Expedia has just launched a new rewards program that offers points for bookings made via the site.
They used to partner with Citibank’s Thank You Points but ended that relationship. Now their new offering is out, it lets you earn points for bookings made on their site and of course doesn’t interfere with the points you’ll earn from the travel provider as well (provided that the travel provider offers points for bookings made via Expedia, e.g. Starwood won’t give you points for room rates booked there).
Unlike the previous Thank You Points offering, you can earn points not just for ‘special rate’ hotels and hotel/air booking combos. Standalone flight bookings earn points as well, so do vacation packages except that car rentals don’t earn points unless tied to a hotel booking and cruises don’t earn points either.
Earning is one point per dollar spent with Expedia, their e-mail announcement says that redemptions start at 3500 points but we don’t know much more than that. Redemptions won’t be available until March and there’s no redemption chart. According to the program terms and conditions, “rewards will include airline tickets and hotel coupons valid on bookings at Expedia Special Rate properties.”
During the beta launch phase, membership is by invitation only. I’ve just posted the invite, though, on my Facebook page. Now downside to joining, of course.
Update: Looks like you can join by going here, scrolling down to the join link on the left hand side of the page.
Update 2: Apparently there’s a 1000 bonus point offer out there somewhere for signing up, haven’t yet found more details and it may be tied to folks who were previously active with Thank You Points with Expedia. But might make sense to hold off a few days on registering, in case there’s a signup bonus offer.
Went to sign up, but it seems they added me to the program without me having even known about it.
“Earning is one point per dollar spent with Expedia, their e-mail announcement says that redemptions start at 3500”
So, redemptions start after $350,000 in spend? How can this be useful to anyone but large corporate clients who likely would already have accounts with expedia’s business branch?
“Rewards start at just 3,500 points for a hotel coupon” — If I bring $350,000 worth of business through expedia, that better be a *damn* good hotel coupon.
Thanks!
This rule in the T&Cs (but left out of the FAQs) is a downer…
“All Points in your Rewards Account will expire if there is no qualifying purchase or redemption activity for a period of 18 months.”
1 point per dollar spent = $3,500.
Need coffee, Alex?
Ouch, yes. Need coffee. Thanks SC Flier… 😮
Gary made reference to travel programs that may or may not give points for bookings on Expedia.
Is there a list, anywhere, of airlines and hotel programs that do, and do not, credit points/miles in their programs for air or hotel bookings on Expedia and other online travel agencies?
Thanks.
My guess is this won’t be enough of an incentive for anyone to swtich to Expedia, but if you’re using it anyway, why not? Kind of like the thankyou points.
I guess I’ll wait to see if there’s a sign-up bonus. This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
anyone see a reward chart yet?
I wish to join Expedia online programme as a travel agent.I am authorised to operate under Algeria laws and I’ll accept Expedia terms and conditions accepted by any other travel agent affiliated at your programme.If you agree with my partnership offer I will be pleased to send you any information you may need for my registration.Best Regards, Abdelhamid Boucetta