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Hotels.com and Expedia loyalty changes
It was announced some time ago, but sadly, the writing is now on the wall for the excellent Hotels.com loyalty program, which gave you the equivalent of a free stay after every 10 nights. These will both become part of a scheme called One Key along with VRBO. The change is due to happen in the second half of 2024.
“One Key will be arriving in the UK in a few months, between July and October 2024.”
Earning Rewards
You will no longer earn stamps and reward nights; instead, you will now earn OneKeyCash, which can be used as soon as it’s earned. This is one of the only advantages in that you can earn straight away rather than waiting to stay to 10 nights to be able to get anything. This will be at a rate of 2% on hotels as well as 2% on vacation rentals, activities, packages, car rentals and cruises booked through Expedia and VRBO. Flight bookings via Expedia will only earn 0.2%.
For ‘Pay Now’ bookings, your OneKeyCash will arrive in your account three days after you complete your trip. For ‘Pay Later’ and Vrbo bookings, your OneKeyCash will usually be confirmed 45 days after you complete your trip, but may take up to 90 days.
However, assuming they don’t make any changes, you can also earn cashback via Topcashback at a rate of 1-10% with Expedia and Hotels.com, so it is worth using that as well.
Transferring into One Key
You will earn rewards on eligible bookings at the Hotels.com® Rewards rate for trips completed before becoming a One Key member and at the new One Key rate for trips completed after becoming a One Key member. Any stamps or reward nights that are transitioned will retain their original expiry date.
Tiers
Your initial status in One Key will not be the same as now. Instead, it will be based on all your recent bookings at Expedia, vrbo, and Hotels.com if you used the same email address for them all.
Here are the new tiers as you spend more with Hotels.com, Expedia and VRBO:
The price Guarantee, Price Guarantee Plus, and the free upgrade to Avis Preferred Plus membership (available to Gold members) will end.
Using One Key rewards
OneKeyCash can be used on eligible ‘Pay Now’ bookings only and participating holiday rentals.
BA status match
BA never give status matches – except for now! Unfortunately this is only available to US and Canadian members. Most TLFL readers are from the UK but our second biggest audience is in the US, so I thought it would be worth mentioning.
British Airways is introducing a status match offer for its US-based Executive Club Members. This means that top-tier members of eight airline loyalty programmes, including the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Delta’s SkyMiles programme, will be invited to enjoy the equivalent status of the British Airways Executive Club at no extra cost.
Members of the following airlines’ loyalty programmes will now be able to match their status as follows as a US-based British Airways Executive Club Member:
The offer is valid for new and existing British Airways Executive Club Members who hold a membership of one of the programmes listed above with the corresponding status. You apply online, providing proof of your frequent flyer status, and the outcome of the application will be shared via email.
You will only be upgraded to the matched Tier for an initial six-month period, and will be invited to extend this to a full year by booking two eligible flights (or one return flight). An eligible flight is a BA-marketed flight in business or first class – operated by British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia or Finnair – that originates in the US, Canada or Mexico.
For full terms and conditions, visit https://www.britishairways.com/content/en/us/executive-club/offers/tier-match-offer.
New offers for Air France and Singapore Airlines
After a bit of a dry spell, some better offers are appearing on Amex. Both of these are on my Amex Platinum, but it is worth checking your Gold card as well.
If you have a Platinum card, it is always worth checking prices for flights through Platinum Travel with some airlines as they offer discounted rates on airlines with their the International Airline Program, which offers you up to 20% off airfares. Current International Airline Program Partners: Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air Europa, Emirates, Etihad Airways, United Airlines, Qatar Airways and Delta.
Singapore Airlines
You can get a £400 statement credit when you make one or more transactions up to £2,500+ online at Singapore Airlines by 22/5/2024. It’s only valid on flights departing from UK airports and can only be used for online purchases.
While you may only think of Singapore for Asia and Australia, it’s worth also considering Singapore Airlines if you are heading to Texas, as they offer a fifth freedom route to Houston from Manchester, which is often priced keenly.
Air France
There is a £150 statement credit on offer when you make one or more transactions up to £1,500+ online at Air France online by 22/5/2024. Again, it’s only available for flights departing from the UK, which is a shame as I’m about to spend that much on a flight from LA with Air France as I’ll be heading to French Polynesia later this year.
3 comments
Ouch! In short order Avios from miles to £, Amex BAPP and now this. Charitably, it may be that margins are tightening. Most likely the post you know what travel boom has created opportunities all round.
You might find the AF/KLM cash back triggers anyway. I’ve booked return flights from Accra for my OH in the past and they have, although they have always been outbound to & return from the UK so I’m not sure if it triggers because, although the outbound flight is not from the UK, the return is or if AMEX only recognises that it’s been booked from a UK site & paid in GBP.
That’s useful to know. I’ll give it a go!
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