Selecting the Right Loyalty Programs for You in 2024

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A new year brings fresh chances to earn points and achieve elite status within the diverse loyalty programs of the travel sector. Whether you’re a newcomer in 2024 or considering a change in your preferred brands, there’s great news ahead. Even with rising elite qualification standards and the general increase in points and miles costs, certain programs continue to offer travelers a wealth of benefits, points, and exclusive perks. Here are the top travel loyalty programs to think about joining in 2024, along with some guidance on how to begin your journey.

Key Fundamentals of Loyalty Programs

The first thing to understand about airline and hotel loyalty programs is that joining is free, offering you nothing to lose and everything to gain. While some programs have expiration dates for points and miles, many do not, allowing them to remain inactive in an account for long periods. It’s a common misconception that you can’t belong to multiple loyalty programs. In fact, you can—and should!—enroll in several, including international ones. For instance, I personally enjoy the Air France/KLM Flying Blue program and Air Canada’s Aeroplan. If you decide to join multiple programs, tracking your points and miles in a spreadsheet or using an app like AwardWallet can help manage your balances conveniently.

For those aiming for elite status, be aware that qualification years differ between hotel and airline programs. Hotel elite status follows the calendar year (January 1 to December 31), which is also the case for Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. However, Delta's elite qualification year spans from February 1 to January 31, while American Airlines runs from March 1 to February 28. Moreover, earning elite status in one qualifying year will extend your benefits through the remainder of that year and the entire following qualifying year.

Often, obtaining a cobranded credit card can enhance your points balance for a specific airline or hotel chain, enabling quicker paths to elite status. A general travel credit card can also significantly boost your points while allowing for transfers to various hotel and airline programs.

Finally, not all points and miles are equal. Each program’s points and miles should be treated as distinct currencies. Just like the U.S. dollar, Mexican peso, and Euro have different values, so do the points and miles from American Airlines, United, and Delta.

Selecting a Hotel Loyalty Program

Among the four major hotel loyalty programs—Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and World of Hyatt—Marriott Bonvoy holds the largest membership, but it isn’t necessarily the best choice. Achieving Platinum Elite status or higher is advantageous, though it requires staying at Marriott properties for at least 50 nights each year. Typically, Marriott Bonvoy points are valued at about one cent each, meaning 50,000 points can cover a hotel valued at $500. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy applies taxes and resort fees on award bookings. Newcomers to loyalty programs or those with just a few years of experience should consider World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors instead.

World of Hyatt is considered the premier hotel loyalty program in the points and miles world, as its points are the most valuable among hotel and airline loyalty programs. Thanks to a fixed, published award chart—unlike the dynamic pricing of its competitors—it’s common to find award bookings where points are worth two to three cents each. For instance, I booked the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme for 40,000 points per night for an April 2024 stay (compared to €1,450 per night), translating to over three cents per point. World of Hyatt also rewards travelers climbing the elite ladder with Milestone Rewards, requiring just 60 nights for its top Globalist status, in contrast to Marriott’s Ambassador Elite, which demands over 100 nights and more than $23,000 in qualifying expenses annually. Furthermore, World of Hyatt waives taxes and resort fees on award stays, leading to significant savings, especially at luxurious beachfront hotels.

If you prefer not to work for elite status in 2024, you can quickly attain Gold or top-tier Diamond status with Hilton Honors by obtaining one of its cobranded credit cards. While most hotel credit cards offer an elite boost, Hilton goes above and beyond, granting top Diamond status to holders of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Gold status with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. These cards frequently feature welcome bonuses exceeding 150,000 points, sufficient for several complimentary nights to experience elite status. Another quick route to hotel elite status is through The Platinum Card® from American Express, which grants Gold status in both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required) simply by being a card member.

Selecting an Airline Loyalty Program

Recent years have brought significant changes to the loyalty programs of the 'big four' U.S. airlines: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines, which together account for 74 percent of airline seats sold annually in the U.S.

Delta's recent unpopular changes to its SkyMiles program have drawn much criticism. However, United made similar adjustments in earlier years, but they went largely unnoticed due to better timing. Even with Delta’s updated elite status qualifications, achieving Silver, Gold, and Platinum statuses remains easier than obtaining equivalent tiers with United in 2024. Since both Delta and United’s elite statuses are linked to spending, they continue to attract business travelers whose companies cover their ticket costs.

If you’re pursuing status on your own, American Airlines offers an easier path. The reason? Elite status is based on Loyalty Points, which you can accumulate through various means beyond just flying. With American's shopping, dining, hotel, and event programs, it’s simple to earn Loyalty Points. Additionally, purchases made with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard count as Loyalty Points at a rate of one point per dollar spent, and you’ll receive 10,000-point bonuses for reaching 40,000 and 90,000 Loyalty Points in a membership year. Personally, I earned 77,404 Loyalty Points in the last quarter of 2023 alone, positioning me for top Executive Platinum status in 2024 despite only flying three times with American that year.

Southwest has made it easier to earn elite status in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, it’s important to note that elite status is separate from Companion Pass status; since Southwest already offers free checked bags and lacks class distinctions, the changes to elite status are less impactful. For those pursuing elite status, A-List perks include same-day flight changes and standby benefits, priority lanes, and a dedicated phone line. A-List Preferred offers the same perks, along with two complimentary drinks per flight, free internet, and a 100 percent bonus on flight points.

Generally, if you live near an airline hub, it may be beneficial to aim for elite status with that airline (like Delta in Atlanta or United in Denver). The downside is that since many travelers adopt this strategy, securing upgrades in a hub city with lower-tier elite status can be challenging due to competition from higher-status fliers.

Exploring Beyond Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs

Credit card points programs can also be classified as loyalty programs—and they’re the simplest to navigate. You automatically join the loyalty program just by holding the card—there’s no elite status to achieve. Notable examples include travel credit cards from American Express, Chase, and Capital One, each offering unique rewards structures. You earn points based on your spending and often receive bonuses in certain categories. These rewards programs collaborate with hotel and airline loyalty programs, allowing you to transfer your credit card points to various hotels and airlines. Additionally, these credit cards operate like traditional loyalty programs, granting cardholders access to VIP events and elite-like benefits through exclusive booking channels. To enjoy these perks—alongside welcome bonuses and 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 listed above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any moment and may have been modified or may no longer be available.