Best Airline and Hotels Rewards Programs for 2021
Reward programs for airlines and hotels are great tools for companies but also for customers. When playing your cards right, you can earn free stays and free flights.
Joining these programs is free and often there are bonuses as well. However, when it comes to maximizing travel rewards, it can be challenging. You must know the ins and out of each program. If you are a loyal reader of Miles to Memories, then you probably are way ahead of the pack.
Each program has its pros and cons, and when picking a best program there are many variables, most of them subjective. But U.S. News has ranked them all. Its editors evaluated each loyalty program based on key attributes that everyday travelers value, such as the size and diversity of each airline or hotel network and how quickly you can accumulate enough miles or points to earn a free flight or hotel stay. The winners might surprise you.
Best Hotel Rewards Programs
There isn’t one hotel loyalty program that’s ideal for every traveler. Some programs offer greater flexibility and prioritize earning points for free nights, while others emphasize special members-only privileges.
This ranking weighed factors like member benefits, the average number of paid nights required to earn a free stay and how easy it is to earn and use rewards. And here’s the list:
- Wyndham Rewards
- World of Hyatt
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Choice Privileges
- IHG Rewards
See the full list here.
Best Airline Rewards Programs
For this ranking, the main criteria were flight options, network coverage and how easy it is to earn a free flight.
U.S. News evaluated nine leading airline rewards programs using a methodology that takes into account each program’s earning and redemption values, benefits, network coverage and airline quality ratings, among other features. And here’s the list:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Delta SkyMiles
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
See the full list here.
Conclusion
Wyndham Rewards might be somewhat of a surprise, but this marks the sixth consecutive year that U.S News has named Wyndham Rewards to one of its top spots. On the other hand, Alaska Airlines might me a more obvious choice when it comes to airline programs.
Let us know in the comments what your top picks would be!
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For people who don’t stay 100 nights a year in a hotel, Wyndham and Choice are easy to get free rooms. If you are ranking based on lounge access, breakfast, suites, late check-out, then no, they aren’t good. But most people are looking for free rooms, and free economy class tickets to Las Vegas and Orlando. I think if you take a look across the entire country, they aren’t wrong. I stayed 30 nights this year with Choice on points, and rooms were far better than I expected. And FYI, I’m Globalist, Titanium, Diamond and Spire.
How did your maintain all of those status AND stay 30 nights at Choice properties and it’s only September?
Pretty easy to do when you’re concierge key, global services AND 360 as well. And lying, also lying helps.
Wyndham #1? Are you high? What did you smoke or snort before typing that one out? Com’on now…
Wyndham at #1 invalidates the entire list.
My thoughts exactly!
Hilton #11 wow
Heh. Wyndham #1 and Choice hotels at #4. I see cleanliness of hotels and safety weren’t particular criteria.
and point expiring!