Last week I created a new tool that will allow you to run one search between two airports and retrieve the award levels from
several different loyalty programs at the same time.
Credit cards are the quickest way to rack up points; to further your diversification strategy, sign up for a card whose points can be transferred to
many different loyalty programs.
People have an attraction to large numbers of points, regardless of the meaning (i.e. 1,000 points could be the same as 100 points
in different loyalty programs, but the 1,000 points is preferable)
These points can be converted into cash - like gift cards (at 1 cent per point), redeemed toward any air ticket (at 1.2 cents per point; and you'll still earn miles and elite status), or transferred to almost a
dozen different loyalty programs including United MileagePlus, British Airways Avios, Hyatt Gold Passport, and Marriott Rewards.
In recent weeks I've reassessed my opinion of Hilton HHonors somewhat after I took a look at the average cost of earning free nights when using a credit card
with different loyalty programs.
If you're willing to stay in a hotel that is off Disney property, there are many options managed by
several different loyalty programs in the Orlando area including Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.
It's worth explicitly noting that you can still be a member of all
the different loyalty programs and try to focus your travel on specific partners to further maximize your travel benefits.
The Ultimate Rewards points you earn through this card can be traded in for points with 11
different loyalty programs, including both airlines and hotels.
Although Marriott and Ritz - Carlton have
a different loyalty programs, membership in one means automatic membership in another.
Ink Business Preferred ℠ Credit Card cardholders have the ability to transfer their rewards points to one of 10
different loyalty programs (listed below).
This is not only a better deal (if available) but also reflects the award space provided to other partners if you decide to book through
a different loyalty program.
A couple years ago I created the «Award Maximizer» to help you search for the cost of an award ticket across several
different loyalty program.
These are the cheapest awards available for travel on American Airlines, and they match the award availability that other carriers see if you want to book using
a different loyalty program such as Alaska Mileage Plan.
If you're used to the American AAdvantage rules and prices, those don't apply when redeeming miles or points stored in
a different loyalty program.
If you have upcoming travel planned on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or any of American's oneworld Alliance partners, now is the time to seriously consider crediting those flights to
a different loyalty program.
That is why I usually find myself in charge of booking our reservations and being responsible for signing him up for all
the different loyalty programs and maintaining them.
Kelly Hlavinka, managing partner of Cincinnati - based loyalty research firm Colloquy, says attempts to increase consumer choices are important, because the average American belongs to 14
different loyalty programs.
It looks up the cost of an award between two cities and compares that price across 14
different loyalty programs.
The three sites have affiliations with
different loyalty programs and, while there is a lot of overlap between them, there are some notable differences.
It's worth explicitly noting that you can still be a member of all
the different loyalty programs and try to focus your travel on specific partners to further maximize your travel benefits.
Or use
a different loyalty program to fly a different airline to Europe, one that doesn't charge such high fees (United MileagePlus is a great example).
Ink Business Preferred ℠ Credit Card cardholders have the ability to transfer their rewards points to one of 10
different loyalty programs (listed below).
Different loyalty programs have different policies when it comes to earning points and receiving elite benefits for stays that other people make.
I know a cardholder who tried to employ this strategy and after two years, he wanted to know how best to manage his miles as he ended up with airline miles in five
different loyalty programs.