I didn’t think it would be possible, but Expedia group has managed to make its One Key “rewards” program even less appealing than before.
For the majority of its members, earnings will be either slashed in half, or axed altogether.
As things currently stand, provided you’re enrolled in the One Key program, you’ll earn 2% back in the form of OneKeyCash. That’s the case regardless of your status in One Key.
However, that’ll be changing as of May 22, 2025. From that date, those with Gold and Platinum status will continue to earn 2% back. However, Silver member earnings will be halved to a measly 1% rate, while entry-level Blue members will earn an extremely generous 0% rate.
The email announcing this change came from Hotels.com and it states that bookings on Hotels.com will remain the same. I’m assuming that relates to bookings of Vrbo properties on the Hotels.com website itself, so at least you’ll still be able to earn 2% that way even if you don’t have Platinum or Gold status. I’ve never compared rates for Vrbo properties between the listings on Vrbo itself versus Hotels.com, so I don’t know if there’s ever a price differential to take into account.
Still, this is a curious choice by Expedia group as I can’t imagine that Blue members were previously earning 2% OneKeyCash on Vrbo stays at such an astronomical level that the earning level was unsustainable. All it does is continue to give the impression that the One Key loyalty program gives very little incentive to be loyal. Perhaps they should rename the program from One Key to Wonky.
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Does this apply only to new VRBO bookings as of May 22nd or does it also apply to bookings made before May 22nd?
That’s not clear to me I’m afraid. I clicked through to the full terms and although it does list different terms based on bookings before and after May 22, it’s not clear which policy will be in place for bookings that take place after that date but where reservations were made before May 22. https://www.hotels.com/one-key-terms
One Key to Wonky. That’s some serious Dad humour.
I sadly don’t have any children to make that even partially excusable.
there should be a frequent miler on the air segment named something like this
When Hotels.com switched to One Key, I stopped using them; They took what was a decent rewards program and just ruined it with One Key, so this further crap move doesn’t surprise me.
Same. For now I have moved my “random” stays where I don’t want to book through a major chain to AA Hotels. In addition to the miles and LPs from the booking itself the 10X earnings when paying with my AA Executive Card make it a fairly attractive option. Hotels.com is basically dead to me.
They’re really trying to make sure people don’t base their decisions on poor cashback rates