Devaluation in Expedia Rewards Points
Jul 10, 2013, 7:18 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: Ex-NWA Plat
Posts: 1,480
So what's a better loyalty program out there w.r.t. Expedia's competition?
Jul 11, 2013, 2:02 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
IMO, Orbitz is the best right now. Or Hotelclub. % of booking discount applied to next booking. I like it because it can be used with discount codes as well, as opposed to Hotel.com's 10 night deal.
Aug 17, 2013, 8:55 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 86
ANOTHER major devaluation 
Just got an email last night:
1 point per $5 spent for Flights (was 1 point per $2)
Beginning October 15, the value per point doesn't change—whether redeeming points
for a $25 coupon or a $250 coupon.
However, a couple bright spots in otherwise terrible news:
All redemption changes take effect August 16, but since you're a valued Expedia traveler, we’re extending you a grace period to continue using the current redemption rates until October 15
Your points are worth double the value when choosing a stay at over 1,400 VIP Access® hotels around the globe. Now through December 31, 2013, redeem 3,500 points for a $50 VIP Access hotel coupon vs. 3,500 points for a $25 standard hotel coupon. Limited time offer; subject to change.
A coupon is valid for one year from the date you create it.
So here's the old/new/VIP award chart effective 8/16/13:
Just got an email last night:1 point per $5 spent for Flights (was 1 point per $2)
Beginning October 15, the value per point doesn't change—whether redeeming points
for a $25 coupon or a $250 coupon.
However, a couple bright spots in otherwise terrible news:
All redemption changes take effect August 16, but since you're a valued Expedia traveler, we’re extending you a grace period to continue using the current redemption rates until October 15
Your points are worth double the value when choosing a stay at over 1,400 VIP Access® hotels around the globe. Now through December 31, 2013, redeem 3,500 points for a $50 VIP Access hotel coupon vs. 3,500 points for a $25 standard hotel coupon. Limited time offer; subject to change.
A coupon is valid for one year from the date you create it.
So here's the old/new/VIP award chart effective 8/16/13:
Code:
Coupon Value Old Rate New Rate VIP Access 25 NA 3500 NA 50 7000 7000 3500 100 13000 14000 7000 150 18000 21000 10500 200 20000 28000 14000 250 25000 35000 17500 300 29000 42000 21000 400 37000 56000 28000 500 44000 70000 35000 600 46000 84000 42000 700 47000 98000 49000 800 48000 112000 56000 900 49000 126000 63000 1000 50000 140000 70000
Last edited by EliteMiles; Aug 17, 2013 at 9:01 am Reason: formatting
Aug 17, 2013, 10:45 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: HNL
Posts: 781
ANOTHER major devaluation Just got an email last night:
1 point per $5 spent for Flights (was 1 point per $2)
Beginning October 15, the value per point doesn't change—whether redeeming points
for a $25 coupon or a $250 coupon.
However, a couple bright spots in otherwise terrible news:
All redemption changes take effect August 16, but since you're a valued Expedia traveler, we’re extending you a grace period to continue using the current redemption rates until October 15
Your points are worth double the value when choosing a stay at over 1,400 VIP Access® hotels around the globe. Now through December 31, 2013, redeem 3,500 points for a $50 VIP Access hotel coupon vs. 3,500 points for a $25 standard hotel coupon. Limited time offer; subject to change.
A coupon is valid for one year from the date you create it.
So here's the old/new/VIP award chart effective 8/16/13:
Just got an email last night:1 point per $5 spent for Flights (was 1 point per $2)
Beginning October 15, the value per point doesn't change—whether redeeming points
for a $25 coupon or a $250 coupon.
However, a couple bright spots in otherwise terrible news:
All redemption changes take effect August 16, but since you're a valued Expedia traveler, we’re extending you a grace period to continue using the current redemption rates until October 15
Your points are worth double the value when choosing a stay at over 1,400 VIP Access® hotels around the globe. Now through December 31, 2013, redeem 3,500 points for a $50 VIP Access hotel coupon vs. 3,500 points for a $25 standard hotel coupon. Limited time offer; subject to change.
A coupon is valid for one year from the date you create it.
So here's the old/new/VIP award chart effective 8/16/13:
Code:
Coupon Value Old Rate New Rate VIP Access 25 NA 3500 NA 50 7000 7000 3500 100 13000 14000 7000 150 18000 21000 10500 200 20000 28000 14000 250 25000 35000 17500 300 29000 42000 21000 400 37000 56000 28000 500 44000 70000 35000 600 46000 84000 42000 700 47000 98000 49000 800 48000 112000 56000 900 49000 126000 63000 1000 50000 140000 70000
Ouch, brutal. I see that airline redemptions have also dropped in value.
Aug 19, 2013, 12:37 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 17
recent complaint letter to Expedia Corporate about the latest devaluation
RE: Expedia corporate
Expedia rewards program recent devaluation..
Once again Expedia you have proven that my business is not valuable to you, and the recent overwhelmingly negatives changes made to the Expedia Reward program is proof. This is the second time since inception that this relatively new fringed program has undergone such a drastic change without warning it's loyal customer base of said action. I started using your site exclusively because of the reward program with the understanding that my spending is earning a fix amount of points that can be redeemed at a relatively fixed rate in the future.
Now, without warning Expedia, you have essentially flushed my loyalty to your business down the toilet! Not only have you made it nearly impossible to accumulate points on airfare spending by drastically increasing the earning ratio to $5 in spending now only equals 1 measly reward point, but the 700 % increase in redemption rate is beyond deceitful.
Expedia please explain to me & all your other loyal customers who have been defrauded by this latest devaluation how this makes sense.
At inception of your reward program, a $1000 hotel rebate was offered for 50K in airfare spending, this unexpectedly was changed to 100K in airfare spending for the same hotel rebate. Let me get this straight, now the same rebate requires a spending of 700K on airfare? News flash, customers spending that much on airfare could give a rat's a** about your hotel rebates. To make matters worse, this policy is instituted without any warning to your customers. THIS IS A TOTAL AND UTTER DISGRACE! DO YOU THINK ALL YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE IDIOTS? FRANKLY THIS IS BORDERING ON OUTRIGHT FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICES ! YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT VALUE your customers.
We will not be tempted by this this perpetual carrot on a string or baiting and switching maneuvers on Expedia's part. There are way too many other options readily available to duplicate your services, plus other businesses that place a premium on customer loyalty. Conservatively, you just lost my 50K yearly revenue, since I will NEVER use Expedia again, and I surely will use all my energy to urge others to refrain from using Expedia.
signed XXXXX
Expedia rewards program recent devaluation..
Once again Expedia you have proven that my business is not valuable to you, and the recent overwhelmingly negatives changes made to the Expedia Reward program is proof. This is the second time since inception that this relatively new fringed program has undergone such a drastic change without warning it's loyal customer base of said action. I started using your site exclusively because of the reward program with the understanding that my spending is earning a fix amount of points that can be redeemed at a relatively fixed rate in the future.
Now, without warning Expedia, you have essentially flushed my loyalty to your business down the toilet! Not only have you made it nearly impossible to accumulate points on airfare spending by drastically increasing the earning ratio to $5 in spending now only equals 1 measly reward point, but the 700 % increase in redemption rate is beyond deceitful.
Expedia please explain to me & all your other loyal customers who have been defrauded by this latest devaluation how this makes sense.
At inception of your reward program, a $1000 hotel rebate was offered for 50K in airfare spending, this unexpectedly was changed to 100K in airfare spending for the same hotel rebate. Let me get this straight, now the same rebate requires a spending of 700K on airfare? News flash, customers spending that much on airfare could give a rat's a** about your hotel rebates. To make matters worse, this policy is instituted without any warning to your customers. THIS IS A TOTAL AND UTTER DISGRACE! DO YOU THINK ALL YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE IDIOTS? FRANKLY THIS IS BORDERING ON OUTRIGHT FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICES ! YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT VALUE your customers.
We will not be tempted by this this perpetual carrot on a string or baiting and switching maneuvers on Expedia's part. There are way too many other options readily available to duplicate your services, plus other businesses that place a premium on customer loyalty. Conservatively, you just lost my 50K yearly revenue, since I will NEVER use Expedia again, and I surely will use all my energy to urge others to refrain from using Expedia.
signed XXXXX
Aug 23, 2013, 4:16 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA MP, Delta Sky Miles, AA Advantage
Posts: 163
Expedia is over for me now. In my opinion, the best strategy these days is:
1. Booking flights on travelocity with travelocity amex (10% cashback for each $4000 spent on airfare), plus 2 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall. So, effectively, getting 14% off airfare.
2. Booking hotels through hotels.com (10% cashback after booking 10 nights), plus 3 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall, plus 2 more ultimate rewards points, if paying with Chase Sapphire. Effectively getting 20% off accommodation. In fact, the discount would be even a bit higher given 7% annual bonus for UR card spend.
Anybody has better suggestions?
1. Booking flights on travelocity with travelocity amex (10% cashback for each $4000 spent on airfare), plus 2 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall. So, effectively, getting 14% off airfare.
2. Booking hotels through hotels.com (10% cashback after booking 10 nights), plus 3 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall, plus 2 more ultimate rewards points, if paying with Chase Sapphire. Effectively getting 20% off accommodation. In fact, the discount would be even a bit higher given 7% annual bonus for UR card spend.
Anybody has better suggestions?
Last edited by GREAKLY; Aug 23, 2013 at 8:54 am
Aug 24, 2013, 3:01 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a Jetplane
Programs: BMI, DL, UA, SPG, HH
Posts: 83
Expedia owns Hotels.com so you're still feeding this unethical beast. At least with Welcome Rewards you're never more than 10 nights worth of credits/points at risk....
Expedia is over for me now. In my opinion, the best strategy these days is:
1. Booking flights on travelocity with travelocity amex (10% cashback for each $4000 spent on airfare), plus 2 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall. So, effectively, getting 14% off airfare.
2. Booking hotels through hotels.com (10% cashback after booking 10 nights), plus 3 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall, plus 2 more ultimate rewards points, if paying with Chase Sapphire. Effectively getting 20% off accommodation. In fact, the discount would be even a bit higher given 7% annual bonus for UR card spend.
Anybody has better suggestions?
1. Booking flights on travelocity with travelocity amex (10% cashback for each $4000 spent on airfare), plus 2 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall. So, effectively, getting 14% off airfare.
2. Booking hotels through hotels.com (10% cashback after booking 10 nights), plus 3 ultimate rewards points (conservatively valued at 2 cents each) per $1 spent if going through ultimate rewards mall, plus 2 more ultimate rewards points, if paying with Chase Sapphire. Effectively getting 20% off accommodation. In fact, the discount would be even a bit higher given 7% annual bonus for UR card spend.
Anybody has better suggestions?
Aug 25, 2013, 9:22 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA MP, Delta Sky Miles, AA Advantage
Posts: 163
By "expeda" I meant "www.expedia.com", not Expedia Inc. I do not care too much about how unethical the beast is. It all comes down to the amount of discount/cashback I end up getting.
Are the combinations I mentioned above the best ones for maximizing return from each flight and/or hotel purchase or there is something better?
Are the combinations I mentioned above the best ones for maximizing return from each flight and/or hotel purchase or there is something better?