Expedia Launches One Key

[altiste1]

https://www.expedia.com/one-key

Anyone see anything of value here? I don’t think I use any of these brands enough that I would get any significant rewards, and this program is not likely to change my buying habits.

My understanding of rewards programs is that they are valuable for companies that create them not just for the “loyalty” they create, but also because the rewards become a form of currency that the companies can then trade or monetize in various ways. I wonder if any TUGgers with some insight might opine on what’s behind Expedia’s play.

 

[bizaro86]

I think a big part of it is they are trying to cross-sell across brands (ie get someone who uses Expedia for work travel to use VRBO for vacations).

Also, they are saving money, because the effective rebate on this is much lower than the previous value of the hotels.com loyalty program.

 

[Admiralguy]

I used to get outsized value by purchasing hotels.com gift cards at a 10%+ discount, then using them booking though a shopping portal. Third, I got their branded credit card. Triple dipping. I usually use the program for F&F who aren't into the points/loyalty game. The nights are still credited back to my account. Maybe it was too many users trying to extract full use of the program that led its demise?

Discounts on gift cards have been few and far between, and some, times hotels are not priced competitively. The credit card has no AF, and returns 2.2% even with the change to OneKey. The only benefit I see is that I don't have to wait to spend $5,000 to cash out $110 for a single night at a hotel.

 

[regatta333]

Has anyone been successfully transitioned to this new program? We has a free night awards and 7 stamps before July and our OneKey account has 0 rewards.