Survey reveals the top priority for U.S. travelers and the increasing importance of lower fees

  • Lower fees are the top priority for U.S. travelers in loyalty programs
  • Perks ranked fourth in importance, with 42% of respondents preferring them
  • 72% of respondents who prioritize lower fees said their importance has increased in the past five years
  • Airline and hotel fees, such as basic economy airfares and resort fees, are major concerns for travelers
  • Some loyalty programs offer ways to save on fees, such as waiving resort fees for stays booked on points

Perks like airline seat upgrades or free food are certainly welcome when it comes to loyalty programs, but travelers want more. According to a survey by Barclays US Consumer Bank, lower fees are the top priority for the majority of U.S. travelers in loyalty programs. In fact, perks ranked fourth in importance, with 42% of respondents preferring them. The survey also found that 72% of respondents who prioritize lower fees said their importance has increased in the past five years. This may be due to the rise of fees in the travel industry, such as basic economy airfares and resort fees. However, some loyalty programs offer ways to save on fees, such as waiving resort fees for stays booked on points. Overall, lower fees and flexibility in earning and redeeming miles or points are critical for travelers, as they rely on redemptions to make their trips possible.

Factuality Level: 7
Factuality Justification: The article provides information from a survey conducted by Barclays on the top loyalty program priorities for U.S. travelers. It also discusses the increase in fees in the travel industry and provides examples of specific fees in air travel and the hotel industry. The article includes data and analysis from NerdWallet on resort fees and cleaning fees. Overall, the article provides factual information and supports its claims with evidence.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the priorities of U.S. travelers when it comes to loyalty programs. It includes data from a survey conducted by Barclays and highlights the importance of lower fees for travelers. The article also mentions specific examples of fees in the air travel and hotel industries. However, there is some repetitive information and the article could have provided more in-depth analysis or actionable insights.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme events.
Public Companies: Barclays (BCS), Hilton (HLT), Hyatt (H), Airbnb (ABNB)
Key People:


Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com