Top Loyalty Program Trends in the USA

Most airlines now issue miles based only on the cost of the ticket, but Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a notable exception, since points are still earned based on distance flown. This implies that if you fly lengthy distances on less expensive tickets, you could earn more points for future award flights.

Alaska recently changed their Mileage Plan program, making it easier to reach elite status by eliminating the requirement to fly a specific amount of flights on their planes.

Members can earn Mileage Plan miles on more than a dozen oneworld partners, as well as many non-alliance partners. Any ticket purchased on the Alaska Airlines website earns at least 100% of the distance flown, making it easy to calculate your earnings. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card also allows you to accrue elite qualifying miles. Cardholders get 4,000 EQM for every $10,000 spent, making elite status even more attainable. Read More: Best Airline Credit Cards. Hotels With 28 hotel brands and an expanding reach, Hyatt's World of Hyatt program should be on your radar in 2024. While Hyatt may have fewer locations than other brands such as Marriott, Hilton, or Wyndham, its emphasis on giving valued services to its most regular travelers maintains it at the top of the list. Discoverist rank is acquired after staying 10 eligible nights at Hyatt hotels, while top-tier elite status, known as the Globalist level, is earned after staying 60 nights in a single year. It is worth noting that the World of Hyatt Credit Card grants automatic Discoverist status and five nights toward higher level upon account opening and each calendar year thereafter. Cardholders also get two additional qualifying night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card.

Recent modifications to the World of Hyatt loyalty program give you greater control over how you choose your rewards.

Milestone Rewards, which start at 20 nights and then every 10 nights following, include incentives like as club access awards, FIND experience credits, suite upgrade awards, bonus points, and more. Rental CarsNational's Emerald Club offers numerous free rental days. National is well known for its "choose any car and go" philosophy, which allows you to travel to your destination fast and effectively. As a base Emerald Club member, you will receive one free rental day for every seven rentals completed. Achieving elite level reduces this to six rentals for a free day, while top-tier elite status allows you to drive away with a free day after only five rentals. Because they are owned by the same parent business, you can pick up a car from Enterprise and enter your National number on the reservation to get free day credits and points toward higher Emerald Club level. Travel-Related Brands Expect the trend of tying money spent to rewards and status to continue this year and beyond. Hotels such as IHG and Hyatt use Milestone Rewards to reward their visitors. With IHG One prizes, you may choose from an increasing variety of prizes that fit your travel lifestyle, beginning with 20 nights and increasing with each subsequent 10 nights. These include bonus points, suite upgrades, food and beverage awards, and admission to the lounge. Hyatt also starts at 20 nights, with perks including club access, suite access, and upgrades.

The American Airlines AAdvantage program provides lounge passes, upgrades, discounts, and other benefits at various Loyalty Point levels.

Delta Air Lines' top-tier Platinum and Diamond members can pick flight upgrades, lounge access, or even the option to grant elite status to friends or family members via the Choice Benefits program. Application Integration Technology plays an important part in the loyalty arena, and making the process easier for passengers is a primary priority for all industry companies. With this in mind, travel businesses have focused on developing powerful apps that enable travelers to do more with their phones. If your Delta flight is canceled, for example, simply open the app and, with a few clicks, you'll be given with a selection of rebooking options; no phone calls or human interaction are required. Many airline apps also show you how close you are to the next elite level. Delta shows you how many Medallion Qualifying Dollars you've earned, American tracks your loyalty awards and shows you where you are on your path, and Alaska even shows you how close you are to lifetime elite status. If you wake up in your hotel room and discover you need an extra pillow or amenities, you may be able to simply open the app and send a message to the front desk. The Marriott Bonvoy app allows you to order housekeeping items, and within minutes, someone from the staff will deliver them to your door. Several hotel applications, including those from Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, now offer a digital key to your room. Hotel applications are likewise adopting the same concept, making it easy to see where you are in your elite trip. For example, Hyatt's app makes it simple to track the qualifying nights you've earned towards Discoverist, Explorist, or Globalist status.