The Best Travelers Rewards Programs for Hotels and Airlines
We take a look at the Best Travelers Rewards Programs for Hotels and Airlines.
These days many hotels, airlines, and travel brands offer their own travelers rewards programs. The programs allow you to earn points towards free airfare, hotel stays, dining, and more. According to U.S. News & World Report, about one in three consumers redeemed free domestic flights in the last year by using the points or miles accrued with their airline credit card.
With so many travelers rewards options, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for you. Luckily, U.S. News & World Report has done the research for us and recently announced the Best Travel Rewards Programs of 2019-2020. Here’s a peek at the best loyalty rewards programs for travelers:
Best Hotel Rewards Programs
1. Marriott Bonvoy
2. Wyndham Rewards
3. World of Hyatt
4. Choice Privileges
5. Best Western Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy, formerly Marriott Rewards, maintains the No. 1 spot on the list of Best Hotel Rewards Programs. The program earned top marks for its large network of hotels in popular vacation destinations, large selection of benefits given to members, relatively low points redemption rates, and high award availability. Bonus: Any member of the program who uses points to book a reward stay lasting five or more nights receives one night free.
Wyndham Rewards
Wydham Rewards at No. 2 continues to score highly because members don't need to stay as many times (on average) as they would with another program before qualifying for a free night.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt came in at No. 3 by offering low points redemption requirements and a variety of ways to earn points.
Best Airlines Rewards Programs
1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
2. Delta SkyMiles
3. JetBlue TrueBlue
4. United MileagePlus
5. American Airlines Advantage
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan keeps its No. 1 position on the Best Airline Rewards Programs list because of its high award choice availability and its large network of flight routes to popular destinations. The program's mileage-based earning structure makes it easier for members to earn miles for free flights faster.
Delta SkyMiles
With lots of member benefits, a large network of flight destinations, and a high volume of daily flights, Delta SkyMiles kept its No. 2 rank for the third year in a row.
JetBlue TrueBlue
A top pick for travelers based in East Coast cities, benefits of JetBlue TrueBlue include points that never expire, no blackout dates on JetBlue flights, and points pooling to allow groups to obtain rewards points together.
For more information about U.S. News & World Report’s Best Travel Rewards Programs, visit USNews.com.
Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy