Smart Money: ‘This or That’: Loyalty to One Travel Brand or Diversify?

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Good Cash podcast, the place we reply your real-world cash questions. 

This week’s episode is a part of our new sequence known as “This or That,” the place the journey staff compares other ways to journey.

Take a look at this episode on any of those platforms:

Usually, it’s higher to diversify your factors so that you don’t restrict your choices to just one journey model. The best approach to do that is to make use of a journey bank card with transferable factors, so you possibly can earn factors with one card, however then switch these factors to a number of completely different airline or lodge packages. Ensure that to examine that your bank card’s switch companions are airways or accommodations that you just frequent.

In case you already journey with one model commonly, it might make sense to start out incomes rewards with that one model extra deliberately. For instance, in case you stay close to a sure airline’s hub, you may need to contemplate getting the airline’s co-branded bank card to earn further miles and get perks like free checked luggage and a quick observe to elite standing. Elite standing can unlock some money-saving perks, equivalent to complimentary upgrades to enterprise class seats or lodge suites.

In case you are selecting between manufacturers — whether or not it’s to choose one loyalty program, assess switch companions of your new bank card and even simply ebook your subsequent journey — there are a number of components you need to contemplate. Along with availability and pricing, you may need to take into consideration rewards price and elite standing. NerdWallet used these components and others to price the finest airline and lodge loyalty packages.

Extra about factors and miles and switch companions on NerdWallet:

Sean Pyles: Welcome to the NerdWallet Good Cash podcast the place you ship us your cash questions and we reply them with the assistance of our genius Nerds. I am Sean Pyles. The previous couple of weeks in our “This or That” journey sequence, we have talked about when to spend factors and methods to earn them with a journey bank card.

However one necessary query stays: Must you keep loyal to at least one lodge or airline, or diversify your factors recreation? Journey author Elina Geller is right here at present that can assist you work out your factors technique. Elina, thanks for being right here.

Elina Geller: Thanks for having me.

Sean Pyles: Earlier than we get into this dialog, a fast disclaimer that we’ll discuss a couple of bank cards on this episode which might be NerdWallet companions, however that doesn’t have an effect on how we discuss them. OK. Nicely Elina, first off, the place do your loyalties lie? Are there any journey manufacturers that you just’re particularly loyal to?

Elina Geller: Sure. I am loyal to United as a result of I’ve United Silver standing, and I really feel like I get loads of perks out of that. Lots of people suppose that Silver standing, which is the bottom degree, is so insignificant, however to me it is enormous.

Sean Pyles: What do you get from that?

Elina Geller: So I get a free checked bag as much as 70 kilos, however I really feel like my bag is all the time weighing greater than 50 kilos, similar to a power overpacker. In order that further allowance that I get from my standing saves me some huge cash. The opposite factor is, when you might have Silver standing, 24 hours earlier than the flight — so, mainly once you’re capable of examine in — you possibly can choose a free Financial system Plus seat, and people seats are often near the entrance of the aircraft. They’ve extra leg room. They’re, normally, simply extra comfy and extra spacious, and I like these seats and I do not like paying for issues, as you realize.

So it is simply one other approach for me to get one thing totally free, despite the fact that I clearly needed to spend cash to attain the standing.

Sean Pyles: And also you journey internationally actually incessantly, staying at one location for a month, one other location for a month. So that you type of must deliver all of that stuff, 70 kilos value of stuff with you.

Elina Geller: Precisely. Not solely do I journey rather a lot like this, but in addition I am an overpacker as a result of I prefer to deliver all my toiletries with me and my blow dryer. So all this stuff weigh rather a lot, and plus having garments for various climates. I really want that further baggage allowance.

Sean Pyles: I’m a loud and proud overpacker, so I can utterly relate. However anyway. Are there some other manufacturers that you just’re particularly loyal to?

Elina Geller: Sure, Hilton, as a result of I’ve Diamond standing as a result of I’ve the Hilton Aspire card, and I really feel like I get loads of worth out of that as a result of clearly you get the free breakfast and in addition each time I keep at a Hilton property, I get a very nice improve to even a collection, the perfect rooms, as a result of it is the very best degree standing and I simply really feel very nice once I keep at these properties. So positively Hilton Diamond.

Sean Pyles: One factor we must always most likely make clear is that so as to get these completely different ranges of standing, you do not have to purchase them essentially, however you do need to spend a sure amount of cash with these corporations to attain that degree. It is not such as you’re saying, “I need to spend 100 bucks to get Diamond standing.” It is extra cumulative primarily based on the way you spend cash with these manufacturers.

Elina Geller: It relies upon. Hilton Diamond you get simply from holding the Hilton Aspire bank card.

Sean Pyles: Fascinating. All proper. Nicely, it looks as if you might have various manufacturers that you just’re loyal to. I may see some folks wanting to stay to only one model’s program, one model’s factors system. What are a number of the causes that you’d advocate perhaps staying loyal to a single model versus many?

Elina Geller: Since you may proceed to earn your factors with that particular model. So for instance once I fly with United, loads of occasions I take advantage of my factors as a result of I’ve a complete technique for this. Clearly, I all the time fly in first or enterprise class once I’m flying internationally, however once I fly domestically, if it is a quick flight, then I often will fly in economic system, and loads of occasions I will simply pay for it in money versus utilizing factors as a result of I’ve United TravelBank credit from completely different bank cards, and normally, I’ve credit nonetheless remaining from once I needed to cancel flights due to COVID.

So I am making an attempt to scale back these credit as a result of these expire quickly. So once I’m shopping for economic system tickets, that further baggage allowance and that free seat choice are perks, however as well as, I am incomes miles on that flight. So I really feel like by having loyalty to a particular airline and even lodge, it is cumulative, proper? You get clearly the perks that your standing affords you, but in addition your loyalty to them means that you can proceed to build up factors and miles with that program.

Sean Pyles: It looks as if it will even be rather a lot simpler to maintain observe if you do not have to fret about, “Am I getting factors for this firm this time or this one the following time?” You simply know that you just’re typically working with the identical system and might proceed to construct up factors and use these factors as you store and do no matter with them.

Sean Pyles: OK. Nicely, are there any cons to being loyal to only one program?

Elina Geller: In case you’re loyal to at least one program, you possibly can pigeonhole your self as a result of in case you solely have factors with one program, it’s possible you’ll not be capable of fly with different packages’ factors. However as an instance you are residing close to an airport, and Delta is the native airline and it flies to all of the locations you need. So that you earn and redeem factors with Delta and you’ve got a Delta bank card. If that’s your fundamental bank card, what occurs if someday you need to journey someplace and Delta would not fly there? Or it prices so many factors, you are out of choices? So, that is why folks must be diversified, but in addition having loyalty is necessary.

Sean Pyles: You need to give your self some flexibility so you might have extra choices, however you additionally need to have the ability to navigate these techniques in a approach that works for the way you employ them.

Elina Geller: Yeah, precisely.

Sean Pyles: So Elina, do you suppose one route is best? Perhaps specializing in one card or taking the extra diversified method?

Elina Geller: I believe it is positively higher to diversify as a result of getting a transferable level bank card goes to present you loads of perks — crucial perks having the ability to switch your factors to airways and accommodations. So straight away, that is going to present you a lot extra choices than, as an instance, in case you would have one thing just like the United bank card, which is simply going to can help you earn factors with United.

Sean Pyles: Are there any downsides to that method although?

Elina Geller: So the factor is, once you get a transferable level bank card, you are not going to get particular perks for that airline. So for instance, as an instance you might have the Chase Sapphire Reserve. In order that card earns 3 factors per greenback on journey and eating. One of many massive perks is having the ability to switch your factors to airways and accommodations. However with the United Explorer card, sure, you are going to earn further factors with United, however then you definitely’re additionally going to get a free checked bag. You are not going to get that free checked bag with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

So I might say in case you’re very loyal to at least one airline, it may very well be a superb technique to even have that co-branded card along with having a basic bank card. So you possibly can get perks for touring with that airline.

Sean Pyles: And a co-branded card is like one that you just talked about, the United Explorer card, and that is only a bank card put out by United. Folks get gives for these from the flight attendants once they’re about to land, proper? Folks come round and provide utility pamphlets?

Elina Geller: Sure, precisely. However that is not the place try to be getting your bank card utility in, except it is essentially the most wonderful provide.

Sean Pyles: Are you able to elaborate on that a little bit bit? Why should not people apply then and there? They make it sound fairly engaging generally once you’re on the flight.

Elina Geller: It simply actually relies upon. You must examine and see if that is the perfect publicly accessible provide. Generally there may very well be a restricted time provide that is accessible on-line and perhaps what they’re handing out on the aircraft is only a completely different utility. So perhaps the bonus goes to be decrease on the airline, perhaps it’ll be increased. It actually relies upon.

So I might simply say making use of on the airline, perhaps that is one thing solely you need to do if you’re very accustomed to the present sign-up bonus and in case you see one thing that is utterly excellent.

Sean Pyles: And in case you’re not, perhaps use that pamphlet as a part of your analysis, however do not be pressured into making a choice and making use of proper then and there.

Sean Pyles: OK. Nicely, even selecting a journey bank card with transferable factors includes a point of brand name loyalty as a result of not all bank card packages have the identical switch companions.

Elina Geller: There’s some overlap between a number of the packages. So for instance, Marriott is a switch associate of each AmEx and Chase, however there’s additionally different airways which might be distinctive. For instance, Southwest is simply a switch associate of Chase.

Sean Pyles: Nicely, are there any corporations, accommodations, airways, that are not switch companions with any of the bank card packages?

Elina Geller: Sure, there are. Not each single airline and lodge goes to be a switch associate. So earlier than you resolve to use for a transferable level card, try the record of switch companions to see which of them align together with your travels. For instance, American Airways is an instance of an airline that isn’t a switch associate of any of the packages. So in case you’re making an attempt to get American Airline miles, you may need to get an American Airways bank card.

Sean Pyles: So it feels like it doesn’t matter what, you’ll have to do some analysis of manufacturers. What ought to folks contemplate once they’re searching for a model to be loyal to?

Elina Geller: So the very first thing is comfort. Which airways have loads of flights out of your native airport? As an example you are JetBlue, however then JetBlue would not fly out of your native airport to the locations that you really want. That is not going to be an airline for you. So first simply have a look at what airline has a hub the place you are flying out of.

Sean Pyles: OK, and what else ought to folks take into accout? Perhaps for accommodations?

Elina Geller: For accommodations, additionally availability, as a result of the type of accommodations that you just keep at matter by way of what bank card you’ll need to get to remain at these accommodations. So as an instance you actually like staying at Hiltons, proper? You’ll most likely need to get a bank card that earns Hilton factors or in case you actually like Marriott’s properties, perhaps it is sensible to get a Marriott bank card.

So the type of properties that you just like to remain at. And likewise, the lodge manufacturers individually are completely different, and in addition not all accommodations are positioned in all completely different locations. So for instance, as an instance you actually like staying at boutique accommodations, effectively, your choices are going to be completely different than in case you desire to remain at chains.

Sean Pyles: I used to be going to ask about boutique accommodations as a result of some folks need to keep at them versus bigger chains. Can they entry packages, rewards like this for boutique accommodations via their bank cards? Or is that not a lot an choice?

Elina Geller: Some, however it actually relies upon if that boutique lodge participates in this system. For instance, there’s AmEx Tremendous Motels + Resorts. There’s additionally Small Luxurious Motels. These lodge teams enable some impartial properties to take part inside them. So perhaps that is a approach so that you can get some loyalty out of that, however it actually simply relies upon.

Sean Pyles: Elina, how do you suppose issues like rewards price and elite standing perks come into play when individuals are procuring round?

Elina Geller: So my staff really checked out all this stuff like elite standing perks and rewards charges once we did our greatest ofs this 12 months. So you possibly can discover all of these rankings on the NerdWallet web site.

Sean Pyles: We’ll have a hyperlink to that within the present notes publish at nerdwallet.com/podcast. OK, and in order that covers accommodations. What do you suppose folks must be searching for once they’re contemplating an airline to associate with doubtlessly?

Elina Geller: So I believe availability at your property airport and in addition how straightforward and low cost it’s to redeem factors. So for instance, I am from New York, and there is many airways that select JFK and Newark and LaGuardia as their house airports. But when I had been to check two of the massive airways which might be in New York — United and Delta — I select United as a result of I believe the redemption price for award tickets is a lot better than Delta, which has ridiculously excessive redemption charges.

Sean Pyles: However we already talked about getting a journey bank card as a technique to diversify factors, however is there a approach to make use of bank cards in case your objective is loyalty to at least one airline or lodge?

Elina Geller: Sure, completely. Getting co-branded bank cards. So for instance, I’ve the Hilton Aspire card, so if I ever keep at a Hilton, I’ll cost every thing to my room after which use my bank card to settle the invoice as a result of I am additionally going to be incomes further factors for utilizing that bank card at a Hilton property.

Sean Pyles: OK, one other query for you. Generally when you are going to ebook a flight via your most well-liked model, you may discover that the flight or the lodge or no matter goes to be dearer than in case you went with another choice. When do you suppose it will be value it to ebook that dearer choice, despite the fact that it is simply the model that you just’re loyal to?

Elina Geller: So that is one thing that I really feel like I face fairly typically. As a result of as an instance I need to keep someplace and perhaps I need to pay as a result of paying goes to be more cost effective than utilizing factors as a result of it isn’t such a superb redemption price however on the similar time, perhaps paying to remain at, as an instance, that Hilton property and even getting the free breakfast and the improve continues to be going to value me extra if as an instance I stayed a comparable property that isn’t affiliated with Hilton or anybody else.

So I really feel like this might occur and you actually simply need to do the mathematics and see what is sensible for you as a result of sure, if I keep on the cheaper property, however then if it would not have free breakfast, I’ll need to pay to take myself out to breakfast. So these are type of all of the issues that it’s worthwhile to take into accounts.

Sean Pyles: And generally the comfort of going with the model that you just’re loyal to could be value it.

Elina Geller: It may be, but in addition on the flip facet, perhaps it isn’t value it as a result of, sure, you are going to earn some further factors out of that, but when it’ll value you some huge cash to earn these further factors, it might not make sense. So once more, it is simply on a case-by-case foundation.

So then one other factor to bear in mind once you’re evaluating these choices is are you making an attempt to go for elite standing with the lodge or with the airline? As a result of as an instance you are near incomes standing otherwise you’re near attaining the following degree of standing — that is one thing that it’s worthwhile to contemplate as a result of if staying at that lodge or taking that flight, that may very well be barely dearer than the competitor goes to get you nearer to that standing or goes that can assist you obtain that subsequent degree of standing, then that clearly is value extra than simply saving some cash.

Sean Pyles: OK. So it’s a must to take into consideration your particular person circumstances and targets proper now.

Elina Geller: At all times, yeah.

Sean Pyles: Nice. Nicely Elina, thanks for sharing all your insights with us. Are you able to inform us your takeaway suggestions, please?

Elina Geller: Yeah. So first, know the trade-offs. Clearly in case you keep loyal to at least one model that is going that can assist you earn factors and elite standing quicker, however it might restrict your choices. You could not have sufficient factors to fly with different airways or keep at different accommodations. In order that’s why you need to give your self flexibility — which is my second takeaway tip — is to have a bank card that earns transferrable factors as a result of you possibly can switch these factors to a number of airways and accommodations.

And I might say my third level could be to grasp that loyalty packages are designed to incentivize you to stay with that model. So remember that any rewards that you just’re incomes, they might be value lower than the cash you are spending to earn that reward. So once more, simply do the mathematics and ensure it is sensible for you.

Sean Pyles: All proper. Thanks a lot, Elina.

Elina Geller: You are welcome. Thanks for having me.

Sean Pyles: And that’s all we’ve for this episode. When you’ve got a cash query of your individual, flip to the Nerds and name or textual content us your questions at 901-730-6373. That is 901-730-NERD. You may also e-mail us at [email protected] Go to nerdwallet.com/podcast for more information on this episode. And bear in mind to observe, price and assessment us wherever you are getting this podcast.

This episode is produced by Meghan Coyle. We had modifying assist from Tess Vigeland and me, Sean Pyles. Kaely Monahan combined our audio and an enormous thanks to the professionals on the NerdWallet copy desk.

Right here is our transient disclaimer. We’re not monetary or funding advisors. This nerdy data is supplied for basic instructional and leisure functions and will not apply to your particular circumstances. And with that mentioned, till subsequent time, flip to the Nerds.