If you’re a points and miles beginner, joining airline and hotel loyalty programs is an important first step. Sometimes, it makes sense to wait until a program offers a special offer before joining.
For example, Alaska Airlines offers $25 off your next flight when you join the MileagePlan program. However, this offer is only good for the first 28 days so you’ll lose out if you sign up before you’re ready to fly the airline.
The downside to waiting too long is that some programs don’t allow you to transfer points to a new account. So having a “seasoned” account can come in handy if you need to transfer points quickly for an award.
Some programs even restrict participation in certain promotions unless you’re account has been open for a certain time period. Bottom line: Joining airline and hotel loyalty programs is a good move, even if you don’t think you’ll travel with those programs anytime soon.
Hotel loyalty programs to join
Hotels are a significant travel expense and joining hotel loyalty programs is a great way to save money. These programs allow you to earn points and hotel elite status perks for better travel experiences.
There are six major hotel loyalty programs you can join, offering thousands of hotels worldwide where you can earn and redeem points.
World of Hyatt is hands down the most popular hotel loyalty program, thanks to an exceptional hotel portfolio and generous hotel elite status benefits. Hyatt is also the only hotel program that still publishes an award chart, making it easy to plan ahead and know exactly how many points you need for an award night.
Here’s a list of hotel loyalty programs to join, along with a list of brands they’re affiliated with:
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges brands: Ascend Collection, Cambria Hotels, Comfort hotels, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion Hotels, Mainstay Suites, Everhome Suites, WoodSpring Suites, Suburban Studios, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Radisson hotels.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors Brands: Canopy Hotels, Conrad hotels, Curio Collection, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Hotels, Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, LivSmart Studios, LXR Hotels, Motto hotels, Signia hotels, Spark hotels, Tapestry Collection, Tempo hotels, Tru Hotels, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.
IHG One Rewards
IHG Brands: Atwell Suites, Avid Hotels, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Even Hotels, Garner Hotels, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, Hualuxe, Iberostar, Intercontinental Hotels, Kimpton, Regent, Six Senses, Staybridge Suites, Vignette Collection, Voco.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy brands: AC Hotels, Aloft Hotels, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Autograph Collection, City Express, Courtyard by Marriott, Delta Hotels, Design Hotels, Edition, Element Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Four Points by Sheraton, Gaylord Hotels, Homes & Villas by Marriott, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Hotels, Marriott Vacation Club, MGM Collection, Moxy Hotels, Protea Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, Springhill Suites, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, TownePlace Suites, Tribute Portfolio, Westin, W Hotels.
World of Hyatt
Hyatt Brands: Alila, Alua, Andaz, Atona, Breathless, Caption, Destination by Hyatt, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Studios, Hyatt Vivid, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, Impression by Secrets, JDV by Hyatt, Miraval, Park Hyatt, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Sunscape Resorts & Spas, Thompson Hotels, Unbound Collection, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts.
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Brands: AmericInn, Baymont, Caesars Rewards Partner Hotels, Club Wyndham, Cottages.com, Days Inn, Dazzler, Dolce, Esplendor, Hawthorn Extended Stay, Howard Johnson, La Quinta, Margaritaville Vacation Club, Microtel, Ramada, Registry Collection, Shell Vacations Club, Super 8, Trademark Collection, Travelodge, Tryp, Vacasa, Vienna House, Wyndham Alltra, Wingate, Wyndham, Worldmark, Wyndham Garden, Wyndham Grand.
Airline frequent flyer programs to join
Airline miles are incredibly valuable any way you slice it. One of the most straightforward ways to earn miles is by flying. You’ll want to join your favorite airline program and provide your frequent flyer number during booking.
Start with the US-based members of the big three airline alliances:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan – Join (Oneworld Alliance
- American Airlines AAdvantage – Join (Oneworld Alliance)
- Delta Skymiles – Join (SkyTeam)
- United Airlines MileagePlus – Join (Star Alliance)
It’s worth noting that some of these alliances have foreign partners that provide better value for your miles. For example, ANA Mileage Club and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles offer cheaper awards on Star Alliance than United.
Once you’re ready to explore those programs, you can go ahead and sign up. But if you’re just getting started, signing up for U.S.-based loyalty programs is sufficient at the moment.
If you fly with any of the foreign alliance members, simply provide your US-based member airline as the mileage-earning program of choice at the time of booking. This way, all your miles for that alliance are in one place and you have flexibility in using them.
Be sure to opt in to receive emails from each respective airline, as this will ensure you receive targeted offers from them.
This story was originally published on September 5, 2012 and is periodically updated.
FYI – Point Database link not working
Thanks Anthony. It should be working now.
Sadly, it’s still not working.
Are you referring to the link on the menu bar. I’m testing it now and it’s working. What do you see when you click on it?
Under #2 above, there is a clickable link “Point Database” that doesn’t work. That’s what we are both referring to.
I see! It’s been updated. I thought you were referring to the actually PD link on the menu. Thanks guys!