Top Rewards for Freshcomers in Airline and Hotel Loyalty Schemes
Travellers and frequent stayers can enjoy a range of exciting bonuses from various airline and hotel loyalty programmes in 2025. These offers provide an excellent opportunity to boost your points balance and unlock rewards faster. Here's a breakdown of some of the most attractive new member bonuses available this year.
Airlines
Several airlines are offering enticing bonuses to new members. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles program welcomes new members with 1,000 bonus SkyMiles and the ability to claim miles for past flights within 9 months. Similarly, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus program offers 2,500 bonus miles for new members who sign up through a specific promotion link and book and complete their first international flight with Thai Airways.
Other airlines, such as Southwest Rapid Rewards and EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, provide bonus points for new members who meet certain criteria, like flying within a specific timeframe or completing their profile.
Hotel Rewards
Hotel loyalty programs are also offering attractive bonuses for new members. For example, Best Western Rewards members, including new ones, can earn 2,000 bonus points on their next stay between now and December 31, 2025. IHG One Rewards offers 5,000 bonus points when you join the program and stay at an IHG property within 21 days of joining.
Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors have also introduced welcome bonuses for new members. Marriott Bonvoy offers up to 7,500 bonus points, while Hilton Honors offers a welcome bonus of up to 3,000 bonus points.
Dining Programs for Airlines
Some airlines, like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Delta SkyMiles, have dining programmes that offer bonus miles for new members who enrol and make a dining purchase. For instance, new members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan can earn a $25 discount on their first flight purchased within 28 days of enrollment, while Delta SkyMiles offers 1,000 bonus miles for new members who register, make a dining purchase, and review their experience within 30 days.
Summary Table
The following table summarises the key details of the new member bonuses for various airline and hotel loyalty programs in 2025:
| Program | Bonus Offered | Eligibility & Criteria | Expiry/Deadline | |------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------| | ANA Mileage Club | 500 bonus miles | New members, first ANA-operated flight only | Register by Aug 18, fly by Aug 20, 2025 | | Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | $25 discount ($50 for CA & HI) | New members, book flight within 28 days, travel within 90 days | Valid through end of 2025 | | American Airlines Dining | 500 bonus miles | Spend $25+, linked card, review, enroll by Jan 9, 2026 | Jan 9, 2026 | | Delta SkyMiles Dining | 1,000 bonus miles | Spend $30+, linked card, review, enroll by Jan 9, 2026 | Jan 9, 2026 | | Marriott & United MileagePlus| 1,500 Bonvoy pts + 1,000 United miles| Complete flight + stay, register by mid-August 2025 | Offers vary |
These enrollment bonuses heavily favor new member registration combined with a qualifying activity (flight, dining purchase, or hotel stay). Most are time-limited offers expiring before or during the end of 2025. If you require bonuses specific to a program or region, more precise details can be provided.
- In addition to airline bonuses, hotel loyalty programs like Best Western Rewards and IHG One Rewards offer points for new members who stay at their properties within a certain timeframe.
- The technology of travel and lifestyle industries has enabled the creation of online promotional links, as seen with Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus program, which offers additional bonus miles for new members who sign up through these links.
- The convergence of business, finance, and technology has led to the development of dining programs, such as those offered by Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Delta SkyMiles, which reward new members with bonus miles for dining purchases and reviews.
