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Can You Triple-Dip When You Book Your Next Hotel Stay?

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    Million Mile Secrets reader, Sue, commented:

    If I book a Hyatt hotel through SouthwestHotels.com and pay with my Chase Sapphire Reserve, will I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Hyatt points, and Southwest points?  Or can you only earn Hyatt points by booking directly?
    You typically will NOT earn points with a hotel loyalty program when you book through SouthwestHotels.com or other 3rd-party sites.  That’s because you’re essentially choosing to earn Southwest points instead of hotel points.

    But you will earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points paying with the Sapphire Reserve because purchases on the Southwest hotel site codes as travel.  And this means the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit can go toward your stay!

    Deciding between booking directly with the hotel chain or through SouthwestHotels.com depends on which points you want more!

    Do You Want to Earn Hotel Points or Airline Miles on Your Next Hotel Stay? I’ll Help You Decide!

    I’ll explain what you should consider to earn the most points booking hotel stays!

    Earn Points Booking Hotel Stays

    Link:   How to Earn Airline Miles on Discounted Hotel Stays 

    Link:   Should You Book Hotels Through a Travel Website or Directly Through the Hotel?

    Link:   You Can Earn Companion Pass Points Through This Hotel Site

    I’ve written how you can book discounted hotel stays and earn airline miles through Rocketmiles.

    And I’ve shared how you can earn points toward the Southwest Companion Pass by booking hotels through SouthwestHotels.com.

    With most 3rd-party online hotel booking sites, you will NOT earn hotel points for your stay.  Although some folks report getting stay credits (which count towards elite status).

    And if you already have elite status, there’s no guarantee you’ll get the perks when you book through SouthwestHotels.com or similar sites.  Most hotel chains require you to book directly to take advantage of certain benefits like free Wi-Fi.

    You Might Miss Out on Free Drinks and Other Elite Status Perks When You Book Through a 3rd Party Hotel Site Like SouthwestHotels.com

    Reader Sue asked about booking a stay through SouthwestHotels.com to earn Southwest points and Hyatt points.  Because it’s unlikely she’ll earn points with both programs, Sue will want to run the numbers to see which booking method will earn her the points she values most!

    Compare Your Earning Rates Each Time

    For example, I found a room at the Andaz Tokyo on SouthwestHotels.com, which gets you 6,000 bonus Southwest points.  But you will NOT earn any Hyatt points.

    Or you can book directly through Hyatt and earn points based on the price of the room and your Hyatt elite status.  If you don’t have elite status, you’ll earn 5 Hyatt points per $1 you spend.

    This means booking a ~$450 room at the Andaz Tokyo directly through Hyatt gets you ~2,250 Hyatt points.  Though folks with Hyatt elite status will earn more.

    A Sample Search on SouthwestHotels.com Shows You Can Earn 6,000 Southwest Points at the Andaz Tokyo

    So you’ll have to decide if you’d prefer to earn 6,000 Southwest points, which are worth ~$86 if you value Southwest points at ~1.43 cents each.  And they’re eligible to earn the Companion Pass.

    Or earn ~2,250 Hyatt points, which isn’t enough points for a free night.  But you can combine with your existing Hyatt points.  Or transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to top off your account.

    Each hotel stay will be different.  So run the numbers each time to see what makes sense for you!

    It’s Still Possible to Triple-Dip!

    Link:   TopCashBack 

    You generally can NOT earn airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards for the same hotel booking.

    But it’s possible to earn hotel points, credit card rewards, and cash back.

    To earn 3 types of rewards for the same reservation, you’ll need to book through a cash back portal like TopCashBack.

    For example, I searched TopCashBack and found you can earn 8% cash back booking an IHG hotel.

    Earn 3 Types of Rewards by Booking a Hotel Stay Through a Cash Back Portal!

    Several Million Mile Secrets team members use this method to book eligible hotel stays because it’s an easy way to earn cash back for a trip you’re already planning.

    And you’ll still earn credit card miles and points and hotel points when you go through a cash back portal.

    But be sure to read the fine print to make sure your stay is eligible to earn cash back.

    Bottom Line

    With most 3rd-party online hotel booking sites, including SouthwestHotels.com, you will NOT earn hotel points for your stay.

    Regardless of how you book, you can still earn bonus miles and points from credit cards with travel as a bonus category, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

    Making the choice to book a hotel through SouthwestHotels.com will depend on the deal and your preference to earn Southwest points or hotel points.  And consider you might not be entitled to your elite status perks, like free drinks or Wi-Fi.

    If you’re looking to triple-dip on rewards, consider booking directly with the hotel by going through a cash back portal like TopCashBack.  This is an easy way to earn cash back on a stay you’re already planning.  And you won’t give up earning hotel points or your elite status perks.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)