Top 50 Privilege, Loyalty & Benefit Cards & Programs

"What men value in this world is not rights but privileges." - H.L. Mencken.

Do you frequent a particular mall or restaurant? Do you have a favourite airline carrier that you like flying with? If you do, you are a prime candidate for a privilege or loyalty card offered by retail vendors, airlines, hotel groups, restaurant chains, hospitality companies, banks, and more.

A PRIVILEGE CARD gives its bearer some sort of special benefit. It may include getting a discount on an item or being able to go the front of the line in some stores or other organizations.

A FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM (FFP) is a loyalty program offered by many airlines. Typically, airline customers enrolled in the program accumulate frequent-flyer miles (kilometers, points, segments) corresponding to the distance flown on that airline or its partners. There are other ways to accumulate miles. In recent years, more miles were awarded for using co-branded credit and debit cards than for air travel. Acquired miles can be redeemed for air travel; for other goods or services; or for increased benefits, such as travel class upgrades, airport lounge access, or priority bookings.

LOYALTY PROGRAMS are structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore encourage, loyal buying behavior – behavior which is potentially beneficial to the firm.

In marketing generally and in retailing more specifically, a loyalty card, rewards card, points card, advantage card, or club card is a plastic or paper card, visually similar to a credit card or debit card, that identifies the card holder as a member in a loyalty program. Loyalty cards are a system of the loyalty business model. In the United Kingdom it is typically called a loyalty card, in Canada a rewards card or a points card, and in the United States either a discount card, a club card or a rewards card. Cards typically have a barcode or magstripe that can be easily scanned, and some are even chip cards. Small keyring cards (also known as keytags) which serve as key fobs are often used for convenience in carrying and ease of access. By presenting the card, the purchaser is typically entitled to either a discount on the current purchase, or an allotment of points that can be used for future purchases. Hence, the card is the visible means of implementing a type of what economists call a two-part tariff.

Privilege, Loyalty & Benefit Card News, Reviews & Resources

• 7 most exclusive credit cards in the world - Luxurylaunches.
• AIRLINE ALLIANCE - Wikipedia.
• AIRPORT LOUNGE - Wikipedia.
• Are airport lounge passes an expensive waste of money or a genius travel hack? - The Telegraph.
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards - "Travel rewards credit cards can earn great returns if you’re willing to track point values and optimum redemption options. But sometimes, you just want to earn rewards in a way you can easily understand – dollars and cents. To help you find a cash back card that fits your spending patterns, we’ve assembled our picks for the best cash back credit cards of 2019."
• Chinese billionaire paid $170 million for famed Modigliani nude with his American Express card so he could get the frequent flyer miles - Daily Mail.
• Credit Card Reviews 2019: Miles, Points, Cash Back, & More - "Simplifying Travel." With so many great credit cards you can apply for, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You may want your new card to earn rewards, enjoy lavish benefits, or build credit. Below are brief credit card reviews for the best credit cards. If there’s a card that interests you, click the link for our in-depth card review.
• Frequent Flier Miles Are Kaput - The Game’s About Credit Cards Now - Wired.
• FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM - Wikipedia.
• How Much Are Frequent Flier Miles Really Worth? - The New York Times.
• How to Access Hotel Amenities Without An Overnight Stay - "Have you ever desired the perks of a relaxing vacation without the hassle of booking an overnight stay at a resort or hotel?"
• How to Earn Miles & Points Without Leaving Home - The New York Times.
• How to Navigate the Complicated World of Credit Card Points - The New York Times.
• How to Turn Your Renovation Into a Vacation - The New York Times.
• LOYALTY PROGRAM - Wikipedia.
  
• One Mile at a Time - "Beginners Guide To Miles & Points: What’s The Point?"
• Should we get rid of air miles for climate change? - "A return flight from Lisbon to New York generates nearly the same level of CO2 as the average person in the EU does by heating their home all year round."
• The Best Time to Use Your Airline Miles? Now - "If you’re thinking of traveling and you’ve got points or miles sitting in airline and credit card accounts, the time to cash in may have arrived. Here’s what you need to know."
• The Cost of Sharing Frequent Flier Miles - The New York Times.
• The Points Guy - "Maximize Your Frequent Flyer Miles & Travel Points."
• Up in the Air: Meet the Man Who Flies Around the World for Free - Rolling Stone.
• Want to Hold Onto Elite Status With Your Airline? It’s Going to Cost You - "There was a moment at the height of the pandemic when rewards programs were lowering the velvet rope for more than the privileged few. But it’s time to prepare for the 'great reset' in elite status."
• which parties want to tax frequent flyers? - "Election 2019: How far do the parties' climate promises go?"

Top 50 High-End Privilege, Loyalty & Benefit Cards & Programs

• Accor Live Limitless lifestyle loyalty programme - "Your lifestyle loyalty programme." Discover a world of rewards, unique benefits and exceptional events. Experience the extraordinary.
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - "Learn all about Mileage Plan, the Alaska Airlines frequent flyer program that lets you earn and use airline miles around the world. Ready to join our flying club?"
• American Airlines AAdvantage - "Frequent Flyer Miles. Travel Awards." Voted best airline affinity program in the Americas by FlyerTalk members. American also won for best airline program benefit.
• Black Card - "The World Awaits." Visa credit card that allows its members access to various luxuries and rewards. Holders of the card receive such benefits as cashback bonuses, worldwide acceptance, a 24-hour concierge service and gifts. The concierge service offers a wide variety of services including entertainment planning, business services, gift arrangement, travel information and assistance.
• British Airways Executive Club - "Seven million Members know the benefits of belonging." Joining the Executive Club is free for everyone and the benefits start the minute you become a Member. You can collect Avios, the Club’s currency, every time you travel with us and our oneworld airline partners.
• CENTURION CARD - known informally as the Black Card, is an invitation only charge card issued by American Express to platinum card holders after they meet certain criteria. American Express introduced the Centurion Card in 1999 to cater to a more affluent customer segment. There are two different issues of the Centurion Card, personal and business. The company's promotional material describes centurion members as "super-affluent high net worth individuals on a continual quest for the best and most exclusive. They own companies and frequently travel. Exceptionally discerning and style-conscious, they live vicariously through themselves. Centurion members are global players who gain truly worldwide access to the inaccessible."
• CHASE ULTIMATE REWARDS - "You'll earn points every time you make a purchase with your Chase card. Points that never expire, and with no limit to the points you can earn or redeem. Use your points for merchandise, gift cards, restriction free travel, exciting experiences and even cash back."
• Choice Privileges - "Earn Choice Privileges points towards hotel rewards like free nights and airline miles whenever you stay at Choice Hotels. Rewards: Free nights at more than 6,000 Choice Hotels locations (with no blackout dates) in the U.S. (including U.S. Territories), Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Central America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and Japan."
• CITY SIGHTSEEING PASSES & CARDS - links to London, Dublin, Yorkshire, Philadelphia, Paris, Great Britain Heritage and European City passes.
• CityPASS - launched in 1997. "Up to 50% Off combined prices for admission to must-see attractions." Available in 11 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto.
• COUTTS BLACK CARD - "Black starts where others finish. A credit card with a wealth of travel benefits." The Black Card gives you the convenience that you would expect from a credit card together with worldwide travel insurance benefits, car rental insurance and access to over 600 executive airport lounges.
• CREDIT CARDS AUSTRALIA - compare & apply for a credit card online.
• Delta Skymiles - "With SkyMiles, every trip and purchase can bring you closer to the next place on your travel wish list. Earn miles for flying and everyday activities, then use miles toward travel on any Delta Air Lines flight or toward a Delta Vacations® package with no blackout dates or for rewards like upgrades, premium drinks at Delta Sky Club® and traveling with Delta Private Jets"
• ENTERTAINMENT BOOK & CARD - great savings on dining, shopping, travel, attractions & more.
• Expedia Rewards - "Earn points and enjoy the perks!" Expedia Rewards makes free travel easy. Earn points, get special offers and travel on your own schedule. No blackout dates for all your travel. Achieve Elite status for more benefits.
• EXPERT FLYER - "Empowering the frequent flyer." Designed to meet the needs of the frequent flyer, the airline mileage program "elite tier" passengers, professional travel managers, and the occasional air traveler looking for the best values.
• FAIRMONT PRESIDENT'S CLUB - Fairmont Hotels & Resorts exclusive guest recognition program, Fairmont President's Club, offers special benefits and privileges designed to reflect your individual travel preferences and offer an enhanced level of service. It only takes 10 stays or 30 nights to move to Platinum status - faster than all other hotel loyalty programs.
• FLYER TALK - the world's most popular frequent flyer community. An interactive community that provides up-to-date information on travel-related loyalty reward programs. It's the hub that brings everyone together - from leisure travelers to mileage junkies - to converse about programs, get the latest program buzz or discuss how to maximize points or miles.
• Free Spirit - "FREE SPIRIT is our frequent flier program. It costs nothing to join. Sign up below and you'll be banking miles every time you fly with us."
• FRONTIER Miles - "Travel just got a whole lot more rewarding with our FRONTIER Miles frequent flyer program. That’s because whether you spend a lot or a little, FRONTIER Miles lets you earn 1 mile per 1 mile flown, so you can easily redeem miles for reward flights, reach Elite Status sooner and travel more than ever before!"
• Hilton HHonors - "A Hotel Rewards Program." As a Hilton HHonors member, you can enjoy special treatment at all our hotels and resorts. And with HHonors, you can achieve elite status faster than with any other guest loyalty program. The more you stay with us, the better it gets.
• HYATT GOLD PASSPORT - "Join the Hyatt Gold Passport global frequent guest program and enjoy exclusive benefits and free nights at Hyatt worldwide. With Hyatt Gold Passport Membership, you can enjoy exclusive benefits and earn points towards free nights starting with your very first stay. •Earn five Hyatt Gold Passport points for every eligible dollar spent at Hyatt locations worldwide. Redeem points for exciting rewards including free nights with no blackout dates, room upgrades, meals and spa treatments."
• IAPA | INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION - "Frequent Flyers count on us." Provides travel insurance, seating plans & other planning tools for all travelers. Over 300,000 frequent business travelers in 175 countries already enjoy the many benefits that IAPA membership brings.
• IHG REWARDS CLUB - since 2003. "Earn points when you stay at any one of our 5,000 InterContinental hotels or make use of our promotions and partners. Since your points don’t expire, they aren’t going anywhere but up."
• INTERCONTINENTAL AMBASSADOR - "Worldly, refined, and discerning, the qualities of the modern traveler, and the essence of the InterContinental® Ambassador programme. With every journey you take, whether for business or pleasure, Ambassador enhances your stay with exceptional benefits to ensure an unforgettable experience."
• JetBlue TrueBlue - "TrueBlue points add up fast! Earn points when you travel on JetBlue and select partner airlines, and on the ground through everyday purchases. Even your pets can earn points."
• Jumeirah Sirius - since 1997. "Rewardingly Yours." Jumeirah’s Recognition and Rewards Programme, has been created to offer you an exclusive membership that opens up a world of privileges. Sirius is a Recognition and Rewards programme like no other. You can earn 1 Sirius Points for every US$3 spent every time you stay, dine, relax or shop at every hotel, resort and residence around the world, Sirius has been especially designed to reward you when they stay, dine, relax or shop at Jumeirah, providing you the opportunity to a reach reward quickly.
• KVS AVAILABILITY TOOL - "The most powerful Tool for frequent flyers since 2004." Global flight availability, award availability, fares, timetables, seat maps.
• LEADERS CLUB - "A Hotel Rewards Program Inspired By Our Travelers." Travel to discover is not what we do, it is who we are. Our complimentary hotel rewards program, Leaders Club, was created to inspire our community of curious travelers to explore further. It's a club where individuality is celebrated and members are rewarded for choosing the uncommon path, and the experiences collected along the way. The Leading Hotels of the World.
• MARQUIS JET CARD - "The finest jet card program in the industry because it's the only way to access NetJets, 25 hours at a time."
• New York Pass - "Fast Track and Free Entry to over 80 attractions in New York City."
• ONEWORLD - the third largest airline alliance in the world. Founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Canadian Airlines and Qantas Airways. "Choosing to fly with oneworld has never been so rewarding for frequent flyers. Because as a member of a oneworld airline's frequent flyer programme, you earn credits towards your tier status every time you travel on an eligible oneworld flight."
• PRIVATSEA - exclusive membership club for luxury yachting and associated lifestyle services. PrivatSea has created a Luxury Alliance and reciprocal Club Network for its members to provide services that naturally complement the yachting experience. Members receive privileges and preferential rates with partners including selective private clubs, premium private residences, highly exclusive events, private jets, limousine services, hotels, premium private residences, private jets, yacht builders, limousines and private banks.
• PRIVÉ INTERNATIONAL - "The Art of Living Well." The world's leading bespoke luxury service. Members only.
• QUINTESSENTIALLY - since 2000. The world's leading private members' club and concierge service.
• Resort Pass - "Get pool, spa, and amenity access at luxurious hotels." Book a Day Pass, Spa Pass, or Cabana at a luxury resort starting at only $25. Take a daycation and enjoy the pool, spa, and amenities!
• SKYTEAM - "The Leading Alliance for Frequent Flyers." The second largest airline alliance in the world partnering eleven carriers from four continents.
• STAR ALLIANCE - founded in 1997. "The Way the World Connects." The world's first and largest airline alliance. As the world's first airline alliance, we work behind the scenes to constantly improve your travel experience. Bringing you benefits to make your journey smoother and more relaxing. Extending our network to fly to new places where you’ll do business tomorrow. And creating ways to earn and redeem your miles, including our Star Alliance Upgrade Awards.
• STAR ALLIANCE - founded in 1997. "The Way the World Connects." The world's first and largest airline alliance. As the world's first airline alliance, we work behind the scenes to constantly improve your travel experience. Bringing you benefits to make your journey smoother and more relaxing. Extending our network to fly to new places where you’ll do business tomorrow. And creating ways to earn and redeem your miles, including our Star Alliance Upgrade Awards.
• Star Privilege Pacific - "A Card Exclusive to You." We continually strive to enhance the privileges available to you! Now, you're not only privy to unlimited complimentary dining and special discounts on room rates, you will also enjoy exclusive invitations to special events.
• STRATUS REWARDS VISA CARD PROGRAM - Stratus Rewards is an intimate by-invitation only club catering to a relatively small number of people who appreciate priviliged access. As a member you earn points for every dollar spent on the card, and in turn, receive reciprocal benefits from a number of world-class niche lifestyle clubs and luxury oriented companies, redeem them for private jet travel, difficult to obtain items, unique services, rare auction items or life-inspiring experiences.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards - "A reward flight is just one of the many rewards waiting for you when you're a Rapid Rewards Member. We've made it easier than ever to earn points when you fly, participate with our Partners, and with the Rapid Rewards Points Center, get the points you need to enjoy those rewards even faster."
• SwissÔtel Circle - "In keeping with our Swiss heritage of genuine hospitality, we recognise a circle of friends who enjoy staying at Swissôtel often and reward them for it by tailoring our services to match individual needs and preferences; we pay attention to what you like, so we’ll have it ready for you the next time you stay with us. Take advantage of preferential treatment and special privileges at Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts worldwide by becoming a member of Swissôtel Circle."
• TABLET PLUS MEMBERS ONLY PROGRAM - members are entitled to the following privileges at more than 350 participating hotels: complimentary upgrade at check-in; continental breakfast for two; glass of champagne; airport transfer; internet access; gym access for two; spa voucher worth US$50.
• Taj Inner Circle - "Besides earning points on all your eligible transactions, as a Taj InnerCircle member your check-in and departure formalities will be easier, faster and more flexible. You will be privy to a series of member-special offers which will help you enjoy greater value from your transactions at the Taj. To enjoy your membership benefits we request you to quote your Taj InnerCircle membership number when making reservations and present the card at check-in and while settling your bills."
• The Club of Small Luxury Hotels of the World - "The Club of Small Luxury Hotels of the World is free to join and offers instant benefits from your very first stay. The more you stay with us, the more great benefits you will receive – you can even enjoy free reward nights on us. Join The Club for free and receive a complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability at check-in) on your first stay."
• THE WORLD'S FINEST CLUBS - its World Member Card gives you access and VIP privileges to the world’s most exlusive clubs, hotels, restaurants, and more. Annual membership: €2,000.
• TIMES+ - events + offers + extras. Offers are exclusively for members. If you're not a member you can join for £50 a year or you can enjoy complimentary membership by subscribing to The Times and The Sunday Times.
• Trump Card - "The TRUMP CARD loyalty program allows access to exclusive hotel rewards, services, amenities, and benefits at all Trump Luxury Hotel properties."
• United MileagePlus - "Earn frequent flyer miles with MileagePlus, the award winning frequent flyer program from United Airlines."
• Wyndham Rewards - "With twelve brands and over 7,000 locations across the globe, we have more hotels than anyone else in the world. So wherever you want to be, whatever you want to do, chances are we're already there. And when you sign up for Wyndham Rewards, you're guaranteed to earn enough points to get a reward with each and every qualified stay."