Expedia’s One Key Rewards Program [How It Works, Benefits]

Expedia’s One Key Rewards is the loyalty program shared by Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. Introduced in July 2023, it’s a single platform for earning and using rewards across these 3 key travel websites within the Expedia Group family.

In this article, we’ll discuss details about the One Key Rewards program, including how to earn and use rewards, the benefits of status, and how these 3 programs can work together for you.

What Is One Key Rewards?

One Key Rewards is the loyalty program shared by Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. Introduced in July 2023, it replaced any previous loyalty programs these websites had. Now you can seamlessly earn and use rewards across these 3 platforms.

One Key Rewards is not used by any other Expedia Group brands, including CarRentals.com, Cheap Tickets, Ebookers, Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity, Trivago, and Wotif.

Hot Tip:

If you had a U.S.-based Expedia or Hotels.com account before One Key Rewards was introduced in July 2023, your account was transitioned automatically. Vrbo customers must log in to accept the terms and conditions before a One Key account will be created.

What Is OneKeyCash?

OneKeyCash is the currency used in the One Key Rewards program.

Members earn 2% in OneKeyCash for every $1 spent (excluding taxes and fees) on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, activities, packages, car rentals, and cruises. Unfortunately, the earning rate for eligible flights is poor — just 0.2% in OneKeyCash for every $1 spent.

One Key members who have status within the program (more on that below) can earn up to 6% in OneKeyCash when staying at VIP Access properties booked through Expedia and Hotels.com.

VIP Access properties meet consistently high quality and service standards, as deemed by Expedia Group.

The account that makes the booking earns the OneKeyCash, regardless of who is traveling. For example, if you made hotel and flight reservations for yourself, a spouse, and kids, all of the OneKeyCash earned from the trip would be deposited into your account.

This could be a beneficial feature if you often make travel arrangements for friends and family.

OneKeyCash can be earned on both bookings that you pay for immediately and those you pay for later.

For Pay Now bookings, OneKeyCash is awarded within 3 days of the trip completion. For Pay Later bookings and all Vrbo bookings, OneKeyCash is usually credited to the account within 45 days after trip completion, although it could take up to 90 days.

OneKeyCash rewards do not expire as long as you’ve made an eligible booking or redeemed rewards in the last 18 months.

Status Discounts

In addition to earning OneKeyCash, status members can receive discounts of 10% to 20% on select hotels and up to 30% when booking a hotel and flight together.

How To Track Your Rewards

You can easily track your One Key Rewards online through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo.

After logging in to your account, click on your name, then click on View rewards activity.

As long as you use the same email address across all 3 websites, all of your rewards for Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo are tracked using a single account.

One Key Rewards Status

Status within the One Key Rewards program is determined by trip elements. You earn 1 trip element for each of the following:

• Activity ticket (theme park tickets, a private tour, etc.)
• Car rental day
• Cruise night
• Flight ticket (one-way or round-trip)
• Hotel room night
• Vacation rental night

Each trip element must be worth at least $25, not including taxes or fees, to qualify.

Once you earn a status level within One Key Rewards, it’s valid for the rest of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the following calendar year.

Bottom Line:

The One Key Rewards program has 4 levels of status. Status is based on the number of trip elements (hotel night, cruise night, car rental day, etc.) earned in a calendar year.

How To Use OneKeyCash

Once you have earned OneKeyCash, you can apply it to Pay Now bookings and eligible vacation rentals at checkout.

To use OneKeyCash for flights, you need enough to cover the entire flight cost, including taxes and fees. Anything extra, like checked bags or seat assignments, must be purchased after booking the ticket, as they can’t be covered with OneKeyCash.

OneKeyCash is nontransferable, but you can use it to book travel for another person.

Hot Tip:

You can apply OneKeyCash to Pay Now bookings and eligible vacation rentals at a rate of 1:1 ($1 OneKeyCash is worth $1 at checkout)

What Happened to Our My Hotels.com and Expedia Accounts?

If you previously had a Hotels.com Rewards or Expedia Rewards account, it was automatically transferred to a One Key account.

Any confirmed Hotels.com stamps or reward nights (from the U.S.-based website) were automatically converted into OneKeyCash. A $100 reward night became $100 OneKeyCash. Each stamp turned into OneKeyCash at 10% of the value of the stamp.

Expedia Rewards points earned from the U.S.-based site were automatically converted into OneKeyCash at a rate of 100 Expedia Rewards points to $1 OneKeyCash.

The latest expiration date between your Hotels.com and Expedia accounts was applied to your OneKeyCash balance.

One Key Credit Cards

In July of 2024, 2 One Key credit cards were introduced: One Key™ Card and One Key+™ Card. These cards offer a solid earning structure and nice benefits for those who frequently book travel through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo.

One Key Card

NEW CARD

One Key™ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Unlock rewards at Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, with a no-annual-fee card.

One Key™ Card

Unlock rewards at Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, with a no-annual-fee card.

Welcome Offer

Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

$300

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable

Why We Like This Card

The One Key™ Card is one of the best $0-annual-fee travel credit cards. It’s a must-have for earning rewards across 3 core brands: Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, as well as popular spending categories, such as gas, groceries, and dining.

When it comes time to redeem rewards, travelers have their pick to redeem OneKeyCash for flights (must redeem for the full amount). hotels, vacation rentals, cruises, activities, car rentals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 9% in OneKeyCash on Expedia and Hotels.com
• 5% in OneKeyCash on Vrbo properties in the U.S.
• 3% in OneKeyCash on groceries, gas, and dining

Cons

• OneKeyCash can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
• Rewards cannot be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
• Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining and 1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• Get Automatic Silver tier in the One Key rewards program with savings of 15% or more with Silver Member Prices on over 10,000 hotels worldwide. Unlock Gold when you spend $15,000 per calendar year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

The One Key card is the base-level option with a $0 annual fee. It has a generous welcome bonus offer — Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Here’s a quick look at this card’s benefits:

• Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, as well as gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
• Earn 1.5% in OneKeyCash on all other eligible purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Automatic Silver status in the One Key Rewards program; upgrade to Gold status after making $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• Cell phone protection
• Travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption and travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary coverage except New York state residents)

One Key+ Card

NEW CARD

One Key+™

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Extra perks and OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

One Key+™

Extra perks and OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

Welcome Offer

Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

$400

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable

Why We Like This Card

The One Key+™ Card has a $99 annual fee but tangible benefits make up for the cost. Cardholders will receive $100 in OneKeyCash every anniversary and access to a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years.

With automatic Gold elite status (and a pathway to Platinum), cardholders can get some unique travel perks when booking through Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. The card offers bonus OneKeyCash for spending at any of those travel brands, as well as gas, groceries, and dining.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 9% in OneKeyCash on Expedia and
  Hotels.com
• 5% in OneKeyCash on U.S. Vrbo bookings
• 3% in OneKeyCash on groceries, gas, and dining

Cons

• OneKeyCash can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo and can’t transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs
• $99 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
• Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining and 2% in OneKeyCash on other purchases.
• $99 annual fee.
• Get Automatic Gold tier in the One Key rewards program with savings of 20% or more with Gold Member Prices on over 10,000 hotels worldwide. Unlock Platinum when you spend $30,000 per calendar year.
• Get $100 in OneKeyCash each year upon your cardholder anniversary.
• Receive one statement credit up to $120 for Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck®.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

The One Key+ card is the more premium option, with an annual fee of $99. This card also has a nice welcome offer — Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Here’s a quick look at this card’s benefits:

• Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, as well as gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
• Earn 2% in OneKeyCash on all other eligible purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Automatic Gold status in the One Key Rewards program. Upgrade to Platinum status after making $30,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• $100 in OneKeyCash each year upon card renewal
• Up to $120 application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years
• Cell phone protection
• Travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption and travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary coverage except New York state residents)

Hot Tip:

Can’t decide which card is best for you? Check out our comparison of the One Key card vs. the One Key+ card.

Best Credit Cards To Use With One Key Rewards

The 3 brands that participate in One Key Rewards — Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo — all code as travel on your credit card statement. If you don’t have a One Key credit card, use a card that includes travel as a bonus category.

These cards all earn 3x points per $1 spent on all eligible travel purchases, including online travel agencies like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo:

• American Express^® Green Card*
• Chase Sapphire Reserve^®
• Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Another card, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, earns 3 points per $1 on airfare and hotels (not vacation rentals) purchased through online travel agencies like Expedia and Hotels.com.

*The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Is Expedia’s One Key Program Worth It?

To determine whether the One Key program from Expedia is worth it, we need to consider what you would potentially be giving up by using it.

If you’re booking a hotel with its own loyalty program (such as World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors), using One Key Rewards negates any benefits you would be eligible for through that hotel program. For many travelers, especially those with elite status, that’s a deal-breaker.

However, if you have no hotel loyalty or are booking an independent hotel without a loyalty program, One Key could be a good way to earn rewards on your booking.

If you’re planning to book a Vrbo rental, using One Key Rewards could absolutely be worth it since no other loyalty program is used within that platform.

Booking a flight using One Key Rewards won’t affect any frequent flyer miles you may earn or any airline elite status. However, the earning rate on flights through One Key is so low (0.2%) that going through a third party may not be worth it. (Customer service matters may be a bit more complicated when you don’t book directly.)

While earning 0.2% in OneKeyCash is definitely better than nothing, you should consider how many points you could earn through other portals.

For example, you could earn 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars and 5 points per $1 spent on flights with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card through the Chase Travel portal. Similarly, you can earn 10 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per $1 spent on flights with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card through Capital One Travel.

Bottom Line:

If you value a hotel brand’s loyalty program or have hotel elite status, booking through One Key may not be worth it. However, if you have no hotel or airline loyalty or prefer booking independent hotels and vacation rentals, One Key may offer a convenient way to earn rewards for different types of travel in a single spot.

Final Thoughts

One Key Rewards is a unified loyalty program that covers Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. Launched in mid-2023, this rewards program allows travelers to earn and use rewards across all 3 platforms under a single account.