{"id":284556,"date":"2026-11-11T23:49:44","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T23:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=284556\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T21:33:41","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T21:33:41","slug":"expedia-adds-benefits-for-one-key-elite-members-heres-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/expedia-one-key-revamp\/","title":{"rendered":"Expedia Adds Benefits for One Key Elite Members: Here\u2019s What To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In October, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\/expedia-makes-flying-easier-with-one-key-benefits-lounge-access-during-delays-less-time-at-airport-security-and-money-back-when-fares-drop\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Expedia announced some important new benefits<\/a> for One Key members, including lounge access during delays, CLEAR+ discounts, and price drop protection for flights booked in the Expedia app. Here's what's new \u2014 and who is eligible.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_Is_Expedia_One_Key\">What Is Expedia One Key?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/expedia-one-key-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Expedia One Key<\/a> is the combined loyalty program for Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. Depending on your elite status tier, One Key members earn at least 1% in OneKeyCash, which is valued at $1 each toward Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo bookings.<\/p>\n<p>You earn One Key status by booking trip elements, including flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, activities, and ground transportation. Trip elements must be worth at least $25 USD, excluding taxes and fees, to qualify.<\/p>\n<p>New members start at Blue status and can attain higher elite status when hitting a certain number of trip elements in a calendar year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Silver<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>status<\/strong>\u00a0after\u00a0<strong>5<\/strong>\u00a0trip elements<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gold<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>status<\/strong>\u00a0after\u00a0<strong>15<\/strong>\u00a0trip elements<\/li>\n<li><strong>Platinum<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>status<\/strong>\u00a0after\u00a0<strong>30<\/strong>\u00a0trip elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What stands out here is the ability to potentially earn One Key Gold status after just one trip. That's because a 5-day trip could have multiple elements: five vacation rental nights, five flight tickets, and five car rental days, for example.<\/p>\n<p>All One Key members can now enjoy Instant Member Discounts in addition to earning OneKeyCash for future travel:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Blue:<\/strong> 10% or more in instant discounts, plus 1% back in OneKeyCash<\/li>\n<li><strong>Silver:<\/strong> 15% or more in instant discounts, plus 2% back in OneKeyCash<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gold:<\/strong> 20% or more in instant discounts, plus 2% back in OneKeyCash<\/li>\n<li><strong>Platinum:<\/strong> 20% or more in instant discounts, plus 3% back in OneKeyCash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you frequently book through Expedia, these savings and earnings can add up quickly.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_285603\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/370\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-285603 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52.png\" alt=\"Expedia One Key elite status tiers\" width=\"900\" height=\"370\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52.png 2478w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52-750x308.png 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52-900x370.png 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52-768x316.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52-1536x631.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Screenshot-2026-11-11-at-18.39.52-2048x841.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Screenshot of Expedia<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/expedia-one-key-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Ultimate One Key Rewards Guide: How to Earn, Redeem, and Maximize<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Expedia8217s_Latest_Updates\">Expedia's Latest Updates<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Airport_lounge_access\">Airport lounge access<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One Key Gold and Platinum members now get lounge access after a flight delay of at least 90 minutes. Previously, this benefit only applied to Platinum members. There are some caveats, though.<\/p>\n<p>First, the flight must be booked through Expedia at least 24 hours before departure. And there's a lengthy list of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/lp\/b\/flight-delay-benefit-excluded-airlines\" rel=\"noopener\">excluded airlines<\/a>, notably Frontier, JetBlue, and Southwest.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, this benefit is a pilot program, so it could change soon. Expedia says:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;The benefit is available for eligible flights booked through Expedia by 12\/31\/27. As a pilot, we\u2019re gathering member feedback and continuing to refine the experience, and we\u2019ll evaluate how it performs over that period.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As for the actual airport lounges, Expedia uses the LoungeKey network, including independent operators such as The Club, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, and Aspire. If\u00a0a lounge isn't available, you will receive $20 in OneKeyCash.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"CLEAR_discounts\">CLEAR+ discounts<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One Key members can also enjoy CLEAR+ discounts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Platinum members:\u00a0<\/strong>Get a CLEAR+ annual membership for $129, or a membership plus two CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings for $199.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gold and Silver members:\u00a0<\/strong>Get a CLEAR+ annual membership for $179, or a\u00a0membership plus two CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings for $249.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blue members:<\/strong> Get a CLEAR+ annual membership for<strong> $209.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Silver, Gold, and Platinum members can also get 20% off additional CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings.<\/p>\n<p>We haven't tested this data point (yet), but it appears these CLEAR+ discounts will stack with an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/amex-clear-plus-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">American Express CLEAR+ credit<\/a>, provided you pay with your eligible card.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Price_drop_protection\">Price drop protection<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One Key Gold and Platinum members who book flights using the Expedia app will also benefit from price drop protection.<\/p>\n<p>Expedia will automatically track potential price drops for your flight up until the day of departure. However, Expedia automatically checks the price of your flight once every 24 hours when monitoring for price drops. That means if your flight drops after one check but rises again before the next one, you might not get a refund.<\/p>\n<p>If you are eligible for a refund, you'll get the difference in OneKeyCash after a trip is completed.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Boost_Your_Earnings_With_a_One_Key_card\">Boost Your Earnings With a One Key card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you book a lot of travel through Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, consider getting the <a data-ccid=\"217\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/hotels\/one-key-credit-card\/\">One Key\u2122 Card<\/a> or <a data-ccid=\"216\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/hotels\/one-key-plus-card\/\">One Key+\u2122 Card<\/a> to earn bonus OneKeyCash on everyday purchases and Expedia spending.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, you can score a solid welcome bonus on either card:<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-2 compare-p-wells-fargo\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/merchant.linksynergy.com\/fs\/banners\/40602\/40602_56.jpg\" width=\"150\" alt=\"One Key+\u2122 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">One Key+\u2122 Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn $350 in OneKeyCash\u2122  after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Hotels.com<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and Vrbo<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com\/one-key-terms.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$99<span class=\"compare-terms\">On Wells Fargo's website<br><a data-ccid=\"216\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsfargo.com\/credit-cards\/terms\/onekeyplus\/?FPID=21271KIXE50000&product_code=CC&subproduct_code=OF&sub_channel=AFF&vendor_code=IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo<\/li>\r\n<li>3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining<\/li>\r\n<li>2% in OneKeyCash on other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/merchant.linksynergy.com\/fs\/banners\/40602\/40602_57.jpg\" width=\"150\" alt=\"One Key\u2122 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">One Key\u2122 Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn $250 in OneKeyCash\u2122 after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Hotels.com<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and Vrbo<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com\/one-key-terms.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$0<span class=\"compare-terms\">On Wells Fargo's website<br><a data-ccid=\"217\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsfargo.com\/credit-cards\/terms\/onekey\/?FPID=21231JIXE50000&product_code=CC&subproduct_code=OW&sub_channel=AFF&vendor_code=IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo<\/li>\r\n<li>3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining<\/li>\r\n<li>1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In award travel, we generally recommend booking direct rather than using a third party, but for those who book through Expedia \u2014 \u00a0and have top-tier elite status \u2014 these new benefits are helpful. While there are a few hoops to jump through for the airport lounge access, the overall list of One Key benefits is strong, even if it's just a pilot for now.<\/p>\n<p>We're curious to see what will happen to the lounge access benefit beyond 2027, though.<\/p>\n<p><em>Are you an Expedia One Key member? Have you used the airport lounge access benefit?<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#What_Is_Expedia_One_Key\">What Is Expedia One Key?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Expedia8217s_Latest_Updates\">Expedia's Latest Updates<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Airport_lounge_access\">Airport lounge access<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#CLEAR_discounts\">CLEAR+ discounts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Price_drop_protection\">Price drop protection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Boost_Your_Earnings_With_a_One_Key_card\">Boost Your Earnings With a One Key card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In October, Expedia announced some important new benefits for One Key members, including lounge access during delays, CLEAR+ discounts, and price drop protection for flights booked in the Expedia app. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s new \u2014 and who is eligible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":284562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"","timeOption":"","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":""},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12622],"coauthors":[36525],"class_list":["post-284556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-elite-status"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284556"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":285616,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284556\/revisions\/285616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/284562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284556"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=284556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}