Consumer Behavior
Rewards, loyalty points matter to travelers
May 20, 2024
A hefty number of American travelers, 76%, can't imagine taking a trip without using rewards or loyalty program points.
That's a top finding from a survey of 1,000 travelers by Wakefield Research for the second annual Barclays US Consumer Bank's Travel Rewards and Loyalty Report.
The report explores consumer attitudes, sentiments, and behaviors related to travel, loyalty, and rewards programs, according to a press release.
"Our second installment of the 'Travel Rewards and Loyalty Report' builds on last year's findings and emphasizes the continued value that consumers place on rewards programs," Doug Villone, head of U.S. cards and partnerships at Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank, said in the release. "The findings show that rewards programs are an essential part of helping Americans travel for business and leisure."
Rewards points are so important that more than a third of travelers in loyalty programs (37%) consider them an essential part of their budget. Most cardholders (72%) get more out of their credit card rewards programs than they put into them.
Without rewards, most (77%) reported they would travel differently and 76% would alter their travel behavior significantly without rewards.
