NEW YORK, April 4 — Practically every major airline and hotel loyalty programme has recently been changed or is on the road to being upended, be it the new American Airlines award chart, which went into effect March 22, or a potential merger of the Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards programs.

Yet the travel industry is rife with other rewards and membership programmes — offerings that don’t get as much attention but can make a trip cheaper and easier.

Hotels

Leaders Club: This membership programme for the Leading Hotels of the World, which is made up of more than 375 luxury hotels in 75 countries, comes at a price: US$150 (RM585) a year for the introductory level membership. But that includes breakfast for two each day of your stay, Internet access, a room upgrade (depending on availability at check-in), early check-in and late checkout (depending on availability), a welcome gift, exclusive rates on Leading Hotels, and the ability to earn one free night at participating hotels for every five stays. There are some knockout luxury hotels in the programmw, such as Le Bristol Paris and the Ciragan Palace Kempinsky in Istanbul. Lhw.com/leaders-club.

Stash Hotel Rewards: This programme is much smaller and includes a range of independent hotels in the United States, the Caribbean and Panama, such as Beach House in Turks and Caicos and the Honua Kai Resort & Spa in Hawaii. But it’s free to join and members earn five points per dollar spent, which can then be used toward free nights at participating hotels. A recent search found that a standard room at the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles on a Saturday in May was US$315, or 29,166 Stash points. Stashrewards.com.

iPrefer: Members of this programme for Preferred Hotels and Resorts receive perks at the brand’s more than 600 hotels, including a number of luxury properties, in more than 85 countries, be it the Stafford London; the Ohla Ciutat Vella in Barcelona, Spain; or the Royal Palm Hotel Galapagos. It’s one of the largest such programmes, and it’s free to join. Benefits include free Internet, a room upgrade when available, early check-in and late checkout when available, and points for stays. Members receive 10 points for each dollar spent for a stay; elite members (those who earn 50,000 points within one year of their membership anniversary date) receive 15 points for each dollar spent for a stay as well as a welcome gift such as a bottle of wine, chocolates or a resort credit. Preferredhotels.com/iprefer.

Hotels.com Rewards: When it comes to online booking rewards programmes, many travellers think of Expedia and Priceline. Hotels.com also has a programme, which includes some 235,000 hotels. It’s free to join and members receive one “rewards night” for each night they stay. Once they amass 10 rewards nights, they receive a free night at an eligible hotel. The value of that free night is equal to the average rate of the 10 nights you stayed to earn it — in other words, if you stay 10 nights at a hotel akin to a Best Western, don’t expect to get a free night at the likes of a Park Hyatt. Hotels.com.

Airports and airlines

Priority Pass: This is worth considering if you’re a lounge lover without elite status on a particular airline, or if you fly a lot but tend to use different airlines. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge programme that gives members access to more than 850 lounges around the world — no matter which airline they happen to be flying. The standard membership is US$99 a year plus US$27 for each visit; “standard plus” membership is US$249, which includes 10 free visits a year and then costs US$27 a visit thereafter; and “prestige” membership is US$399 a year for unlimited free visits. You may bring a guest into the lounge, but the fee is US$27, regardless of your membership level. While that may sound pricey to those who don’t use lounges, the US$399 membership is a good buy compared with the cost of membership in just one major airline’s club. Note: American Express Platinum card members can receive a free Priority Pass membership. PriorityPass.com.

Thanks Again: Members of this airport rewards programme can earn points when they shop, park and dine at certain retailers in and around over 100 airports worldwide. It’s free to join; members just register their existing American Express, MasterCard or Visa card, which they can then pair with a rewards programme such as Hilton HHonors or United MileagePlus. When they spend at a participating airport business, they receive points or miles for each dollar spent. How many they receive depends on things such as the retailer, and how much they spend. Thanksagain.com.

Cars

Uber: The car service has partnerships with Starwood Hotels and with American Airlines. For every dollar you spend using Uber, you’ll receive one Starpoint after linking your Starwood and Uber accounts (and using Uber during a hotel stay earns even more points). American Airlines frequent fliers have a limited window for racking up points: If you have an AAdvantage Aviator MasterCard and use it to pay for your Uber rides, you can earn two additional bonus miles for every dollar spent through July 31. Uber.com. — The New York Times