U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026-2027 Best Travel Rewards Programs while introducing two new business-focused rankings: Best Hotel Brands for Business Travelers and Best U.S. Airlines for Business Travelers.
The annual travel rewards rankings evaluate eight airline and 13 hotel loyalty programs, while the new business travel rankings assess nine hotel brands and five U.S. airlines based on factors including loyalty benefits, rewards value, availability and overall traveler experience.
“Whether travelers are planning for a family vacation or for a work trip, choosing the right loyalty program or travel brand can make a meaningful difference in both value and overall experience,” said Elizabeth Von Tersch, Senior Travel Editor at U.S. News, in a press statement. “The 2026-2027 rankings combine robust data and expert analysis to help consumers identify the airlines, hotels and rewards programs that best fit the way they travel.”
Notable rankings highlights include:
- American Airlines AAdvantage secured the No. 1 spot in the Best Airline Rewards Programs ranking for the first time.
- Wyndham Rewards rises to No. 1 among the Best Hotel Rewards Programs, driven by its redemption value and global footprint.
- Marriott International is No. 1 in the inaugural Best Hotel Brands for Business Travelers ranking due to its extensive network, business-friendly perks and strong credit card portfolio.
- United Airlines ranks No. 1 in the new Best U.S. Airlines for Business Travelers rankings, standing out for its flight availability, elite benefits and traveler experience.
Additional rankings include:
Hotel Rewards Programs
- Wyndham Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
- Choice Privileges
- Sonesta Travel Pass
Hotel Brands for Business Travelers
- Marriott International
- Hilton Worldwide
- IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Hyatt Hotels
- Choice Hotels
Airline Rewards Programs
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Atmos Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Delta SkyMiles
U.S. Airlines for Business Travelers
- United Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- American Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
U.S. News & World Report said its rankings are based on a data-driven methodology that evaluates membership benefits, network coverage, ease of earning and redeeming rewards, reliability and overall value. The publication also expanded its scoring this year to include additional member benefits and more frequent airline and hotel data collection.
