Everything You Need to Know about Hotels.com One Key Rewards Program

Hotels.com didn't just change their rewards program – they merged it with two other major booking platforms. One Key covers Hotels.com, Expedia and Vrbo under one umbrella. The idea is you can earn rewards no matter which of these three sites you use for your travel bookings.

They use something called OneKeyCash instead of traditional points. It's actually pretty straightforward – every dollar you earn in OneKeyCash is worth exactly one dollar toward future bookings. No weird conversion charts or trying to figure out if your points are worth 1.2 cents or 1.7 cents each.

The program costs nothing to join, which is a plus, but their earning rates aren't exactly going to revolutionize your travel budget.

For most travel categories – hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, cruises, activities – you earn 2% back in OneKeyCash. Book a $300 hotel room and you'll get $6 back. It's straightforward but not particularly generous.

Flights are where things get really disappointing. You only earn 0.2% on flight bookings. This means that a $500 flight only gets you $1 back. We're honestly not sure why they even bother offering rewards on flights at such a minimal rate.

There is a silver lining. If you climb the status ladder and stay at "VIP Access" properties, you can earn up to 6% back. That's actually competitive with some hotel credit cards, assuming you can maintain status and these VIP properties align with your travel preferences.

One thing to watch out for is that not everything counts toward rewards. Taxes and fees don't count, which is standard across all loyalty programs, but some promotional rates won't earn rewards either.

Redeeming OneKeyCash is genuinely user-friendly. You just check a box at checkout to apply your OneKeyCash balance as a discount. If you have $50 in your account, you’ll get $50 off your booking.

There are some limitations worth noting. You can only use OneKeyCash on "Pay Now" bookings in US dollars and certain vacation rentals. The flight redemption rule is particularly restrictive – you have to have enough OneKeyCash to cover the entire flight cost. You can't use $30 toward a $400 flight; it's all or nothing.

Also important: your OneKeyCash expires after 18 months if you don't book anything or use any rewards, so don't just let it accumulate indefinitely.

One Key operates on four tiers, and it's significantly easier to advance through these levels than most hotel loyalty programs we've evaluated.

Blue is where everyone starts. Sign up and you immediately get access to member prices and start earning OneKeyCash.

Silver requires collecting 5-14 "trip elements" in a calendar year. Trip elements include each night in a hotel, each day of car rental, each flight segment, and so on. Silver status gets you 15% or more off at participating hotels.

Gold requires 15-29 trip elements and increases your savings to 20% or more at participating hotels.

Platinum needs 30+ trip elements and provides the program's best perks.

The trip element system is actually quite clever. Book a 3-night stay and rent a car for 2 days? That's 5 trip elements total. You could potentially reach Silver status off the back of just one vacation.

VIP Access properties represent Hotels.com's preferred hotel partners. These establishments supposedly meet higher standards and maintain stronger relationships with the platform.

When you have status and stay at VIP Access properties, your earning rates increase substantially. Silver members earn 3% instead of the standard 2%, Gold earns 4%, and Platinum members get 6%. That top-tier rate is genuinely competitive with premium hotel credit cards.

The trade-off is that VIP Access properties aren't always the cheapest option available. You might pay slightly more for the privilege of earning enhanced rewards. Whether that premium is worthwhile depends on your travel priorities and budget.

You may also receive hotel-specific perks at VIP properties including room upgrades, dining discounts, or late checkout. These aren't groundbreaking benefits, but they add some value to the experience.

Here's a change that frustrated many users: basic Blue members no longer earn rewards on Vrbo bookings. This rule was quietly implemented, and now only Silver and higher tier members earn on vacation rentals. Silver members get 1% while Gold and Platinum members earn 2%.

Timing is another factor to consider. You earn OneKeyCash when your trip actually occurs, not when you make the booking. Planning a December vacation in August? Those rewards won't appear in your account until after you complete your December stay.

We mentioned the 18-month expiration rule, but it's worth emphasizing since it has caught some users off guard. Any booking or redemption activity resets the expiration clock, so maintaining some level of activity should prevent reward loss.

Hotels.com offers two One Key credit cards through Wells Fargo. While they're not revolutionary products, they offer reasonable value for frequent platform users.

The basic One Key card carries no annual fee and provides automatic Silver status. This status upgrade is genuinely valuable since it unlocks member pricing and enhanced earning at VIP properties. The welcome bonus offers $300 in OneKeyCash after spending $1,000 within three months.

For everyday spending, you earn 3% OneKeyCash on Hotels.com, Expedia, Vrbo purchases, plus gas stations, grocery stores, and dining. All other purchases earn 1.5%.

The One Key+ card costs $99 annually but elevates you directly to Gold status. The welcome bonus increases to $400 OneKeyCash after $3,000 in spending. Additional benefits include $100 in OneKeyCash each anniversary year and up to $120 toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees.

For regular users of these platforms, Gold status benefits alone may justify the annual fee. Occasional travelers would probably find better value with the free card option.

We need to address the significant changes from the previous program. The old Hotels.com rewards system was genuinely impressive: stay 10 nights, get one free. It was simple, valuable, and easy to understand.

Under that system, you effectively earned about 10% back on hotel spending. A night costing $200 would eventually provide $200 worth of free accommodation after completing 10 stays. The current system provides 2% back. That same $200 night now earns $4 in OneKeyCash. The difference is substantial and explains why longtime Hotels.com users felt frustrated by this transition.

We understand why loyal customers viewed this change negatively. Moving from a 10% effective return rate to 2% represents a dramatic reduction in value. The company essentially traded an exceptionally generous program for one that aligns more closely with industry standards.

During the transition, completed free nights were converted to equivalent OneKeyCash values. If you had earned a free night worth $150, you received $150 in OneKeyCash. Partial progress toward your next free night was converted at 10% of your total spending.

One Key won't transform your travel budget, but there are ways to optimize your returns within the program's structure.

Prioritize VIP Access properties when the pricing makes sense. That 6% earning rate for Platinum members is actually competitive among other premium rewards programs. Even the 3% rate for Silver status is a decent return.

If you plan to use Hotels.com regularly, consider getting their credit card for automatic status elevation. Silver status benefits extend beyond just earning rates – the member pricing and VIP property advantages can provide meaningful savings.

Consider pairing One Key with a strong travel credit card. Many premium cards offer 3x points or higher on online travel agency purchases. You can effectively stack those rewards with your OneKeyCash earnings.

Plan your bookings to maximize trip elements when approaching tier thresholds. Every hotel night, flight segment and car rental day contributes to your status progression. A week-long trip can build up to a significant number of trip elements.

One Key makes the most sense for travelers without any kind of loyalty to a particular hotel brand. If you typically choose accommodations based on location, price, or unique properties rather than pursuing elite status with major chains, One Key provides a way to earn rewards across diverse bookings.

The program also works well for people who book across multiple travel categories. If you regularly use Vrbo for vacation rentals, Expedia for flights, and Hotels.com for hotels, consolidating everything into one rewards account is pretty convenient.

The program structure particularly benefits people who book travel for others. All rewards accrue to whoever makes the booking, regardless of who actually travels. If you frequently organize group trips or family vacations, this could generate substantial rewards.

One Key represents a middle-ground rewards program that prioritizes broad accessibility over exceptional value. The earning rates are reasonable but not exciting. Two percent back is acceptable but the 0.2% rate on flights feels almost like a token gesture. Even the top-tier 6% rate requires significant effort to achieve and maintain Platinum status while consistently choosing VIP Access properties.

The program does offer some genuine advantages. Tier status is relatively easy to achieve compared to traditional hotel chains. The member pricing can provide decent savings. The OneKeyCash system is refreshingly straightforward without complex award charts or redemption restrictions.

However, we should be realistic about alternatives. Direct booking with hotel chains often comes with better perks, more achievable elite status qualification, and more valuable reward structures. Most major hotel loyalty programs offer free nights, suite upgrades, and benefits that One Key just can’t match.

For frequent travelers, focusing on hotel chain loyalty programs or premium credit card rewards will probably provide better long-term value and flexibility.

One Key feels designed to be broadly acceptable rather than exceptionally valuable to any type of traveler. It's functional without being inspiring – the travel rewards equivalent of a solid but unremarkable mid-range hotel.

If you're a casual traveler who books one or two trips annually through online travel agencies, One Key provides reasonable value. Consider signing up for the program and possibly the no-fee credit card for Silver status benefits.

More dedicated travelers would likely find better returns focusing on hotel chain programs or strategic credit card usage.

For former Hotels.com loyalists, we understand the disappointment. This program doesn't come close to replacing what you lost. But if you're new to online travel booking or just want a straightforward way to earn modest rewards across your travel purchases, One Key does the job pretty reliably.