2026
9
UK Loyalty in Travel Consumer Report 2026
2026-02-13T12:01:13+00:00
REP94186956_986B_4F41_9869_56986BBF411F
2195
191200
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Report
en_GB
63% of UK loyalty scheme members prefer instant rewards over traditional long‑term ones, a clear sign that travellers expect to feel valued the moment they book, not months or years…
UK
Travel
simple

UK Loyalty in Travel Consumer Report 2026

"Travellers are signing up to multiple loyalty memberships. Schemes that pair immediate rewards with longer-term benefits can keep travellers engaged for longer."

Nikita Shergill, Technology and Media Analyst

Nikita Shergill, Technology and Media Analyst

63% of UK loyalty scheme members prefer instant rewards over traditional long‑term ones, a clear sign that travellers expect to feel valued the moment they book, not months or years later. This shift toward immediacy is redefining how loyalty is earned, delivered and judged.

At the same time, travellers are rethinking how loyalty fits into their everyday life, and they increasingly want to redeem points in non‑travel categories, such as fashion and everyday essentials. Lifestyle-focused loyalty schemes can offer travellers greater flexibility and relevance that extends far beyond the trip itself.

The biggest opportunities ahead are the rise of new payment models, such as bill-splitting, which can make group travel easier to organise. Integrating bill-splitting features in the travel booking process can remove friction, particularly for travellers under 35 who look for flexible payment options.

The development of agentic AI technology to recommend and book trips may shift loyalty away from travel brands to AI assistants. In the future, these systems will compare value and evaluate point worth, placing loyalty schemes under far greater competitive pressure. To stay visible, brands must ensure their offers, benefits and value propositions are clear for AI systems to easily read and interpret.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • What travellers expect from loyalty schemes, incentives to stimulate repeat bookings, including incorporating new payment technologies
  • Barriers to participating in travel loyalty schemes, including the disconnect between brand-loyal travellers and their membership in a loyalty scheme
  • Importance of community in travel loyalty schemes and how brands can encourage shared experiences
  • The role of AI in travel planning and booking, identifying when travellers prefer human contact, and AI’s impact on loyalty
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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for loyalty in travel
    • Opportunities
    • Unlock growth through bill-splitting
    • Build long-term loyalty through instant rewards
    • Engage travellers with fashion rewards
  2. THE MARKET

    • Cost of living is still a pressure on consumers
    • Graph 1: the financial confidence index, 2016-25
    • Staycations will remain the top holiday destinations in 2026
    • Graph 2: trips taken in the last 12 months, by destination and travel purpose, 2024-25
    • Graph 3: destinations planning to visit for a holiday in the next 12 months, 2025
    • Desire for unique experiences can boost travel growth to lesser-known destinations in 2026
    • Graph 4: holiday plans for next year, 2024-25
    • Booking.com’s loyalty scheme has helped it grow its market share
    • Graph 5: top 10 travel and holiday brands by share of total spend among Snoop users, 2025
    • AI will supercharge personalisation and convenience
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • What travellers expect from loyalty schemes
    • Customer service is a key driver of repeat bookings
    • Integrate payment splitting in the travel booking process
    • UK loyalty scheme members want immediate tangible benefits from travel loyalty schemes
    • Instant rewards can keep consumers engaged and build loyalty in the long term
    • Discount schemes are more effective than ‘free’ perks for budget airlines
    • A third of loyalty members have more than one travel loyalty scheme
    • AI agents can help travellers maximise their rewards effortlessly
    • Loyalty schemes influence travel decisions
    • Protect long-standing members from feeling unfairly treated
    • Graph 6: ‘I think travel loyalty/reward schemes are fair in terms of how points are rewarded’, by age, 2025
    • Barriers to loyalty schemes
    • Perception of not travelling enough hinders participation in loyalty schemes even among frequent travellers
    • Loyal customers are still missing out on membership benefits
    • Make it easier for consumers to compare loyalty schemes against competitors
    • Building loyalty through lifestyle and community
    • Lifestyle integration is key in loyalty schemes
    • Graph 7: preference for spending loyalty rewards on products/services, by age, 2025
    • Potential partnerships for brands targeting a younger audience
    • Young travellers want community-based travel rewards
    • Graph 8: ‘I would be interested in a travel loyalty/reward scheme that fosters a sense of community’, by age, 2025
    • Loyalty users want more community features than points
    • Graph 9: loyalty scheme membership by brand commitment, 2025
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS

    • Travel recommendations will come from AI
    • Booking.com and Expedia integrate their apps into ChatGPT
    • Lufthansa and Booking.com drive loyalty with flexible payments
    • Norweigain Cruise Line enhances value by unifying its loyalty scheme
    • Graph 10: reasons for not being a member of a travel loyalty scheme, by cruise travellers, 2025
    • Nectar and Marriott Bonvoy partnership offers the ability to convert points between the two loyalty schemes
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope and definitions
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • UK generation groups
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • Abbreviations

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