The Best Hotel and Airline Loyalty Programs for 2026, According to US News
American Airlines, Wyndham, Marriott, and United top the publication’s expanded 2026–2027 rankings.
Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines
U.S. News & World Report released its 2026–2027 Best Travel Rewards Programs, introducing two new rankings aimed at business travelers alongside its annual assessment of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
The expanded rankings evaluate not only the value of earning and redeeming points but also the brands that best serve frequent business travelers, based on factors such as network strength, elite benefits, reliability, and overall traveler experience. The additions emphasize the growing importance of loyalty programs as travelers increasingly look to maximize value across both work and leisure trips.
Among the biggest changes this year, American Airlines AAdvantage claimed the top spot in the Best Airline Rewards Programs ranking for the first time, ending the 11-year run of Alaska Airlines’ loyalty program—now rebranded as Atmos Rewards. Wyndham Rewards moved into the No. 1 position among hotel loyalty programs, earning high marks for redemption value and its broad global footprint. Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt rounded out the top three hotel rewards programs.
U.S. News also debuted its inaugural rankings for business travelers, with Marriott International taking the top spot among hotel brands. The company was recognized for its extensive global portfolio, business-friendly amenities and strong co-branded credit card offerings. Hilton Worldwide ranked second, followed by IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels and Choice Hotels.
On the airline side, United Airlines earned the No. 1 ranking for business travelers, ahead of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. U.S. News cited United’s combination of flight availability, elite-status benefits, and overall traveler experience as key factors behind its top finish.
“Whether travelers are planning for a family vacation or for a work trip, choosing the right loyalty program or travel brand can make a meaningful difference in both value and overall experience,” said Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News & World Report. “The 2026-2027 rankings combine robust data and expert analysis to help consumers identify the airlines, hotels and rewards programs that best fit the way they travel.”
The rankings are based on U.S. News‘ proprietary methodology, which considers membership benefits, network coverage, ease of earning and redeeming points, hotel portfolio diversity, and overall hotel and airline quality. For this year’s edition, the publication expanded its scoring to include additional member benefits and increased the frequency of airline and hotel data collection. The new business travel rankings apply a separate methodology focused on the priorities of frequent corporate travelers, including loyalty program value, network strength, and operational reliability.
