia – Thailand . Route: Moscow (DME) – Manama (WAN) – Bangkok (BKK). Total travel time is about 18 hours.

Service classes

Gulf Air offers 2 classes of service:

• Falcon Gold (business class);
• Economy (economy class).

Business Class passengers are located at the front of the plane. Depending on the airliner model, there may be from 8 to 26 high comfort seats. Economy Class passengers are located in the middle and tail of the plane.

Service Features

Each service class has separate fares within it – you can use them to get additional options and increase the flexibility of your trip.

• Light – 1 piece of luggage, 50% “miles” accrued, flight changes and ticket refunds under standard conditions, choice of a seat on the plane for an additional fee;
• Smart – 2 pieces of luggage, 75% “miles” accrued, flight changes and refunds at a reduced price, free choice of a standard seat on the plane;
• Flex – 2 pieces of luggage, 125% mileage accrual, flight changes and refunds at the lowest possible price, free choice of plane seat with extra legroom.

Falcon Gold

• Smart – 2 pieces of luggage, 200% accrued miles, flight changes and ticket refunds under standard conditions, free choice of plane seat, priority check-in, boarding and baggage delivery;
• Flex – 2 pieces of luggage, 250% mileage accrual, free flight changes and full refunds, free seat selection on the plane, priority check-in, boarding and baggage delivery.

Airline loyalty programs

Gulf Air’s loyalty program is called FalconFlyer. It allows you to accumulate loyalty points and “miles” for flights and enjoy special privileges depending on the level. There are 4 of them in total:

What you can spend ”miles” on:

• Ticket Purchase;
• Upgrade to Falcon Gold;
• Payment for excess baggage allowance;
• Falcon Gold lounge pass.

Baggage rules and regulations

Each passenger is entitled to carry hand baggage (size and weight depend on the class of service) and baggage. FalconFlyer loyalty program members can carry an additional 15 kg (Silver), 23 kg (Gold) or 32 kg (Black). Personal items such as handbags, purses, umbrellas, crutches and wheelchairs are not subject to additional fees.

Plane check-in instructions

Plane tickets can be purchased on Gulf Air’s website or on aggregator sites. You need to select the route, departure date, class of service and fare, enter passenger details and pay for the ticket. All information will come to email.

On the flights of the airline can be registered online and offline. Online check-in starts 24 hours before departure, you can choose seats on the plane and get a boarding pass.

Once you arrive at the airport, you can go straight to the baggage drop-off counter. Offline check-in takes place at the check-in counters and starts 2-3 hours before the flight. Here you also drop off your luggage.

After check-in you have to pass through immigration and security control and wait for the flight departure in the lounge (for VIP passengers – in a separate Falcon Gold lounge). To board the plane you need to show your boarding pass.

HoverPlus Loyalty Scheme

HoverPlus is Hovertravel's loyalty scheme to reward our most regular travelling customers. If you hold any of our Frequent Flyer or Flexi Flyer tickets you can enjoy the benefits of HoverPlus.

What are the benefits?

• Exclusive monthly loyalty offer
• Cancellation protection in poor weather
• Priority standby - in the event you missed your booked service.
• Free Hoverbus for Annual Frequent Flyers, Flexi Flyers 270s, NHS Fire & Police Professional Annual Flyers and Hover Academic Annual Flyers
• MyHover Account - Personal control of your preferred crossings calendar and facility to book, cancel or amend your journeys, online renewals and purchase tickets on your MyHover Account.
• E-ticket - simple barcode to scan from your phone
• 20% off merchandise and on-counter vending
• Best value for money tickets available
• Exclusive offers & discounts from our best partners

Useful Links

• Standard Fares
• Terminal Facilities
• Car Parking
• HoverPlus Member Offer

Regular Traveller Flyers

• Frequent Flyers
• Flexi Flyers
• Hover Academic Flyers
• NHS Professional Flyers
• HoverTalent Flyers
• Company Tickets

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