Wyndham and Alaska Airlines Loyalty Programs Score Highest in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Research shows greater emphasis on ‘experiences’ as rewards >>

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July 24, 2023

A vibrant blue sign with the white text "Wyndham Hotels & Resorts" displayed prominently. The sign is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden featuring colorful flowers in red, orange, and purple hues, as well as lush green foliage. The backdrop includes trees and a clear, sunny sky, creating a welcoming and serene atmosphere.

Wyndham Rewards and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan were named as having the best loyalty programs in U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Travel Rewards Programs rankings.

According to the report, Wyndham led the Best Hotel Rewards Programs listing because members need to stay only eight nights (on average) before earning enough points for a free night. Members have plenty of options on where to stay, thanks to Wyndham’s 8,000-plus eligible properties that range from budget to upscale. Choice Privileges follows at No. 2, Marriott Bonvoy remains at No. 3, World of Hyatt is No. 4, and IHG One Rewards is No. 5.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan holds on to the No. 1 spot for the ninth consecutive year in the Best Airline Rewards Programs ranking. Mileage Plan, according to the announcement, consistently outperforms others with its high earning power, and offers elite status members benefits like lounge access, upgrades and same-day confirmed flight changes. Maintaining their positions at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus excelled for their overall flight volume and availability, while also offering meaningful benefits to elite status members. American Airlines AAdvantage is No. 4 and JetBlue TrueBlue is No. 5.

Elizabeth Von Tersch, U.S. News’ senior travel editor, said that “in a competitive market, frequent and leisure travelers will choose brands that provide memorable experiences that go beyond the standard stay or flight.” A growing number of hotel reward programs, she said, have reintroduced experiences, tours and activities as additional ways to earn and use points.

More programs, said Von Tersch, are allowing elite status members to customize their benefits, so members can choose what’s best for them.

According to the announcement, U.S. News used a comprehensive and transparent methodology that factors in membership benefits, network coverage, the ease of earning and redeeming points or miles, hotel property diversity and airline quality rating scores, with expert and editor analysis. This year, the methodology includes an additional tier for flights to provide credit to those airlines offering more choice to its members; and for hotel rewards, supplemental tiers were added for the number of hotels in the network category.