Expedia® today introduced new Expedia One Key benefits designed to make travel easier from booking to boarding, giving travelers immediate value and savings, while helping them earn rewards for future trips. Expedia One Key is Expedia’s free loyalty program, offering instant member discounts and OneKeyCash™ rewards that can be used on future eligible travel.

Expedia One Key’s updated benefits include:

• Free lounge access for delayed flights: Expedia is expanding free lounge access for delayed flights to eligible Gold and Platinum One Key™ members.
• Discounted CLEAR+ membership and CLEAR Concierge services: Travelers can speed through airport security and get to their gate faster.
• Price Drop Protection: If the price of an eligible booked flight drops before departure, Expedia automatically provides the fare difference in OneKeyCash™.
• Instant Savings, while earning OneKeyCash: Expedia One Key members can enjoy instant discounts with Member Prices, plus earn 1% to 3% back in OneKeyCash to use on future travel.

“Travelers told us they want a loyalty program with rewards and perks program that delivers real savings right away while helping them earn rewards for future trips,” said Casey Lehman, Vice President of Loyalty, Expedia Group. “We wanted to make our loyalty program simpler for our members, so we’re strengthening our proposition of instant discounts plus rewards for future trips, while adding distinctive travel perks that support members from booking to boarding—including lounge access during delays, less time at airport security through our CLEAR partnership and OneKeyCash when a flight price drops.”

What is new with Expedia One Key loyalty benefits?

Expedia One Key comes with two ways to save: instant discounts with Member Prices, plus OneKeyCash to use on future travel. With a new “1-2-3” path to earn, members can start seeing value immediately and build toward even greater savings, OneKeyCash and travel perks as they progress through the program.

OneKeyCash remains flexible: every $1 in OneKeyCash is worth $1 toward eligible bookings across hotels, vacation homes, cars and activities—with no blackout dates.

How does free lounge access for delayed flights work for Expedia One Key members?

Expedia is enhancing its free lounge access benefit for delayed flights and extending eligibility to Gold members. Eligible members whose flight is delayed by 90 minutes or more can receive complimentary access to an airport lounge or other eligible airport experience. The benefit will initially operate as a pilot as Expedia continues to enhance the experience and evaluate member engagement. ^[1]

Eligible passes provide access to lounges in the LoungeKey network, including independent operators such as The Club, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, and Aspire. The benefit may also include participating airport bars and restaurants, spas, gaming lounges, and sleep pods. If no lounge or alternative option is available at the airport, each eligible passenger on the same itinerary receives $20 in OneKeyCash.

According to a recent consumer survey, almost half of U.S. travelers (48%) have experienced a flight delay of 90 minutes or more, while 54.1% find airport security stressful, including 12.3% who find it very stressful. Expedia customer feedback shows that providing eligible travelers with QR-enabled access to an in-terminal lounge can turn a frustrating disruption into a more comfortable experience.

What are the CLEAR Partnership benefits available to Expedia One Key members?

Through the CLEAR partnership, Expedia One Key members can access preferred pricing and services designed to make the airport experience more seamless. The CLEAR partnership gives U.S. One Key members access to tier-based discounts on CLEAR+ and CLEAR Concierge to help travelers have secure, stress-free experiences—from home to gate and back again.

Members can sign up for discounted CLEAR+ products through Expedia to move through security faster at more than 60 U.S. airports using secure identity verification. CLEAR Concierge provides a dedicated Ambassador to help guide travelers from the curb to their gate when they need an extra set of hands at the airport.

Through Expedia:

• Platinum members: CLEAR+ annual Membership for $129. A Membership plus two CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings for $199.
• Gold and Silver members: CLEAR+ annual Membership for $179. A Membership, plus two CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings for $249.
• Blue members: CLEAR+ annual Membership for $209.
• Silver, Gold and Platinum members: 20% off additional CLEAR Concierge Departure Service bookings.

Airport security is a meaningful source of stress, and travelers say they would use time saved at security for practical and enjoyable parts of the airport experience. According to the consumer survey: ^[2]

• “Walk through security instantly” was selected by 23.2% as their preferred airport superpower, nearly as popular as automatic upgrades at 23.9%.
• The time problem is tangible: The average typical security wait is 22.1 minutes. 44.3% usually wait at least 20 minutes, and 19.8% usually wait 30 minutes or more. Separately, 30.0% report that their longest-ever security wait was at least 60 minutes.

What is Expedia’s One Key Price Drop Protection and how does it help me save money on flights?

Gold and Platinum members who book eligible flights in the Expedia app can receive free One Key Price Drop Protection. If the price drops before departure, Expedia automatically provides the difference in OneKeyCash.

After booking an eligible flight in the Expedia app and until the day the flight is scheduled to depart, Expedia automatically checks the price of the flight on Expedia once every 24 hours. Price checks are based on the flight details booked. Expedia will send notifications about any price changes. If the price of the eligible flight drops on Expedia, the traveler will get a Price Drop Protection Payment in OneKeyCash for the difference after the trip is completed.

In 2025, Expedia gave $28 million in OneKeyCash directly to Gold and Platinum One Key members through its Price Drop Protection program. ^[3]

How do members progress through One Key tiering status?

Members continue to advance through tiers by collecting trip elements as they travel—not simply by completing bookings. Members join as Blue, reach Silver after five trip elements, Gold after 15 and Platinum after 30. That means a new member can reach Silver after a single trip, such as two hotel nights and a three-day car rental. By recognizing the individual components of a journey, One Key gives members more ways to make progress toward higher status.

The program’s tiered instant discounts remain available across a wide selection of hotels, car rentals and activities. The new earn structure replaces the previous flat 2% rate with a clearer, tiered approach:

• Blue: 10% or more in instant discounts, plus 1% back in OneKeyCash
• Silver: 15% or more in instant discounts, plus 2% back in OneKeyCash
• Gold: 20% or more in instant discounts, plus 2% back in OneKeyCash
• Platinum: 20% or more in instant discounts, plus 3% back in OneKeyCash

At the highest tier, Platinum members now earn One Key’s highest standard rate—3% back in OneKeyCash—helping them build toward their next trip faster.

What rewards do One Key Credit Cardholders earn?

The One Key Credit Card delivers value on every trip and beyond, giving cardholders 3% back in OneKeyCash on Expedia bookings made with the card, including flights, plus an additional 3% for Silver Members, 4% for Gold Members and 6% for Platinum Members when booking VIP Access properties—up to 9% back on eligible VIP Expedia bookings.

Cardholders also earn 3% back on gas, groceries and dining, as well as 1.5% back everywhere else with the no-annual-fee card or 2% back with the Fee Card, making it easy to earn rewards on everyday purchases both within and beyond Expedia.

What else is changing for Expedia One Key members?

Expedia is simplifying or retiring selected lower-value and legacy features while investing in benefits designed to deliver more noticeable value.

• Standalone flights no longer earn the previous 0.2% in OneKeyCash through the loyalty program.
• Flights still count as an eligible trip element toward tier status.
• Members can continue to use OneKeyCash on eligible flight bookings as before.
• Package bookings earn OneKeyCash on the non-flight portions of the trip.
• The Hotel Price Guarantee benefit is being sunset for new bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What happens if an eligible flight is delayed by 90 minutes or more?

A: Eligible U.S. One Key Gold and Platinum members and additional travelers on the same itinerary can receive complimentary access to an airport lounge or other eligible airport experience through Expedia, subject to the benefit terms.

Q: When must a flight be registered for complimentary lounge access?

A: Flights must be registered at least 24 hours before scheduled departure, and certain airlines are excluded.

Q: What happens if no lounge or alternative airport experience is available?

A: Each eligible passenger on the same itinerary receives $20 in OneKeyCash, subject to the benefit terms.

Q: What lounges are included as part of the complimentary lounge access benefit?

A. Eligible passes provide access to lounges in the LoungeKey network, including independent operators such as The Club, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, and Aspire. The benefit may also include participating airport bars and restaurants, spas, gaming lounges, and sleep pods; major airline-branded lounges are generally excluded.

Q: Why do travelers value lounge access during flight delays?

A: Among travelers who have experienced a flight delay, 83.0% consider a delay-related benefit valuable, and 30.5% prefer an airport lounge as a place to wait during a delay of 90 minutes or more.

Q: What is CLEAR+?

A: CLEAR+ is an annual Membership that enables Members to move through security faster at more than 60 U.S. airports using secure identity verification.

Q: What is CLEAR Concierge?

A: CLEAR Concierge provides a dedicated Ambassador to help guide travelers from curb to gate.

Q: Who can access CLEAR benefits through Expedia?

A: U.S. One Key members can access CLEAR+ pricing and CLEAR Concierge options through Expedia based on their One Key status.

Q: What is Expedia One Key?

A: Expedia One Key is Expedia Group’s free travel rewards program in the U.S., shared across Expedia, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®. Members receive Member Prices discounts, earn OneKeyCash on eligible bookings and share tier status across participating brands.

Q: How much is OneKeyCash worth?

A: One dollar in OneKeyCash is equal to one dollar to spend on eligible travel, with no blackout dates.

Q: Do flights still count toward One Key status?

A: Yes. An eligible one-way or round-trip flight ticket continues to count as one trip element toward status. Expedia One Key Credit Card holders can also earn OneKeyCash when purchasing their flight on the credit card. However, standalone airfare no longer earns the previous 0.2% in OneKeyCash through the loyalty program.

Q: What happens to OneKeyCash on package bookings?

A: Package bookings earn OneKeyCash on the non-flight portions of the trip.

Notes to Editor:

^[1] This benefit will be available for eligible flights booked through Expedia between 9/30/26 and 12/31/27. Terms apply.

^[2] Based on OnePoll survey for Expedia, conducted September 15–21, 2026, among 2,000 U.S. adults who travel.

^[3] Based on OneKeyCash awarded to US and UK customers in 2025. OneKeyCash Price Drop Protection is for Gold and Platinum One Key members on select flight bookings when the price dropped on Expedia. The price difference is issued in the form of OneKeyCash. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia and participating brands.

About Expedia

Expedia® is a one-stop travel shop where travelers can plan and book everything they need for their trip while saving on flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, and activities.

Expedia delivers personalized, easy‑to‑use travel tools that make it easy to build a complete trip without juggling multiple sites, while allowing travelers to search, compare, and book multiple trip elements side by side. Expedia also unlocks more value with Bundle & Save deals, giving travelers amazing savings when they book more than one part of their trip. With One Key, Expedia’s cross‑brand loyalty program, every eligible booking earns OneKeyCash™, while also giving travelers access to member‑only prices and perks, making trips even more rewarding.

In 2026, Expedia marks its 30th anniversary. As one of the first online travel agencies, it continues to be the one place you go to go places.

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