Hotel Programs That Let You Earn Airline Miles

Travelers who frequently stay in hotels and fly often look for ways to double their rewards. One of the smartest strategies in travel loyalty is choosing hotel programs that earn airline miles. While hotel points are typically the main reward, many global hotel chains offer the option to convert those points into airline miles. Others allow you to earn miles directly through airline partnerships. Understanding how these programs work, and how to use them effectively, can significantly enhance the value of your travel spend.

This blog focuses entirely on real, practical facts about hotel loyalty programs that are directly linked with major airlines. We’re not discussing theoretical or general benefits of loyalty programs. Instead, we break down specific hotel chains, what airlines they partner with, how many points convert to miles, and which programs give you the best value.

For frequent flyers, this opens up opportunities to earn free flights faster. For hotel regulars, it means more flexibility and the ability to use your rewards where you need them most. Whether you stay mostly at Marriotts or prefer Hilton hotels, this guide will show you how to make every stay work harder for your next flight.

Let’s dive deep into the top hotel programs with airline mile earning potential—starting with the world-renowned Marriott Bonvoy, followed by Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, and a few lesser-known but valuable options like Accor Live Limitless and Wyndham Rewards.

Each section will focus on facts: how to earn, convert, and redeem miles, with no fluff. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for leveraging hotel stays into flight rewards with maximum efficiency.

Marriott Bonvoy 

Marriott Bonvoy is one of the most powerful hotel loyalty programs when it comes to earning airline miles. Covering over 30 hotel brands including Marriott, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, and Westin, the Bonvoy program partners with more than 40 global airlines, offering unmatched flexibility for travelers who want to convert points into miles.

How it works:

Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to airline partners at a standard 3:1 ratio—that’s 3 Bonvoy points for 1 airline mile. Additionally, for every 60,000 points transferred, Marriott gives a 5,000-mile bonus, making the effective rate even better for large transfers.

Top airline partners include:

• United Airlines MileagePlus

• Delta SkyMiles

• British Airways Executive Club

• Emirates Skywards

• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• American Airlines AAdvantage

• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Best use cases:
The bonus for transferring 60,000 points means transferring in multiples of 60,000 is the most efficient. For example, 60,000 Bonvoy points = 25,000 miles (60,000 ÷ 3 + 5,000 bonus). This makes it a strong value compared to other hotel programs.

Earn more through Marriott stays:

• Earn 10 points per dollar at most Marriott properties

• Elite members earn bonuses of up to 75%

• Occasionally, Marriott runs promotions offering double points or bonus miles for specific airlines

Direct earning via airlines:
Marriott also allows you to choose airline miles instead of points when booking, although this is less common and usually yields lower overall value than earning points first and converting them.

Key advantage:
The breadth of airline partnerships and generous transfer bonus structure make Marriott Bonvoy the most flexible program for travelers focused on earning airline miles from hotel stays.

Hilton Honors 

Hilton Honors is another major hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn airline miles, either through points-to-miles conversions or by opting to earn miles directly (in some regions).

Conversion model:

Hilton Honors points can be transferred to over 30 airline partners, but the conversion rates vary significantly depending on the partner. Most commonly, 10,000 Hilton points = 1,000 to 1,500 airline miles. This is generally less favorable than Marriott’s 3:1 ratio, but still useful when miles are needed quickly.

Airline partners include:

• Delta SkyMiles

• Emirates Skywards

• British Airways Avios

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

• Turkish Airlines

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Earning strategy:

• Hilton Honors members earn 10 base points per $1 spent

• Silver, Gold, and Diamond members earn up to 100% point bonuses

• Double-dip options (earn both Hilton points and airline miles) were retired globally but are still available in limited markets like Asia

Miles direct earning (limited regions):

In some international regions, Hilton still offers the “Points and Miles” system. You can choose to earn airline miles along with points, but this option has been mostly phased out in the U.S. and Europe.

Transfer process:

Transfers are not instant and can take anywhere from 7 to 30 days depending on the airline. This makes Hilton more suitable for advance planning than urgent mile top-ups.

When to use Hilton points for miles:
The best time to convert Hilton points to miles is when you need a small number of miles to top off your airline account for a redemption or want to avoid expiration of miles by adding activity.

Key downside:

The conversion rate isn't great compared to other programs, making Hilton more of a backup option for earning miles than a first choice.

World of Hyatt  

World of Hyatt offers a streamlined and efficient method to earn airline miles, especially for premium airline redemptions. Although the number of airline partners is smaller than Marriott or Hilton, the transfer ratios are competitive, and Hyatt points are generally considered more valuable.

Conversion system:

World of Hyatt points transfer to airline miles at a 2.5:1 ratio (i.e., 5,000 Hyatt points = 2,000 miles). While that may seem lower than Marriott’s 3:1, Hyatt points are more valuable and easier to accumulate for frequent travelers.

Airline partners include:

• American Airlines AAdvantage

• Delta SkyMiles

• British Airways Avios

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• United Airlines MileagePlus

• Emirates Skywards

• Lufthansa Miles & More

Earning through hotel stays:

• Earn 5 base points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Hyatt properties

• Elite members earn up to 30% bonus points

• Hyatt frequently partners with American Airlines, offering double-dipping and elite status matches

Joint loyalty benefits with airlines:

The partnership between Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage is particularly strong. Members can link accounts and earn bonus miles when staying at Hyatt or flying with American.

Transfer process:

Transfers typically take 3 to 5 business days. There is a minimum transfer of 5,000 points, making it suitable for those with a reasonable point balance.

When to transfer:

Because Hyatt points are valuable for hotel stays, only convert when the airline redemption gives you better cent-per-point value than a Hyatt night stay.

Key advantage:

Hyatt offers a high point value and excellent airline partnerships, making it a solid option for mile-focused travelers—especially those who prefer luxury and boutique properties.

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards, the loyalty program for InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and Kimpton, offers another path for converting hotel points to airline miles. While not as lucrative as Marriott or Hyatt, it still presents opportunities for frequent IHG guests.

Conversion details:

IHG points can be transferred to over 40 airlines, typically at a 5:1 ratio (10,000 IHG points = 2,000 airline miles). This is one of the least favorable ratios, but it's still a viable option when topping off an airline account.

Major airline partners:

• United MileagePlus

• American Airlines AAdvantage

• Emirates Skywards

• Lufthansa Miles & More

• British Airways Avios

• Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Air France Flying Blue

Earning through stays:

• Earn 10 points per $1 spent at most properties

• Elite members earn bonus points up to 100%

• IHG credit card holders can earn additional rewards through stays and everyday purchases

Transfer process:

IHG transfers typically take up to two weeks. Transfers are irreversible and must meet minimum thresholds, usually 10,000 points per transaction.

When to consider transferring:

• To prevent airline mile expiration

• When you need a small top-up

• When you don’t plan to use IHG points for hotel stays

Key downside:

Poor transfer ratios and long processing times make IHG One Rewards less competitive for airline mile accumulation compared to Marriott or Hyatt.

Redemption tip:

Instead of transferring, consider booking hotel + flight packages through IHG’s travel portal where you might find better value than converting points to miles.

Other Programs Worth Considering 

While Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG are the biggest names, several other hotel loyalty programs also allow members to earn airline miles through either conversions or partnerships.

Accor Live Limitless (ALL):

• Partnered with over 30 airlines

• Conversion rate is 2:1 or better, depending on the airline

• Offers direct miles earning with select partners like Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Flying Blue

• Strong in Europe, Asia, and Middle East markets

Wyndham Rewards:

• Converts to airline miles at a 5:1 ratio (6,000 Wyndham points = 1,200 miles)

• Airline partners include American, Delta, and United

• Great for road warriors who stay in budget-friendly hotels

Best Western Rewards:

• 5,000 Best Western points = 1,000 miles

• Partnered with more than 10 airlines

• Ideal for domestic travelers in North America and Europe

Choice Privileges:

• Points convert to miles with a 5:1 ratio

• Airline partners include Alaska Airlines, United, and Aeroplan

• Good for budget travelers who want flexibility in earning miles

Key Insight:

These programs may not offer the best value per point, but they can be strategic for travelers who frequent regional hotels or need miles in lesser-used airline programs.

Conclusion 

Choosing the right hotel program that earns airline miles is a powerful way to double-dip on travel rewards. While all major hotel loyalty programs allow you to convert points to airline miles, not all conversions are equal. Marriott Bonvoy stands out with its massive list of partners and generous 5,000-mile transfer bonuses. Hilton Honors offers wide airline support, albeit with less favorable ratios. Hyatt shines with high point values and premium airline partners, while IHG provides a useful—but less efficient—alternative.

The best program for you depends on your preferred airline, travel frequency, and hotel preferences. If you consistently stay with Marriott, your path to free flights will be faster and more flexible. If Hyatt’s boutique and luxury hotels appeal to you, you can extract great value from each point converted. For budget travelers, Wyndham and Best Western offer alternatives that still allow for mile accumulation.

Always consider the transfer ratio, processing time, and value per point before converting. In many cases, holding on to hotel points may be more valuable if you plan to redeem them for free nights. But if you’re just a few thousand miles short of a flight redemption or want to extend your miles’ expiration date, hotel point transfers are a great backup strategy.

In the evolving world of travel loyalty, maximizing your rewards requires strategy. By understanding which hotel programs earn airline miles and how to use them effectively, you’ll unlock new opportunities for flight redemptions—without spending anything extra.

Make your hotel stays count not just for comfort, but for your next journey in the sky.