Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?

I receive a lot of press releases, most of which have little or nothing to do with my primary focus, loyalty programs.

 Occasionally, however, a news release is relevant not so much for its headline content as for a point made in support of its main topic.

Among the claims made in a recent release announcing Priority Club's global relaunch, for  instance, was the following, allegedly based on consumer research:

Hotel loyalty program points displace airline frequent flyer miles as preferred currency: Frequent travelers place a higher perceived value on hotel loyalty program currency over frequent flier miles, as airlines' imposition of fees, decreased reward seat inventory and greater restrictions have weakened consumer trust, and as hotel programs add additional redemption options, including access to airline inventory.

I have no argument with the premises. Frequent flyer fees are rampant; awards are in shorter-than-ever supply, relative to demand; and consumer trust and engagement have eroded.

But have hotel points really displaced airline miles as the world's preferred loyalty currency, as Priority Club alleges?

It's not a rhetorical question—I'm seriously seeking feedback from readers on this. I have my own opinion, based both on my personal experience and attitudes and my discussions with other rewards-program participants. But more information is always better.

Again, the question: Do you value hotel points more than airline miles?

Please weigh in with your comments below, and check back to see what other travelers have to say on the subject.

Thanks for your feedback.

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Comments

[Mark L]

No question I prefer the hotel points. Airlines mean little to me since redemption is next to impossible. So the airline miles have little value. I rarely even track them.

[Bill R]

It is far easier to find a cheap flight to almost any location. It is a lot more difficult to get a great hotel room (in a "hot" destination)for a low price.
So, if I was given the choice of a weeks free hotel stay on a California beach, in NYC, Anchorage or a similar location OR a free flight I would choose the hotel stay. The price of the hotel could easily exceed $2,000.00, whereas I could easily find a flight for less than $500.00. Also, a rental car can often have a similar, albeit lower, value comparison.
Fortunately, I am often able to combine all three loyalty rewards and vacation with me family for almost nothing. If you use your loyalty rewards wisely you can really have some great experiences.

[ron]

Well one reason to cater towards hotel reward points for anyone whom collects both and desires to redeem those points or miles for non-air travel or non-hotel stays,BUT instead for gift cards.
Redeem airmiles for giftcards and you are screwed massively compared to that of hotel reward points

[Peggy Loukas]

I favor the miles, but probably because I adore flying and take any chance to do so. I have 5 airline affinity credit cards. Good hotels with sensible rates are in abundance upon arrival at a destination. I'm fed up with Priority Club because they're so chintzy and their reward points are worthless, so I'm puzzled at how they, of all groups, came up with those results. If it were strictly between Priority Club points and airline miles, to me it would undoubtedly be the miles. No contest. I liked Hilton Honors a lot, but even they have de-valued their points. Seems to me there is no clear winner in this debate.