67% of Travelers Are Skipping Luxury To Save Money – 4 Perks To Use Now
As prices rise, travelers are increasingly on the lookout for ways to save money without staying put. In Forbes Advisor’s June 2026 report, "The State Of Travel Rewards in 2026: What Vacationers Want, Use And Find Frustrating," 67% of respondents said that they would forego “pampering benefits like lie-flat seats or suite upgrades” in favor of a cheaper flight or hotel.
The survey also found that travelers were most likely to choose hotel loyalty programs (41%) or airline loyalty programs (36%), but 31% said that they were inclined to put most everyday spending on travel credit cards.
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Though all of these can be used together to maximize the amount of points and perks you can earn, there are still some perks that go unused.
Even though two-thirds of travelers are skipping luxury, there are lots of opportunities to upgrade your travel experience using your rewards points and perks. When you use your loyalty program rewards, you’re able to get perks without paying extra, and these are four that you don’t want to miss out on.
1. Free Checked Bags
The Forbes Advisor report found that 17% of respondents didn’t use their free checked bags perk that they can earn through the airline loyalty program or with an airline credit card. Even though many didn’t use it, it ranked as the perk that matters most to today’s travelers, with 43% ranking it as their top perk.
Part of the reason travelers aren’t taking advantage of a free checked bag is that they may not fly often or only travel with a carry-on — though carry-ons may no longer be immune from checked back charges. Some airlines recently began charging for even a carry-on bag, only allowing a small personal item to fly free, according to SkyScanner.
The free checked bag perk has the potential to save travelers quite a bit of money, typically $45 for a one-way flight or $90 for a roundtrip.
2. Early Hotel Check-In
Early hotel check-in is often a perk when you sign up for hotel loyalty programs, and depending on the membership tier you’re on, you may even be able to check out late. According to the Forbes Advisor report, 27% of respondents listed this as a top perk, but of the travel perks that go unused most often, hotel perks ranked first at 23%.
The luxury of an early check-in benefit is that while you can sometimes use points, it may also come as a result of your status as a loyalty member or travel rewards credit card holder and gives you more flexibility for when you can arrive at the hotel and settle into your room.
3. Bonus Reward Points
Bonus rewards points ranked third at 26%, which makes sense because rewards points can be redeemed for free nights at a hotel, airline miles and more. Plus, the more points you earn, the higher you’ll move up in the loyalty program tiers. Higher tiers equal more perks.
The danger of earning more points, however, is that they can often go unused if you’re not proactive about choosing the perks that you want to take advantage of. Make sure that as you earn more reward points, you’re putting them to work and getting more out of your travel while still saving money.
4. Seat Upgrades
Upgrading your seat on a flight can make for a more comfortable and luxurious travel experience at no cost. While 10% choose this perk as one that goes unused most often, 20% listed it as their top perk.
If you have a trip coming up, it’s worth checking to see if you have enough points to get a better seat on your next flight.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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