Credit-Card Rewards Now Rival Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs
Photo Credit: Plans are underway for a new parking structure and transportation hub that will be built on the east side of Disneyland Resort. Walt Disney World
Skift Take
Surveys by Skift Research across four major markets reveal shifting allegiances for loyalty programs, a widening confidence gaps among leisure travelers, and other trends for 2026.
Credit card rewards programs now match — and in some cases exceed — the perceived value of traditional airline and hotel loyalty programs across major travel markets, according to new survey results from Skift Research.
In the U.S., 34% of travelers surveyed said credit-card programs offer the most rewarding benefits, compared with 22% for hotel programs and 21% for airlines.
The competitive pressure is intensified by artificial intelligence. More than half of U.S. travelers (53%) said they would switch from their usual brand if AI-powered tools surfaced better deals from competitors.
The findings are based on Skift Research surveys conducted in December among hundreds of travelers across the U.S., U.K., India, and China. Together, the results suggest a travel industry that remains resilient but is increasingly fragmented along regional, generational, and behavioral lines
