Here at TPG, we’re big fans of any tool or program that makes travel more accessible and more affordable. So, when we learned that signing up for a free Expedia account can give you access to the brand’s One Key loyalty program, which offers member discounts and rewards across multiple travel categories, we knew it was something to write home about. Think of it as an all-encompassing loyalty program that offers cashlike rewards, easy-to-use discounts and even the opportunity to earn membership status.
For those who aren’t familiar, Expedia is a booking platform that brings together all aspects of travel planning in one connected, seamless experience. Expedia users can plan their itinerary, make various bookings and manage all the details of their trip in one place via their Expedia account. Expedia also offers tools focused on price tracking and flight deals to help support travelers as they map out their journey.
What is One Key?
One Key is a loyalty program that allows travelers to unlock member savings while earning and redeeming rewards on bookings made through Expedia. Membership is free, and One Key members can earn OneKeyCash on the dollars they spend on eligible bookings, from hotels to car rentals to flights. The best part? These rewards can be earned in addition to airline loyalty points and credit card rewards, allowing travelers to stack benefits across programs.
One Key members also get access to exclusive member rates, including hotel discounts worldwide. These savings of 10% or more apply to over 100,000 hotels across the globe. As members book trips and accumulate OneKeyCash, they can move up through membership tiers. Silver members can save 15% or more, while Gold and Platinum members can save 20% or more.
Expedia also offers a One Key credit card that lets members earn additional OneKeyCash on everyday purchases, helping them build rewards even faster.
Another component of One Key via Expedia is VIP access properties, which are top-tier hotels vetted by Expedia. These properties offer members elevated perks and OneKeyCash earnings — particulalry for those with Silver, Gold or Platinum status.
How to access One Key via Expedia
Getting access to the One Key program couldn’t be easier — all you have to do is sign up for a free Expedia account, and you’ll be automatically enrolled. Once you sign up, you’ll see a dashboard that looks like this.
From here, you’ll be able to access your account homepage to see your status tier, your favorited trip items for future planning, your OneKeyCash balance and more.
You can access your One Key account either in a web browser, as shown above, or via the app.
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What is OneKeyCash?
OneKeyCash is the rewards currency that travelers can earn on eligible bookings made through Expedia. Whether you book flights, a car rental, a hotel or a vacation rental on Expedia, you’ll have the chance to earn valuable rewards that pool into your One Key account — and then that OneKeyCash can be used to book future travel on Expedia. For travelers who want to accelerate their OneKeyCash balance, the One Key credit card boosts earning power on both travel bookings and everyday spending.
To learn more about earning rates, take a look at section 4 of the terms and conditions, and keep in mind that rates differ per tier and if the hotel is a VIP Access.
Using One Key benefits to plan a trip
So, how exactly can you use Expedia and One Key to plan a trip? Let’s get into the details with a sample itinerary.
Let’s say I’m planning a two-night trip in early June to scenic Bend, Oregon.
Note: As you search, look for bundle price options. Expedia offers those often throughout the booking process.
Booking flights
To book flights, we’ll use Expedia. Traveling from my home airport, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), to Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, I see prices starting from just over $280 round-trip.
Before checkout, you can see how much OneKeyCash you’ll earn. For this trip, I’ll save up to 30% when I add a hotel to the trip.
Reserving rental cars
Bend is about a three-hour drive from Portland, so I’d need to book a rental car — and this is something I can do via Expedia, too. I simply navigate to the “cars” tool, select PDX as my pickup spot and enter my travel dates. For this trip, I see rates from $189, offering $62 off the total price thanks to the special member discount.
Booking hotels
Finally, we can explore hotel stays using Expedia. When looking for two nights in early June that align with my flight and car rental bookings for Bend, I see plenty of hotel options — including a member price at The Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort for a two-night total of $488 after taxes and fees. If I book online, I also see an option to apply my OneKeyCash credit, making it seamless to apply my rewards.
Bottom line
Earning an easy-to-use currency, climbing status tiers and unlocking valuable member discounts couldn’t be more seamless with the One Key experience through Expedia. Whether you use the Expedia app or website, this innovative loyalty program gives travelers access to everything they need for simple, all-encompassing trip planning from start to finish, all with the ability to earn and redeem rewards during the process.
The only thing better than planning an epic trip is grabbing perks and discounts along the way, so, in our book, we’d call this program a major win.