Can You Earn Airline Miles from Airport Hotel Stays?

Frequent flyers often seek new ways to accumulate airline miles beyond just flying. While credit card rewards and in-flight purchases are popular strategies, a lesser-known but effective method lies in your accommodations—specifically airport hotel stays. Yes, it’s entirely possible to earn airline miles from airport hotel stays, and doing so can significantly enhance your mileage balance, especially for business travelers or those with layovers.

Airport hotels are more than just a place to crash before a morning flight—they can be part of your larger travel rewards strategy. However, not all bookings are created equal. How you book, where you stay, and which loyalty programs you use all influence how many airline miles you can collect. Many major hotel chains offer airline mile conversion options through their loyalty programs, and some even allow direct mile accumulation with partner airlines.

Understanding the mechanics behind these partnerships and loyalty structures is key to maximizing your rewards. This guide will dive deep into how to leverage airport hotel loyalty programs, identify airline-hotel partnerships, and book strategically to ensure you earn the most miles possible from every overnight stay.

From airline programs like Delta SkyMiles and American AAdvantage to hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, this blog will break down specific tactics and real-world examples. Whether you’re a casual traveler or a seasoned points optimizer, these strategies will ensure that your nights at airport hotels aren’t just restful—but rewarding too.

Let’s explore the facts, systems, and smart practices that help you turn hotel stays into more flight opportunities, all while making the most of your travel budget.

Airline and Hotel Loyalty Partnerships Explained 

Most major hotel brands have long-standing partnerships with airline frequent flyer programs. These partnerships allow travelers to earn airline miles instead of, or in addition to, hotel points when they stay at partner properties. This is particularly useful for those who prioritize flights over hotel rewards.

Major Hotel-Airline Collaborations:

1. Marriott Bonvoy partners with over 40 airlines, including Delta, Emirates, and British Airways. You can transfer points to airline miles at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points transferred.

2. Hilton Honors allows direct earning of miles through programs like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or HawaiianMiles. While Hilton removed its "double dip" option, you can still convert points to miles with select partners.

3. IHG One Rewards offers the option to earn miles directly instead of IHG points. You must change your earning preference in your account settings to start earning airline miles.

4. World of Hyatt has partnerships with airlines like American Airlines and Southwest. Hyatt points can be converted to airline miles, generally at a 2.5:1 ratio.

How It Works:

When booking a hotel, you typically choose whether to earn hotel points or airline miles. This setting is usually found in your loyalty account preferences. If you opt for airline miles, your stay will credit miles instead of the hotel’s points—though sometimes at a lesser value.

Tip: Always check the earning chart. Some programs offer a fixed mile amount per stay (e.g., 500 miles), while others offer per-dollar earning.

Airport Hotels as Ideal Partners:

Airport hotels are often part of large chains—such as Hilton (Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn), Marriott (Courtyard, Fairfield), and IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza)—which means they qualify for these partnerships. If you’re staying at an independently-owned airport hotel or booking through a third-party site like Expedia, you may not qualify for mileage earnings.

In short, understanding how these partnerships work and aligning your travel strategy accordingly can be a key step in turning every hotel night into a future flight. This synergy between hotel and airline programs can yield substantial rewards if leveraged properly.

Booking Strategies to Earn the Most Miles 

Booking the right way is essential if you want to earn airline miles from airport hotel stays. Not all reservations qualify, and a small mistake can cost you hundreds or even thousands of potential miles.

1. Book Direct with the Hotel:

Booking directly through the hotel’s official website or mobile app is the most reliable way to ensure eligibility for loyalty rewards. Third-party bookings—like those made through OTAs (Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com)—usually do not qualify for airline miles or hotel points.

2. Select “Earn Miles” Instead of Points:

Most hotel programs require you to set your earnings preference. You need to log into your loyalty account and select the airline miles option instead of the default hotel points. For instance, in Hilton Honors, you must manually select the airline of your choice to earn miles with them.

3. Use Hotel Promotions:

Some hotels run limited-time promotions offering bonus airline miles for specific bookings. Marriott, for example, occasionally offers double miles promotions when you book using a specific airline’s promotional link.

4. Pay with a Co-Branded Credit Card:

Using a hotel or airline-branded credit card can help you earn double or even triple points, which can be converted to miles. For instance:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card offers up to 6x points at Marriott properties.

• The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card provides bonus points at Hilton hotels, which you can later convert into miles.

5. Book Special Rates or Business Packages:

Many airport hotels cater to corporate travelers and offer packages with additional perks, including bonus miles. Some include airline lounge access, which might also tie into elite status earning or bonus points.

Avoid Pitfalls:

• Canceling a reservation too close to check-in may forfeit your miles.

• Splitting a long stay into multiple bookings often does not multiply your rewards unless explicitly stated.

• Booking through discount or opaque rate platforms may disqualify you from earning.

By strategically planning how you book airport hotels, you ensure that each transaction adds value to your airline rewards journey. A mindful approach can unlock a steady stream of miles without changing your travel plans.

Top Airline Programs That Reward Hotel Stays 

Several frequent flyer programs offer direct rewards when you stay at specific hotel chains—often in partnership or through booking portals. These partnerships are especially useful when staying at airport hotels, as many of them are managed by international hotel groups.

Here are some top airline mileage programs that reward hotel stays:

1. American AAdvantage:

You can earn AAdvantage miles through hotel bookings via:

• AAdvantage Hotel Portal (powered by Booking.com)

• Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt partnerships

• Rocketmiles and Kaligo (mileage-earning hotel booking platforms)

Typical earnings: 1–10 miles per $1 spent or flat 500 miles per stay.

2. Delta SkyMiles:

Delta partners with Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards, and IHG. Booking through the Delta Hotels portal or transferring hotel points from Marriott and Hilton yields SkyMiles.

Delta’s tie-up with Rocketmiles allows you to earn thousands of miles per night.

3. United MileagePlus:

United MileagePlus has a strong partnership with Marriott and IHG. Through the MileagePlus Hotel Booking site, you can earn miles with thousands of hotels globally, including airport locations.

United also partners with Rocketmiles and offers elite members bonus accruals.

4. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan:

Alaska partners with multiple hotel chains. You can earn:

• 1 mile per dollar spent on select bookings

• Bonus miles through Rocketmiles

• Miles from World of Hyatt stays

Alaska’s partners include boutique and airport hotels around major U.S. hubs.

5. British Airways Executive Club:

British Airways works closely with IHG, Marriott, and Rocketmiles. Executive Club members can earn Avios for each eligible hotel booking or transfer hotel points.

Tip: Always link your airline membership number during booking or at check-in to ensure miles are credited.

These airline programs are designed to integrate hotel spending into your mileage-earning ecosystem. As airport hotels are typically high-volume venues for business travelers, they’re prime opportunities to collect significant miles—even from short stays.

Tips for Maximizing Airline Miles from Hotel Loyalty Programs 

If your goal is to maximize the airline miles earned from airport hotel stays, a few targeted strategies can boost your returns significantly.

1. Stack Rewards Whenever Possible:

You can often stack loyalty benefits. For example, book a Hilton hotel using your Hilton credit card, set your profile to earn airline miles, and use a promotion from the airline to triple the value of one stay.

Example:

• Stay at a Hilton airport hotel

• Use your Hilton Surpass Amex

• Activate a Delta promo offering 1,000 bonus miles

End result: You earn Hilton points, bonus Delta miles, and credit card rewards.

2. Track Your Transfers & Bonuses:

Keep track of your transfers, especially when converting hotel points to airline miles. Some transfers take up to 10 days and might include minimum thresholds. For Marriott, you must transfer at least 3,000 points.

Tip: Set calendar reminders for bonus promotions and track transfer timelines to avoid expired or uncredited miles.

3. Check for Elite Tier Benefits:

Higher hotel or airline status often leads to enhanced earnings. For instance, Marriott Titanium Elite members receive more points per stay, which then convert to more airline miles.

Similarly, United and Marriott’s RewardsPlus program allows elite United members to match elite Marriott status, doubling rewards.

4. Use Portals Like Rocketmiles & Kaligo:

These specialized platforms offer hotel bookings with guaranteed airline miles, sometimes 1,000–10,000 miles per night. Many airport hotels are listed, and rates are competitive with hotel sites.

Note: These bookings usually don’t earn hotel points, but they do offer higher miles.

5. Consolidate Around One Airline and Hotel Brand:

Pick one airline and one hotel chain that work well together (e.g., Delta and Marriott). Focus your stays, promotions, and spending there to accumulate faster and reach elite status in both.

Every traveler has unique needs, but if earning miles is your goal, smart consolidation and strategic booking will significantly accelerate your progress.

Conclusion: Make Every Airport Hotel Stay Count Toward Your Next Flight

Airport hotel stays are often seen as a necessity—used for convenience during long layovers or early departures—but they can also be a powerful tool for frequent travelers looking to maximize rewards. If you're not taking advantage of the ability to earn airline miles from these stays, you're leaving value on the table. Every eligible booking presents an opportunity to accumulate miles that get you closer to your next free flight or airline upgrade.

The key is knowing how and where to earn those miles. With hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, and Accor offering structured airline partnerships, there's a wide network of opportunities available. Marriott Bonvoy, for instance, allows direct point transfers to more than 40 airline programs, while Hyatt's partnership with American Airlines provides reciprocal elite benefits. These aren’t promotional gimmicks—they're long-standing programs designed to reward loyalty across travel ecosystems.

Equally important is the booking process. Only qualifying direct bookings with valid loyalty numbers are eligible for airline mileage credits. That means steering clear of third-party travel sites and ensuring your loyalty preferences are set correctly. Many travelers also overlook the benefits of pairing loyalty programs with travel credit cards that offer accelerated rewards and status benefits, making each stay even more lucrative.

Promotions and mileage multipliers further increase the value of your stays. Keeping tabs on both hotel and airline program updates can lead to double or even triple miles during certain booking periods. And if you’re unsure whether to collect points or miles, remember that some programs let you do both—offering flexibility depending on your travel goals.

In the world of points and miles, airport hotels are a hidden gem. With the right strategy, each night you spend near a runway can help lift you to your next destination—for free.