Program Guides Archives - AwardWallet Blog

United MileagePlus Guide: Earning and Redeeming Miles, United Partners, and Getting Premier Status

November 1, 2026 29

United's MileagePlus program is one of the most accessible and rewarding frequent-flyer programs. Although we've seen significant changes in recent years, MileagePlus retains its core value for members. In this guide, we'll cover how to earn United miles, the best ways to redeem them, and how to make the most of MileagePlus Premier elite status.

Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Marriott Lifetime Elite Status: What You Need To Earn It and the Perks It Yields

October 30, 2026 2

Marriott is one of several hotel loyalty programs that offers lifetime elite status, rewarding its loyal members after years of faithfully staying at its hotels. Lifetime elite members enjoy various benefits depending on which lifetime status level they have achieved. In this guide, we also highlight a way you can slowly progress toward Marriott lifetime status even if you don't stay with the chain frequently.

Ian Snyder & Shawn Gallagher

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Southwest Rapid Rewards Guide: Navigating a Reshaped Program

October 28, 2026 11

Southwest’s loyalty program has long been a fan favorite thanks to perks like the Companion Pass, no change fees, and two free checked bags. But major changes in 2025 have reshaped the program, and as we look ahead to 2027, even more changes are on the horizon. Here’s how to maximize your Rapid Rewards points going forward.

Ian Snyder, Mark Jackson & Cameron Laufer

Reviewed by Harrison Pierce

IHG Milestone Rewards: How To Earn Suite Upgrades, Lounge Access, Food & Beverage Credits, and More

October 19, 2026 0

IHG Milestone Rewards provide additional benefits to frequent guests of IHG hotels. You can earn rewards for every 10 nights stayed each calendar year, starting at 20 nights. The benefits range from bonus points, to food and beverage rewards, to confirmable suite upgrades. At two specific levels, you'll also have the option to select an annual lounge membership. IHG Milestone Rewards can offer excellent value to members, depending on how you use them.

Shawn Gallagher & Ian Snyder

Reviewed by JT Genter

Club Eurostar Complete Guide: How To Earn, Redeem, and Reach Elite Status

October 16, 2026 0

Club Eurostar is one of the best train loyalty programs in Europe. The program uses an easy-to-understand award chart, and elite status offers real perks. Here's everything you need to know.

Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Harrison Pierce

9 Things We Love About Hilton Honors: Points Pooling, Free Breakfast, Fifth Night Free, and More

October 6, 2026 39

From the best mid-tier hotel status to a fifth night free on awards and an excellent policy on sharing your points with others, there's a lot to love about the Hilton Honors program. Here are nine of our favorite benefits and reasons the program continues to deliver strong value for travelers.

Mark Jackson & Sophie Atkinson

Reviewed by Toni Southam

British Airways Avios Guide: How To Earn and Redeem Avios

October 4, 2026 9

British Airways Avios is a useful airline currency that you can earn in a variety of different ways — with even more options for redeeming. No matter your travel plans, Avios can likely get you there. Here's everything you need to know about how to earn and redeem them.

Mark Jackson & Dan Miller

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Budget Fastbreak Guide: Benefits, Budget Bucks, and How It Works

September 29, 2026 2

A unique loyalty program, the Budget FastBreak program has no status levels, and you don’t even earn points toward redemptions. That said, it still has strong elements and can smooth out your experience when booking through Budget Car Rental.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by JT Genter

Wyndham Rewards Guide: How To Earn Points, Elite Status, and Free Nights

September 25, 2026 13

The Wyndham Rewards hotel loyalty program offers three different elite status levels and several ways to earn and redeem Wyndham points. Points are redeemed at four flat rates with no dynamic pricing, making it easy to plan an award stay. Here's everything you should know about this program.

Dan Miller & Anthony Cave

Reviewed by Harrison Pierce

Air Canada Aeroplan Program Guide: Overview, Elite Status, Earning Points, and More

September 23, 2026 18

For those looking for a comprehensively complete loyalty program, Air Canada Aeroplan is worth a look. With plenty of highly valuable ways to earn and redeem points, there's incredible value to be found with Aeroplan, even if you're an occasional Air Canada traveler. Here's everything you need to know about the Air Canada Aeroplan program.

Tyler Glatt & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Toni Southam

American Express Membership Rewards Guide: How To Earn, Redeem, and Transfer Amex Points

September 16, 2026 2

American Express Membership Rewards is one of the best transferable points currencies among those offered by major banks. Here's a high-level overview of the program to help you understand how to earn and redeem Amex points.

Ian Snyder & Ryan Flanigan

Reviewed by Toni Southam

IHG One Rewards Guide: How To Earn, Redeem, and Get the Most From IHG Points

September 14, 2026 13

With over 7,000 properties in over 100 countries around the world, IHG hotels are ubiquitous. Thanks to generous promotions, reasonable award rates, and a great credit card portfolio, IHG One Rewards is a favorite hotel loyalty program for many. In this post, we cover everything you need to know about the program — from how to earn and redeem points to program features and elite status.

Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards: How To Earn, Use, and Maximize Them

September 13, 2026 2

One of the most coveted perks of the World of Hyatt program is the ability to confirm an upgrade to a suite in advance by using a Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award. In this guide, we'll explain how to earn and use this popular benefit to book a more luxurious experience without spending a fortune.

Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

Reviewed by Erik Paquet

Why MaxMyPoint Is Our Favorite Way to Search for Hotel Award Availability

September 11, 2026 1

MaxMyPoint is a newer tool designed to help travelers redeem their hotel points. With coverage for Hyatt, Hilton, IHG, and Marriott, you can search thousands of properties worldwide for live award availability. There are both paid and free options, plus the ability to set alerts when new rewards open up. Here's how it works.

Carissa Rawson & Cameron Laufer

Reviewed by Toni Southam

How To Earn Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status and the Perks of Each Tier

September 5, 2026 105

Marriott Bonvoy elite status has 5 elite tiers in addition to the base level. The program has a huge worldwide footprint and offers various perks, depending on your status level and the hotel brand you're staying at. We’ll dive into Marriott's elite status tiers, what they offer, and how to attain these perks.

Ben Nickel-D'Andrea & Ryan Smith

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Alaska Atmos Rewards Guide: Earning Points, Partner Awards, Elite Status, and Sweet Spots

August 29, 2026 53

With valuable points, a strong elite program, and unique partnerships with global airlines, Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards is one of the best U.S. airline loyalty programs. Here, we provide a complete guide to Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, including how to earn and redeem points, the ins and outs of elite status, and the best Alaska Atmos Rewards redemption options.

Ben Nickel-D'Andrea & Toni Southam

Reviewed by JT Genter

Gondola Review: A Win for Catching Price Drops and Making Loyalty-Eligible Hotel Bookings

August 23, 2026 3

Gondola is a travel portal that promises to help you earn more on every stay thanks to loyalty-eligible bookings. While it might not be as popular as its competitors, it offers functionality that can't be beat — including auto-rebooking if you book a refundable room and your hotel gets cheaper before you check in. And the best part? Gondola is completely free to use. Here's everything to know about Gondola, including how to maximize its integration with AwardWallet.

Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by JT Genter

The Ultimate Delta SkyMiles Guide: How To Earn and Redeem Miles, Achieve Elite Status, and More

August 16, 2026 0

With a strong elite program, great industry reputation, and excellent global network of partner airlines, Delta SkyMiles is a popular U.S. airline loyalty program. Here, we provide a complete guide to Delta SkyMiles, including how to earn and redeem miles, the ins and outs of Medallion status, and the best redemption opportunities.

Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Brilliant by Langham: How This Niche Luxury Hotel Loyalty Program Works

August 5, 2026 0

Brilliant by Langham is one of the most niche programs out there. Here is everything you need to know about this little-known luxury hotel loyalty program.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Enterprise Plus Guide: How To Get Elite Status and Upgrades

July 21, 2026 0

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is one of the largest car rental companies in the world, and its Enterprise Plus loyalty program allows you to earn points redeemable for free rental days and earn elite status. Here's everything you need to know about Enterprise Plus.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by Harrison Pierce

Radisson Rewards: How To Earn and Redeem Points — and Decide If It’s Still Worth Using

July 18, 2026 7

Radisson Rewards is one of the successors to the previous Club Carlson program, covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions. Let’s take a deep dive into Radisson Rewards to understand what it offers, including how to earn Radisson points, they're best uses, and how to make the most of their elite program.

Ian Snyder & Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Venetian Rewards Guide: How to Earn Tier and Rewards Points, Elite Status, Plus Hyatt Point Transfers

July 15, 2026 0

The Venetian Rewards program has replaced the Grazie program on the Vegas Strip, and provides new benefits for gamblers and visitors to the mega resort. Interestingly, the program also offers a transfer option for World of Hyatt members that should be paid attention to.

Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Extended: Sign up for Rakuten and Earn $50 or 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points After Spending $50

July 7, 2026 119

Rakuten is one of the oldest — and remains one of the best — shopping portals on the internet for earning bonus rewards. And it's a great time to sign up. There's a new member bonus of $50, 5,000 Amex Membership Rewards points, or 5,000 Bilt Rewards Points. Here's how to get it.

Tyler Glatt & Skye Class

How to Book United Airlines Award Flights With MileagePlus Miles

July 4, 2026 1

The United Airlines MileagePlus program is one of the easiest frequent flyer programs to use. Learn how United award pricing works, how to search for and book award flights step by step, and the main ways to earn MileagePlus miles for your next redemption.

Jenna Hansen

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Guide to JAL Mileage Bank: How To Earn, Redeem, and Maximize JAL Miles

June 29, 2026 1

JAL Mileage Bank has become much more useful for U.S. travelers thanks to new transfer partnerships with programs like Bilt Rewards and Capital One. From Japan Airlines premium-cabin awards to partner redemptions and stopover opportunities, here's what you need to know about earning and redeeming JAL miles.

Shawn Gallagher

Reviewed by Toni Southam

The Best Ways To Redeem Wells Fargo Rewards Points

June 28, 2026 19

When discussing top-value rewards programs, Wells Fargo Rewards typically isn't the first program that comes to mind. However, now that Wells Fargo has improved transfer partners, you have even more valuable ways to redeem your Wells Fargo Rewards. Here's a full recap of the many ways to get value from your Wells Fargo points.

Toni Southam & Ryan Flanigan

Reviewed by JT Genter

The Ultimate Guide to World of Hyatt: How To Earn, Redeem, and Maximize Value

May 27, 2026 36

Interested in learning more about program features, elite status, and how to earn and redeem points through World of Hyatt? Thanks to a great award chart, excellent elite benefits, and great credit cards, World of Hyatt is one of the best hotel loyalty programs.

Ian Snyder, Mark Jackson & Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Guide to Citi ThankYou® Transfer Partners: Which Programs Offer the Best Value for Your Points?

May 25, 2026 64

Citi ThankYou® Rewards offers a ton of value with top transfer partners and plenty of options to collect ThankYou Points. In this post, we break down each Citi transfer partner in detail to help you decide where to transfer your Citi ThankYou Points, highlighting some great example redemption options with the best partners.

Harrison Pierce & Shawn Gallagher

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Your Comprehensive Guide to the Hilton Honors Program

May 3, 2026 21

Hilton Honors is an excellent hotel loyalty program, thanks to the ability to quickly rack up points from stays and promotions, a suite of excellent co-branded credit cards, and a solid elite program. In this post, you'll learn how to earn and redeem points for top value, the benefits of getting Hilton's elite status, and some shortcuts on how to get it. Let's look at everything Hilton Honors.

Ian Snyder & Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Wells Fargo Rewards Transfer Partners: Our Complete Guide to Maximizing Your Wells Fargo Points

April 30, 2026 3

Credit card holders can now redeem Wells Fargo Rewards points by transferring them across nine partners. Here's everything you need to know about Wells Fargo's transfer partners and some of the best ways to stretch your hard-earned points the furthest.

Tyler Glatt & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

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