Expedia Points: Everything You Need to Know Before You Book

Between the best beginner travel credit cards and customer loyalty programs for just about every service you’re likely to use, you can easily rack up points and miles from multiple sources with a single trip.

It’s no surprise that Expedia, one of the largest online travel agencies (OTAs) on the internet, offers a rewards program. Expedia Rewards’ wide-ranging opportunities to earn points and ability to stack rewards with other programs is what makes this a program that anyone who travels should check out.

Here’s a look at how Expedia points work and how to use your Expedia points to optimize your travel earnings.

What are Expedia Points?

Expedia Rewards is the online travel agency's customer loyalty program. For every dollar you spend on hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, and excursions, you earn one Expedia points. For flights, you earn one point for every $5 you spend.

Like many frequent-traveler programs, Expedia offers elevated tiers that deliver more benefits to those who spend more with it. Members can earn Silver or Gold status by booking a minimum number of hotel stays or spending a certain amount of money with Expedia in one calendar year.

When you make a booking, your points will go into a pending status. Upon completion of travel and processing of payment, the points will be added to your account.

What you get from Expedia Rewards

Expedia Rewards members get special member pricing opportunities, which can include discounts of 10% off on select deals. When booking hotels, you’ll have the option of choosing a VIP Access hotel. This is a select group of hotels worldwide that Expedia has compiled based on member reviews. If you use your points at one of these hotels, they’ll be worth triple.

Expedia Rewards members can also be assured that they’re paying the lowest price for their hotel stay. With their Hotel Price Guarantee, Expedia allows you to file proof of a lower price for your room up until midnight the day before your stay. Once approved, you’ll receive the difference, ensuring you’re getting the best price.

In addition to all of this, you can continue to earn points and miles with your existing frequent-flyer accounts and travel rewards credit cards. Expedia gives you the option to enter membership numbers for airline loyalty programs, so you get credit for the flights you book through its site. When you pay with a rewards credit card, you can also earn rewards from your credit card’s program, making this a win-win-win situation.

How much are Expedia points worth?

Points can be used to pay for bookings or reduce the cost of your Expedia adventures; 140 points is the equivalent of $1 that can be put toward hotel stays, flights, vehicle rentals, attractions, and excursions. If you earned 1,000 points, you’d have about $7 that could be used toward a booking.

How to use Expedia points

Booking travel with your Expedia points is a fast and straightforward process. To start, simply log into your Expedia account and search for hotels, flights, rental cars, or excursions as you normally would. Once you've found the option you want to book, proceed to checkout and click "Use my points" under payment options. If you'd like, you can also split the cost of your travel between Expedia points and your credit card.

Expedia Rewards tiers, explained

Expedia Rewards has three tier levels, each with different benefits, perks, and requirements. If you earn a higher status, it’s good from the day it’s awarded to your account and for the following full calendar year. It will expire on the following February 28 after that year is done. Here’s a look at the three levels of Expedia Rewards:

Blue

When you enroll in Expedia Rewards, you automatically enter the Blue tier. In addition to earning points that you can use for discounts or free bookings, you also get member pricing with a discount of 10% or more with select hotels, plus a price guarantee. This ensures Expedia will match a lower hotel price for your stay if you’re able to find a better deal after you book.

All members have the option of booking at VIP Access hotels, which are part of a select group Expedia has curated based on member reviews. When you book with these hotels, your points are worth triple, which makes them a good value when you’re trading in your rewards.

Silver

This is the first premium tier level. If you book at least 10 trip elements with Expedia within a calendar year, you’ll gain Silver status. A trip element is a flight, a hotel night, a vacation rental, a car rental, or an activity. If you buy a travel package, you'll earn elements based on what's included in your travel package. The trip element must be at least $25 for it to count toward your total.

Silver members enjoy all the same benefits you did as a Blue member. You’ll also earn one bonus point per $1 you spend on eligible bookings and free perks at VIP Access hotels such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and spa credits.

If you have to call customer service, you’ll get priority routing to an agent. 

Gold

This is the highest tier in the Expedia Rewards program. You get everything you would in the other two tiers, plus some posh extras. Gold members earn two bonus points per $1 spent on eligible bookings, as well as unlimited free room upgrades at VIP Access hotels, depending on availability. Customer service calls are given express priority from an exclusive team of dedicated Expedia Rewards Gold travel specialists — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To earn Gold status, you must collect 25 trip elements in a calendar year.

If you’re looking for a faster way to earn Silver or Gold status with Expedia, you could apply for an Expedia credit card such as the Expedia Rewards or Expedia Rewards Voyager Card from Citi. With the Expedia Rewards Card, you can enjoy Silver status so long as you remain a member and your account is in good standing. If you’re approved for the Voyager Card, you’ll get Gold status, with the same conditions.

How Expedia points can work with credit card rewards

The Expedia Rewards program is a great one for stacking rewards if you have a travel rewards credit card or participate in travel customer loyalty programs.

In your Expedia account, you can enter and save all of your membership information for the various programs you participate with. There’s an extensive list to choose from, including Marriott Rewards, American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, United Mileage Plus, Hilton Honors, Budget, Avis, and more.

When you make your reservations, you’ll be able to collect points or miles with the programs you’ve registered with your account. If you pay with a travel rewards card, the issuer should recognize the purchase as a travel expense, and you’ll be awarded points according to your cardholder agreement.

Expedia also has partnerships with American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Points. If you participate in these programs, you can link your eligible credit cards to your Expedia account. Each program has its own terms and limitations, so it's a good idea to check with your credit card issuer to see what the current rate is for using your points in this way, as other redemption methods may offer more value. Either way, you’ll earn Expedia Rewards points for transactions you pay for with American Express or Citi points. 

Here are some more details on each of these programs:

American Express Membership Rewards

Amex Membership Rewards points can be used to pay for all or part of a flight’s cost, as well as for a car rental, an activity, a package, or prepaid hotel bookings with a Pay with Points option. To use this benefit, you need to connect your account to the retailer and use the linked American Express card to pay for the transaction. 

The number of available points you have to spend should appear at checkout. The full amount of the purchase will be charged to your card, and then a statement credit will be issued within two to four business days to account for the points you used.

Here are some American Express rewards cards that earn Membership Rewards you could use on Expedia:

• American Express^® Green Card: This card earns 3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases. It has a low annual fee of $150. (Terms apply.)
• American Express^® Gold Card: This card earns 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. It has a middle-of-the-road annual fee of $250 and comes with a lot of perks for travelers and foodies. (Terms apply.)
• The Platinum Card^® from American Express: This card earns 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. This is the premier luxury travel card from Amex. (Terms apply.)
  

Citi ThankYou Points

Citi ThankYou points can only be used for Expedia Rate hotel bookings, whether for the full amount or only a partial payment. These hotels will have a label that says “Expedia Rate.” When you’re ready to make a purchase, choose the “Pay online now” option. At checkout, select “ThankYou Points” as your payment method and designate the number of points you wish to apply. Any remaining balance will be charged to your linked Citi card.

Here are some of the best travel credit cards from Citi that earn ThankYou Points you could use on Expedia:

• Citi Double Cash^® Card: This card earns you amazing cash back — up to 2% cash back — but your rewards can also be converted to ThankYou Points. 
• Citi Premier^® Card: This card earns 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases, and has a low annual fee of $95.

Expedia Rewards FAQs

Bottom line

As far as travel rewards programs go, Expedia’s isn’t too bad. It allows for stacking rewards, so savvy travelers can get the most benefit from booking through Expedia. Its member perks may be a little light, but for someone who travels for business, earning an elite status would be relatively easy and the benefits a nice bonus. When you pair the Expedia program with credit card offers from Amex or Citibank, then you have even more options when it comes to earning and using bonus points.

In all, it’s worth taking a few minutes to sign up for the program if you’re planning on booking through Expedia any time in the next year. You may just get some deals and ideas that spark the travel bug in you.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Benefits

Card Details

• Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
• Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
• Longer intro APR on qualifying purchases and balance transfers
• No foreign transaction fees
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• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

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Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

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Why we like it

• The Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card is great for individuals who enjoy earning rewards and traveling.

• Cardholders will enjoy the flexibility to redeem points with no blackout dates and receive a statement credit to pay for travel and dining purchases.

• Earn 1.5X points on all purchases everywhere, every time.

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