Expedia: Points No Longer Worth Double On VIP Properties Effective 2/1/2021

Update 1/30/21: Reminder to use your points. Code SLVCJANFUTURE should work for 9% off, stack with a portal if possible as well (might invalidate the portal but worth a shot). Hat tip to lotso-bear

Expedia has sent out an e-mail to loyalty members stating that effective February 1, 2021 points will no longer be worth double when redeeming at VIP Access properties.

Normally Expedia points are worth 0.7¢ each, but at VIP properties they are worth 1.4¢. This is a huge negative change and Expedia hasn’t given a lot of notice given COVID. A lot of readers will still have a stockpile of points from the 70,000 point offer last year.

Hat tip to junhyuk19
    William Charles
  • On January 30, 2021, 22:05
Tags: devaluationexpedia

View Comments (147)

  • Email from Expedia today...

    "Keep your top-tier Gold benefits for another year
    Travel is making a comeback, and we're excited to help you get to wherever you're dreaming of next. To make the most of your upcoming trips, we're extending your Gold Expedia Rewards membership status for another year, through to February 28, 2023.
    That's one more year of free room upgrades when available and triple points at VIP Access™ stays, plus 30% more points on eligible bookings."

    • I just changed my reservation for Scotland in May as the deadline was today. I just changed it out to March 2022. I tried to get the hotel to just give me a voucher but they said they couldn’t. I was due a refund and it appears as if Expedia refunded me equal valuable points. I already paid cash for some of the stay and the points refunded is equal to the additional points I should have received back. At least Expedia says my points are still worth the original value back in Jan. I will have to dig in deeper with the math when I have time, but this looks really promising!

      • Actually I’m wrong. I was basing my math on the new reservation cost Expedia told me. The refund in points was at .7 not 1.4 cpp.

        • Can you elaborate with more detail regarding the change and original costs in points vs what you were able to get with those same points?

    • Some comments here and on other forums seem to indicate that folks are being refunded double points. I haven't personally tried this, so I can't speak from experience but that's good news if it is indeed so.

      • I've only seen the comment below and one mention on flyertalk, but not much detail or verification. I messaged a customer service rep to ask what I would receive if I cancelled my trip and he indicated the same number of points as what I used to book it originally. That conflicts with the double points DP. Curious to find out though.

        • I had a hotel cancel the booking because they were closed. Only the original points were refunded, and customer service (all non USA based from what I gather) were utterly useless in even understanding what the problem after I explained the devaluation. There was a positive DP on Reddit a while back about getting a $100 coupon voucher after escalating to a supervisor, but I have had no such luck even getting to a supervisor after several tries now. I won't be using Expedia for anything in the future.

  • I used 150k points for a ski trip booked jan 31. Was not about to let a grand get stolen by expedia

  • It appears this is in effect now.

    The good news is that you can change the dates of an existing VIP booking and keep the value of the double points for the new dates.

    The big question is what happens if you cancel the entire booking, and whether the system refunds the points paid, or the number of points at their new value.

    I paid $1100 (~ 73000 points) for my booking of 6 nights. I can modify the dates and choose only a two night stay. System tells me I'll be refunded $734. I wonder how the system will determine the value in points of $734 now that the points have been devalued.

  • What about how the email says when you book a VIP hotel that you will now earn TRIPLE points. Can someone good at math break down a scenario comparing how it has been and how it will be with earning triple points. I just got the card a few months ago.

    • Don't confuse earning points with point redemption value.

      *Earning* triple points is worth almost nothing.

      Double redemption value is huge, which ends today.

  • Ended up doing a 6-night all inclusive for 4 in punta cana for about 1100, all with points. Now hoping things get better by Thanksgiving.

  • I had a 2 week trip to Greece in June booked using all of my Expedia points at VIP Access properties. We decided to cancel the trip (it's looking less and less likely to happen) so I booked the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach for a long weekend instead. I'll still be on the hook for resort fees, which I'll pay for using the Hilton resort credit on my Amex Aspire. Should be a great trip, and one that I would never pay cash for.

  • Booked a 2 bedroom with waterpark in Orlando for 6 nights with one CC bonus, booked 3 different hotels for the last night since unsure where we'll be (Orlando, Tampa, or St Petersburg). Would have loved to get more out of this card, really hoping we end up going but with all thats going on who knows. Happy we werent going for 5/24 yet when applying for this card.

  • Got my $100 credit, used all my points for double, and downgraded, just in time. Goodbye, Expedia.

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