Frequent Traveler Accounts (You should have them, even if you don’t travel often)

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Do you have a frequent guest profile for any airlines, hotels or rental car companies?

The vast majority of UW-System travelers take just one trip per year.  If you’re one of them, you may have said to yourself, “I don’t need a frequent traveler account. I don’t travel enough.”

The fact is, airlines, hotels and rental car companies prioritize customers based on their frequent traveler status.  This is especially important when there is a travel disruption.

Take airlines, for example.  If a flight is cancelled, they try to re-accommodate the impacted customers.  The last people to be assisted are the ones who booked on a third-party site (like Expedia) because the airline knows they have no loyalty to the brand.

By having a frequent flier number, the airline knows you have some sort of connection to them. Even if your account is new and/or has zero frequent flier miles, you still have a profile with the airline and that means something.

For hotels, having an account can allow you access to technology like mobile check-in, complimentary Wi-Fi and get you on the upgrade list.

With rental cars, particularly National, you can bypass the counter upon arrival.  You simply go to your vehicle of choice, in the lot, and drive to the exit.  This process can result in a complimentary upgrade because you allowed to choose your car or SUV.

Here is a list of frequent traveler sites for air, car and hotel.  Remember, once you have opened an account with a travel provider, make sure you log into Concur and update your profile with the new information.

Air

Car

Hotel

  • Hilton – HHonors (Hilton, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, and more)
  • Marriott – Bonvoy (Marriott, Spring Hill Suites, Courtyard, and more)
  • Radisson – Radisson Rewards (Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, Park Inn, and more)
  • Intercontinental – IHG Rewards (Holiday Inn, HI Express, Crowne Plaza and more)
  • Wyndham – Wyndham Rewards (Wyndham, Wingate, Days Inn, LaQuinta, and more)
  • Choice – Choice Privileges (Cambria, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, and more