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Is Hotels.com gearing up to launch a UK reward credit card?

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We have mentioned before that Hotels.com appears to be planning a UK credit card.

Plans seem to be progressing, with a job ad currently running for a Senior Marketing Manager to drive the project.  See here.

There is no clue about how the card may work.  I am not very enthusiastic because I struggle to see how you can integrate Hotels.com Rewards (a free night for every 10 nights you stay, based on the average price paid) and credit card spending.

It may end up as something very bland – perhaps 0.5% of total spend returned as Hotels.com credit, with a higher level of 2% or so for spending at Hotels.com itself.

That said, if the company felt it could offer something higher than 0.5% back – which is the current benchmark for rewards on free cashback and shopping voucher credit cards – I would get interested.

The job ad also says that the card “leverages a world-class rewards program” so perhaps there will be a way to earn free night credits from your spending.  Let’s see.


best travel rewards credit cards

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – November 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

30,000 bonus points (TO 18 NOVEMBER) and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

30,000 points (TO 9TH DECEMBER) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

20,000 points (ONLY TO 9TH DECEMBER) Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback when you spend at least £2,000 per month.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

Get 1% cashback when you spend at least £2,000 per month* Read our full review

Comments (99)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Charlie T. says:

    Not a bad paint job, but it ain’t a patch on the Landor livery.

  • Ian says:

    OT We are flying CW to Phoenix but flying out of MAN via LHR. I know that the internal flight is CW from MAN T3. I also know that MAN T3 security can be a nightmare. Does anyone know if CE from MAN includes fast track through security? If so is it shown on the boarding pass or do T3 security just accept all CE/CW tickets through fast track?

    • Nick says:

      CE from MAN (and Sapphire/Emerald in ET) DOES include fast track security. It’s coded into the barcode rather than printed on the BP – BA only prints the words at airports where it has to be checked manually.

      I’m BA Silver and fly often from MAN, always using fast track security with no issue.

      Do note however that you’re not exempt from the very officious security procedures there so ensure you declare absolutely EVERYTHING in your cabin bag that might cause a problem. This includes untangling your charging cables and removing inhalers, etc. It’s only fast track into security, not fast track for secondary search.

      • Rob says:

        That’s a joke. I was at AMS in Thu and you don’t need to empty your bags now – liquids, PC all stay in.

        • ChrisC says:

          That’s because they have some spiffy new scanners.

          It really is more like pre check now with those.

        • Graham Walsh says:

          I noticed that last month, so much easier.

        • Spurs Debs says:

          I went thru AMS a few weeks ago and didn’t have to empty liquids bag but still got pulled over and my liquid was drug tested, fair enough it is liquid morphine and was in its proper 100 mil bottle.
          I thought it quite ironic getting stopped for drugs in Amsterdam.
          Only other place I ever get questioned is LHR no where else in world have they ever drug tested it, including Middle East and Asia.

        • Charlieface says:

          AMS security onced shouted at me for having a deodorant can in my bag, even though it was scanned at NCL and I didn’t realise it was there. I told them that, they shouted at me again, I told them again, and they just carried on grumbling.

        • Tom1 says:

          Also at GVA

      • Bonglim says:

        Can you use the fancy new lounge at Manchester airport. It will cost you some money but looks very nice. I think it makes security easier, but check with someone who had used it.

    • Anna says:

      As Nick says, it’s just a separate queue to get into the main security area and they are extremely picky. Last year they made me empty my entire make up bag as they “did not believe” I could have managed not to put any liquids or creams in it (I hadn’t, which they seemed quite disappointed about!) They also had a problem deciding whether hard boiled eggs could be carried in hand luggage 🤦‍♀️

      • Genghis says:

        @Anna I’m sure your fellow passengers love you, whether you’ve eaten the eggs before hand or not.

      • Shoestring says:

        LHR always let me through with frozen turkey, lamb, beef joints, though it’s always struck me that’d be a good place to stash a weapon! Maybe it all shows through frozen stuff in any case.

    • Nick_C says:

      “Fast Track security at London airports” – and that is misleading as there is none at City (unless you pay for the private lounge). I’ve only flown from LCY once, and security was an undignified scrum.

  • Roger says:

    OT – Amex Apple

    Any update on successful credit from Amex offer of £50 off £500 spend?
    My transaction has now posted but there was no offer redeemed email.

  • Soloflyer1977 says:

    OT-. I’m looking to get from DUB to NYC in early September for my little brother’s wedding. It will be me and other brother heading over. Is there any trick in getting 2 business class seats with either AA or EI (both fly direct and I have a decent amount of avios) . No reward availability showing yet with EI on avios site (apart from economy). Cheers

    • The Original Nick says:

      You may have missed the reward seats. Whenever I’ve managed to get the seats in Business with EI I’ve got them 11 months before flying. Have you looked at flying DUB-BOS ? then it’s an easy Amtrak ride down to NYC. Or spend a night in Boston as it’s really nice.

      • Cam says:

        IMHO, it’s not worth connecting plane to train for such a short flight. Just fly Y, preferably direct. Assuming the 7M8 issues are resolved, even a cheap DUB-SWF would be better; the bus or rental car from SWF would be far less hassle.

  • The Original Nick says:

    OT: Can anyone help out please with any discount codes, websites etc for a paid visit to either lounge at T5? (Premium Plaza or Aspire?)

    • Rob says:

      Use on of the Dragonpass employee / trade group codes we’ve discussed (eg the Addison Lee taxi users code) and buy a one-off Dragonpass voucher to use at Plaza Premium. Search HFP for Dragonpass.

      • The Original Nick says:

        Thanks Rob. Will get those photo’s over to you over the weekend.

  • AJ says:

    O/T: offer on my HSBC Visa card for 10% off at Morrisons – just like the amex offer that ran in December. This one only valid for 1 time use but up to £100 cash back (so £1000 spend). Will be heading down to local and buying £1000 worth of gift cards as I’ve run out from December’s amex offer!

    • Shoestring says:

      Only £30 c/b on my wife’s Halifax cards with Morrisons

      • AJ says:

        Suspect it’s just standard terms. GCs have always tracked with amex. I see no reason why this deal will be any different given it’s VISA running it. Will be doing a purchase of £1000 GCs tomorrow

      • Shoestring says:

        as far as till staff are concerned, you’re just buying £1000 of giftcards, and at HSBC/ Halifax end, all they see is generic spend at Morrisons

      • Genghis says:

        It should work. Worked at Waitrose buying JL GCs with HSBC earlier in the year.

    • Kevin C says:

      I signed uo for HSBC offers in Feb. Yet to have an offer.

    • BLT says:

      10% every time with NatWest rewards at Morrison’s for the next 10 days

  • Drolma-la says:

    Maybe the Hotels.com card will be like the US Capitol One Venture Rewards card which offers 10x Rewards Miles on Hotels.com stays.

  • A270 says:

    OT: BA flight cancelled to Istanbul on 5th April as they make the move to the new airport. Had to rebook two days earlier and kids will need to meet school. Booked using miles so BA saying no compensation for extra hotel cost. Is that right? Taxes were paid using a Platinum supplementary card. Would Amex compensate? Have a long haul flight from Istanbul so had to go earlier to be safe.

    • A270 says:

      *sorry miss school not meet

    • the_real_a says:

      Yes they would not be able to account for a points transaction, so you are effectively asking them to reimburse you the cash equivalent to the points which i dont think anyone would do (your loss is points not cash). Would have been better to pay cash in this instance, maybe its not too late to do that?

    • Shoestring says:

      ie you’re all flying 2 days earlier & there’s therefore extra hotel cost

      no, there’s no duty of care or obligation on BA to pay for the extra 2 nights in the hotel – Amex won’t step in, either

      you could have refused the earlier flight but not much good to you if you ended up missing days of holiday

      it’s a tough one on you

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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