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Best Airline and Hotel Rewards Programs of 2024

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How we picked the best travel rewards programs

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

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

That’s where we come in.

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

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

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

Here’s what we compared:

Airline rewards

Rewards (mile) value .

Elite status benefits .

Hotel rewards

Rewards (point) value.

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

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

Winner: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

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

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

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values Alaska Airlines miles at 1.4 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

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

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

on Bank of America's website

on Chase's website

on Wells Fargo's website

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.

Best Airline Rewards Program

How we picked the programs to evaluate.

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

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

How we chose the winner

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

How we rated and weighted each factor:

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

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

How we assigned star ratings

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

How we verified our data

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

Best Hotel Rewards Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

No annual fee: 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

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.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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

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

on Capital One's website

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

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

Choosing the Best Loyalty Programs for You in 2024

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

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

Photo by Gary Lopater on Unsplash

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

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

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

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

Important basics of loyalty programs

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

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

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

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

Choosing a hotel loyalty program

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

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

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

Choosing an airline loyalty program

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

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

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

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

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

Going beyond airline and hotel loyalty programs

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

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

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Loyalty travel destination.

Who doesn’t love to travel and explore new places? Traveling is a great way to rejuvenate, learn new things, and make memories that last a lifetime. While travel can be exciting, it can also be expensive. That’s where loyalty travel comes in. Loyalty travel destinations offer great deals and rewards for frequent travelers. By choosing the right loyalty program, you can save money, earn rewards, and discover your next favorite destination.

What is Loyalty Travel?

Loyalty travel is a system where travelers are rewarded for their loyalty to a specific travel company. This system is based on loyalty points that travelers earn through frequent travel, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related activities. These loyalty points can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and other rewards. The more you travel, the more points you earn, and the more rewards you get. With the right loyalty program, you can earn points faster and get more rewards.

How to Choose the Right Loyalty Program?

Choosing the right loyalty program can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it’s important to do your research and choose a program that fits your travel needs. Consider the following factors when choosing a loyalty program:

By considering these factors, you can choose a loyalty program that fits your travel needs and helps you save money on your next trip.

Top Loyalty Travel Destinations

There are many loyalty travel destinations that offer great deals and rewards for frequent travelers. Here are some of the top loyalty travel destinations:

Hawaii is a popular travel destination that offers something for everyone. From beautiful beaches to stunning landscapes, Hawaii is the perfect place to relax and unwind. With the right loyalty program, you can earn points for flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related activities. You can also redeem your points for free flights, hotel stays, and other rewards.

Europe is a diverse and fascinating travel destination that offers a rich history, culture, and cuisine. With the right loyalty program, you can earn points for flights, train tickets, and hotel stays. You can also redeem your points for free flights, hotel stays, and other rewards.

Asia is a vast and diverse travel destination that offers a unique blend of cultures, religions, and traditions. With the right loyalty program, you can earn points for flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related activities. You can also redeem your points for free flights, hotel stays, and other rewards.

Q: How do I earn loyalty points?

A: You can earn loyalty points by traveling frequently, staying at hotels, renting cars, and using other travel-related services that are affiliated with your loyalty program.

Q: How do I redeem my loyalty points?

A: You can redeem your loyalty points for free flights, hotel stays, upgrades, and other rewards. Simply log into your loyalty account and follow the instructions to redeem your points.

Q: Are loyalty programs worth it?

A: Yes, loyalty programs can be a great way to save money on travel and earn rewards. By choosing the right program and earning points through frequent travel, you can enjoy free flights, hotel stays, and other perks.

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A loyalty program for your travel lifetime.

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

Top experts pick their favorite travel loyalty program.

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

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

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

World of Hyatt

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“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

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"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 )

Related Articles

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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Ranking the best online travel agency rewards programs

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

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

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

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

What to know before booking through an OTA

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

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

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

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

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

Ranking the top OTA rewards programs

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

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

Hotels.com Rewards

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

Earning and redeeming

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

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

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

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

Related: 7 of the most interesting Hotels.com properties

Elite status

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orbitz Rewards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: 5 reasons to get TSA PreCheck now

Credit card

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

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

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

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

Booking.com Genius

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expedia Rewards

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: The complete guide to the Expedia Rewards loyalty program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Credit cards

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

Expedia® Rewards Card from Citi

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

Expedia® Rewards Voyager Card from Citi

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

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

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

Trip.com Rewards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: The best credit cards to jumpstart elite status

Earn airline miles with OTAs

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

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

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

Maximize your OTA booking

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

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

Additional reporting by Nick Ewen.

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

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U.S. News Reveals 2021-22 Best Travel Rewards Programs

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan once again is the Best Airline Rewards Program; Wyndham Rewards named the Best Hotel Rewards Program.

USN Best Travel Rewards Programs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Cruise Lines and Best Vacations , today announced the 2021-22 Best Travel Rewards Programs . The annual rankings identify 24 hotel and airline loyalty programs with the most rewarding perks for everyday travelers. After several years at No. 2, Wyndham Rewards improved to be the No. 1 Best Hotel Rewards Program . Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan remains the No. 1 Best Airline Rewards Program for the seventh year in a row. This year, U.S. News also considered each travel rewards program's response to the coronavirus pandemic, and factored in how flexible and accommodating each airline and hotel program was for members.

Wyndham Rewards takes the No. 1 spot on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs ranking thanks in part to its large network of hotels in popular vacation destinations and high award availability. Additionally, any member of the program can book a free night with as few as 7,500 points. World of Hyatt , No. 2, scores well by offering low points redemption requirements and a variety of ways to earn and redeem points. Marriott Bonvoy came in at No. 3 because it offers a multitude of properties at various price points in destinations across the globe, plus ample benefits for members.

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan maintains its No. 1 position on the Best Airline Rewards Programs list because of its numerous member benefits and its large network of flight routes to popular destinations. Plus, the program's mileage-based earning structure makes it easier for members to earn miles for free flights faster. Delta SkyMiles ' high Airline Quality Rating score and impressive number of daily flights helped it retain its No. 2 rank for the fifth year in a row. American Airlines AAdvantage claimed the No. 3 spot due in part to its large network of routes to numerous destinations and significant volume of daily flights.

"This year's list factored in adjustments programs made to account for members taking fewer trips during the pandemic. Programs that make it easier for members to earn and redeem points or miles, and achieve or retain elite status were rewarded," said Christine Smith, senior travel editor at U.S. News. "With numerous creative ways to earn points and miles, now is the time to join a rewards program to build up a balance. Then, whenever travelers feel comfortable, they can use those accrued points to book an amazing vacation."

U.S. News ranks the Best Travel Rewards Programs in two categories: hotel loyalty programs and airline frequent flyer programs. The methodologies take into account membership benefits – such as free amenities, program-affiliated credit cards and room or cabin upgrades – network coverage and a strong emphasis on the ease of earning and redeeming free flights or nights. Additionally, U.S. News factors in property diversity for the Best Hotel Rewards Programs and Airline Quality Rating scores for the Best Airline Rewards Programs. This year, the methodology also factored in changes made to accommodate travel restrictions and difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic.

2021-22 U.S. News Best Travel Rewards Programs

See the full lists here

Hotel Rewards Programs

• Wyndham Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Choice Privileges
• IHG Rewards

Airline Rewards Programs

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
• Delta SkyMiles
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Rapid Rewards

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

Media Contact: Sarah Javors, [email protected] , 202-955-2153

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. 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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The most lucrative rewards program for every type of traveler

Flying with a plus-one? Prefer a short-term rental? There’s a reward for that.

Travel rewards programs have been around for decades. In 1981, American Airlines created one of the first travel industry loyalty programs. Soon after, travel rewards credit cards came on the scene. Now, these types of plans are everywhere. The largest programs are worth tens of billions of dollars, sometimes more valuable than the companies that own them .

If you travel frequently, enrolling in a rewards program is bound to happen. Sign up and access free onboard WiFi, says one airline ( Delta Air Lines ). Become a member and get free late checkout, declares a hospitality group ( Leading Hotels of the World ).

The best travel credit card for every type of traveler

While your inbox may be a labyrinth of airline, hotel and credit card offers, if you’re a regular traveler, it may be time to open up a few of those emails. Rewards enthusiasts know that, with the right program, travel can become a better (and less costly) experience.

“It can be overwhelming, so it’s important to prioritize how well a program fits into your lifestyle and not the other way around,” says Juan Ruiz, a travel loyalty expert and senior editor for Upgraded Points . “Don’t think about how popular a program is, but instead, consider where you’re going, how often you plan to travel and if you’d be able to use the benefits.”

Here are a few to consider to start raking in the rewards, based on how you travel.

For the traveler who wants a hotel to be everywhere

Rewards program: Marriott Bonvoy

Frequent travelers aren’t always going to the same places. Whether it’s for a client meeting in Fargo, N.D. ( Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo ); a safari expedition in the Masai Mara ( JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge ); or a show in the West End ( the London Edition ), the places we visit are highly disparate.

Marriott is a behemoth of a global hotel chain with more than 30 brands and nearly 8,700 properties in 139 countries; in fact, it’s the largest hotel group in the world. Marriott Bonvoy rewards members can earn and redeem points at a variety of hotels, from budget to luxury.

Although the number of points to redeem at its hotels can fluctuate dramatically from date to date and hotel to hotel, Marriott is a powerhouse of a program for one simple fact: There’s a good chance there is a Marriott hotel where you want to go.

For the traveler who usually flies with a plus-one

Rewards program: Southwest Rapid Rewards

For those travelers who enjoy hopping around with a designated buddy, this one is for you.

Southwest Airlines has always been a bit of an eccentric yet much-loved carrier , and there are remnants of that to this day. The company’s coveted Companion Pass — part of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program — is an elite travel benefit that’s almost too good to be true. Unlike with similar passes in the travel world, there are no strings attached.

Southwest doesn’t do red-eye flights — but that may be changing

The Companion Pass allows another passenger to fly with you free (plus taxes) an unlimited number of times — for the life of the pass. Traditionally, the pass is valid for the rest of the year it’s earned, plus the entire following year. That even includes wildly expensive travel periods, such as the days before and after Thanksgiving.

To get the pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying flights with Southwest in a calendar year. However, credit card spending — and even the bonus you earn when signing up for a Southwest card — counts.

For the traveler who favors vacation rentals

Rewards program: One Key (Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo)

Whether you’re fully anti-hotel or simply prefer the comforts of home, there’s only one rewards program for renting that ski cabin, city apartment or waterfront lake house. Airbnb’s biggest competitor, Vrbo , has a program called One Key, which also includes Expedia and Hotels.com. It launched in mid-2023, meaning short-term vacation renters on Vrbo can now get something back for all of their spending.

A golden era of airline status is ending

Regardless of what they book — such as adult treehouses — members earn cash-equivalent “OneKeyCash” currency toward future trips. Although it isn’t a massive amount (we’re talking about 2 percent), vacation rentals are now part of a larger rewards program, and that’s a big deal.

Expedia Group, the parent company of Vrbo, created the One Key rewards program to work across all three of the travel booking platforms. You can earn rewards on Vrbo, Expedia or Hotels.com — then spend those rewards on any of the others.

For the traveler who wants to maximize spending

Rewards program: Transferrable rewards currencies

Rewards credit cards, when used responsibly, can be an extraordinary travel asset. With the right program, everyday spending can get you closer to your next trip.

Although there’s no such thing as a single “best” travel credit card, certain cards are more well-rounded than others. Transferrable rewards cards allow you to move one reward point to another. These include cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards , American Express Membership Rewards , Capital One Rewards , Bilt Rewards and others.

Look at American Express’s program, for instance. These rewards can be earned by spending on select American Express credit cards — and can then be redeemed for travel. In other words, American Express points are not just American Express points; they have the potential to become Delta miles, Hilton points and more. That’s the power of a transferrable rewards currency: options.

By opening the door to a variety of other programs, you have the flexibility to redeem with the airline or hotel partner that makes the most sense for your travel arrangements.

For the traveler who prefers a boutique stay

Rewards program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)

If you’re a frequent traveler who loves independent hotels, this one is for you. Leading Hotels of the World is a collection of luxury hotels, with more than 400 properties in over 80 countries.

Checking into a hotel? Prepare for hefty fees and deposits.

Members who are part of the Leaders Club receive perks from the get-go (meaning no status required), including a one-category upgrade upon arrival, daily continental breakfast and late checkout. They can also earn and redeem points at coveted properties worldwide, such as the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York or Nihi Sumba in Indonesia.

Chris Dong is a freelance travel writer and credit card points expert based in Los Angeles. You can follow him on Instagram: @thechrisflyer .

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Home » Travel Loyalty Programs

Travel Loyalty Programs

Before you start seriously traveling, we recommend signing up for all travel loyalty programs you can. The reason for this is that you can never predict your future travel plans. You might not think you’ll be traveling a lot. However, over time, the benefits accrue and soon you’ll be on your way to free travel!

Here is our comprehensive list of travel loyalty programs, including airline frequent flyer programs as well as hotel loyalty and car rental programs. We provide a list of all known programs, links to their website and some highlights of the program. Most readers of Travel Addicts are from the United States and Canada so that information can be found first. For non-North Americans, we have also provided a list in other regions below.

Airline Frequent Flyer Programs — U.S. & Canadian Carriers

• Air Canada, Aeroplan : With Air Canada, reward tickets can be redeemed for 15,000 within the U.S. and 60, 000 to Europe.
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan : With Alaska Airlines, all awards are based on travel within the Continental United States or between the Continental U.S. and Canada. Reward tickets can be redeemed for 12,500 to 20,000 miles.
• American Airlines AAdvantage : American Airlines offers two mileage reward programs. Choose between MileSAAver, where reward tickets can be redeemed as low as 12,000 miles or AAnytime Awards, which includes no blackout dates for any seat on any America Airlines flight.
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles : (new program begins in Jan. 2015) Miles for Delta flights will be earned based on ticket price instead of distance flown. The next time you fly at a higher price, you’ll be rewarded with more miles- up to 75,000 per ticket. Reward tickets can also be redeemed for 25,000 within the U.S. and 60,000 to Europe.
• Frontier EarlyReturns : With Frontier, reward tickets can be redeemed for only 10,000 miles within the U.S.
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles : With Hawaiian Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for only 7,500 to a neighbor island or 20,000 to the U.S.
• JetBlue TrueBlue : When you fly with JetBlue you earn 3 points per every dollar spent. Even better, if you book a flight on jetblue.com you can earn double the points per dollar!
• Porter Airlines VIPorter : As a VIPorter member you’ll earn points based on each one-way flight you fly and the fare class you select. After earning 7,000 points, you can redeem a complimentary flight.
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards : With the Rapid Rewards program, you’ll be earning rewards whether you’re flying, staying at your favorite hotel, or simply grabbing a bite to eat. The number of points you earn is determined by the amount and type of fare you choose. Earn up to 12 points per every dollar spent.
• Spirit Airline Free Spirit : With Spirit Airline, reward tickets can be redeemed for 10,000 when traveling within a region of 0-1249 miles. They also offer the FREE SPIRIT MasterCard credit card, where you get 2 miles per $1 spent and receive 100% of miles flown.
• Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Rewards : Ufly is not your typical rewards program. In order to receive free rewards faster, Sun Country allows up to ten Ufly members to pool points together without all the transfer fees or other barriers for sharing.
• United Airlines Mileage Plus : With United Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for 25,000 within the U.S. and 65,500 to Europe.
• US Airways Dividend Miles : With US Airways, reward tickets can redeemed for 25,000 within the U.S. and 60,000 to Europe.
• WestJet WestJet Rewards : When traveling with WestJet, you can earn up to 4.5% back in WestJet dollars. WestJet dollars can be used like cash towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacation packages (One WestJet dollar is equivalent to one Canadian dollar.)

Hotel Loyalty Programs

• Best Western Rewards : Best Western Rewards points can be used in almost anyway- for hotel stays, dining out, shopping and more. Only 12,000 points will give you a free night in any Best Western hotel worldwide!
• Hilton HHonors : With Hilton, the amount of points required to redeem Standard Room Rewards varies by hotel, room, booking and stay date. Earn a free night in any Hilton hotel worldwide for only 5,000 points.
• Hyatt Hotels & Resorts World of Hyatt (formerly Hyatt Gold Passport: With Hyatt Hotels, there are many easy ways to use World of Hyatt Points. Redeem your points toward room upgrades, Las Vegas resorts, different restaurants and spas or enjoy a free night for only 5,000 points.
• Inter-Continental Priority Club Rewards : With InterContinental, reward nights can be redeemed for as little as 10,000 points. They also offer no blackout dates, points that never expire and the opportunity to combine points with cash.
• Marriott Marriott Rewards : With Marriot, use your points on the spot for extras during your stay or upgrade to a preferred-view room or a larger suite for 5,000 points.
• Radisson Club Carlson : With Radisson, club members earn 20 Gold Points per U.S. dollar spent, and receive a free award night after 9,000 Gold Points. Members are also offered free Internet and elite awards, such as complimentary room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout.
• Starwood Preferred Guest : With Starwood, free reward nights can be redeemed for 2,000 Starpoints. They also allow guests to stretch their Starpoints with cash to get away sooner.
• Wyndham ByRequest : Join and stay at one of the Wyndham Hotels and automatically receive 10 free Reward points (per every dollar spent), free high-speed Internet, and priority check-in. With Wyndham, free reward nights can also be redeemed for 5,500 points.

Rental Car Programs & Airline Tie-Ins

• Alamo Insiders : With the Alamo Insiders program, earn miles and points with your Alamo Rental. Your earnings can go towards a reward flight, hotel, and more. As a member you will also receive 5% car rental rates.
• Avis Preferred Service : With Avis, you get the freedom to select the vehicle that’s perfect for you and your trip at 50 airport locations in the United States and Canada. With Avis, you’ll have three options allowing you to choose whether you keep your pre-assigned car or select a new one when you reserve an intermediate vehicle or larger.
• Budget Fastbreak : As a Fastbreak member, you’ll save time with reservations and rentals. All of your rental preferences are kept on file and your signature too, so you’ll receive a fast easy rental experience! Keep in mind; if you also reserve your vehicle on budget.com and complete your first Eligible Rental, you can save 10-20% or more on your next rental.
• Dollar Rent A Car Express Renter Rewards : With Dollar Rent A Car, reward rentals can be redeemed after you earn 16 points. Choose any size vehicle you prefer- Compact, Mid-size or a Full-size!
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards : With Hertz, receive one Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Point per qualifying dollar spent on rental charges and optional service charges, like fuel purchase, Hertz Never-Lost and more. You’ll also receive Gold Plus Rewards Points automatically, after every 15 qualifying rentals. Qualifying rentals are paid rentals using your Gold Plus Rewards number. You will become eligible to earn credit toward Free Rental Days each year once you have been rewarded your status credentials.
• National Emerald Club : As an Emerald Club member, you’ll receive the rental of your choice, faster rentals, faster returns, online renting, no second-driver fees and Free Rental Days using frequent flyer miles or hotel rewards.
• Thrifty Car Rental Blue Chip Rewards : Blue Chip Rewards is an optional rewards program that gives you credits towards a free rental day at Thrifty rather than airline miles. When you’ve rented 16 days, you’ll receive a rewards certificate for a free day! At anytime, redeem your free day certificate for any size car- compact to full-size.

Airline Frequent Flyer Programs — European Carriers

• Adria Airways, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Germanwings, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair, and SWISS (all use same program) Miles and More : With this rewards program, reward tickets can be redeemed for 30,000 within Europe and 60,000 to the U.S. Miles and More also offers a variety of key benefits, such as additional miles, free bags, access to the first class terminal, lounge access and more.
• Aer Lingus Gold Circle : With Aer Lingus, reward tickets can be redeemed for 3,000 within the United Kingdom, 4,500 to Europe, and 6,000 to the U.S.
• Aegean Airlines Miles and Bonus : With Aegean Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for 25,000 within Europe and North Africa, and 60,000 to the U.S.
• Aeroflot Aeroflot Bonus : With Aeroflot, reward tickets can be redeemed for 25,000 to Europe and 80,000 to the U.S.
• Air Europa Flying Blue : Air Europa offers promo, classic, and flex awards- different award types for different needs. With this program, reward tickets can be redeemed for as low as 7,500 within Europe or 18,750 to the U.S.
• Alitalia Club MilleMiglia : With Alitalia, reward tickets can be redeemed for 20,000 in Europe and 50,000 to the U.S.
• British Airways Executive Club : With British Airways, reward tickets can be redeemed for 9,000 within the UK and 15,000 to Europe.
• Finnair Plus Bonus Program : There are two ways to purchase Finnair Plus award flights: using points only, or using a combination of money and points. Reward tickets can be redeemed for 20,000 within Finland and Northern Europe, and 45,000 for the rest of Europe and Dubai.
• Iberia Iberia Plus : With Iberia, Avios can be earned for every mile you fly with the airline or any associated company. You get a minimum of 500 avios every time you fly. In exchange for avios, you can book a flight for yourself, someone else, or earn up to 50% off your next flight.
• KLM Flying Blue : KLM offers promo, classic, and flex awards- different award types for different needs. With this program, reward tickets can be redeemed for as low as 7,500 within Europe or 18,750 to the U.S.
• SAS EuroBonus : EuroBonus, the premier loyalty and frequent flyer program in the Nordic countries, offers points for every time you fly, stay in a hotel, rent a car, etc. With SAS, reward tickets can be earned for 10,000 within Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
• TAP Air TAP Victoria : With TAP Air, reward tickets can be redeemed for 10,000 within Portugal and 60,000 to the U.S.
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club : With Virgin Atlantic, reward tickets can be redeemed for as low as 7,500 within the UK and 35,000 to the U.S.

Airline Frequent Flyer Programs — Asia-Pacific Carriers

• Air New Zealand Air Points : With Air New Zealand, reward tickets can be redeemed for 230 points to Australia, 750 to the U.S. and 800 to Asia.
• All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club : With All Nippon Airways, reward tickets can be redeemed for 7,500 within Japan or to any location less than 600 miles away.
• Cathay Pacific Airways Asia Miles : With Cathay Pacific Airways, reward tickets can be redeemed for 10,000 within Asia or to any location less than 600 miles away.
• EVA Evergreen Infinity MileageLands : With EVA, reward tickets can be redeemed for 15,000 within Asia and 45,000 to Europe and the Americas.
• Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank : With Japan Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for between 9,000 and 15,000 miles to travel within Japan.
• Korean Air Skypass : With Korean Air, reward tickets can be redeemed for 10,000 within Korea, 40,000 to Japan and 50,000 to China/ Northeast Asia.
• Malaysia Airlines Enrich : With Malaysia, reward tickets can be redeemed for 7,500 within Asia or to any location less than 500 miles away.
• Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles : With Philippine Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for as low as 6,500 within Asia and 60,000 to the U.S.
• Qantas Frequent Flyer : With this Australian airline, Qantas Points can be earned by flying, hiring a car or booking a hotel. Fly up to 600 miles free for only 6,400 points!
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer : With Singapore Airlines, reward tickets can be redeemed for 7,500 within Singapore and 35,000 to the U.S.

Airline Frequent Flyer Programs — Latin American Carriers

• Aerolineas Argentinas Plus Program : With Aerolineas Argentinas, reward tickets can be redeemed for 40,000 to the U.S. Their plus program will also credit your account a minimum of 500 miles when you book a short haul flight.
• AeroMexico Club Premier : With AeroMexico, reward tickets can be redeemed for 32,000 within Mexico or 56,000 to the U.S.
• Avianca LifeMiles : Avianca’s program is designed to reward your loyalty and preference. The LifeMiles program will provide you with many benefits such as free upgrades, extra checked bags, priority check in, etc.
• Azul Brazilian Airlines TudoAzul: (owned by JetBlue Airways): With Azul Brazilian Airlines, you are automatically credited 1000 points when you register. Reward tickets can be redeemed after you have accumulated up to 5000 points.
• Copa Airlines ConnectMiles : With Copa Airlines, series or geographical areas classify award tickets. For your award trip, this program offers the option of buying the remaining 25% at $35 for every 1,000 miles. This offer is only valid after already obtaining the first 75% of the miles required.
• LATAM Airlines LATAM PASS : Formed from the merged LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, you can redeem kilometers and choose from one or more of the 800 destinations available. Kilometers can also be redeemed for promotions on a wide range of products or services or apply to upgrade to a superior cabin class.

Please note: We strive to maintain an accurate list, however, airlines, hotels and car rental companies are constantly changing their programs. The information on this list is accurate as of the publication. We are happy to correct any errors over time. Please contact us and inform us of any errors. Thank you!

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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 five influencing factors of tourist loyalty: A meta-analysis

Lidong wang.

1 School of Physical Education, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China

2 Physical Education Department, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai City, Shandong Province, China

Associated Data

All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting information files. Data are availability online https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/lidongwang1013/heterogeneity-test-and-effect-values .

The factors influencing tourist loyalty are widely highlighted in the literature. However, we find that the relationship between some influencing factors and loyalty is still inconsistent, and we don’t yet know the strength and magnitude of the relationships. To address this issue, this study examined a meta-analysis of the five factors (satisfaction, motivation, perceived value, perceived quality, and experience quality) influencing tourist loyalty and its sub-dimensions.

The samples included articles from major academic databases, including Web of Science, Wiley Online, EBSCO, SAGE, Taylor and Francis, and Elsevier. Studies written in Chinese were retrieved from CNKI.com. We used the following keywords for retrieval: loyalty, behavioral intention, recommendation intention, word-of-mouth, revisit intentions, intention to revisit, willingness to recommend, and similar related terms. Conceptual and empirical studies published between January 1989 and September 2021 were extracted. To test whether there was publication bias, we used Fail-Safe-Number (FSN) to verify the stability of the results. The homogeneity test of the selected statistical model was based on the Q test and I 2 . The results were obtained by combining multiple single effect values into the combined effect value.

We developed 21 hypotheses and proposed a theoretical framework and analyzed 114650 accumulated sample sizes from 242 independent empirical studies. Among the 21 hypotheses proposed in this paper, the remaining 20 hypotheses have been proved except for hypothesis H6.

Conclusions

The findings showed that the five factors had varying degrees of positive and significant relationships with tourist loyalty and its sub-dimensions. In the descending order of effects, the five factors are degree of satisfaction, quality of experience, perceived value, perceived quality and motivation. We discussed the significance of the meta-analysis, theoretical and practical implications for destination marketing.

Introduction

Tourist loyalty plays an essential role in maintaining the competitiveness of the destination market. Today, the global tourism industry is rapidly expanding and highly competitive. Despite the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on tourism, once life returns to a new standard, event organizers will face a new market where they need to make more efforts to grab market share. Consequently, managers must make elaborate plans and develop destination tourism products to attract tourists and maintain market competitiveness [ 1 ]. Tourist loyalty is essential for destinations because it is a strong determinant of customer retention and profitability [ 2 ]. The emphasis on tourist loyalty is vital, since success depends on repurchase, as this behavior ensures the survival of a product or brand over time [ 3 ]. If tourists show great loyalty to the destination, they are more likely to provide free word-of-mouth advertisements, thus spreading favorable opinions and experiences to friends, relatives, and potential customers [ 4 ]. Tourist loyalty (a post-purchase behavior) generates revenue for the tourism industry. Research has shown that the cost of retention of existing customers is much lower than the cost of attracting new ones [ 4 ]. To better understand tourist loyalty, it is crucial to figure out what factors and to what extent these factors affect tourist loyalty.

The factors influencing tourist loyalty are still inconclusive, and we don’t yet know the strength and magnitude of relationships between different factors and loyalty [ 5 – 7 ]. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), multiple regression analysis, ANOVA analysis, meta-analysis, path analysis, and other approaches. Many authors have identified factors that affect tourist loyalty, such as satisfaction, destination image, motivation, perceived value, perceived quality, and experience quality. These studies focus on analyzing the correlation or causal relationship between various influencing factors and tourist willingness to revisit a destination from the perspective of an influencing process or mechanism [ 8 ]. Due to the different places and methodological factors in the literature, the universal value and discussions of the research conclusions are also inconsistent [ 8 ].

The results of the same factors that affect loyalty are inconsistent, reflected in the indirect or even negative influence on loyalty [ 9 – 14 ]. For example, most scholars point out that satisfaction has a positive impact on loyalty. The literature also demonstrates the importance of the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty [ 15 ]. However, when Phillips W J et al. [ 10 ] explored the relationship between destination image, perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty, the path analysis found no direct relationship between satisfaction and loyalty. Meanwhile, through a simple linear regression analysis, Tsai L-M et al. [ 11 ] demonstrated a direct and indirect positive correlation between motivation and loyalty. However, based on destination marketing theory, the path coefficient findings exhibited an insignificant relationship between motivations and loyalty [ 12 ]. Meanwhile, in the research on the influence of perceived value on loyalty, Sun X et al. [ 13 ] confirmed no correlation between perceived value and loyalty [ 13 ]. A later study by Dedeoğlu B B [ 14 ] showed that the perceived value only had a positive correlation with recommendation intention, and did not have a correlation with revisit intention.

Among the many studies on tourist loyalty, the influencing factors included in each study and their degree of influence are different. We cannot identify the most decisive factor affecting loyalty, which presents difficulties for policymakers. In loyalty research, satisfaction has been repeatedly included in the study and is considered the main influencing factor [ 16 – 18 ]. But we also found something different. In studies that include both perceived value and satisfaction, findings indicate that perceived value has a better impact on loyalty than satisfaction [ 19 – 23 ]. Similarly, other studies also find that motivation [ 19 , 24 ], perceived quality [ 25 ], and experience quality [ 26 ] have a better impact on loyalty than satisfaction.

With most studies widely confined to two or three factors, we cannot figure out the strength of different influencing factors on loyalty. For example, Kohsuke M et al. [ 27 ] studied perceived quality, value, and visitor satisfaction. Drawing support from the concepts of destination quality, destination satisfaction, and loyalty. Sangpikul A [ 16 ] explored the influence of these two factors on loyalty. Although several studies have conducted meta-analysis of the relationship between destination image and loyalty [ 17 , 18 , 28 ], the existing literature lacks comprehensive research on other factors that influence tourist loyalty. Given the inconsistency in the positioning of the case, the methods and the influencing factors, to avoid the defects of the case studies, it is necessary to mitigate the inconsistency of previous studies, establish integrated and systematic research on the factors that influence tourist loyalty, and advance a theoretical framework to different scenarios.

Thus, to clarify the relationship between satisfaction, motivation, perceived value, perceived quality, experience quality, and tourist loyalty, and to probe into the intensity order of the relationship between these five factors and loyalty. First, we systematically reviewed the factors and the concept of loyalty and proposed the possible relationship between different factors and loyalty. Then, we established the theoretical framework of five-factor tourist loyalty. The relevant data were then extracted and a meta-analysis was conducted. We extracted and summarized 242 empirical and conceptual studies and evaluated the average effect value between tourist loyalty and its influencing factors. The most significant advantage of meta-analysis is that quantitative methods provide a high degree of objectivity when studies on the same subject reach different or even contradictory conclusions. Consequently, the meta-analysis is useful in eliminating the source of errors in the course of the analysis, and in determining the relationship and intensity of variables [ 18 ]. Lastly, we discussed the research results, their theoretical and practical applications, and implications for future research.

Theoretical review and hypotheses

The concept of loyalty has had a longer involvement in the marketing literature, dating back 50 years. However, its use in tourism research has only become popular and developed in the last 20 years [ 29 , 30 ]. Loyalty is often reflected in the willingness of tourists to revisit the destination and their willingness to recommend the destination through word of mouth [ 31 – 38 ], which is crucial to the bottom line of the destination [ 39 ]. From the manager’s point of view, visitor loyalty is a key factor for market success and long-term development [ 40 ]. Loyal tourists stay longer at their destinations, spread word of mouth more actively, and engage in more intensive consumer activities. Repeat visitors are also cost-effective because they require much lower marketing costs than first-time visitors. Existing research on tourism often uses behavioral intention and loyalty interchangeably [ 41 ], with the former regarded as a good proxy for the latter [ 42 ].

In the tourism industry, most of the literature defines loyalty as the willingness of the tourist to return and recommend to others [ 43 – 47 ]. The definition of tourism loyalty draws on the theory of customer loyalty. In this theory, there are two main methods of measurement of loyalty: behavioral and attitudinal. Behavioral loyalty refers to the systematic consumption behaviors of consumers, such as purchase order, frequency, etc. In tourism, it is often measured by the frequency of visits to scenic attractions or destinations [ 48 ], that is, the repeated visitation of tourists within an appropriate time frame [ 29 , 49 ], and this approach is seen by managers as a key indicator of attraction performance [ 50 ]. The behavioral approach provides a realistic picture of how an attraction performs compared to others. However, loyalty behavior measures are often criticized for lacking a theoretical basis and providing only a narrow view of complex and dynamic tourist behavior [ 51 ]. This approach focuses only on the static results of dynamic processes without explaining the factors that influence loyalty [ 44 , 52 ]. Scholars [ 6 , 29 ] believe that using this method to evaluate loyalty will cover a large number of false loyalties. In other words, the use of this approach fails to distinguish loyal tourists from those who visit the attraction for low-cost or convenience reasons [ 20 ].

Attitudinal loyalty refers to the positive intention of tourists to visit a specific destination again or visit similar destinations, and tourists recommend destinations to those seeking travel advice through word of mouth. Compared to behavioral loyalty, attitudinal loyalty is focuses on the psychological and emotional state of customers, and their intention to repurchase and recommend a particular product or service [ 53 ]. Although criticized for its lack of predictive power for visitor implementation behavior [ 20 , 54 ], the attitudinal approach allows researchers to identify the strength of loyalty, from extreme disloyalty to extreme loyalty, which is more acceptable to tourism researchers [ 48 , 51 ]. As a result, this loyalty measure is widely adopted in the service industry. The reason for this measurement is that intention is a representation of actual future behavior, and the recognition of the attraction by tourists is an expression of their loyalty [ 55 ]. Attitudinal loyalty involves intention to revisit and word of mouth [ 56 ]. Revisit intention is the willingness of tourists to revisit a particular destination in the future [ 57 – 62 ]. Revisit intention is the result of affective situations [ 63 ] and is associated with emotional components such as satisfaction and pleasure [ 64 ]. Suggestions from previous travel experiences of tourists can significantly affect the decision-making process and choices of other tourists [ 65 ] and future travel intentions of tourists [ 66 ]. The willingness to recommend is also known as word-of-mouth communication (WOM), which refers to the willingness of tourists to share their experiences with friends and family [ 67 ]. The present research conforms to the extant literature and defines loyalty as the willingness of tourists to revisit and recommend a destination.

Although tourist loyalty has been studied extensively, there are still unsolved questions about how to keep visitors loyal to one destination [ 68 ]. For this reason, many studies have attempted to determine the antecedents of tourist loyalty using different models. For instance, Petrick J. [ 46 ] highlighted a relationship between loyalty, perceived value, and satisfaction using three competing models. Later, Cole S et al. [ 58 ] proposed a tourist experience model of experience quality, performance quality, and satisfaction as influencing factors. Then, Chen C-F et al. [ 32 ] used a conceptual model to show the relationship between loyalty, experience quality, perceived value, and satisfaction. Kim M et al. [ 69 ] also established a loyalty model composed of motivation, emotions, satisfaction, and loyalty. Therefore, based on this precedence, this study adopts a similar approach and advances five factors affecting tourist loyalty: motivation, satisfaction, perceived value, perceived quality, and experience quality.

Motivation is one of the basic concepts of human behavior [ 70 ]. In tourism research, motivation is an important theme and forms the basis of its decision-making process. It is an essential psychological concept to understand tourist behavior [ 71 ]. Since motivation is one of the indicators of customer behavior and influences their preference, there is a need for research on travelers’ motives. Dann G M S [ 72 ] first expounded the push-pull motivation model in his study on tourism motivation, which was later expanded by Crompton J L [ 73 ]. The push-pull model is probably the most widely accepted paradigm for understanding the needs of visitors and the willingness to enjoy a product [ 74 , 75 ].

Studies on tourism motivation posit that understanding tourist motivation is the foundation of tourism development. Motivation, especially push-pull motivation, has been identified as an antecedent of tourist loyalty [ 71 , 76 ]. Mai N K and Huynh T T H [ 71 ] indicated that push and pull motivation is strongly correlated with loyalty. Similarly, Hsieh C M et al. [ 76 ] showed a direct and indirect correlation with tourist loyalty. Conversely, Lee T H [ 35 ] exhibited only an indirect relationship between motivation and tourist loyalty. Ažić M L et al. [ 77 ] failed to display significant relationships between motivations and tourist loyalty. This empirical research shows the highly contradictory nature of these findings and the lack of consensus on the relationship between motivation and tourist loyalty.

By exploring the relationship between motivation factors and loyalty, this paper posits the following assumptions:

• H1. Motivation has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H2. Motivation has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H3. Motivation has a positive effect on recommend intention.
• H4. Pull motivation has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H5. Pull motivation has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H6. Pull motivation has a positive effect on recommend intention.
• H7. Push motivation has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H8. Push motivation has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H9. Push motivation has a positive effect on recommend intention.

Satisfaction

One of the main objectives of destination managers is to maximize visitor satisfaction, due to the strong relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty [ 78 ]. As one of the most critical factors affecting tourist loyalty [ 4 , 44 , 79 ], numerous studies show a close relationship between tourist satisfaction and loyalty. Scholars believe that satisfied tourists are more likely to return or revisit the same destination and are more willing to share their positive travel experiences with relatives and friends [ 4 , 29 , 44 ].

However, there are some controversial points that satisfaction only affects one aspect of loyalty. For example, empirical research by Brigne E et al. [ 80 ] showed that tourist satisfaction determined their willingness to recommend destinations to relatives and friends, rather than undergo post-visit behaviors, namely revisit intention. Xu C X et al. [ 81 ] pointed out that only satisfaction had an impact on the willingness of Chinese tourists to revisit Hong Kong. Earlier, a study by Lee C-K et al. [ 82 ] on tourists from the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea showed that satisfaction only impacted recommendation intention. It follows then that the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty needs further research. Accordingly, we propose the following hypotheses:

• H10. Satisfaction has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H11. Satisfaction has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H12. Satisfaction has a positive effect on recommend intention.

Perceived value

Perceived value is the trade-off between tourists perceived benefits and costs (e.g., money, time, effort, risk, and convenience) of the tourism products or services provided [ 83 ]. The concept of perceived value is based on the theory of equivalence. This theory postulates that perceived value is the ratio between the provider’s outcome and the consumer’s input [ 84 ]. Customers believe that they are treated fairly when the proportion of their sacrifices and rewards are equal. When customers benefit more from monetary and non-monetary sacrifices, they are more connected to service providers, and this relationship will subsequently affect their future behavior [ 48 ].

Perceived value has always been a necessary prerequisite for the investigation of tourism behavior, especially in the prediction of tourist intentions [ 85 , 86 ]. Many studies have confirmed a positive correlation between tourist perception of value and loyalty [ 87 , 88 ]. These researches posit that increased revisitation rates and tourist recommendations have a high perceived value to the destination [ 29 ]. Several studies also provide empirical support for this relationship (e.g. [ 48 , 89 ]). However, some empirical studies show contrasting results (e.g. [ 10 , 13 , 14 ]). Phillips W J et al. [ 10 ] pointed out that perceived value is only positively correlated with tourist recommendations and negatively correlated with revisit intention. Sun X et al. [ 13 ] confirmed that there was no correlation between perceived value and loyalty. A later study by Dedeoğlu B B [ 14 ] showed that the perceived value only had a positive correlation with the tourist recommendation intention, and did not have a correlation with tourist revisit intention. To further clarify the relationship between perceived value and tourist loyalty, we propose the following hypotheses:

• H13. Perceived value has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H14. Perceived value has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H15. Perceived value has a positive effect on recommend intention.

Perceived quality

Research on the perceived quality of tourism destinations draws on service quality theories from Parasuraman A P et al. [ 90 ] and Grönroos C [ 91 ]. It is a judgment made by visitors based on the comparison between their expectation of service performance and their perception, which is subjective rather than based on objective or actual quality. The relationship between perceived quality and loyalty is widely supported in the literature on hospitality and tourism [ 92 , 93 ]. Providing high-quality products and services is an opportunity to improve customer loyalty [ 94 ]. Chi X et al. [ 95 ] and Loureiro S M Cet al. [ 96 ] also found that perceived quality positively and significantly predicted tourist loyalty.

Accordingly, to explore the relationship between perceived quality and loyalty, we propose the following assumptions:

• H16. Perceived quality has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H17. Perceived quality has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H18. Perceived quality has a positive effect on recommend intention.

Experience quality

The quality of the experience refers to the final product of tourist feelings and perceptions of a destination [ 42 ]. It is an emotional judgment involving the tourist interaction with the surrounding environment, the sponsor, and other tourists and participants at the destination [ 32 , 97 ]. Experience quality involves the quality of the service attributes provided by suppliers and brought by visitors [ 26 ]. Travel experiences based on these attributes are critical to the development of destinations [ 69 , 98 ]. Because the positive experience of tourist products, management, and other resources during their stay in tourist destinations seems to help improve their satisfaction, thus promoting revisit intention (tourist loyalty) and word-of-mouth recommendation [ 84 , 99 ]. Prior research demonstrated that tourist experience quality has a positive impact on loyalty [ 100 , 101 ]. Thus, we propose the following hypotheses:

• H19. Experience quality has a positive effect on tourist loyalty.
• H20. Experience quality has a positive effect on revisit intention.
• H21. Experience quality has a positive effect on recommend intention.

Based on the above 21 research hypotheses, we propose the basic theoretical framework illustrated in Fig 1 .

Methodology

This research used meta-analysis, a quantitative literature analysis method, to discuss the composition and functions of factors affecting tourist loyalty [ 102 ]. The greatest strength of meta-analysis is that it can provide objective quantitative standards to ensure the reliability and objectivity of the conclusions, when different or even opposite research conclusions appear on the same topic, eliminating the source of errors in the analysis process and reveling the actual relationship and strength of variables [ 103 ]. Researchers can obtain comprehensive examinations, and new research directions can be provided by examining differences in previous studies.

Several identical empirical articles exist in the field of tourism. Through the quantitative integration of meta-analysis, these empirical results can increase the sample size and improve the effect of statistical test, which is conducive to drawing more general, comprehensive, and clear conclusions [ 104 ]. We adopted the meta-analysis because (1) many existing quantitative studies on tourist loyalty met the basic requirements of the method. (2) The research conclusions that affect tourist loyalty are inconsistent. This method can analyze this phenomenon and draw more scientific conclusions from a more comprehensive space.

Registration

The protocol for the study was registered with INPLASY in March 2022 and its unique identification number is INPLASY202230114 ( S1 Protocol ). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) has been used to report the results ( S1 Checklist ).

Sample selection

The samples included articles from major academic databases, including Web of Science ( www.webofknowledge.com ), Wiley Online ( www.wiley.com ), EBSCO ( www.ebsco.com ), SAGE ( www.sagepub.com ), Taylor and Francis ( www.tandfonline.com ), and Elsevier ( www.elsevier.com ). Studies written in Chinese were retrieved from CNKI.com ( www.cnki.net ) and other major scholarly databases. We used the following keywords for retrieval: loyalty, behavioral intention, recommendation intention, word-of-mouth, revisit intentions, intention to revisit, willingness to recommend, and similar related terms. Conceptual and empirical studies published between January 1989 and September 2021 were extracted. To expand the sample size, we conducted a secondary manual search to find relevant missing literature from the references of articles extracted from the databases. By soliciting assistance from tourism scholars, we obtained some unpublished research literature on tourist loyalty. This helps to reduce the impact of publication bias and to include as many relevant studies as possible.

The following screening criteria ensured a comprehensive approach, preserved the integrity and diversity of the samples, and reduced publication bias:

• Use only empirical literature related to tourist loyalty.
• Exclude literature that did not report the correlation coefficient or standard regression coefficient or path coefficient, or other convertible indicators (such as t value and F value) between independent variables and loyalty.
• Eliminate the literature with an ill-defined concept of research variables.
• Avoid duplication by classifying an article as the same study if it was published in multiple stages, repeated, or had the same sample.
• Exclude articles with less than three effect values of all components of the two variables.

Based on the above criteria, 242 articles were extracted from 215 English papers and 27 Chinese papers ( Fig 2 ), which produced 114,650 total sample values.

Effect coding

After obtaining the sample literature, the empirical studies were coded independently by the two authors of this article to ensure the reliability and independence of the data. Coded data include qualitative information and quantitative information. Qualitative information includes research description items, such as author (for convenience, we only marked the first author), title, publication year, publication journal, research method, method, research object, etc.; and quantitative information includes sample size, variable reliability, effect value, etc. To ensure the accuracy of the coding content, the included documents are coded independently and compared. After the coding, the two authors of this article made a comparison and found the reasons for the inconsistencies in the coding information. After discussion, the authors modified and processed the data to resolve the discrepancies.

The detailed steps are as follows: ① Identify statistics that can characterize the relationship between variables, such as the correlation coefficient, the regression coefficient, and the path coefficient. ② Convert all single statistics into a unified effect size (ES)—correlation coefficient r.③ Calculate the total effect size, which refers to the statistics that reflect the relationship between variables and do not depend on a single study. Data processing is mainly implemented by The Comprehensive Meta-analysis software (CMA 3.0).

Analysis process

Effect size.

First, we extracted the direction and sample size of the correlation coefficient reported in the literature. If the literature did not report the correlation coefficient, we converted the t-value, the P-value, the β value, and other convertible indicators into the correlation coefficient [ 105 ]. Second, we used the Fisher’s-Z conversion value method to convert the correlation coefficient. Third, we converted the standard deviation into standard error, and used the reciprocal of the square of the standard error as the weight to the weighted average of the Fisher’s-Z score. Fourth, we obtained the final effect value through the inverse Fisher-Z conversion formula, which was used as the data source for subsequent research. Since there were insufficient (< 3) studies between pull motivation and recommendation intention, we did not test hypothesis H6.

r x is the effect size of the xth study, z x represents the Fisher’s-Z score of the xth study.

z r ¯ represents weighted-average z-score, n x = sample number, k = number of effect size.

r ¯ = combined effect size.

Publication bias

To test whether there was publication bias, we used Fail-Safe-Number (FSN) to verify the stability of the results [ 106 ]. The loss of a safety factor referred to how many more studies were needed before the conclusion could be overturned. The smaller the loss of safety factor, the greater the possibility of publication bias [ 107 ]. Rothstein et al. [ 108 ] believed that when the loss of safety factor is less than 5M + 10 (M is the number of research literature), the problem of bias needs to be resolved.

Homogeneity

The homogeneity test of the selected statistical model was based on the Q test and I 2 . The Q-value obeys the chi-square distribution with the degree of freedom of M-1, where M is the number of effect sizes [ 109 ]. I 2 reflects the degree of heterogeneity. If Q is statistically significant( p <0.05) and I 2 >60%, it means that these effect values are a heterogeneous distribution, and the random effect model should be used [ 109 – 111 ]. Otherwise, the fixed-effect model is adopted. Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA)3.0 can directly output Q statistical results, directly obtain the analysis results of the fixed-effect model and random effect model, and test the hypothesis of combined effect value.

Hypotheses testing

Before hypothesis testing, it is necessary to combine multiple single effect values to obtain the combined effect value. That is, Zr is converted into the final correlation coefficient R. The correlation between independent variables and dependent variables can be judged by the R-value, and the conversion process can be realized using meta-analysis software (CMA)3.0. Cohen [ 112 ] proposed an empirical criterion to judge the strength of the correlation relationship through the correlation coefficient R. Generally, when 0.00 ≤ R ≤ 0.09, it means that there is no correlation between independent variables and dependent variables; When 0.10 ≤ R ≤ 0.29, it indicates a weak correlation; when 0.30 ≤ R ≤ 0.49, it indicates a moderate correlation; and when 0.50 ≤ R ≤ 1.00, it indicates a strong correlation. If the absolute value of the correlation coefficient r is not within the range of the empirical criterion, R can be rounded and then judged through the criterion. In addition, it is also necessary to test the statistical significance of the combined effect value R. In this paper, Z statistics are used as an index to judge whether the hypothesis test is significant [ 113 ].

Publication bias and heterogeneity test

Since journals tend to publish articles with significant results, omitting articles with no significant effects could lead to publication bias. Using the FSN results, we calculated the difference between independent variables and dependent variables. The results showed that the FSN was well above the critical value(FSN>5M+10). Hence, there was no serious publication bias in the meta-analysis samples. For example, the meta-analysis between experience quality and loyalty incorporates data from 16 studies. The fail-safe N is 10238, which means that we would need to locate and include 10238 ‘null’ studies for the combined 2-tailed p-value to exceed 0.050. Put another way, there would need to be 639.9 missing studies for every observed research for the effect to be nullified.

We further tested the heterogeneity of tourist loyalty by Q and I 2 values. The results (see Table 1 ) showed that the P values of other independent variables and dependent variables were less than 0.05, except that the P values between motivation and recommendation intention were greater than 0.05(P = 0.072). Additionally, the Q values of all independent and dependent variables are greater than M-1, and I 2 is greater than 60%. Hence, looking at the above factors, the random effect model is more suitable to analyze the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables.

Hypothesis test results of effect combination values

The combined effect sizes listed in Table 2 reflected the positive relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Specifically, the calculation results of the meta-analysis revealed a moderately significant relationship between motivation and loyalty (r = 0.420, 95%CI = [0.321–0.505], p<0.000) with 16 observations. The existing relationship between motivation and revisit intention was moderately significant (r = 0.370, 95%CI = [0.109–0.584], P<0.01) with 10 observations. For the relationship between motivation and recommendation intention, only three studies were retrieved. These calculations revealed a positive but weakest strength significant relationship (r = 0.184, 95%CI = [0.095–0.271], P<0.000) between this independent variable and recommend intention. Therefore, Hypotheses H1, H2 and H3 were supported. Calculating of the relationship between pull motivation and loyalty produced a strong significant value (r = 0.504, 95%CI = [0.311–0.656], P<0.000). In this case, we analyze ten relationships. From 5 observations, the calculation results showed that the pull motivation had a moderately significant impact on revisit intention (r = 0.345, 95%CI = [0.202–0.475], P<0.000). Thus, Hypotheses H4 and H5 were confirmed. We measured the relationship between push motivation and loyalty with eight observations. The results revealed a moderately significant correlation (r = 0.383, 95%CI = [0.127–0.590], P<0.001). In the case of push motivation and revisit intention, the correlation was significant and weak (r = 0.234, 95%CI = [0.117–0.344], P<0.01). For this relationship, we analyzed five effects. For push motivation and recommendation intention, we evaluated three observations. This relationship had a weak significant correlation with recommendation intention (r = 0.219, 95%CI = [0.111–0.322], P<0.000). Therefore, Hypotheses H7, H8, and H9 were supported.

In the case of satisfaction and loyalty, the results revealed the strongest significant correlation (r = 0.636, 95% CI = [0.603–0.667], p<0.000). For this relationship, most of the 140 observations were evaluated. The relationship between satisfaction and the revisit intention was strong and significant (r = 0.592, 95%CI = [0.538–0.641], P<0.000) with 50 observations. From 33 observations, the results showed that satisfaction also had a strong and significant impact on recommendation intention (r = 0.575, 95%CI = [0.503–0.639], P < 0.000). Thus, Hypotheses H9, H10 and H11 were confirmed. Similarly, from the calculation results, we can also see that the perceived value of tourists had a moderate to strong significant relationship with respect to loyalty (r = 0.534, 95%CI = [0.486–0.579], P<0.000), revisit intention (r = 0.458, 95%CI = [0.319–0.577], P<0.000) and recommendation intention (r = 0.458, 95%CI = [0.317–0.580], P<0.000). The observations were 61, 15, and 12, respectively. As for perceived quality, the results indicated that perceived quality had a moderate and significant impact on loyalty (r = 0.474, 95%CI = [0.394–0.548], P<0.000), revisit intention (r = 0.440, 95%CI = [0.257–0.593], P<0.000) and recommendation intention (r = 0.426, 95%CI = [0.245–0.579], P<0.000). For this relationship, the observations were 32, 5, and 5, respectively. Of 16,4 and 3, respectively, the results revealed that experience quality had a moderate to strong significant correlation on loyalty (r = 0.536, 95%CI = [0.433–0.626], P<0.000), revisit intention (r = 0.474, 95%CI = [0.247–0.651], P<0.000) and recommendation intention (r = 0.538, 95%CI = [0.472–0.598], P<0.000). Therefore, hypotheses H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, H17, H18, H19, H20 and H21 were all confirmed.

Since tourist loyalty is essential to the success of a destination, it is crucial to understand which factors may influence it. Understanding predictors of tourist loyalty can provide destination managers with information to prioritize their management tasks and organize activities to better build tourist loyalty. The purpose of this study is to clarify the uncertainty of some factors in loyalty, include as many influencing factors as possible, and determine the magnitude of relationships between different factors and loyalty. One of the main contributions of this study is to innovatively propose a five-factor model (motivation, satisfaction, perceived value, perceived quality and experience quality) and put forward 21 hypotheses that affect tourist loyalty. It is also uncommon to include five influencing factors simultaneously in one article. Meta-analysis was used to systematically analyze 242 articles on the relationship between the five factors and tourist loyalty. The other major contribution in this study is that this paper clarifies the controversy of the same influencing factors on loyalty and solves the strength and magnitude of relationships between different factors and loyalty.

Overall, among the 21 hypotheses proposed in this paper, except for Hypothesis H6, which cannot be confirmed due to the lack of sufficient studies, the remaining 20 hypotheses have been proved. The findings were consistent with the results of prior studies on tourist loyalty (e.g. [ 42 , 70 , 100 , 114 ]), suggesting that the conclusions obtained by integrating the meta-analysis were accurate and scientific. Loyalty is not only affected by these five factors, but also the five factors have different degrees of influence on loyalty. By comparing the strength and magnitude of relationships, we found that the combined effect size demonstrated that the five dependent variables had a weak to strong impact on loyalty and its sub-dimensions. Specifically, for the relationship of each dependent variable on loyalty, satisfaction had the most significant effect on loyalty, followed by experience quality, perceived value and pull motivation, which also had a strong correlation with loyalty, perceived quality, motivation, and push motivation had the least but still moderate impact on loyalty.

Theoretically, the study developed and tested a more comprehensive model of tourist loyalty than any previous study. The results extend our current understanding of the development of loyalty and strongly suggest that future loyalty models should include multiple factors. By incorporating more sample data from prior studies, the study proposed the five-factors theoretical framework on tourist loyalty based on previous studies. The five influencing factors are integrated into one single literature, which is impossible to achieve in prior studies. This study solved the convergence and divergence in previous studies and produced a more generalizable finding. Although previous tests of these 21 hypotheses produced inconclusive conclusions and different magnitudes, meta-analysis results allow us to draw more definitive conclusions about the relationships. With the advantage of meta-analysis and more empirical studies, this study confirmed that the five dependent variables had significantly positive relationship with loyalty and their sub-dimensions. In the descending order of effects, the five factors are degree of satisfaction, quality of experience, perceived value, perceived quality, and motivation.

Practically, the results of this study are of great significance for the management of destination markets and loyalty. Managers should improve tourist loyalty in many aspects. First of all, the construct most studied by researchers is satisfaction. In the meantime, the results of meta-analysis showed that satisfaction was the best predictor of loyalty, which is consistent with most studies (e.g. [ 101 , 115 , 116 ]). The results are in line with the argument of Nilplub et al. [ 117 ] that the effect of satisfaction on destination loyalty is much stronger and more complex than previously identified. Although there are still some controversies between them, our study further confirms the positive role of satisfaction in loyalty by summarizing previous studies. The higher the satisfaction of tourists, the higher the loyalty, which will increase the willingness of tourists to return to the destination and make recommendations to their family members and friends. Therefore, destination managers should devote themselves to cultivating high satisfaction of tourists, to increase the revisit behaviors of tourists, and promote the development of the tourism market.

Second, experience quality is second only to satisfaction in all factors, highlighting its importance in tourist loyalty and sub-dimensions. Research on the quality of experience is an excellent response to Hanafiah et al. [ 100 ]. The findings of this article demonstrated that experience quality had a positive and moderate strength relationship with loyalty and its sub-dimensions, indicating the importance of service quality in tourist travel. This conclusion is partly consistent with previous research on creative tourism in that experience quality has a greater impact on loyalty than satisfaction, perceived value, and motivation [ 19 ]. The difference is that experience quality is second only to satisfaction, but more important than perceived value and motivation. As proposed by Cervera-Taulet et al. [ 42 ], tourists are more inclined to recommend and return to a particular destination when their overall evaluation of the trip is positive. Destination researchers should consider this as a major determinant when constructing a robust conceptual framework of tourist loyalty.

Third, the inclusion of perceived value in the meta-analysis is a good response to the constructive argument of previous scholars [ 23 , 118 ], which suggest that perceived value has a moderate to strong impact on loyalty and its sub-dimensions. This finding is consistent with studies that emphasize the importance of perceived value in tourist loyalty (e.g. [ 86 , 87 ]). Destination managers should incorporate perceived value into tourist behavior models and offer more cost-effective products to make tourists feel worthwhile. the results also show that perceived quality has a moderate direct impact on both loyalty and its sub-dimensions, indicating that tourist loyalty comes from tourist evaluation of the service experience provided by a large number of service providers in the destination. The influence of perceived quality on loyalty is second only to perceived value, which is consistent with the results of previous loyalty research literature that includes both perceived quality and perceived value [ 7 , 22 ]. Therefore, to increase tourist loyalty, managers should control products and services at reasonable prices to create high perceived value for tourists. At the same time, managers should create high-quality destination product quality and services to improve tourist perception of quality, which requires managers to make a trade-off.

Fourth, this study found that motivation and loyalty and its sub-dimensions are positively related. Our study shows that among the five factors that affect loyalty, motivation has the least impact, reaching a weak to moderate relationship. The results also show that motivation has a weaker association with loyalty than that of service quality, which is consistent with the findings of Paudyal et al. [ 119 ]. From the comparison of the two sub-dimensions of motivation, we can see that the effect of pull motivation on loyalty was better than that of push motivation, which is consistent with previous studies [ 70 , 120 ]. This means that the attraction factor of the destination is more conducive to improving the loyalty of tourists than the intrinsic tourism factor of themselves. Destination managers should focus on the attributes of the destination itself, such as the development and preservation of destination cultural and natural attractions, improving transportation, enriching site facilities and activities, etc.

Limitations and directions for future research

There are some limitations to this study. Using only English and Chinese sample literature may result in insufficient sample comprehensiveness and representativeness. Nevertheless, the limitations of data extraction and other conditions had been calculated in the study and FSN showed a high level of validity. Furthermore, due to the problem of error analysis and selective reporting in some samples, we were unable to fully use the original data, which reduced the sample size of this research and the accuracy of the results. Therefore, the sample base needs to be further improved in subsequent studies. The heterogeneity test supported the existence of moderating factors that determined the magnitude of effect sizes. Since this study did not analyze the mediating and moderating roles of variables, future studies can explore how the size of the would be influenced by including these variables.

Although the existing literature mainly discussed the influence of only five factors on tourist loyalty, in reality, all factors belong to the tourist perception of the destination. Accordingly, there must be mutual relations and effects among all factors. Therefore, subsequent research should explore the influence of interaction and transformation among all influencing factors on tourist loyalty.

Supporting information

S1 protocol, s1 checklist, acknowledgments.

We thank TopEdit ( www.topeditsci.com ) for its linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding Statement

This research was supported by University Philosophy and Social Science Research Project in Jiangsu Province (2019SJA0081); Research Foundation for High-level Talents of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NYY220031). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Money blog: What are your rights when deliveries or returns don't arrive?

A retailer is responsible for ensuring your goods get to you and these rights usually extend to returns, says consumer disputes expert Scott Dixon. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Monday 3 June 2024 07:03, UK

• Why British mortgage holders (and maybe holidaymakers) should be watching Frankfurt this week
• Shein shoppers warned about phishing scam

Essential reads

• 'I returned an item by post to Nike, they say they never got it and won't refund - what can I do?'
• Think twice before buying your holiday clothes from Zara
• Where is all the money going? Here's who is really responsible for concert tickets going crazy
• Strikes, new bank notes, cat fines and airport disruption: Main June money dates for your calendar
• 'A truck unloaded a £600 car that her son bought on eBay thinking it was a toy' - the schoolgate stories that led to GoHenry
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Every Monday we get an expert to answer your money problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...

I purchased two pairs of shorts from Nike a year ago. I shortly after returned them for a refund as they didn't suit me. Nike are saying I can't be refunded due to them not receiving the returned items. Even though I have supplied the Royal Mail proof of postage. Lee F

Scott Dixon, from The Complaints Resolver , says Lee is very unlikely to get a positive outcome in this case.

"The problem is that you have left it so long to resolve the issue. It's highly unlikely (virtually impossible) this can be resolved for that reason - you cannot leave a complaint on missing goods in transit for a year and expect a remedy."

Though there's unlikely to be a positive resolution here, delivery issues are common – so Scott has walked us through people's basic rights when things go missing…

Your contract is always with the retailer, not the courier firm, to ensure that your order is safely delivered, says Scott. If it hasn't turned up, the first thing you need to do is to contact the retailer. 

"It is their legal responsibility to make sure the item is safely delivered to you under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. They should contact the courier – who they've entered a contract with - and let you know what has happened to your item.

"S29 (2) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 states the goods remain at the trader's risk until they come into the physical possession of the consumer, or a person identified by the consumer, to take possession of the goods."

The retailer can either refund you or rearrange for the goods to be delivered, says Scott.

If this doesn't work, raise a chargeback with your bank or credit card provider within 120 days of your purchase or payment to get a refund.

"You need to push hard on chargebacks and cite 'breach of contract' under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, as chargebacks are often rejected on the first attempt," says Scott.

"Your bank or credit card provider will reverse the payment and give the retailer an opportunity to present their case.

"Retailers don't like dealing with chargebacks as they are problematic and costly to resolve."

What if you leave delivery instructions?

This could see you lose all rights.

Scott explains: "If you give specific instructions to the retailer for the item to be left in the porch, 'leave in shed at rear' or another designated safe place, and it is stolen, then you are responsible because the retailer and courier have simply followed your instructions."

You have a 14-day cooling off period for all non-bespoke items under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Scott says: "A retailer will usually provide a returns label or a website link to their returns policy, and give instructions for you to return goods. Usually a retailer will engage a courier firm for returns - be it Royal Mail, DHL etc etc."

This often involves dropping the item off at a local convenience store, where labels are scanned.

"Convenience stores often say you will get a receipt by email. This isn't always the case, leaving you high and dry if the goods go missing in transit," warns Scott.

To protect yourself, Scott says you should follow the policy courier firms use when they deliver goods to you: take a photo of the goods at the point of handover and insist on a receipt. 

"This is your proof if you need to dispute lost goods in transit," he says.

"The retailer will push back in these cases when goods are lost in transit with a fob off saying it's not their fault and the responsibility lies with the courier, which is blatantly untrue."

Scott says the retailer engaged the courier firm to safely return the goods and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. 

"Remember, your contract is with the retailer – you're following their return instructions. So this is on them.

"You need to push hard on this and cite 'breach of contract' under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to get a full refund.

"If you hit a brick wall, simply raise a chargeback with your bank or credit card provider and cite 'breach of contract' under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to dispute the transaction."

As a last resort you can take your case to the Small Claims Court in England and Wales - or use the respective legal routes in Scotland and Northern Ireland .

What if a company doesn't provide specific returns instructions?

Your contract is then with the courier - but much of the above still applies with them. S49 Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that every contract to supply a service is to be treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill.

Sky News contacted Nike for comment.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about.  Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• The form above - you need to leave a phone number or email address so we can contact you for further details
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here

Interest rates are likely to be cut in the eurozone this week despite inflation accelerating in May.

The European Central Bank is expected to move on Thursday, before both the US Fed and the Bank of England.

The decision is important for mortgage holders and savers - and potentially holidaymakers - in the UK because the country doesn't exist in an economic bubble.

Markets currently expect the BoE to wait until August or September - but what happens on Thursday could shift that.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, explained earlier this year: "There is some safety in numbers for central banks, because of the exchange rate effects of pulling away from the herd. Cutting rates too far ahead of others can lead to currency weakness, and additional inflationary pressure as a result. 

"Leaving it too late can do unnecessary financial damage to the domestic economy."

As Mr Khalaf suggests, if the BoE doesn't quickly follow it may be good for UK holidaymakers, who could find their pound buys more should the euro endure a period of weakness.

The main ECB rate is currently 4% - and a cut is still widely anticipated despite inflation accelerating from 2.4% to 2.6% last month.

ECB officials have warned of an uneven path back to the target of 2% inflation. 

Interest rates are kept high to encourage saving over spending - when this happens, price rises tend to slow.

In the UK, the base rate has been kept at a 16-year high of 5.25% since last autumn - though inflation is now at 2.3%, within touching distance of target.

The next rate decision here is on 20 June.

If there is a surprise in Frankfurt this week, it would likely have a negative impact on the market and perhaps set back expectations of a BoE cut.

Shoppers at Shein are being warned of a new phishing scam that threatens their personal information and money.

The scam sees customers receive an email that offers them a Shein mystery box and encourages them click on a link to claim their prize.

However, clicking on the link takes users to a fake site which allows cyber criminals to gain access to personal details. 

Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, has warned shoppers: "Whilst Shein does offer legitimate mystery boxes during promotions or special events, the way to know if they are legitimate is to recognise the website you are directed to.

"The website you are directed to by scammers mimics Shein's, and the obvious way to indicate this is the URL, which is different from the official website."

How can you spot a fake Shein website?

• The domain name for Shein is shein.com and any variations to this should be considered untrustworthy. You should also make sure the site has "https" URLs and lock icons;
• Check for a legitimate contact page with company addresses, customer service numbers and employee information;
• Search for online reviews of the website from a trusted independent source;
• Pay attention to images edited poorly as Shein uses professional photography for all of its products;
• Be cautious of prices that seem more than 50% lower than Shein's real pricing;
• Look out for spelling and grammar errors throughout the site.

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Monday: This week's Money Problem is from a reader who says Nike are refusing to refund him on two pairs of shorts - he's been told they never arrived back, yet says he has proof of postage.

Tuesday : We're continuing our new Women in Business  feature - interviewing women who are bossing their industry. And this week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about student finance.

Wednesday : The new King Charles III banknotes come into circulation - and we have another top chef picking their best Cheap Eats,  this week from Warwickshire.

Thursday : The ECB is widely expected to cut interest rates in the eurozone. Here in Money,  Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back with her weekly insight into the savings market.

Friday : We'll have everything you need to know about the mortgage market this week with the guys from Moneyfacts.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King on weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

By Katie Williams , Money team

Spending a fair chunk on going to see your favourite big artist is not new - but it certainly feels like concert prices have entered a new stratosphere.

Fans of Bruce Springsteen have paid upwards of £120 for "rear pitch" standing tickets for his May 2024 tour, while some expressed disappointment recently over the £145 price tag of standing tickets for Billie Eilish's 2025 UK leg.

And while you could have nabbed Beyonce or Taylor Swift tickets in the UK for £50 (before fees) if you took a "nosebleed" seat, these had limited availability and quickly sold out. General admission standing tickets for Swift's Eras tour - which comes to the UK next week - started at £110.40 and those at the front had to shell out £172.25. It didn't stop there - by the time many fans got to the front of the online ticket queue, the only tickets left cost upwards of £300.

So what's behind rising ticket costs? These are some of the reasons...

Fans willing to pay for big spectacles

Simply put, ticket prices would come down if people voted with their feet.

Matt Hanner, booking agent and operations director at Runway, said prices at the top level had "risen considerably" - but the increase was partly being driven by demand.

"We're seeing a lot more stadium shows, greenfield, outdoor festival-type shows which are now a staple of towns around the country," he said.

"There's a growing number of people that are happy to spend a large chunk of their disposable income on going to a major music event."

Jon Collins, chief executive of LIVE, the trade body representing the UK's live music industry, had a similar view.

He said there were more large-scale shows and tours now than ever, and there was "massive appetite" among music lovers for "bigger spectacles".

Fancy shows mean higher costs - with staffing, the price of the venue, transport, artists' needs, insurance and loads more to factor in.

Of course, all these things are affected by inflation. Collins said ticket prices also factored in the rising costs that had hit every venue from the grassroots scene to major arenas.

"You've got a couple of different factors - you've got the spectacle of the show and the production cost and everything that goes into the ticket price. But then you've also got the fundamentals," he said.

The cost of venue hire has increased "significantly" in the past couple of years due to electricity and gas price rises, he added.

"You've got the increase in the cost of people… very justifiable costs like increases in minimum wage and living wage. At every stage of the process we've got these cost increases that will all push through the pressure on the ticket price."

Are artists being greedy?

How much money artists really earn off live touring is of interest to many - but the music industry is generally reluctant to release details.

The people we spoke to suggested it was not as simple as artist greed because, as we mentioned earlier, there's a lot to pay for before anything reaches their bank accounts.

The Guardian spoke to anonymous insiders about this topic in 2017. Its report suggested that between 50-70% of gross earnings were left for promoters and artists. The piece also cited a commonly quoted figure that the promoter takes 15% of what is left and the act will get 85%.

It all depends on the calibre of the artist and how much work the promoter has had to put in - they could end up with a bigger share if it was a hard push to get the show sold.

The people we spoke to said music acts and their teams would discuss the ticket price, and the bigger the act, the more sway they have - but it's ultimately set by the promoter.

Taylor Swift - arguably the biggest popstar on the planet right now - is personally earning between $10m and $13m (£8m - £10.5m) on every stop of her Eras Tour, according to Forbes. She is reported to take home a whopping 85% of  all revenue  from the tour.

But it's worth pointing out, too, that she's been known to be generous with her cash, having given $100,000 bonuses to the dozens of lorry drivers working on the tour.

What have other artists said? 

Some artists have been critical of the high ticket prices being demanded by others.

Tom Grennan told ITV two years ago that he had seen "loads of artists putting tickets out that are way too expensive for the times that we are in", adding that he wanted people to enjoy shows without worrying if they could pay their bills.

Singer-songwriter Paul Heaton was also praised for capping ticket prices for his tour with Jacqui Heaton at £30 in a bid to tackle music industry "greed" and help people during the cost of living.

British star Yungblud recently announced his own music festival, Bludfest - saying the industry was too expensive and needed to be "shaken up".

"I believe that gigs are too expensive, festivals are too expensive, and I just wanted to work to create something that has been completely done by me," he told Sky News.

Meanwhile, frequent Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff has said "dynamic pricing" by ticket sale sites such as Ticketmaster was also an issue when it came to cost.

He told Stereogum that he wanted artists to be able to opt out of the system - which basically means ticket prices increase when a show is in demand - and be able to sell them at the price they choose.

On its website, Ticketmaster describes its "Platinum" tickets as those that have their price adjusted according to supply and demand.

It says the goal of the dynamic pricing system is to "give fans fair and safe access to the tickets, while enabling artists and other people involved in staging live events to price tickets closer to their true market value".

The company claims it is artists, their teams and promoters who set pricing and choose whether dynamic pricing is used for their shows.

Ticketing website fees

As well as dynamic pricing, "sneaky" fees by online ticket sites are also causing issues for live music lovers, according to the consumer champion Which?.

A report from the group last month said an array of fees that isn't seen until checkout can add around 20% to the cost of concert and festival tickets.

Which? has urged a crackdown on the "bewildering" extra charges, which include booking, "delivery" and "transaction" fees, venue charges and sometimes charges for e-tickets.

The Cure lead singer Robert Smith tweeted that he was "sickened" after fans complained last year about processing fees  on Ticketmaster that wound up costing more than the ticket itself in some cases.

Responding to the Which? findings, Ticketmaster (which was far from the only company named) said: "Fees are typically set by and shared with our clients… who all invest their skill, resource and capital into getting an event off the ground. Ticketmaster supports legislation that requires all-in pricing across the industry."

Live Nation and Ticketmaster sued over 'dominance'

The US government is suing Ticketmaster owner Live Nation over allegations the company is "monopolising" the live events industry.

Justice department officials said it was unfair for the firm to control around 70% of primary ticketing for concerts in America. 

Live Nation has been accused of using lengthy contracts to prevent venues from choosing rival ticket companies, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and support if Ticketmaster wasn't the chosen seller.

Live Nation said the lawsuit reflected a White House that had turned over competition enforcement "to a populist urge that simply rejects how antitrust law works".

"Some call this 'anti-monopoly', but in reality it is just anti-business," it said.

And it said its share of the market had been shrinking and its profit margin of 1.4% was the "opposite of monopoly power".

The lawsuit "won't solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows", the company said.

"We will defend against these baseless allegations, use this opportunity to shed light on the industry and continue to push for reforms that truly protect consumers and artists."

As well as reportedly controlling most of the ticketing market, Live Nation also owns and represents some acts and venues.

Canadian artist Dan Mangan told Moneywise this was enabling the company to take "more and more of the pie".

He said when venue rent, equipment and other costs were taken into account, lesser known artists could take as little as 20% of ticket sales.

Another major cost on tickets in the UK is VAT (value added tax).

At 20%, it's pretty hefty. It was brought down to 5% and then 12.5% as the live music industry was hampered by COVID, but returned to the pre-pandemic level in April 2022.

The charge puts the UK "out of step" with other countries, Collins said.

"In competitive major markets like France, it's 5%. Germany it's 7%, Italy it's 10%. Sales tax in the US is typically 6% or 7%. So we are significantly out of step with other markets when it comes to how much VAT we charge on tickets," he said.

Touring now bigger source of income for major stars

With the decline of physical products and the rise of subscription listening, artists are earning less from making music - and income from live shows has become more important for the biggest stars.

Writer and broadcaster Paul Stokes said major stars who would have toured infrequently in the past were now willing to put on more shows as it becomes increasingly profitable.

Some artists will even pencil in multiple nights at huge venues like Wembley Arena, he said - something that wouldn't have been considered two decades ago.

"When Wembley was built and they said 'we'll be doing regular shows' you'd think 'are there acts big enough to fill this massive stadium?'

"It's become absolutely part of the live calendar that artists will come and play not just one night at Wembley, but two or three every every summer."

Stokes said this demand has also prompted the scale of shows that we've become used to seeing, featuring expensive production and pyrotechnics.

Not being felt evenly

While a night out seeing a platinum-selling artist is likely to be an expensive affair, industry figures are also keen to point out that the escalation in ticket prices isn't necessarily happening at a lower level.

Collins said that while major stars were putting on arena shows, there would be plenty of other live music taking place at the same time, "from the free pub gig to the £10 ticket at the grassroots venue, to the £30 mid-cap".

"There's an absolute range of opportunities for people to experience live music, from free through to experiencing the biggest stars on the planet," he said.

But concertgoers choosing to save their cash for artists they're more familiar with may have led to a "suppression" of prices for lesser-known acts, Hanner noted.

"Everyone's short of disposable income because there's a cost of living crisis. [Artists' and promoters'] core costs are going up as well, so it's more expensive for everyone. That fear of pricing people out is just being compounded," he said.

"I think [that] has definitely led to prices being suppressed [at the lower level], when really they should have been going up."

With May in the rearview mirror, here are the key money dates for your calendar in June. 

1 June onwards - benefit changes

While benefits rose 6.7% from 8 April for many claimants, those who had their last assessment period before then will have had to wait until June to receive the new, higher rate. 

The exact date in June when that payment is made will depend on when you were assessed.

Also from 1 June, all people claiming Housing Benefit alone will be asked to claim Universal Credit instead within three months of receiving the letter.

Failure to do so could result in you losing your entitlement.

1-2 June - Heathrow disruption

Hundreds of border force officers at Heathrow Airport are striking until Sunday in a dispute over rosters.

More than 500 of its members working on passport control at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 are taking action.

Disruption is expected over the weekend as families return to the UK at the end of the half-term holiday.

5 June - new banknotes

Banknotes featuring the face of the King will enter circulation across the UK. 

Notes that feature the portrait of the late Queen will remain legal tender and will co-circulate.

The new banknotes will only be printed to replace those that are worn and to meet any overall increase in demand.

10 June - £500 cat fines

All cats over 20 weeks old in England must be microchipped by 10 June.

You could face a £500 if you miss the deadline and don't get your cat microchipped in the following 21 days.

The law does not apply to the rest of the UK.

16 June - Father's Day

As the day dedicated to dads and father figures approaches, it may be worth remembering to put some cash aside to treat them in mid-June.

19 June - inflation data released

We'll get May's inflation data in the monthly drop from the Office for National Statistics. 

This will give us the clearest indication of whether the Bank of England will lower interest rates.

Remember, the Bank's target is 2% (April's headline rate was 2.3%), so the closer we get to that number the better. 

20 June - interest rate decision

Another Monetary Policy Committee meeting at the Bank of England will determine whether we finally get a drop in interest rates. 

Many economists predict a cut from 5.25% will happen in August, but June isn't ruled out.

27 June - doctors' strike

Junior doctors in England will begin a five-day strike at 7am over pay.

The last strike by junior doctors led to 91,048 appointments, operations and procedures being postponed.

30 June - meter readings

Not a fixed date - more of a reminder.

From 1 July, the energy price cap will fall by £122 per year.

Your provider will do most of the work, but you can help keep your bill accurate by submitting meter readings (unless you have a smart meter) ahead of this date. 

The big topics covered in the Money blog this week that got you commenting were...

• Manchester United giving staff who don't want to come into the office a week to resign
• Raheem Sterling offering to pay for 14 people to go to university
• Fines for pebble-taking tourists on beaches
• The standing charge rising despite the energy price cap being cut

Let's start with the two football-related stories. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, new part-owner of Manchester United, sent an email round on Tuesday offering all non-playing staff the chance to resign (with their annual bonus paid early) within the week if they do not like his plan to stop working from home ...

Some praised his decision... 

Well done Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Finally, somebody who has the guts to stand up and end this 'working from home' nonsense! edwinbasnett

Sir Jim has got it right, decisions are decisive and provide clear expectations and an option to get out. WFH doesn't work at the levels seen following COVID, I'm sure it does for some but many take advantage and it's far more difficult to manage. Tel

Others not so much...

Thankfully there's not quite so stark an ultimatum from my employer, but I am planning to leave soon. It's a nonsense commuting to an office where I then engage with other colleagues over Teams/Zoom. Jim

Who wants to work for a **** like that anyway with that attitude? No filter

Earlier in the week, we learnt Raheem Sterling will financially support 14 students through university. 

Applications for the Raheem Sterling Foundation Scholarship Programme - which closed on Thursday - were open to students of black, African and Caribbean heritage from socio-economically under-represented backgrounds to help bridge the equality gap.

This will be the second year the Chelsea forward will assist successful applicants at King's College London and the University of Manchester.

Readers said...

Sterling is a credit to sport, football and his heritage. I hope more footballers will join him and his endeavours. Judy

This is brilliant - I have never understood why professionals in many fields do not give more back to their communities. Just a visit to their old primary school could turn a bright light on for so many kids. Why don't many more do it? Old white woman

Well done Raheem Sterling for financially supporting 14 students who would like to attend university. Sometimes professional football players get a negative press but this is amazing, well done. Anthony G

Away from football and to Cumbria - where beach-goers have been warned they could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they remove pebbles or shells across the area.

You said...

Why aren't the same rules applied to stop Southern Water dumping all their s*** into our seas. They take millions of pounds from normal people who trust them to process it correctly. Anti s outhern water

So that means the thrill of going to the beach and collecting a few shells is stopped. What about the scallop shells used in restaurants and supermarkets? What about the sacks of shells sold at garden centres? What about the tonnes of sand used every day etc etc? JR

Has the world gone mad? £1,000 fine for taking pebbles home from a beach? I think most children take a few pebbles home with them.  Bob

Many of you responded to last Friday's announcement that while the energy price cap would fall in July, standing charges - the set amount you pay for gas and electric each day regardless of use - would be going up.

Martin Lewis's explanation of it can be read here...

Here's what you said...

Are there any regulations for energy supplies regarding the standing charge? Every time the unit price drops my supplier raises the standing charge. SianW

Our energy bills have dropped, now the heating is off. However, the high daily standing charge means my bills are off the starting blocks even before the switches are flicked. Come the winter the price cap will rise again - not unlike profiteering in wartime. Porthy

My standing charges are almost three times what they used to be. I've cut back on my usage to the point I pay more a month in standing charges than I do usage so having the unit price drop makes little impact. P hunt

The energy companies have ripped us off for the last two years. The daily standing charge has to go. The shareholders have had real good dividends over the past few years, and therefore must pay for the people that can't pay their bills, because of the bonuses they have received. michael rogers

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

An investigation has been launched into whether the biggest banking merger since the financial crisis could harm competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority announced the inquiry into Nationwide's £2.9bn takeover of rival Virgin Money this morning.

The move would bring together the fifth and sixth largest retail lenders, creating a combined group with around 24.5 million customers and nearly 700 branches.

It would spell the end of the Virgin Money brand, with Nationwide planning to rebrand the business within six years.

The CMA has invited interested parties to give their views on the deal, as it considers whether it could "result in a substantial lessening of competition" in the market.

Nationwide struck the takeover agreement in March, and last week a clear majority of 89% of Virgin Money shareholders voted in favour, helping to clear the path to complete.

The government has sold £1.24bn of its shares in NatWest, accelerating the process of private ownership.

The Treasury's shareholding in the high street bank has fallen by approximately 3.5 percentage points to 22.5%.

NatWest, formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, received multibillion-pound bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving the government with an 84% stake.

The government has been selling down its stake in the lender, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt planning to sell all of its interest in the bank by 2025 or 2026 should the Conservatives be re-elected.

There was supposed to be a public share sale this summer, allowing individuals, not just institutional investors, to purchase stock, but the plans have been shelved due to the election.

In recent years, the sell-off has become more rapid. In 2018, the government owned 62% of the group, but by December of last year that was down to just under 38%.

In March, that fell below 30%, meaning the government was no longer classed as a controlling shareholder in the lender.

Earlier this year, NatWest wrote to shareholders asking them to support an increase in the amount of stock the bank could buy back from the government in a year, from just under 5% to 15%.

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