Do I get hotel points if I book through third party?

After all, points aren't free, but they're often cheaper to award than paying an OTA a large commission. As a result of all of this, you're still usually unable to earn hotel points when you book a hotel through an OTA.



Generally, no—you do not earn hotel loyalty points or elite night credits if you book through a "Third-Party" Online Travel Agency (OTA) such as Booking.com, Expedia, or Agoda. Most major hospitality groups, including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, have strict policies that award points only for "Qualifying Rates" booked directly through their own websites or apps. Furthermore, if you book through a third party, the hotel is not contractually obligated to honor your elite status benefits (like free breakfast or room upgrades), although some front desk agents may do so as a gesture of goodwill. The primary exceptions are corporate travel portals like Concur, which are often integrated with hotel systems to count as direct bookings. If you find a cheaper rate on a third-party site, many 2026 travelers suggest using the hotel’s "Best Rate Guarantee" to match the price while keeping your points.

People Also Ask

It's Cheaper to Book Direct Using third-party booking services has additional fees that you may on top of the rate. Online travel agents also charge a commission, which could be up to 20% of the booking, from the hotel.

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Be aware that hotels booked through Expedia will forfeit any discounts, benefits or rewards typically provided directly through hotel loyalty programs. For example, if you book a Marriott hotel on Expedia, you won't also earn Marriott Bonvoy points or be eligible for elite benefits offered by Marriott.

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A Travel Agent Can Handle the Unexpected. Between weather delays, natural disasters, flight cancellations, lost luggage and much more, a lot can happen on vacation. Travel agents act as the traveler's advocate in the event something goes wrong, helping navigate the challenge of making any necessary itinerary changes.

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To see rates & fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please click here. Savvy traveler tip: You must book directly with Marriott to earn points and for your status to be recognized. If you book with a third-party travel agency, you will not be able to use the benefits.

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Because of the low rates our hotel partners offer you, club rewards or points of any sort cannot be earned or redeemed on Hotwire. We have already negotiated special low Hotwire Hot Rates with our partners -helping you get incredible deals quickly and easily.

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If you value loyalty programs and the perks that come with them, booking directly with a hotel may be the better choice. However, if saving money or booking a package deal is a top priority, booking through Expedia may be the way to go.

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Payments are never made through Skyscanner. So basically, Skyscanner redirects users to a third-party website to complete travel reservations.

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Lackluster customer service. Travelers who book on third-party platforms also often can't contact the airline directly for customer service. Generally speaking, airfare policies dictate that whoever sold you the ticket is responsible for servicing the reservation.

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Hotel staff do care if three people are staying in a room booked for two people. Depending on the hotel, they may charge an additional fee or require that you book another room to accommodate the third person.

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In conclusion, calling the hotel directly can often lead to cheaper rates and better deals compared to booking through online travel agencies. By cutting out the middleman, you can avoid additional fees and have the opportunity to negotiate for lower prices.

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The cost of using a travel agent is generally marginal, and often, they won't charge you at all. Much of their money comes from commissions the hotels and wholesalers pay them. Before you decide to book with a travel agent, inquire whether or not they charge fees.

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Travel agents save clients money, but the benefits of booking with a travel agent go way beyond. Travel agents also create high-value travel over OTAs because (the living, breathing, talented humans that they are) are able to advocate for clients when things go awry.

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