Why Sign Up Now?
Every time you fly or stay at a hotel without a loyalty account, you're leaving points on the table. These programs are free to join, and you can earn points even when paying cash.
Sign up before you book, not after.
Airline Programs to Join
At minimum, join these U.S. airline programs:
- United MileagePlus — Star Alliance
- American AAdvantage — oneworld
- Delta SkyMiles — SkyTeam
- Southwest Rapid Rewards — Domestic specialist
These cover most domestic travel. When you fly, you'll earn miles even on cash tickets.
International Programs Worth Joining
If you plan to transfer points to these airlines (and many are excellent transfer partners), create accounts now:
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Singapore KrisFlyer
- Turkish Miles & Smiles
Hotel Programs to Join
- Marriott Bonvoy — Largest hotel portfolio
- World of Hyatt — Best value for points redemptions
- Hilton Honors — Good earn rate, lots of properties
- IHG One Rewards — Holiday Inn, InterContinental, etc.
What You Get for Free
Just by having an account (no elite status needed), you typically get:
- Points on every stay/flight
- Member-only rates (hotels)
- Free WiFi (many hotels)
- Exclusive promotions
- A place for transferred credit card points to land
Use a dedicated email address for loyalty programs. You'll receive a lot of promotional emails, and this keeps your main inbox clean while ensuring you don't miss offers.
Sign-Up Checklist
Create accounts with these programs today—it takes 5 minutes each:
- ✓ United MileagePlus
- ✓ American AAdvantage
- ✓ Delta SkyMiles
- ✓ Southwest Rapid Rewards
- ✓ Marriott Bonvoy
- ✓ World of Hyatt
- ✓ Hilton Honors
Key Takeaways
- Loyalty programs are free—there's no reason not to join
- Sign up before you travel to ensure you earn points
- You need accounts to receive transferred credit card points
- Use a dedicated email to manage promotional communications