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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, 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 1.4 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 2.3 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

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 our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit 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

on Chase's website

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%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, 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.

$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 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.

Best Airline Rewards Programs for 2023-2024

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

Delta SkyMiles

United MileagePlus

American Airlines AAdvantage

# 4 Best airline rewards Programs

JetBlue TrueBlue

# 5 Best airline rewards Programs

Southwest Rapid Rewards

# 6 Best airline rewards Programs

Free Spirit

# 7 Best airline rewards Programs

HawaiianMiles

# 8 Best airline rewards Programs

FRONTIER Miles

# 9 Best airline rewards Programs

Allegiant Air Allways Rewards

# 10 Best airline rewards Programs

Read more: travel credit card guides

Best Credit Cards Awards

Best Hotel Credit Cards

Travel advice.

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The 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2024

U.S. News ranked 4,700-plus top properties for 2024. Check out the 50 best.

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

Top experts pick their favorite travel loyalty program.

myLoupe/Getty Images

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 )

Which Loyalty Program Is Best For You in 2023?

By Ramsey Qubein

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, and 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.

New Year’s resolutions are not only about health and wellness : Your travel choices might need a checkup, too. So we’ve put together three handy quizzes to walk you through which loyalty programs best suit your 2023 travel plans . It may be that you ditch your airline elite status all together and opt for another carrier that meets your needs at the particular moment (departure time, price, or day of travel). Or you might need a new credit card to maximize how you plan to spend this year. Savvy frequent fliers know that there is substantial reward in the right points and miles strategy. Take the quizzes below to determine which credit cards, airlines, and hotel loyalty programs could work best for you.

Mostly green answers: the aspirational traveler 

If you’re planning a big vacation, review your spending strategy to make sure you are earning credit card points that are compatible with where you want to go. (There’s no point earning Hawaiian Airlines miles if you want to fly to Paris .) Better yet, consider a credit card that has transferable points that you can move to a variety of airlines. Don’t forget about international airline partners. Delta SkyMiles partners with Virgin Atlantic , Air France, KLM, and LATAM among other airlines, but the program charges an exorbitant number of miles for premium cabin awards, so it’s not the best program for aspirational travelers. Instead, consider United MileagePlus , which partners with Lufthansa, Swiss International, and Turkish Airlines for long-haul trips without overpaying in miles. 

Mostly brown answers: the occasional traveler

If you only fly a few times a year, you’re better off picking flights based on the times and price that work for you. While it’s nice to have loyalty program benefits, you can still achieve extra perks by signing up for an airline credit card to enjoy priority boarding or free checked bags without earning status. Being a “free agent” allows you the freedom to find the right flight without being locked into one airline choice. Still, that doesn’t mean forgoing frequent flier miles. Be sure to sign up for any airline’s loyalty program. Some carriers like American, give priority boarding (before everyone else, but after elite status passengers) to any AAdvantage member, so you can get on sooner and find an overhead space for your bag.

Mostly pink answers: the staunchly loyal traveler

If you are a constant road warrior, show your allegiance to one airline or alliance to rack up more perks. (While Delta and JetBlue win accolades for service and onboard perks, neither has a particularly rewarding loyalty program.) The Oneworld alliance is the only major grouping to have two U.S. carriers as members (Alaska and American) giving travelers more choice. It is also easier to earn elite status with American now that the carrier awards loyalty points—that accrue for elite status—for everything from online shopping to credit card spending. You can earn status more quickly and take advantage of benefits like complimentary upgrades and lounge access on international flights.

The aspirational traveler

If you’re taking a dream trip , having elite status with a hotel chain can make your vacation feel more luxe. You may have hotel status and not even realize it. For example, United MileagePlus members can register for reciprocal status with Marriott Bonvoy and get special perks. American and World of Hyatt have their own version where elite status members receive benefits with the other brand. Perhaps the easiest path to hotel elite status is with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card . Once approved for the card, it comes with the hospitality company’s highest Diamond status for instant benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkout.

The occasional traveler

If you don’t travel a lot, and want the most choice, Marriott Bonvoy makes a lot of sense. With 30 brands ranging from extended stay to high-end luxury, the program can deliver on any experience no matter the reason for traveling. Even infrequent travelers should always join a hotel’s loyalty program since it often comes with discounted rates over the general online price and faster Wi-Fi. If you are looking for one with instant perks, consider a smaller program like Leaders Club from The Leading Hotels of the World, which comps breakfast for two with any stay.

The staunchly loyal traveler

Commitment to a hotel brand can yield quite a few benefits, but in recent years, hotels have shifted to more of a dynamic pricing model with points redemptions more closely mirroring the cash cost of a stay. This steals away some of the outsized value that comes with being a loyalty program member. World of Hyatt, however, still packs a punch. The program still has an award chart allowing travelers to take advantage of valuable redemptions without overspending on points. It also means you know how many points you need to save for a hotel redemption. 

If you’re the type to either “go big or go home,” then consider a credit card that offers more than just miles and points. Some cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card come with a free hotel night after each card anniversary. Another option is one of the United co-branded credit cards like the United Explorer Visa card . Cardmembers receive greater access to award seats than general members, which can make it easier to find an award when and where you want to go for that big trip.

If you don’t travel much, it may make more sense to consider a cash-back card, like the Discover It Cash Back Card , that offers a percentage back of everything you spend. Perhaps you have a stash of miles and points from past travels. If so, don’t let them languish in your account—or expire. You can use small amounts of points for perks like airline seat upgrades.

Miles and points can yield exceptional value for trips. But, they are only useful when you can use them. That’s why cards that have transferrable points are so popular since you can move points to other airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeem them like cash directly from the credit card’s travel portal. These include cards like The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Preferred .

Others choose a credit card with their preferred airline or hotel. Delta fans should consider The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card , which gives members higher priority on the upgrade list than other elite status members. American Airlines fliers will prefer a card like the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard , which is one of its many cards. Each point you earn with the card counts toward elite status. The Chase United Club Infinite Card comes with an annual membership to the airline’s lounge network.

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.

See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: The Platinum Card , Delta SkyMiles Reserve , Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant   

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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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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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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. 

Covid-19 Changed Consumer Behavior – Impacts on Travel Loyalty 

The pandemic, and other factors beyond, have changed the shape of the travel industry, likely forever in some ways. These changes will impact the demands on loyalty programs as well. Below we set out those changes in traveler behavior that will have an impact on loyalty programs.

By now pretty much every CEO in and outside the travel industry has weighed in on the ‘remote work and business travel’ debate. As much of the workforce was forced to start working from home during the pandemic, the world realized how much we can get done via Zoom. 

This has led many to comment that business travel will never come back the way it was before the pandemic. With improved technology, on top of a CFO happy to see the travel budget shrink and the carbon footprint reduced, it will be harder to get sign off for a quick business trip. 

On our stage at Skift Forum Europe in March 2022, Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin said: “We stand to lose 20 to 25% of the international business travelers forever. And we will because the CEO or the CFO will tell the guy: ‘why don’t you start on Zoom and if you feel there’s something, [then] travel.’”

Ample studies have shown that people traveling a lot for business tend to be more brand loyal and will be signed up to more loyalty programs. Our own bi-monthly survey of 1,000 U.S. respondents that we have undertaken since March 2020 shows how business travelers are more often loyalty members of the airlines they fly with and hotels they stay in than leisure travelers. 

Losing a part of these loyal customers will impact the design of loyalty programs. Loyalty will need to be geared towards more infrequent business and leisure travelers who will be looking for more flexibility and might be less willing to play the points game. 

Hotel companies are focusing on adding new brands and experiences to their portfolio to cater better to leisure travelers, including Marriott acquiring all-inclusive brand Elegant Hotels, IHG adding Six Senses resorts to its loyalty program, or Wyndham launching luxury brand Registry Collection and the all-inclusive brand Alltra. Next to offering a wide range of brands, Accor’s ALL and Marriott’s Bonvoy programs rely heavily on offering non-travel experiences like tickets to exclusive or sold-out events.

Hotels are also looking at ways to integrate the fast-growing short-term rental sector into their portfolios. During the pandemic, the short-term rental sector has seen a real boost in performance, as travelers looked for larger and more secluded spaces.

Skift Research recently estimated that U.S. short-term rental revenues declined by only 26% in 2020, much better than a drop of 41% in hotel revenues. 2021 was a bumper year for short-term rentals, seeing revenues increase by nearly 100%. We estimate that the market share of short-term rentals is set to increase from 12.5% in 2019 to 18.6% in 2022.  

The Skift Travel Health Index has tracked how occupancy rates for rentals in the U.S. have consistently outperformed hotel occupancy since the start of the pandemic. 

With short-term rentals a more serious competitor to hotels moving forward, it might on the one hand result in more competition for hotel loyalty programs, as large players like Airbnb and Vrbo introduce their own programs, and on the other hand will mean that hotel companies need to offer short-term rental earn and burn options to their members. 

On the former, Airbnb has been talking about introducing a loyalty program for quite a few years now, but the company has so far seemed unable to find a program design that would work. 

A recent study by Deloitte showed that this is one major barrier to Airbnb attracting more business travelers. Just 9% of 150 travel managers said their company has non-hotel lodging in their corporate booking tools, with the author of the report, Deloitte’s head of transport, hospitality and services sector Mike Daher, noting that “points are a powerful part of the business traveler choice.” 

Vrbo’s parent company Expedia does have a loyalty program and is in the process of merging three existing hotel and flight-heavy programs into one to ensure that members can also earn and redeem points when making vacation rental bookings through Vrbo, which did not have a loyalty program previously.

Hotels, however, have not sat still either. The prime example of how integrating short-term rentals into a hotel portfolio might work is Marriott with its Homes & Villas (MHV) brand. It is a relatively small endeavor, but company chief financial officer Leeny Oberg has stated that 95% of stays in MHV properties are by Bonvoy members, and that 30% pay with points. 

This is a strategy that other players will try to emulate, with Mandarin Oriental for example already taking similar steps, and companies like Accor also having their own rental brands. 

Many travelers will have tried rentals for the first time during the pandemic, and they might not want to go back to hotel stays for family and leisure trips. Being able to stay within the loyalty universe, but get a more diverse offering will be a major draw for companies that can offer it. 

The pandemic, in conjunction with high-profile IPCC report releases and some devastating natural disasters, has pushed the importance of sustainability for travelers. Or so the story goes. There still is a disconnect between what travelers say is important to them, and what they are willing to pay extra for, but survey after survey has shown that sustainability (and especially environmental sustainability) has increased in importance for many travelers. 

A recent survey by Skift Research shows that people look at sustainability as a more important factor when booking a trip now than they did before the pandemic.

This impacts loyalty programs, as most travel programs are frequency programs, where more travel results in higher status and points earned. In our report Sustainability in Travel 2021: Environmental Impact of Hotel and Airline Loyalty Programs we used loyalty program particulars and CDP filings to calculate the average amount of greenhouse gas emissions to attain status tiers for the largest hotel and airline companies. 

We found that, to reach the top tier of hotel loyalty programs, travelers will emit between 0.6 and 2.4 metric tonnes of CO 2 equivalent, while this is between 14.7 and 25.8 metric tonnes of CO 2 equivalent for top tier airline status (the wide range is mostly based on whether a traveler flies predominantly short domestic flights or longer international flights). 

Compare this to the total CO 2 emissions from an Indian citizen, through all their activities, of 1.8 metric tonnes per year, or 15.5 metric tonnes for a U.S. citizen, and you realize how polluting the loyalty points game really is. 

With travel returning and many travel companies making changes to their loyalty programs, sustainability should become a larger consideration in the program design. 

The main question to ask the industry is whether the frequency approach to loyalty programs fits in the 21st century. Rather than focusing on additional stays or mileage, can the industry think of more innovative ways to promote brand loyalty and increase the lifetime value of its loyal customers? 

Travel companies should also leverage the continuing popularity of their programs for good. Travel loyalty programs can, and should, be the center of loyalty partnerships, linking to other sustainable brands. This also extends to the financial institutions travel companies work with through co-branded credit card deals, and the investment portfolios of these financial institutions. 

There are many discussions on who will come out of the pandemic stronger, direct suppliers like airlines and hotels, or online travel agents (OTAs). A few things that OTAs have going for them, is that they offer the largest supply of flights and places to stay, which with highly inflated prices, will be popular with travelers. 

Furthermore, due to the uncertainties around border closures and entry requirements, people are more open to being inspired about their next destination, again benefiting major platforms with the largest choice. Airbnb’s CEO Brian Chesky said during Skift Global Forum 2021 that “40% of people come to Airbnb and they either have no destination or date range in mind. We have the ability to point demand to where we have supply.” 

Loyalty programs, however, have always been a struggle for OTAs. As already mentioned, Airbnb still hasn’t implemented a program and Expedia continues to try and find the right approach.

The approach taken by OTAs like Booking.com and Hotels.com (before being rolled up into the single Expedia program) is to offer a more simplified program than those offered by airlines and hotels. Hotels.com’s program, for example, required a traveler to book 10 stays, resulting in one free stay.  

It certainly appears that especially younger generations are less interested in earning and spending miles or points. Research by KPMG found that 90% of Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1995) are part of a loyalty program, but travel and credit card schemes showed some of the lowest uptake. 

Our own research supports this finding, with Millennials in five major countries stating they prefer loyalty programs which give cash back, rather than schemes which allow you to earn free hotel stays or flights. 

One travel company taking exactly that approach is Hopper, which introduced its Hopper Carrot Cash program to provide cashback on bookings made through the app. 

In conversation with Skift Research, Hopper’s chief strategy officer Dakota Smith said: “A lot of our customers are young, they don’t travel so much that they would be intimately familiar with all of the service tiers that more complicated programs have. They travel three to five times per year, the average age is 25 on Hopper. They come to Hopper because they want transparency on pricing volatility, so we wanted to create a loyalty program that could give them transparency on what they would be earning, and how they can actually use that money.”

While the direct link between the amount of dollars spent and the cashback in Carrot Cash is important to the company, Smith noted that the company is taking a leaf out of the books of other travel players and credit card companies to generate more value from their loyalty program. 

The company is currently testing and looking into offering loyalty tiers to provide more incentives to its most valued customers, and with aspirations of becoming a super app, the company will lean into gamification. Smith explained: “We are looking to introduce … different games that you can play in our app, that are both fun and earn you Carrots as you play the game. That is directly inspired by some very impressive ecommerce apps in Asia.”

One benefit Hopper has over other OTAs and travel suppliers is its app-first approach, relying less on Google and metasearch for traffic, resulting in higher margins it can put back into rewarding customers. This is effectively why airlines and hotels also invest heavily in their loyalty programs; loyal customers tend to come and book direct. And with other loyalty programs like Accor’s ALL program increasingly focusing on gamification as well, it is clear that new entrants like Hopper are really pushing innovation in the space.  

To determine the performance and changing demands on loyalty programs, this report analyzed both financial data of airline and hotel loyalty programs, as well as broader market trends. 

One thing the hotel sector has going for it is the fact that there are many smaller operators which are more nimble and can introduce something truly innovative. Kimpton Hotels’ Karma program comes to mind, which before being acquired by IHG, offered low entry levels and substantial and innovative benefits. This was partially born out of necessity, however, since Kimpton only had 61 hotels at takeover and therefore even staying ten nights a year at Kimpton Hotels was unachievable to most travelers. Today, innovative brands like CitizenM are experimenting with other forms of loyalty to attract modern travelers, and online travel agent Hopper might be able to add another flavor to the mix.

One structural difference that holds back non-U.S. airlines is the lower reliance on credit cards in Europe and Asia. But as new forms of credit become more popular, like Buy Now Pay Later, there might be growing opportunities for more lucrative payment deals for non-U.S. airlines. It seems unlikely, however, that European and Asian airlines will ever be able to compete with U.S. airlines on loyalty cash flows if the airline industries in the former regions do not consolidate more.  

Other third-party partnerships have been a key focus for many loyalty programs, although they contribute little to top line revenues for the travel players. With a move towards more leisure travel, however, these third-party partnerships will likely become more important. Keeping members inside the program universe, either by continuously refreshing the offering and adding new products, or through new partnerships to earn and burn points, will be paramount to the success of loyalty programs moving forward.

Break the mold on travel loyalty programs

Research report.

• Travel companies are loyalty pioneers. But strategies that worked for years are out of touch with the needs and expectations of travelers today.
• What travel players need are loyalty programs that balance perceived value to travelers with cost to the business.
• Our research shows that what travelers perceive as valuable in loyalty isn’t always the most costly to the business.

Loyalty pivots to leisure travelers

Travel loyalty programs have traditionally been designed for business travelers who could meet the high thresholds to qualify for status. Yet in a post-pandemic world, business travelers aren’t traveling like they once did. Earning points for perks can take much longer to achieve.

With the dynamics of the travel industry so complex, no one can be fully certain of the future. But global leisure spending is outpacing business travel for now. And because  leisure travelers  have different desires and behaviors—travel loyalty programs should look very different.

2  out of  3

consumers are likely to get back to pre-pandemic travel levels regardless of budgetary pressures 1

Value for travelers—and the business

Transforming loyalty programs should focus on ensuring that loyalty investments translate into value for travelers—and for the business. Building perceived value for travelers is critical to creating profitable loyalty programs for travel companies. The more that  travel companies  can widen the gap between  consumer perceived value  and  cost to the business , the better they can monetize loyalty programs.

"Loyalty comes from having a really good product to start with. I want to feel like my needs are being met and that a company understands my preferences. I also don’t want to jump through hoops when it comes to customer service." — JONATHAN , Traveler

Delivering what travelers want

We conducted qualitative traveler research to help travel companies rethink travel loyalty programs. The research reveals three expectations that travelers have of loyalty programs.

The power of now

Don’t make me wait for the rewards I want

Tried and true experiences

Prove to me that I can always rely on you

Flexibility my way

Show that you know me, but give me choices

Travel rewards that are truly rewarding

Loyalty programs that reward travelers—and travel companies

Travel companies should prepare for travelers’ needs, desires and behaviors to shift and evolve. The more they do this, they more insights travel companies have to reclaim their role as loyalty pioneers, transforming the value proposition, innovating supporting program structures, and enabling experiences at scale.

RELATED: IHG’s digital experience upgrade

1  Accenture Q2 Consumer Pulse Survey: February 2022

Managing Director – Strategy, Travel, North America

Liselotte focuses on travel clients to design a seamless travel experience, drive efficient operations and create value.

Senior Manager – Strategy and Consulting, Travel

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Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is popular with many travelers. While AAdvantage has seen some changes over the last few years — including the removal of published award charts — you can still get a ton of value from the program, especially if you can utilize its sweet spots .

In 2022, American completely overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite status . Rather than being based solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Points across various activities in the AAdvantage program — including spending on American Airlines cobranded credit cards , shopping through online shopping portals and dining.

Plus, American announced a slew of big changes to its AAdvantage program in February. Among these changes, which are set to go into effect on tickets issued from May 1, American will only award AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points for flights booked directly with American, eligible Oneworld and partner airlines, and preferred travel agencies .

After this change, flights booked with non-eligible partners or agencies will not earn miles or Loyalty Points unless you're registered with AAdvantage Business or have a contracted corporate agreement with the airline. American will release its full list of preferred travel agencies in April, so the change's full effect remains to be seen .

Here's everything you need to know about the American AAdvantage loyalty program.

American Airlines partners

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance . Therefore, you can earn and redeem miles with a handful of international partners. American elite members often get benefits, such as lounge access and an extra baggage allowance, when flying with these partner airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member)
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air (future member)
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

The airline also partners with a handful of airlines outside of Oneworld, including:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Gol Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Silver Airways

However, each partner has its own criteria on how you can earn or redeem miles with American, so be sure to review the specific partner page for full details.

American Airlines elite status

American AAdvantage has four public levels of elite status — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum — plus an invite-only level called Concierge Key .

AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points when they fly on American or spend with a cobranded credit card or with select AAdvantage partners. Upcoming changes to the AAdvantage program in May will make it so AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points are only earned when you transact directly with American, select partner airlines and preferred travel agencies, which is important to note if you're looking to accumulate status.

In general, 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned is equal to 1 Loyalty Point. So, if you earn 500 base miles on an American Airlines flight, you earn 500 Loyalty Points. Likewise, spending $1,000 on a cobranded credit card would earn 1,000 Loyalty Points.

Here's the number of Loyalty Points you must earn during the current qualification period — March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024 — for each elite status tier:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

As an AAdvantage Gold member, you'll get a 40% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats within 24 hours of departure, complimentary preferred seats at check-in (when available) and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Meanwhile, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and two free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Platinum Pro members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Finally, Executive Platinum members get a 120% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

All AAdvantage elite members have access to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Complimentary upgrades on award flights are available to elite members, though it is not a guarantee that you will secure an upgrade on your flight.

AAdvantage elite members get Oneworld status, which provides perks when flying on other Oneworld airlines. Specifically, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald status.

Even if you don't have elite status with American, there are some notable perks to being an AAdvantage member. American AAdvantage announced the following exclusive benefits for AAdvantage members in 2024 (including entry-level members with no elite status):

• The ability to voluntarily cancel basic economy tickets for a partial travel trip credit for a $99 fee
• Complimentary 24-hour ticket holds
• The ability to purchase single-use Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge entry
• The ability to take an earlier flight on the same day at no extra cost

Also new in 2024 is the ability to redeem Loyalty Point Rewards for additional Loyalty Points to help members reach their elite status goals.

You can choose:

• 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 15,000 Loyalty Points)
• 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 175,000 Loyalty Points)
• 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 250,000 Loyalty Points)

Related: American Airlines unveils 10 changes to the AAdvantage program

Coming later in 2024 is the ability to earn redeemable miles and additional Loyalty Points on premium cabin upgrades paid with cash.

How to earn AAdvantage miles

There are many ways to earn AAdvantage miles . Below is a summary of the top ways.

Fly on American Airlines

When you fly on an American-marketed flight, you'll usually earn miles according to your ticket's base price — without taxes and fees. However, it's important to note that after American's changes roll out May 1, you'll have to book the flight directly with the airline , an eligible Oneworld or partner airline, or a preferred travel agency to earn miles and Loyalty Points.

The miles you earn also vary based on your AAdvantage elite status . The higher your status, the more miles you will earn.

Here's how many miles each status tier earns per dollar spent:

• Member (no status) : 5 miles
• Gold : 7 miles
• Platinum : 8 miles
• Platinum Pro : 9 miles
• Executive Platinum : 11 miles

Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Fly on partner airlines

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American's partners. Starting May 1, you'll have to book these flights through the partner or an eligible travel agency to earn miles or Loyalty Points for the trip.

For most partners, you'll earn miles and Loyalty Points based on flight distance. However, the exact earning rate depends on the fare class of your ticket . Here's an example of the earning chart for Qantas-operated flights:

Get and use American Airlines credit cards

One of the easiest ways to earn American AAdvantage miles is through American Airlines credit cards . Here's a list of current offers:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ): Earn 70,000 miles after you spend $7,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American's car rental and hotel booking sites . Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases. Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® : Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on gas station, restaurant and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® : Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases plus telecom merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rentals, and gas stations. Earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® : Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard : Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the annual fee in full in the first 90 days. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard : Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on office supply, select telecom, car rental and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Earn a 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned with the card.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Remember that the sign-up bonuses and bonus category earnings won't get you Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status. You'll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on American Airlines cards.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers

Transfer Bilt points

American AAdvantage partners with just one program with a transferable currency: Bilt Rewards . You can transfer your Bilt points to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so if you're currently earning Bilt points by paying rent , this can be a great option for your rewards.

Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal before shopping online

When you click through the AAdvantage shopping portal , you can earn extra miles when making purchases with select online merchants. Using the portal is simple: Sign up for an account and click through the portal to your merchant of choice before shopping online.

Related: Maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases

Use SimplyMiles

American offers a program called SimplyMiles that allows you to earn miles when shopping online or in person with select merchants. You'll first need to sign up for SimplyMiles, link one or more Mastercards to your profile and enroll in offers.

Then, when you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible purchase at a merchant for which you've enrolled in an offer, you'll earn AAdvantage miles.

Dine at restaurants that participate in AAdvantage Dining

AAdvantage Dining is similar to the AAdvantage shopping portal but for eating at restaurants. Just sign up for an account and link your favorite credit cards for dining . Once you do so, you'll earn miles when you dine at participating restaurants.

You can earn 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a VIP member, 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a Select member and 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent as a basic member.

Book through AAdvantage travel partners

American Airlines partners with major car rental companies so its members can earn miles on car rentals. Check out AAdvantage's car rental partner page for information on partners and earning rates.

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on hotel stays as follows:

• AAdvantage Hotels : Earn up to 10 times more base miles on hotels.
• Hyatt : Earn 500 miles each stay at select properties.
• IHG : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying room rates.
• Marriott : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying charges.

Additionally, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts . After linking accounts, AAdvantage elite members can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.

In addition to the hotel and rental car partners mentioned above, you can earn miles on vacation packages booked at aavacations.com or cruises booked at bookaacruises.com .

Open a savings account

If you open a savings account with Bask Bank, you can elect to earn AAdvantage miles instead of cash as the interest on your account. You can read our analysis here: Introducing Bask Bank, a new way to earn miles . Unfortunately, miles earned with Bask Bank do not count as Loyalty Points.

Buy AAdvantage miles

Finally, you can buy American Airlines miles. Watch for promotions that allow you to buy American Airlines miles with a bonus or a discount.

Related: Book a pricey suite or flight for a fraction of the cost: Points promotions to save you money

How to redeem AAdvantage miles

You'll usually get the best value when you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG's most recent valuations estimate American miles to be worth 1.55 cents each, so try to get at least this value when redeeming miles.

Redeeming miles for American-operated flights

To find out how many miles an American-operated flight will cost, head to the American Airlines website or mobile app and do an award search.

AAdvantage redemptions for travel on American are now exclusively priced dynamically, allowing the airline to adjust the award rate for any flight.

In 2024, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key members will be able to redeem miles to visit the Flagship First dining facility , though the mileage cost is not yet known.

Partner awards

American partners with over a dozen airlines, many world-renowned for their excellent premium-cabin products.

However, these flights aren't always available to partner airlines, as the operating carrier must release saver-level award inventory.

Related: Guide to earning and burning with American Airlines' Business Extra program

AAdvantage sweet spots

While American makes it relatively easy to redeem miles across its own network, many awards can offer spectacular value. These "sweet spots" typically get you well over TPG's valuation of AAdvantage miles.

Here are just a few of these terrific redemptions.

Short-haul flights to the Caribbean

Flights to the Caribbean can cost you hundreds of dollars each way.

Instead, you can book flights from New York to the sunny island of Barbados for just 8,000 AAdvantage miles plus $7.10 in fees and taxes.

Premium-cabin flights to Japan or South Korea

American Airlines divides Asia into three award regions: Asia Region 1, Asia Region 2 and South Pacific. Asia 1 covers Japan and Korea, while Asia 2 includes Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The lower prices on premium flights to Asia 1 apply to Oneworld partners such as Japan Airlines. So, you can book JAL first class from Chicago to Tokyo for only 80,000 miles.

Related: Best sweet spots in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Etihad business class to the Maldives

You can redeem just 70,000 AAdvantage miles for a flight from the United States to the Maldives via Abu Dhabi in Etihad's business class, with flights from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) featuring the carrier's fantastic new A350 product.

While in theory you can book the same itinerary flying Qatar Airways in its award-winning Qsuite, unfortunately, Qatar is currently only releasing business-class availability from the United States at the last minute to AAdvantage members.

Award pricing

While American eliminated saver and anytime awards in 2023, it isn't removing award charts entirely.

Instead, American's refreshed award chart displays initial values for flight awards.

Bottom line

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is far from perfect. But if you know how to make it work, there's still plenty of value, particularly for redemptions on partner airlines, where sensible award charts still exist.

It's important to note the changes coming in 2024 to earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. When these changes go into effect May 1, American will begin limiting earnings to travel booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines, booking through preferred travel agencies and booking anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or as a contracted corporate traveler.

If you're considering earning miles with the AAdvantage program, we recommend applying for an American Airlines credit card . Doing so can give you a big stash of miles from the sign-up bonus and the ability to continue to earn miles with your daily spending. It's also worth using the AAdvantage shopping portal and SimplyMiles , especially if you want to earn Loyalty Points and qualify for American Airlines elite status.

Passing Thru Travel

15 Top Loyalty Programs 2024 – Maximizing Your Rewards

Posted: February 24, 2024 | Last updated: February 24, 2024

For frequent travelers, loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels can unlock a world of benefits and savings. These programs are designed to reward you for your patronage, offering everything from free flights and upgrades to hotel stays and exclusive perks. Navigating these programs can be overwhelming, but understanding and utilizing them effectively can significantly enhance your travel experience. This guide delves into some of the best loyalty programs available, providing insights on maximizing their benefits and making the most of every journey.

1. Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy encompasses a vast network of hotels, making it one of the most versatile hotel loyalty programs. As a member, you earn points for every stay, which can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, and unique experiences like cooking classes with renowned chefs or tickets to sporting events.

The program offers different membership tiers, each providing additional benefits. As you climb the tiers, you’ll enjoy perks like late check-out, lounge access, and complimentary breakfast at select properties. The program’s flexibility extends to its points system, allowing you to transfer points to various airline partners and increasing the utility of your earned points.

Insider’s Tip: Use the Marriott Bonvoy app to manage your bookings and conveniently access digital room keys.

2. World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt is celebrated for its reward point system and user-friendly rewards structure. As a member, you earn points for hotel stays and dining and spa services at Hyatt properties worldwide. These points can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, and unique experiences like private dinners.

The program is particularly generous for elite members, offering perks such as bonus points on stays, premium internet access, and room availability guarantees. Hyatt’s partnership with airlines also means you can convert your hotel points into airline miles, giving you more flexibility in using your rewards.

Insider’s Tip: Take advantage of Hyatt’s airline partnerships to earn miles on your stay.

3. Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors is a dynamic program offering flexibility and a wide range of benefits for travelers. You earn points per dollar on stays, which can be used for room bookings, experiences, or shopping. The program stands out for its Points & Money option, allowing you to book stays using a combination of points and cash, a great feature if you’re short on points.

Elite members enjoy significant benefits like room upgrades, late check-out, and complimentary breakfast at select properties. Hilton’s extensive network of hotels means you can earn and redeem points across a diverse range of locations and property types, from luxury resorts to business hotels.

Insider’s Tip: Look out for periodic promotions that offer extra points or discounted redemption rates.

4. Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is an airline loyalty program that rewards you with miles for every flight, which can be redeemed for free flights, seat upgrades, and more. One of the program’s strengths is the absence of blackout dates for award travel, providing greater flexibility for using your miles.

As you accumulate more miles, you can achieve elite status, which offers additional perks like priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and waived baggage fees. Delta also has partnerships with hotels, car rental agencies, and retailers, allowing you to earn miles on everyday purchases, not just flights.

Insider’s Tip: Use the Delta SkyMiles shopping portal to earn miles on everyday purchases.

5. American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines’ AAdvantage program is designed to reward loyal customers with miles for flights with American Airlines and its partners. These miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, car rentals, and hotel stays. Elite status in the program brings additional perks, including free checked bags, priority boarding, and access to exclusive lounges.

One of the program’s highlights is its frequent flyer promotions, which allow you to earn bonus miles or achieve elite status faster. The program also offers a range of co-branded credit cards, providing another avenue to earn miles on everyday spending.

Insider’s Tip: Keep an eye on special offers that allow you to earn bonus miles.

6. United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus allows travelers to earn miles for flights on United Airlines and its partner airlines. These miles can be used for booking flights, seat upgrades, and hotel stays. The program is known for its generous award availability and the ability to book flights on numerous partner airlines, expanding your travel options. Elite status in MileagePlus provides free checked bags, priority check-in, and access to United Club lounges. Additionally, United frequently offers promotions that allow you to earn bonus miles or save on award bookings, maximizing the value of your miles.

Insider’s Tip: Use the United MileagePlus X app to earn additional miles on everyday purchases.

7. Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards program is favored for its simplicity and customer-friendly policies. It includes no blackout dates on award flights and no change fees. Members earn points based on the fare type purchased, which can be redeemed for free flights on Southwest. The program is primarily known for its Companion Pass, which lets a designated companion fly free with you for a year (or more) after meeting certain criteria. The points you earn never expire as long as you have a flight-earning activity every 24 months, making it a great program for both frequent and occasional flyers.

Insider’s Tip: Pay attention to fare sales to stretch your points even further.

8. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is highly regarded for the high value of its miles and its extensive network of airline partners. Members earn miles for flights with Alaska Airlines and its global partners, which can be redeemed for travel on Alaska Airlines and its partners.

The program offers generous upgrade policies for elite members and unique perks like a free checked bag. One of the standout features of the Mileage Plan is the ability to book stopovers on award flights, allowing you to visit multiple destinations for the price of one.

Insider’s Tip: Look out for frequent flyer promotions to earn bonus miles.

9. IHG Rewards Club

IHG Rewards Club, the InterContinental Hotels Group’s loyalty program, offers hotel stays points, which can be redeemed for free nights, gift cards, and more. The program is known for its wide range of participating hotels, from luxury properties to family-friendly accommodations.

Members can earn points quickly through hotel stays, promotions, and partnerships, and the points can be used for a variety of rewards, including hotel stays, airline miles, and merchandise. Elite members enjoy additional benefits like room upgrades and late check-out, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Insider’s Tip: Use IHG’s Points & Cash option to book stays even if you don’t have enough points for the full amount.

10. Accor Live Limitless (ALL)

Accor Live Limitless (ALL) encompasses a wide range of hotel brands, from luxury to economy, offering a loyalty program that caters to various travel styles. Members earn points for stays and services, which can be redeemed for hotel stays, experiences, and partner offers.

The program offers different membership levels, with higher tiers providing additional benefits like room upgrades and welcome drinks. ALL also features frequent promotions allowing members to earn extra points or enjoy discounted stays, making accumulating points and enjoying the program’s benefits easier.

Insider’s Tip: Take advantage of ALL’s frequent promotions to earn extra points.

11. British Airways Executive Club

British Airways Executive Club rewards members with Avios points for flights, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays. The program offers tier points for each flight, helping members achieve elite status with additional benefits. Avios points can also be earned through hotel stays, car rentals, and everyday spending with program partners.

The flexibility of Avios points makes the program attractive, as they can be used for reward flights, seat upgrades, and even shopping. The Executive Club also offers household accounts, allowing families to pool their Avios points together.

Insider’s Tip: Use Avios points for short-haul flights, which often offer the best value.

12. Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa’s Miles & More is Europe’s largest frequent flyer program, offering miles for flights with Lufthansa and partner airlines, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and shopping. The program provides a range of ways to earn miles, including flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and everyday spending with credit card partners.

Miles & More also features a variety of redemption options, giving members the flexibility to use their miles in a way that best suits their travel needs. Elite status in the program offers additional benefits like lounge access and extra baggage allowance, enhancing the travel experience for frequent flyers.

Insider’s Tip: Look out for Miles & More credit card offers to earn additional miles.

13. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program is known for its exceptional service and valuable reward opportunities. Members earn miles for flights with Singapore Airlines and partner airlines, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and shopping. The program is particularly beneficial for those who fly frequently with Singapore Airlines or its partners.

It offers a range of elite tiers with additional benefits like priority check-in and extra baggage allowance. KrisFlyer miles can also be used for booking award flights in Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins, known for their luxury and comfort, providing excellent value for your miles.

Insider’s Tip: Use KrisFlyer miles for Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins for the best value.

14. Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards members with points for flights with Qantas and partner airlines, offering a wide range of redemption options. Points can be used for flights, upgrades, and a variety of products and services. The program also offers status credits, which help members achieve higher tiers with additional benefits.

Qantas Frequent Flyer is known for its extensive partner network, allowing members to earn and redeem points across various airlines, hotels, and retailers. The program’s flexibility and range of benefits make it a popular choice for travelers in Australia and beyond.

Insider’s Tip: Earn extra points by shopping at Qantas’ online mall.

15. Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards offers a rewarding experience for travelers flying with Emirates and its partner airlines. Members earn miles for flights, which can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including flights, upgrades, and exclusive experiences. The program is known for its luxurious rewards, including access to Emirates’ world-class lounges and premium cabin upgrades.

Skywards miles can also be used for hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping, providing flexibility in how you use your rewards. Elite status in the program offers additional benefits like priority boarding and bonus miles, enhancing the travel experience for frequent flyers.

Insider’s Tip: Take advantage of Skywards’ “Miles Accelerator” offers to earn bonus miles.

The Bottom Line

Leveraging loyalty programs effectively can transform your travel experiences, offering not just cost savings but also enhanced comfort and exclusive perks. Whether you’re loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain or prefer to spread your wings across multiple programs, understanding how to maximize these benefits can make a significant difference in your travels. Remember, the key to making the most of these programs is to stay informed about the latest offers and promotions and to align your travel plans accordingly. Happy travels, and enjoy reaping the rewards of your loyalty!

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The post 15 Top Loyalty Programs 2024 – Maximizing Your Rewards republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Prostock-studio.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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The Best Deals to Score Extra Points and Miles This Spring

As you book your 2024 travels, these limited-time credit card and loyalty program promotions will boost your points and miles balance in a big way..

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Through April 30, you can earn a 25 percent bonus when transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

Photo by Jarco Penning on Unsplash

As spring kicks into full gear, it’s time to start boosting your points and miles balances for your 2024 dream trip. In addition to record-breaking introductory bonuses on travel credit cards, several limited-time promotions are happening right now that allow you to get even more points and miles quickly—and often at the simple click of a button. You can earn bonus points for transfers between loyalty programs, fast-track your airline elite status through shopping, and even get discounts on buying points and miles. Find the details on these deals—and others—that you can’t miss this spring.

Valuable transfer bonuses

American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citi have all created their proprietary loyalty programs, which can then be transferred to various airline and hotel programs . Often—but not always—these transfers are completed at a 1:1 ratio and allow credit cardholders to bank and keep their points in the currency of their chosen credit card, transferring to airline and hotel partners as and when needed.

Through Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Chase is offering a 25 percent bonus when transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. With business class seats to Paris on Air France starting at 50,000 Air France/KLM Flying Blue points, just 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can land you in the front of the plane, champagne in hand.

Moreover, until April 4, 2024, American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Etihad Guest Miles with a 20 percent bonus.

Earn bonus points in hotel loyalty programs

All major hotel loyalty programs—Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt—are running spring promotions to sweeten the stay and reward members. All require registration, so we suggest signing up proactively.

With Hilton Honors’ Points Plus Promotion , until May 1, 2024, earn 2,000 bonus points on every stay, plus 500 bonus points per stay when using Digital Key to open your room (instead of a traditional plastic key card). Hilton points are becoming ever more valuable, as the hotel company has announced the acquisition of Graduate Hotels and exclusive partnerships with AutoCamp properties and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) for earning and burning points.

For stays from April 1 through May 31, 2024, IHG One Rewards will give guests 2,000 IHG bonus points on every two nights booked at its hotels.

World of Hyatt members can earn double tier-qualifying night credits for every eligible night completed at Thompson and Dream Hotels for stays completed between March 22, 2024, and June 10, 2024.

Finally, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn up to 2,500 bonus Bonvoy points by linking their Bonvoy account to their Uber or Uber Eats account and making qualifying purchases. You’ll get 500 points for linking your accounts, then 1,000 with a qualifying ride and another 1,000 with a qualifying Uber Eats delivery order on food or groceries. Additionally, as of March 6, 2024, the MGM Collection is part of Marriott Bonvoy, meaning that stays at MGM’s 16 iconic properties (hello, Bellagio and ARIA Resort & Casino) now earn Bonvoy points and can be booked using Bonvoy points.

Save with Amex Offers

All American Express cards come with Amex Offers , an ever-changing roster of discounts and offers depending on your location and spending patterns. Promotions are often targeted, so you may not see all of these in your account, but here are just a few examples of the better ones we’ve received lately:

• $300 statement credit when spending $2,000 or more with Virgin Atlantic by June 16, 2024
• 17,500 additional Membership Rewards points by spending $1,000 in one or more purchases online with ITA Airways by May 3, 2024
• Onetime $100 statement credit by spending a minimum of $500 in one or more purchases for Alaska Airlines marketed flights booked online at AmexTravel.com by May 26, 2024

Enrollment is required for Amex offers, and the card enrolled must be the one used for purchases (which is important to note for those who have several Amex cards).

Buy points and miles at a discount

While it doesn’t usually make sense to buy points and miles in loyalty programs at retail price, it can be smart and cost-effective to buy points during promotional sales.

Until April 5, 2024, you can buy up to half a million Air Canada Aeroplan points with an 80 percent bonus , equating to the points being on sale for 1.43 cents apiece. Air Canada’s Aeroplan portal has access to award inventory on 53 other airlines serving more than 1,300 destinations. These airlines include Star Alliance’s 26 members—Austrian Airlines, Copa Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines, to name a few—plus another 20 carriers, including Etihad Airways and Emirates. Combined, this is the most comprehensive search engine of any airline program in the world.

Until April 9, 2024, purchase up to 55,000 World of Hyatt points with a 20 percent discount . The minimum purchase requirement to get the discount is 5,000 points, which costs $96 with the discount, instead of $120. Though this doesn’t seem like a huge discount, consider that World of Hyatt points carry far more value than those of its competitors, and the program offers some of the industry’s top opportunities for redeeming points.

Inch closer to elite status with American Airlines

Unlike other airline loyalty programs, which require big spending on airline tickets, 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.

At press time, it’s possible to earn 3,700 Loyalty Points (as well as AAdvantage miles) using American’s shopping platform to subscribe to The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor, a subscription-based stock recommendation service, for just $79 (with promo code “SALE60'’ until March 31, 2024). If you also sign up for its sister real-estate newsletter Millionacres for another $99, you can get another 3,700 Loyalty Points and 3,700 AAdvantage miles. Together, that’s nearly 20 percent toward earning AAdvantage Gold Status, which requires 40,000 Loyalty Points.

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Thank you for traveling with one of TTC’s collection of award winning brands. We are confident that there is another perfect holiday waiting for you, offered from our extensive collection of travel experiences with some of the best travel brands in the world as consistently voted for by you, our loyal travelers, and our industry peers. With an extensive portfolio of brands you can enjoy fantastic service and great savings on your next trip of a lifetime. Be rewarded for your loyalty with savings, special recognition and priority access among many other exclusive benefits available.

How can you take advantage of being a loyal traveler?

Our loyalty benefits can be combined with many of our other special offers, and savings opportunities. Please contact our contact center agents for more information on how you can take advantage of being a loyal traveler with TTC. Benefits may vary slightly between each of the participating brands. Learn more about our brand loyalty offers below.

We love our past guests, and did you know more than 50% of them choose to travel with us annually? Once you travel with us or our TTC sister brands, you’ll automatically become a member of Global Tour Rewards, with access to exclusive savings and offers.

Benefits Include:

• Members-only pricing with 5%* discount on all Trafalgar tours and guided tours across our TTC sister brands
• Exclusive first-release access to new trips and offers Invitation to member-only events
• Special recognition from your Travel Director on your next trip

After you complete your first trip with Insight Vacations, you are automatically enrolled into our Global Tour Rewards program.

• Exclusive first-release access to new trips and offers
• Invitation to member-only events

Contiki brings together young travelers from all corners of the globe to discover new cultures and a little part of themselves along the way. Plus, the best part is that we reward you for coming back to experience it all over again with Global Tour Rewards.

After you complete your first trip with Luxury Gold or any of our TTC sister brands, you automatically become a member of Global Tour Rewards. This entitles you to a range of benefits and discounts with other guided and cruising brands across TTC’s family of brands.

Travel with Costsaver and you’re automatically part of our Global Tour Rewards program! It means savings, special offers and perks galore.

After your first Brendan Vacation in Ireland or Scotland, or your first vacation with one of TTC’s family of brands, you will automatically become a Global Tour Rewards member.

We love travel and we love our guests, so everyone who travels with AAT Kings on a Guided Holiday or with any of our TTC sister brands automatically becomes a Global Tour Rewards member.

You can access a world of rewards once you travel with us or any of our TTC sister brands. Let us know the details of your last tour at the time of booking, and our contact center agents can let you know your added benefit.

We love our travelers! As a thank-you, you’ll automatically become a member of our Global Tour Rewards, with access to exclusive savings and offers when you book through us and travel on our TTC brands.

All-inclusive Luxury River Cruising

For more than four decades, Uniworld has specialized in providing beautifully curated, all-inclusive, one-of-a-kind journeys aboard our award-winning destination-inspired ships on the rivers of Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, India, and Peru. We welcome guests of our TTC sister brands to experience the absolute best in river cruising with exclusive savings on their first Uniworld river cruise. To learn more, please inquire about the TTC Loyalty Discount at time of booking.

The Power of Passion

President and Founder Beatrice Tollman built Red Carnation Hotels with a vision for service excellence and passion for generous hospitality. Today the collection proudly stands at 18 exceptional properties around the world, each unique, characterful, and special, whilst sharing the founding values that define our family-owned and run business. From the majestic Ashford Castle in Ireland, to Xigera, a safari experience like no other in Botswana. We are delighted to welcome TTC guests to Red Carnation Hotels with complimentary full breakfast and a room upgrade.

The Wild Child of Scottish Adventures

Grab 5% off your next HAGGiS Adventures tour to the jaw-dropping Highlands and Islands of Scotland. You can use this loyalty discount if you have travelled with us or any TTC brand before. Plus, you can stack this discount with our other loyalty discounts, special offers, and savings for the ultimate Highland adventure deal.

Passionate About Discovery

Whether you’ve explored Scotland’s untamed mountains on tour with us before or travelled with one of our fabulous TTC family brands, you can save 5% on your next Highland Explorer tour. This discount can be combined with many of our other fantastic loyalty discounts, special offers, and savings opportunities.

Affordable Luxury African Safaris

We love Africa. For 60 years, our guests have trusted Lion World Travel’s expertise and passion in consistently delivering outstanding service and creating extraordinary African safaris, designed with one goal: to make your dream trip to Africa a reality. The loyalty of past TTC guests means everything to us and as such we are pleased to offer past guests who are new to Lion World Travel a savings of 5% on select itineraries for 2024 dates: (subject to change).

Welcome to Our Herd

With over four decades of experience in crafting tailored African adventures, African Travel stands as a trusted authority in luxury safaris. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of building a dedicated clientele base whose loyalty we greatly value and reward. As a proud member of The Travel Corporation (TTC) family of brands, our appreciation extends to both our returning clients and those of our sister brands. Any past guests who have journeyed with African Travel or our sister companies are offered 5% savings on future bookings for our brochure safaris of 7+ nights (excluding Morocco and Egypt).

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THE WORLD’S BEST CONFERENCE FOR TRAVEL LOYALTY EXPERTS

As a meeting point for travel loyalty experts and decision-makers, Global Flight's LOYALTY & AWARDS Conference is one of the rare chances to expand your knowledge on loyalty topics AND network in-person with a large group of peers at the same time.

These two and half days is the perfect annual occasion to exchange information on new trends, achievements and innovations with airlines (including representatives of the 3 major alliances), hotels, rental car companies, banks, booking platforms, cruises, IT suppliers and much more.

After an amazing 2023 edition in Rio de Janeiro (look for some familial faces here ), Loyalty & Awards 2024 will take place in another fascinating international destination:

  Bangkok, Thailand  

28-30 october 2024.

The perfect place to mark our 20th Anniversary as part of the event industry!

  And don't miss our annual gala dinner and   Golden Loyalty Awards   ceremony... Time to dress elegantly and celebrate two decades of hard work together!

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Testimonials

This [ conference ] stands out amongst even the pre-COVID ones. The level of expertise amongst the attendees and the structure of it was unique to make networking easy. I have already marked my calendar for Bangkok in 2024.

What a great way to reconnect with so many loyalty professionals - to discuss business, trends and latest insights, and indeed have fun at the same time!

I think this event is the best loyalty event for airline loyalty and the travel industry. All the speakers are worth listening to with so much insight and inspiration.

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Frugal Traveler

Credit Card Swipe Fees Are Going Down. Are Points Going With Them?

A new agreement by Visa and Mastercard to reduce fees charged to merchants may drain the lucrative rewards that grant free travel to many credit card users.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

On Tuesday, the largest credit card companies in the United States reached an agreement with merchants to reduce the so-called swipe fees retailers pay for accepting credit card payments, potentially saving the retailers $30 billion.

These fees also help fund the credit card rewards programs that many travelers redeem for things like free flights and hotel stays, leading points hawks to wonder: Are loyalty programs at risk?

Here’s what we know so far about the changes.

What are the terms of the deal?

Last year, credit card payments generated an estimated $72 billion in fees paid by merchants, which are generally passed along to customers in the form of higher prices. For nearly 20 years, merchants have been seeking reductions in the fees they pay Visa and Mastercard for handling transactions where the cards are used.

The proposed settlement , awaiting approval in a federal court, reduces and caps those fees for five years. It would also allow merchants to potentially charge consumers more based on the card they pay with. For example, a person paying with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which costs $550 a year, could be charged more than someone paying with the more basic Chase Sapphire Preferred card, with an annual fee of $95.

Why does it matter?

The majority of the fees collected go back to the banks that issue the credit cards. Those banks have used the funds to push premium credit cards that offer loyalty points, which can be redeemed for free travel and other perks. The cards with the biggest benefits tend to be those that charge higher swipe fees.

While the reduction in the fees collected sounds small — averaging at least .07 percent — they represent an estimated $30 billion over the five-year term of the deal, which banks could try to make up by reducing points perks.

“It’s reasonable to think that,” said Brian Kelly, the founder of the Points Guy , a news site devoted to maximizing credit card points.

While he speculated that banks will be able to “find other ways to make up the difference,” he acknowledged that a points squeeze could emerge.

“Opportunities to earn probably aren’t going to flourish,” he said.

The idea that merchants could charge more to the holders of premium, perks-rich cards, which are expensive, might also deter consumers from using them. Some experts question the viability of the practice given the potential for consumer backlash.

Is the new agreement related to the Credit Card Competition Act?

The legal actions that led to the new credit card agreement date back to 2005. But the newer Credit Card Competition Act , proposed in 2023, aims to introduce more competition in the credit card payment system. By creating a cheaper alternative pipeline for processing payments, the proposed legislation is seen as a greater threat to rewards programs.

Responding to the just-announced agreement between the credit card companies and retailers, Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and the lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act, released a statement urging the act’s passage.

“I fear that this deal only provides temporary concessions negotiated by a few lawyers behind closed doors,” he said in the statement.

Other experts said the agreement may ease the pressure on Congress to pass the act.

“I think it’s a way for Visa and Mastercard to show that they are making a good-faith effort to help out merchants by lowering the fees they’ve been complaining about for 20 years, and hopefully enough to let senators know they’re doing their part,” said Chris Hassan, the social media and brand manager for Upgraded Points , a website that tracks credit card benefits.

Separately, the proposed merger between Capital One and Discover, which is pending federal approval, could introduce more competition among credit cards and potentially improve rewards for holders of those cards.

What should I do now?

The points and payments systems won’t change until the agreement is approved, which is expected in late 2024 or early 2025, according to a news release from Mastercard.

But the topic should remind travelers of the reality of playing with points: The rules always change. Values tend to fall as redemption levels rise, which companies issuing these currencies are free to adjust at will.

If you have points, spend them, say experts like Sara Rathner, a travel and credit card specialist at the financial website NerdWallet . “They’re not a trophy to dust and admire.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

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Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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The evolution of loyalty programs

Charting the future of customer engagement and retention through the travel, leisure, and hospitality industry

Brand loyalty is being tested. Customers are less satisfied with their brand experiences than they were just one year ago. 1 Expectations are not being met in great part, they say, because technology, if not implemented correctly, can be an unwelcome intermediary to reduce expenses instead of to improve service. Customers complain about being funneled into low-cost channels stripped of human interaction and personal touch. And inflation still weighs on the customer mindset.

Loyalty programs can offer the personalized experience and savings customers want, as well as a high rate of return for companies that invest in these programs in the travel, leisure, and hospitality industry. However, the same strategies used in the past are not as enticing for customers who want and expect more.

Companies must evolve their strategies to meet changing consumer demands and business conditions.

A recent survey of loyalty members in the hotel and lodging space demonstrates the potential for companies in the travel, leisure, and hospitality sector to impact customer engagement. 2

88%  of satisfied premium loyalty program members prefer that business over a competitor offering a lower price

83% say joining a loyalty program will lead them to continue purchasing from that business

70% recommend brands to others if they believe the brands’ loyalty programs add value

66% modify spending to maximize loyalty benefits

Companies can build better loyalty programs by reviewing their existing offerings through the lenses of customer perception, providing a compelling offer, consistent delivery, and financial impact.

As GenAI capabilities mature, it will be easier for hotels, casinos, cruise lines, and others in the sector to collect and use real-time information about their customers’ behavior. One of the most significant challenges organizations face is figuring out how to fully maximize all of this data.

Review The evolution of loyalty programs to learn about transformational strategies that can drive value for both the customer and the organization.

• “Artificial Intelligence and the orchestrated customer experience,” Global Customer Experience Excellence Study 2023-24, KPMG LLP
• KPMG consumer survey data and analysis

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Hackers are coming for your travel accounts: Here's how to protect yourself

A few days after Kay Pedersen reserved a hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand, through Booking.com, she received an alarming email.

It was a warning from Booking.com in broken English that there had been "some malicious activities" in her account.

And then the trouble started. A few days later, her husband, Steven, noticed a new reservation at another hotel. And then another one. The couple reported the fraudulent activity immediately and Booking.com canceled all of their hotels, including the one in Chiang Mai.

"We immediately called Booking.com’s customer service requesting our original reservation be reinstated and these other odd ones, which we had not made, be canceled," Steven Pedersen said. "They were able to do so, but not at our original rate. The rate would now be more than twice as much."

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 Pedersens are not alone. A new hacking wave has hit travelers hard. A few weeks ago, criminals reportedly stole Booking.com passwords through its internal messaging system. Other popular targets include loyalty program accounts and other online travel agencies.

Why are travel accounts so prone to attacks? 

"They hold very sensitive information, such as passports, driver’s licenses, dates of birth and travel dates," said Caroline McCaffery, CEO of ClearOPS , an AI-powered security program management platform.

You don't have to be a victim. There are strategies you can use now to ensure you won't lose your hard-earned frequent flier points or see your hotel reservation get canceled. But there are also things you can avoid doing online that will keep your account safe. Ultimately, though, this isn't your problem to solve, but I will tell you whose it is in a second.

Hotel parking fees are out of control. Here's how to fight them.

What are prices like this Spring break? Here's what travelers can expect.

How to avoid hackers

Here's how to keep your online travel account safe.

• Use two-factor authentication : Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires a special code, along with your password, to gain access to your accounts. "Hackers can't access this if they don’t have access to your device directly," said Zulfikar Ramzan, chief scientist at Aura , a digital safety company. He said that if you're using 2FA, it's better to use an authenticator app rather than text messages for receiving 2FA codes, because hackers can also steal messages from your phone number.
• Enable login notifications : That way, you'll know if someone has accessed your account. "Actually, make sure you enable as many security settings as possible for the platforms you use," said cybersecurity expert Amir Sachs, CEO of Blue Light IT .
• Don't repeat your password : Never use a simple password, and never use the same password for multiple accounts. "The best way to prevent any online account from getting hacked is to have a strong and unique password for each site," said Kevin Dunn, a senior vice president at NCC Group , a global cybersecurity consulting company. (Services like Google Password Manager, LastPass and Dashlane can help.)
• Practice safe Wi-Fi : Keep an eye on your devices in public places such as airports, hotels, and restaurants to prevent theft and unauthorized access, advised Ted Miracco, CEO of Approov , a security company for mobile applications. Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, but if you have to, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Hackers can easily capture your personal information on a public network. "This is a growing threat and more common than most users realize,” he said.
• Yes, you're part of the problem : Obviously, travelers are part of the problem. They use insecure passwords, don't take security precautions, and log on to dangerous wireless networks. But travelers are inherently vulnerable, experts say. "People who are traveling are inclined to share too much personal information," said Bob Bacheler, managing director of Flying Angels , a medical transport service. "Oversharing personal information on social media or with unknown websites can lead to identity theft or targeted attacks."

Another issue, which isn't necessarily unique to travelers, is clicking on suspicious links. Many of the hacking cases I deal with as a consumer advocate started with phishing, a technique that solicits sensitive information by pretending to be a legitimate business.

"Consumers often fall prey to phishing scams related to travel bookings," said Albert Martinek, a customer cyberthreat intelligence analyst at Horizon3.ai .

Make no mistake: Nothing leads to a hacked account faster than sending personal information by clicking on a malicious link. (You can avoid the problem by always accessing the website directly – never, ever follow the link.)

It's remarkable to watch otherwise intelligent people falling for these scams every day. And by "every day," I really mean every day. That's about how often I get complaints about a hacking problem. And 9 times out of 10, it's because they fell for a phishing scam.

Many hacking attempts end badly for the victim, with frequent flier miles lost forever or money withdrawn from travelers' accounts. 

But not the Pedersens'. I contacted Booking.com on behalf of the couple, and it promised to investigate. But even so, the Pedersens left for Thailand without knowing whether they had to pay the higher hotel rate.

Booking.com said it investigated the incident and determined that Pedersen had fallen for a phishing scam directed at his Booking.com account. A representative said Booking.com had already secured his account and would refund the difference between the initial booking and the new rate.

Then I got an email from Steven Pedersen.

"We arrived at the hotel yesterday, and, after much explanation showing copies of all the confirmations with their supervisor, a hotel representative finally understood the situation and reinstated our original rate," he reported. "The process took several hours."

Your plane might be unsafe if this happens: Here's what to look for

Frustrated travelers start recording customer service phone calls. But does it work?

Who's responsible for this?

Don't worry: You're not responsible for this problem. The companies that didn't protect you are at fault. And it's up to them to fix it.

There's a fix that would solve most of these hacking problems. It's called Passkeys, and it's a passwordless authentication system that uses biometric authentication like a fingerprint or face scan.

Some travel companies have already adopted Passkeys, including Kayak and Uber. ( Here's a directory of companies that currently use Passkeys. )

Travel companies are hopelessly vulnerable, and this problem will almost certainly get worse before it gets better. Consider that online travel agencies often share personal data with three or four different parties when they fulfill a booking request. Not passwords, but certainly enough personal data that it could cause problems if the information were to fall into the wrong hands. 

The travel industry's computer systems were designed with one thing in mind: to increase profits. They move customer's money quickly and efficiently but generally treat your data carelessly. Unless there are real consequences for playing fast and loose with your personal information, including your passwords, this problem will not go away.

It's not your fault – but you will have to pay for it.

What travelers should expect this year: Better prices but additional requirements?

I travel nonstop. Here are 12 places you absolutely have to see in 2024.

Elliott's tips for avoiding a hack

Here are a few more strategies for keeping your accounts from getting hacked.

• Book directly with a reputable company : Think twice if you don't recognize the travel site. There are just too many fly-by-night operations that either treat your personal data carelessly or, in some cases, just steal it. And that's especially true if the deal looks too good to be true. "Better yet, book directly with the travel company or airline," said Bala Kumar, chief product officer at ID verification platform Jumio .
• Be suspicious of urgent emails : Many hacks happen through booking partners, which can have IT systems with lax security. The pattern is similar: Someone will gain access to the email system of a booking partner and use it to send a message urgently warning you, often a day before your travel, that your booking is at risk of cancellation unless you send your credit card details again. "Obviously, the hackers are just trying to get your credit card information," said Corey Nachreiner, chief security officer at WatchGuard Technologies , a network security company. Report the email to the company immediately.
• Mind those foreign phone numbers : If you're setting up two-factor authentication, make sure you'll have access to it after you get home. "We've heard several stories from international travelers who set up 2FA through a foreign number purchased during extended trips abroad, who then lose access to the account at the end of their trip when they deactivate the number," said Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance . 

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] .

Novotel Moscow City 4 stars Family friendly Ecocertified

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Novotel Moscow City

Hotel that makes every moment matter

The Novotel Moscow City is the only hotel in the famous Moscow City business area of the capital among the highest skyscrapers in Europe, with exciting sky decks and restaurants with panoramic views. The hotel is perfect for business and holiday. Rooms with panoramic windows, a restaurant and a bar, the InBalance welness center, 8 conference rooms, and an underground parking are at guests' disposal.

Novotel Moscow City has a good location within walking distance to the one of the largest Afimall City Shopping and Entertainment Mall, Expocenter, Moscow River Embankment and Krasnaya Presnya Park. The Hotel is also easily accessible by the public transport: several subway and public transport stations, including express to Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo International Airports.

Hospitality and high standards of one of the largest hotel operators in the world Accor in a modern business district of Russia. Novotel Moscow City is perfect for relaxation, ideal for business. Welcome!

Take advantage of the opportunity to book a buffet breakfast on the website for the price of 1,700 rubles per person! The cost of the breakfast when paid at the reception and in the MC Traders restaurant is 1,950 rubles per person.

Hotel extras

Free Wi-Fi, newspapers and maps of Moscow. 5 minutes to the Expo Center.

A minute to the Afimall shopping center with lots of shops, cafes, cinemas.

2 minutes to the highest observation deck in Europe and no-limit ice cream.

4 metro stations and Moscow Central Circle station near the hotel.

15-minutes drive to the Kremlin.

Our accommodation(s)

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Superior Room with queen-size bed

• 25 m² / 269 sq ft
• Bedding 1 x Double bed(s)
• Views: Courtyard View

From NaN RUB NaN RUB Note  *

Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

Superior Room with 2 twin beds

• Bedding 2 x Twin bed(s)
• Views: City View

Deluxe room with a double bed

Executive Room with king-size bed.

• 34 m² / 365 sq ft
• Bedding 1 x King size bed(s) and 1 x Double sofa bed(s)

Executive Deluxe Room with double bed and sofa.

• 40 m² / 430 sq ft
• Bedding 1 x King size bed(s) and 1 x Single sofa bed(s)

Deluxe with a double bed for guests with limited mobility

• Accessible room

Executive room for guests with limited mobility with King-size bed

• 33 m² / 355 sq ft

Junior suite for guests with limited mobility with a King-size bed

• 58 m² / 624 sq ft
• Bedding 1 x Double bed(s) and 1 x Double sofa bed(s)

Junior Suite Room with king-size bed and sofa

Suite Room with king-size bed and sofa

• 54 m² / 581 sq ft

City Suite with 1 King-size bed and sofa

• 75 m² / 807 sq ft

Hotel location

Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya, 2, Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya 2, Russia 123112  Moscow Russia

GPS : 55.748069, 37.53685

Contact email [email protected]

Click to copy the email address

Access and transport

Kiev railway station

Railway station

Access: 4.9 km  /  3.04 mi     15 min drive

Tourist attraction

Access: 5.6 km  /  3.48 mi     15 min drive

Historic monument

Access: 6.3 km  /  3.91 mi     15 min drive

TRETYAKOV GALLERY

Access: 7.5 km  /  4.66 mi     20 min drive

Access: 7.5 km  /  4.66 mi     18 min drive

Shuttle on call, Shuttle scheduled

Saint Basil's Cathedral

Access: 7.5 km  /  4.66 mi     15 min drive

BOLSHOI THEATER

Opera/symphony/concert hall

Access: 8.4 km  /  5.22 mi     20 min drive

"Krasnaya Presnya" park

Access: 2.1 km  /  1.3 mi     15 min walk  /  7 min drive

"Afimall City" shopping center

Shopping district

Access: 200 m  /  0.12 mi     5 min walk

Hotel services

Check-in from 03:00 PM - Check out up to 12:00 PM

• Wheelchair accessible

Fitness center

• Air conditioning
• Meeting rooms
• 100% Non Smoking Property
• Room service

MC Traders offers a wide range of delicious international cuisine and cooking classes. The guests can enjoy Early bird breakfast from 4 am; hold a meeting during a business lunch and in the evening relax next to a real fireplace in the bar.

MC TRADERS BAR

Located in the hotel lobby, the MC Traders lounge bar is the ideal place to relax. A wide range of drinks and snacks is available to suit all tastes.

4 options for you to chose from depending on your tastes. A snack at reception from 4AM. A buffet breakfast. For those in a hurry, hot drinks, orange juice and croissants served at the bar. Room service.

At our charming wellness and fitness center, you can enjoy our 2 saunas, 2 hammams (Turkish baths), relaxation rooms and massage treatments. Our mission is to make sure you can enjoy complete relaxation.

Meetings & Events

Our guest reviews

100% genuine reviews from our guests

ALL Rating  4.5/5  2,722 reviews

TripAdvisor Rating  4.5/5  1,820 reviews

Good loacation & Cozy Environment

Customer review rating 5.0/5

Anonymous Business - 3/16/2024 Confirmed reviews ALL

It was my first time staying in this hotel. It was beyond my expectations. In general; the hotel is clean well orginized and pay attention to their guest’s satisfaction.

Dear Burak! Thank you very much for your glowing review regarding your stay at Novotel Moscow City! We are thrilled to hear that you have a great impression about your stay, as well as our hotel team! It is a pleasure for us to bring comfort and positive emotions to our Guests providing courteous, warm and welcoming service. We are glad that you highly evaluated our work! We are looking forward to welcoming you back at our hotel! Warmest regards, Irina Naumova Quality and Attitude Manager.

Wonderful Stay as always !!

TripAdvisor rating 5.0/5

andyrocks_globe 3/5/2024 TripAdvisor review

During my recent stay at Novotel Moscow City from 9th to 22nd February, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm reception I received from the duty manager Marika. Her friendly demeanor and efficient handling of check-in made me feel welcome and valued as a guest as always. I also want to extend my appreciation to the night manager Maria for her attentiveness and quick response to any requests or concerns I had during my stay. Her professionalism and dedication to ensuring a comfortable experience for guests did not go unnoticed. The F&B Manager Darina and her associate Yulia deserves special recognition for their exceptional service and attention towards the incredible experience. I am extremely glad with the fact that how she is concerned with every details to make the valued guest feel exceptional during the stay. Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards Deputy GM Marina for her overall management of the hotel. Her leadership and commitment to guest satisfaction were evident throughout my stay, and I truly felt well taken care of under her supervision.

Dear Andy! Thank you very much for your glowing review regarding your stay at Novotel Moscow City! We are thrilled to hear that you have a great impression about your stay, as well as our hotel team! It is a pleasure for us to bring comfort and positive emotions to our Guests providing courteous, warm and welcoming service. We are glad that you highly evaluated our work! We are looking forward to welcoming you back at our hotel! Warmest regards, Irina Naumova Quality and Attitude Manager.

Fantastic place

Customer review rating 4.5/5

Anonymous Friends - 1/14/2024 Confirmed reviews ALL

Good location, near to a big mall ( 4 minutes of walk ) were everything you need is available.

Dear Saud! Thank you for your kind feedback. We are glad to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. Looking forward to welcoming you back. Sincerely, Irina Naumova Quality and Attitude Manager.

Well located

Customer review rating 4.0/5

Vitaly Y. Business - 12/9/2023 Confirmed reviews ALL

1. Process of lamp light replacement should be managed more effectively. 2. It is too noisy in the inner rooms - noise from events (bad sound isolation) 3. All other aspects are on the good level.

Dear Vitaly! Thank you for your kind feedback. We are glad to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. Looking forward to welcoming you back.

well located, good stay

Davit S. Business - 12/9/2023 Confirmed reviews ALL

Thank you for everything?

Dear Davit! Thank you for your kind feedback. We are glad to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. Looking forward to welcoming you back.

In partnership with  TripAdvisor

Web-users rating

Other web-users rate our hotel

• 854 reviews 9.4/10 Location
• 1,431 reviews 7.4/10 Room
• 1,241 reviews 8.7/10 Service
• 19 reviews 3.9/10 WiFi
• 886 reviews 9.6/10 Breakfast
• 507 reviews 7.7/10 Cleanliness
• 143 reviews 5.6/10 Amenities
• 106 reviews 9.5/10 Location
• 186 reviews 7.2/10 Room
• 167 reviews 9.1/10 Service
• 140 reviews 9.6/10 Breakfast
• 55 reviews 7.1/10 Cleanliness
• 9 reviews 5.5/10 Amenities
• 116 reviews 9.6/10 Location
• 201 reviews 5.9/10 Room
• 154 reviews 8.2/10 Service
• 125 reviews 9.4/10 Breakfast
• 69 reviews 7.4/10 Cleanliness
• 66 reviews 5.4/10 Comfort
• 26 reviews 4.9/10 Amenities
• 41 reviews 9.2/10 Location
• 116 reviews 6.6/10 Room
• 82 reviews 8/10 Service
• 51 reviews 9.8/10 Breakfast
• 38 reviews 7.7/10 Cleanliness
• 35 reviews 5.8/10 Comfort
• 6 reviews 5.3/10 Amenities
• 35 reviews 9.5/10 Location
• 59 reviews 6.9/10 Room
• 52 reviews 8.7/10 Service
• 33 reviews 9.7/10 Breakfast
• 25 reviews 7.9/10 Cleanliness

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Price from: 1 night for 1 person in the room category identified within the same price range, excluding additional services and breakfast. This refers to the lowest public price, including all taxes ( VAT and tourist tax included) for the accommodation concerned, found on https://all.accor.com/ site today, for a one-night stay in the next 20 days . Varies according to period and availability. The price is only guaranteed at the time of booking. All bookings (foreign) are payable in the local currency where the hotel is situated. Only the amount confirmed during the booking in the hotels local currency is guaranteed. An estimated conversion in your local currency may be given for reference but is not part of the contract. Your bank may charge you bank fees and/or exchange fees at the time of payment.

Hotels near Moscow City

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Looking for a great deal on a hotel near Moscow City?

Then Orbitz is the only place to book! Not only is Moscow City a major attraction, but Presnensky also has so much to offer travelers. On top of plenty of great places to stay, there are other attractions to visit in Presnensky when you’re done at Moscow City.

Book your vacation to Moscow City with Orbitz for a trip you won’t soon forget.

Grab Moscow City hotel deals and special offers

Orbitz works around the clock to find exclusive offers and Presnensky hotel deals, just for you. Sign up for deals by email where you'll get first crack at money-saving extras like promo codes, resort credits, free nights and more. You can also "Like" Orbitz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to receive up-to-the-minute news on hotel discounts, giveaways and more.

24/7 support with Moscow City hotel reservations

When it comes to finding hotels near Moscow City, an Orbitz specialist can help you find the right property for you. Chat live or call 1-800-454-3743 any time for help booking your hotels near Moscow City. Our team of experts can help you pinpoint Presnensky hotel options suited to your tastes and budget.

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On Orbitz, Presnensky hotel deals mean flexibility. If you need to change your Moscow City hotel reservations, or cancel your stay, Orbitz doesn't charge cancel or change fees. Orbitz also offers great selection on airline tickets , vacation packages , and car rental deals to so you can plan your trip all in one place.

Are there hotels with free wifi near Moscow City?

Definitely. After a long day out in Presnensky at Moscow City, it’s nice to come back and relax at your hotel knowing they have free wifi. Binge on your favorite online show, or check the weather forecast and plan your activities for the next day. Either way, hotels near Moscow City with free wifi are the best option for your trip. Instead of scouring the web to find all the Presnensky hotels with free wifi, browse our listings of the best hotels offering free wifi near Moscow City.

• Radisson Blu Belorusskaya Hotel has rooms. It is a 5.00 star rated hotel that offers free wifi.
• Moscow Suites Tverskaya has rooms. It is a 3.50 star rated hotel that offers free wifi.
• Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow has rooms. It is a 5.00 star rated hotel that offers free wifi.
• Hotel Metropol Moscow has rooms. It is a 5.00 star rated hotel that offers free wifi.

Can I book hotels near Moscow City with free breakfast?

You sure can! You know what they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Before your day exploring Presnensky, make sure to fill up with a good, hearty breakfast from your hotel. Check out some of our best deals below:

• This hotel is located 4.1 miles away from Moscow City. The hotel offers free breakfast and has a 3.00 star rating. Book Hotel Ulanskaya now!
• This hotel is located 4 miles away from Moscow City. The hotel offers free breakfast and has a 4.00 star rating. Book Garden Ring Hotel now!
• This hotel is located 2.2 miles away from Moscow City. The hotel offers free breakfast and has a 4.00 star rating. Book Arbat House Hotel now!
• This hotel is located 2.6 miles away from Moscow City. The hotel offers free breakfast and has a 4.00 star rating. Book Legendary Hotel Sovietsky now!

Are there pet-friendly hotels near Moscow City?

Yes, there are. Don’t want to leave the pups behind on your trip to Presnensky? You don’t have to! At Orbitz, we know no trip is complete without man’s best friend. That’s why we’ve found these awesome hotels near Moscow City that allow pets.

• Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is a pet-friendly hotel near Moscow City that has a 5.00 star rating. The hotel is located only 0.9 from Moscow City.
• The Ritz-Carlton- Moscow is a pet-friendly hotel near Moscow City that has a 5.00 star rating. The hotel is located only 3 from Moscow City.
• ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushina is a pet-friendly hotel near Moscow City that has a 3.00 star rating. The hotel is located only 3.9 from Moscow City.
• Holiday Inn Moscow-Lesnaya is a pet-friendly hotel near Moscow City that has a 4.00 star rating. The hotel is located only 2.8 from Moscow City.

Where can I find hotels near Moscow City with restaurants?

Although it’s fun to taste the local cuisine on your trip to visit Moscow City, sometimes it’s nice not to worry about what’s for dinner or where to go. Our hotels with restaurants in Presnensky will allow you to just lay low after a day of exploring Moscow City and enjoy a great meal without leaving the comfort of your hotel.

• Book Moscow Marriott Tverskaya Hotel. This is a 4.00 star hotel with a restaurant. The hotel is located 2.5 from Moscow City.
• Book Moscow Marriott Hotel Novy Arbat. This is a 5.00 star hotel with a restaurant. The hotel is located 1.7 from Moscow City.
• Book Assambleya Nikitskaya Hotel. This is a 4.00 star hotel with a restaurant. The hotel is located 2.7 from Moscow City.
• Book Holiday Inn Moscow-Suschevsky. This is a 4.00 star hotel with a restaurant. The hotel is located 4.6 from Moscow City.

What are the best deals on Moscow City hotels with pools?

If you want to cool off in the pool after a great day out in Presnensky exploring Moscow City, our deals are just what you need. We offer discount rates on the top hotels near Moscow City that have pools.

• Four Seasons Hotel Moscow is a 5.00 star hotel with a pool that’s located 3.1 from Moscow City.
• Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya is a 5.00 star hotel with a pool that’s located 4.7 from Moscow City.
• Hotel Savoy Moscow is a 5.00 star hotel with a pool that’s located 3.4 from Moscow City.
• Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is a 5.00 star hotel with a pool that’s located 3.4 from Moscow City.

Are there hotels near Moscow City with parking?

If you’re planning to drive around Presnensky, or if you want to leave your car somewhere safe to walk from your hotel to Moscow City, you’ll want to check out our deals on hotels near Moscow City with parking. We've found deals on bookings for hotels near Moscow City that have parking on-site for guests.

• Petroff Palace Boutique Hotel has a 5.00 star rating and offers parking for guests. Located just 2.9 from Moscow City, this hotel is a steal.
• Hotel National- a Luxury Collection Hotel- Moscow has a 5.00 star rating and offers parking for guests. Located just 3 from Moscow City, this hotel is a steal.
• Radisson Royal Hotel- Moscow has a 5.00 star rating and offers parking for guests. Located just 1.1 from Moscow City, this hotel is a steal.
• Peter I Hotel has a 5.00 star rating and offers parking for guests. Located just 3.3 from Moscow City, this hotel is a steal.

Is there 24-hour concierge service at Moscow City hotels?

Sometimes travel can be unpredictable. Maybe your flight gets delayed and you miss check-in time, or you decide to stay late at Moscow City and return after the front desk is closed. Either way, you don’t want to get stuck without 24-hour concierge services at your hotel near Moscow City.

• Try StandArt Hotel Moscow. A Member of Design Hotels This hotel has a 5.00 star rating, 24 hour concierge, and is located only 2.8 from Moscow City.
• Try Marco Polo Presnja Hotel This hotel has a 4.00 star rating, 24 hour concierge, and is located only 2.3 from Moscow City.
• Try Aquamarine Hotel This hotel has a 4.00 star rating, 24 hour concierge, and is located only 3.9 from Moscow City.
• Try Golden Ring Hotel This hotel has a 5.00 star rating, 24 hour concierge, and is located only 1.7 from Moscow City.

Can I book a hotel near Moscow City with non-smoking rooms?

Sometimes it’s nice to explore a new area on foot to really get a feel for the lay of the land. Explore Presnensky like a local and stay within walking distance of Moscow City without going over budget.

• Kyznetskiy Inn is only 3.2 away from Moscow City and offers non-smoking rooms.
• Novotel Moscow Centre is only 3.2 away from Moscow City and offers non-smoking rooms.
• Marriott Moscow Grand Hotel is only 2.6 away from Moscow City and offers non-smoking rooms.
• Slavyanka Hotel is only 3.7 away from Moscow City and offers non-smoking rooms.

What are the top 5-star hotels near Moscow City?

If you’re interested in 5-star hotels near Moscow City, there are 22 to choose from. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve pulled together some of the best deals for you.

• Four Seasons Hotel Moscow: is a 5.00 star hotel that's only 3.1 from Moscow City.
• Hotel Metropol Moscow: is a 5.00 star hotel that's only 3.3 from Moscow City.
• Hotel Savoy Moscow: is a 5.00 star hotel that's only 3.4 from Moscow City.
• The Ritz-Carlton- Moscow: is a 5.00 star hotel that's only 3 from Moscow City.

Where can I book 4-star hotels close to Moscow City?

We’ve found 22 4-star hotels near Moscow City that offer great deals on nightly rates. When you book a 4-star hotel near Moscow City you book the ease of knowing that one of your favorite destinations is a short trip away. Check out our best deals on 4-star hotels near Moscow City below:

• Mercure Arbat Moscow is a 4.00 star hotel that is only 1.8 away from Moscow City.
• Courtyard by Marriott Moscow City Center is a 4.00 star hotel that is only 2.6 away from Moscow City.
• Novotel Moscow Centre is a 4.00 star hotel that is only 3.2 away from Moscow City.
• Garden Ring Hotel is a 4.00 star hotel that is only 4 away from Moscow City.

What are the cheapest 3-star hotels near Moscow City?

Looking to save a little cash on your trip to visit Moscow City? We get it. You want to splurge on outings and activities, without blowing your budget on hotel rooms. Our 3-star hotels are perfect for a budget-friendly trip to explore Presnensky and check out Moscow City. Browse our best deals on 3-star hotels near Moscow City below.

• ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushina is located just 3.9 away from Moscow City and has a 3.00 star rating.
• Kvart Apartments Arbat is located just 2.1 away from Moscow City and has a 3.00 star rating.
• Moscow Suites Tverskaya is located just 2.8 away from Moscow City and has a 3.50 star rating.
• Hotel Ulanskaya is located just 4.1 away from Moscow City and has a 3.00 star rating.

Moscow City hotels essential information

Areas Of Moscow City

• Northern Europe Hotels
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• Aleksandrovka Hotels
• Vnukovo Hotels
• Mytishchi Hotels
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• Moscow City Centre Hotels
• Central Administrative Okrug Hotels
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• Moskovskiy Hotels
• Arbat Hotels
• Tverskoy Hotels
• South-Western Administrative Okrug Hotels
• Northern Administrative Okrug Hotels
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• Zamoskvorechye District Hotels
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• Tyoply Stan District Hotels
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• Tagansky Hotels
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Hotels Near

• Sheremetyevo Airport Hotels
• Domodedovo Intl. Airport Hotels
• Hotels near Red Square
• Hotels near Moscow Kremlin
• Hotels near Bolshoi Theatre
• Hotels near St. Basil's Cathedral
• Hotels near Lenin's Mausoleum
• Hotels near Arbat Street

Hotel Themes

• Kid Friendly Hotels (246)
• Hotels with Bar (215)
• Pet Friendly Hotels (130)
• Hotels with Pool (69)
• Luxury Hotels (53)
• Boutique Hotels (19)

More to Explore

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Lock in a great price for Novotel Moscow City – rated 8.4 by recent guests!

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• Pet friendly
• Air conditioning
• 24-hour front desk
• Key card access
• Daily housekeeping
• Non-smoking rooms

This modern hotel is conveniently located in Moscow City Business Center, a 5-minute walk from ExpoCenter. A spa center, a gym, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception are featured at Novotel Moscow City. The spacious, air-conditioned rooms offer pastel-colored interiors and elegant décor. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, a mini-bar and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. MC Traders Restaurant serves international and Russian cuisine, and MC Traders Lounge Bar offers a variety of drinks and light snacks. Guests are welcome to relax in the Turkish steam bath or sauna, and visit the on-site massage room. Afimall Shopping Center is located in the same building, and Moscow sky deck is located nearby. The Kremlin and the Red Square are 3.1 mi away. Delovoy Tsentr Metro Station is just a minute’s walk from Novotel Moscow City. Belorussky Train Station is 2.8 mi away, and Sheremetyevo International Airport is a 35-minute express train ride from this station.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.1 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Private Parking
• Family rooms
• Airport shuttle (free)
• Fitness center
• Excellent Breakfast

Property Highlights

Located in the best-rated area in Moscow, this hotel has an excellent location score of 9.2

Want a great night's sleep? This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds.

Private parking at the hotel

Loyal Customers

끖 There are more repeat guests here than most other properties.

Saved to 28378 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Property practices

Categories:, see what guests loved the most:.

Hotel area info

Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

• Cuisine American • Italian • Russian • Local • Asian • European
• Ambience Modern

Amenities of Novotel Moscow City Great facilities! Review score, 8.4

• Live sports events (broadcast)
• Cooking class Additional charge
• Themed dinners Additional charge
• Temporary art galleries
• Fruit Additional charge
• Wine/Champagne Additional charge
• Kid-friendly buffet
• Kids' meals Additional charge
• Special diet meals (on request)
• Breakfast in the room
• Parking garage
• Accessible parking
• Private check-in/out
• ATM on site
• Baggage storage
• Express check-in/out
• Indoor play area
• Board games/Puzzles
• Ironing service Additional charge
• Dry cleaning Additional charge
• Laundry Additional charge
• Fax/Photocopying
• Business center
• Meeting/Banquet facilities Additional charge
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV outside property
• CCTV in common areas
• Smoke alarms
• Security alarm
• 24-hour security
• Shuttle service Additional charge
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Designated smoking area
• Smoke-free property
• Packed lunches
• Soundproof rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Airport shuttle
• Room service
• Bathroom emergency cord
• Lowered sink
• Toilet with grab rails
• Wheelchair accessible
• Locker rooms
• Spa lounge/Relaxation area
• Spa facilities
• Body treatments
• Facial treatments
• Beauty services
• Turkish/Steam Bath

See availability House rules

From 3:00 PM

Until 12:00 PM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 16 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

When booking more than 7 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Novotel Moscow City accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

Billing/invoices

Official invoices (for tax/billing purposes) are available at this property for business travelers.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Please note that according to the hotel's policy the guest who made the booking must be the holder of the credit card provided during the booking and at check-in. An alternative credit card has to be provided otherwise, and cash payment is also available. In case of providing another credit card, the amount of prepayment will be refunded to the credit card used for the booking.

Guests are required to provide a reservation number upon check-in. Otherwise, the reservation might be not found.

All Russian guests who check in a room should provide national passport upon arrival - not only the one who made a booking.

FAQs about Novotel Moscow City

What is there to do at novotel moscow city.

• Themed dinners
• Cooking class

What are the check-in and check-out times at Novotel Moscow City?

Check-in at Novotel Moscow City is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

How much does it cost to stay at Novotel Moscow City?

The prices at Novotel Moscow City may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

How far is Novotel Moscow City from the center of Moscow?

Novotel Moscow City is 3.1 miles from the center of Moscow. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What type of room can I book at Novotel Moscow City?

Does novotel moscow city have a restaurant on site, the best of moscow.

• The Kremlin
• Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• Lenin Mausoleum
• Saint Basil's Cathedral
• Donskoi Monastery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Victor Vasnetsov House Museum
• Museum of Traditional Russian Beverages Ochakovo
• State Historical Museum
• Neskuchny Garden
• Zaryadye Park
• Kolomenskoye Park
• Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences

Popular Areas

• Arbat Street
• Izmaylovsky Kremlin

Shopping Areas

• GUM Shopping Center

Stadiums or Arenas

• Luzhniki Stadium
• VTB Arena - Dinamo Stadium
• Olympic Stadium
• Spartak Stadium
• Sport complex Snezh.com
• Bolshoi Theater

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Americans are spending more on travel and live entertainment. But their personal saving rate has taken a dip.

• Americans are spending more on experiences, which they were largely deprived of during the pandemic.
• Consumer spending on foreign trips and live entertainment rose by nearly 30% in 2023, WaPo reported.
• Meanwhile, the personal saving rate in the US has declined, falling to 3.6% in February.

During the earliest stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans reminisced about the things that used to bring them joy. They never stopped thinking about that last big trip with their families or that last in-person concert they enjoyed with friends.

Four years later, American consumers have mostly moved on from the pandemic and are spending more on experiences than ever before.

Prioritizing experiences, however, has led to a major shift in their financial lives: The personal saving rate in the US has declined considerably.

The Washington Post recently reported on how consumers in the US have embraced a sort of YOLO — or "you only live once" — mindset. In 2023, consumer spending on foreign trips and live entertainment rose by nearly 30 percent, according to the newspaper.

Spending levels have so far continued to rise in 2024, too. In February, personal consumption expenditures increased by $145.5 billion compared to January, with $111.8 billion spent on services, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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At the same time, perhaps predictably, the US personal saving rate has declined , according to the bureau.

In February, the personal saving rate was 3.6 percent, a drop from 4.1 percent the month before. (The rate sat at 4 percent last November and 3.9 percent in December.)

Once consumers were able to spend freely on their wish list trips and attend concerts and festivals without onerous health restrictions, they started booking flights and hotel rooms and purchasing tickets to see the artists that they love.

So instead of continuing to put away money for the future, which is what many people tried to do in recent years, many consumers now want to make up for the time they lost during the pandemic.

"When you live through a crisis, it gets ingrained in your brain," University of California at Berkeley behavioral finance professor Ulrike Malmendier told The Washington Post. "The official economic reports might say everything is coming back to normal, but we are different people than we were before the pandemic."

Malmendier told the Post that after the Great Recession, many Americans overhauled their financial habits; many consumers started to save more of their money.

But the angst of Americans during the pandemic unleashed a different sort of sentiment, Malmendier said.

"The adverse effects of Covid weren't necessarily financial; people got jobs quickly and the government stepped in with support," he told the newspaper. "Instead, it's about all of the things we were starved for: human interaction, socializing, travel. People are spending money on the things they missed most."

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

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