Two Expedia One Key Cards are rolling out to earn rewards on travel and everyday spending. Specifically, it’s possible to earn bonus OneKeyCash™ on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo bookings. These cards provide complimentary One Key elite status to unlock extra perks at select VIP properties and exclusive discounts.
What are the Expedia One Key Cards?
Expedia offers two co-brand rewards cards through Wells Fargo and Mastercard. Both cards are an excellent fit for the One Key™ loyalty program to seamlessly earn travel rewards on the Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo platforms.
Benefits differ by card but include the following core features:
- OneKeyCash signup bonus
- Earn up to 3% OneKeyCash on travel purchases
- Automatic One Key elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection
- Trip protections
Both products are launching nationally soon. Existing Hotels.com cardholders will receive notifications to receive a new no-annual-fee One Key Card in September 2024.
One Key Card
The entry-level One Key Card doesn’t have an annual fee or foreign transaction fee and provides automatic Silver elite status, which is the first elite tier and requires five elements to qualify.
Consider this card if you periodically book trips through one of the participating One Key platforms.
$400 Signup Bonus
Earn $400 in OneKeyCash after spending $1,000 in the first three months. This signup bonus is competitive with other no-annual-fee travel credit cards. You can redeem this cash for award bookings through Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo for discounted flights, nights, car rentals, and activities.
Purchase Rewards
You can earn up to 3% in OneKeyCash on purchases:
- 3% at Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
- 3% at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining
- 1.5% on all other purchases
In addition to earning OneKeyCash, Platinum members also enjoy 9% savings on Expedia and Hotels.com purchases. Vrbo bookings earn 5% back.
One Key Silver Tier Status
Cardholders are automatically eligible for Silver elite status in the One Key loyalty program.
Silver tier benefits include:
- 15% or more savings at over 10,000 hotels
- Earn 50% OneKeyCash at VIP Access properties on Expedia and Hotels.com
- Extra perk at VIP Access properties (i.e., complimentary food and beverage extras)
- Priority travel support
You can unlock Gold status by making at least $15,000 in calendar year card purchases.
Mastercard World Elite Benefits
Cardholders enjoy several Mastercard World Elite, including:
- Cell Phone Protection: Up to $1,000 per claim (subject to a $25 deductible and two claims in a 12-month period).
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Primary coverage (except for New York residents) with a maximum $50,000 coverage limit. Coverage is available in most nations.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Up to $5,000 per traveler per trip with a $20,000 12-month maximum limit.
- Mastercard Airport Concierge: 15% savings on airport meet and greet services.
The One Key Guide to Benefits lists the various benefits and exclusions. These are valuable trip protection perks a travel credit card without an annual fee.
Card Fees
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is 0%.
One Key+ Card
The One Key+ Card offers valuable perks for frequent Expedia users as you get $100 bonus OneKeyCash on each card anniversary along with automatic Gold elite status. This status tier can provide automatic room upgrades and price protection on eligible bookings.
It is a Mastercard World Elite product, just like the One Key Card. Consider this card for the additional One Key loyalty perks that help maximize flight and hotel bookings.
$600 Signup Bonus
Earn $600 in OneKeyCash after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
This bonus is comparable to travel credit cards with a similar $99 annual fee, although some offer a more valuable bonus. It pays to look at the other ongoing benefits to find the best product for your lifestyle and travel booking habits.
Earn Up to 3% OneKeyCash
The earning potential is similar to the $0 annual fee One Key Card, except you earn more on base spending:
- 3% at Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
- 3% at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining
- 2% on all other purchases
One Key Gold Elite Status
Cardholders receive automatic Gold status which is the second-highest loyalty tier. Signature benefits include:
- 20% or more Gold Member Prices at over 10,000 hotels worldwide
- Earn 2x OneKeyCash at VIP Access properties on Expedia and Hotels.com
- Extra perk at select VIP Access properties
- Space-available room upgrades at select VIP Access properties
- Complimentary One Key Price Drop Protection on qualifying flights on the Expedia app
Making at least $30,000 in card purchases per calendar year upgrades to Platinum status. You can also obtain top-tier status by purchasing at least 30 trip elements.
Additional Travel Benefits
This card includes several recurring and built-in benefits to save on travel and have peace of mind during one of life’s curveballs:
- $100 Anniversary Bonus: $100 in OneKeyCash for each cardholder anniversary
- Free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Statement credit of up to $100 every four years
- Cell Phone Protection: Up to $1,000 per claim ($25 per-claim deductible and two claims every 12 months)
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Up to $5,000 per person per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Primary coverage (except for New York residents) up to $50,000 per 12-month period
Additional Mastercard World Elite benefits are available and similar to the One Key credit card. Further details are available in the Guide to Benefits.
Card Fees
The annual fee for the primary card is $99, but each authorized user costs $0. Additionally, there is no foreign transaction fee.
You can easily offset this fee by redeeming the $100 OneKeyCash anniversary benefit.
Summary
Expedia now has two rewards credit cards to choose from. The better option depends on your travel frequency and how often you redeem OneKeyCash or utilize the loyalty tier perks. No matter what, it’s easier to maximize the One Key loyalty program to pool your points from bookings across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.
