Best Travel Rewards Programs for Nurses Who Move Often

You Are Already Traveling. You Might as Well Get Rewarded.

Travel nurses relocate every 13 weeks. You fly between assignments, stay in hotels during transitions, rent cars, eat out during orientation weeks, and spend money on gas, groceries, and supplies in new cities. All of that spending is happening whether you earn rewards on it or not.

The nurses who pay attention to travel rewards programs end up with free flights home to visit family, complimentary hotel nights during assignment scouting trips, and upgrades that make constant travel significantly more comfortable. The nurses who ignore rewards leave thousands of dollars in value on the table every year.

This guide breaks down the best airline, hotel, and flexible points programs for travel nurses, along with strategies to maximize your earnings and avoid common mistakes.

This is educational content, not financial advice. Always evaluate rewards programs based on your personal travel patterns and spending habits.

Understanding Points and Miles: A Quick Primer

Before diving into specific programs, you need to understand how rewards currencies work.

Points vs. miles. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they can work differently depending on the program. Airline programs typically use “miles,” hotel programs use “points,” and credit card programs use either term. What matters is the value you get when you redeem them.

Cents per point (CPP). This is how you measure the value of your rewards. If you redeem 25,000 points for a $375 flight, you are getting 1.5 cents per point (375 divided by 25,000). Generally, 1 cent per point is a baseline, and anything above 1.5 cents per point is a strong redemption.

Fixed-value vs. variable-value points. Cash back and some travel credits give you a fixed value (typically 1 to 2 cents per point). Transfer partner programs let you move points to airlines and hotels where the value can range from less than 1 cent to 5 or more cents per point, depending on how you book.

Transferable points are king. Programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles let you transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners. This flexibility is incredibly valuable because you are not locked into one airline or one hotel chain.

Best Airline Rewards Programs for Travel Nurses

Delta SkyMiles

Delta operates one of the largest domestic route networks, with major hubs in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York. For travel nurses who fly frequently between assignments, Delta’s extensive coverage means you can likely find direct flights to most major hospital markets.

Earning status. Delta awards Medallion status based on Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) spent on Delta flights. Silver Medallion starts at $6,000 MQDs, Gold at $12,000, and Platinum at $18,000. Travel nurses who fly between assignments regularly can hit Silver or Gold status within a year.

Best perks. Free checked bags, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades to first class when available, and waived same-day flight change fees. For nurses whose schedules shift frequently, the flexibility perks are especially valuable.

Earning through credit cards. The Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express accelerate your earning rate and can help you reach status faster with Medallion Qualifying Dollar boosts.

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest is the best airline program for travel nurses who prioritize flexibility and value over luxury. No change fees, no cancellation fees, and bags fly free. For nurses whose start dates shift or who need to rebook last-minute, this alone can save hundreds of dollars per year.

The Companion Pass. This is Southwest’s most valuable perk. Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year and a designated companion flies with you for free (plus taxes) for the rest of that year and all of the next year. If your partner or a friend visits you at assignments, the Companion Pass is a game-changer.

Earning points. Southwest credit cards offer large sign-up bonuses that can get you a significant portion of the way to a Companion Pass. Pair that with everyday spending on the card and you can earn the pass within one to two years.

Best for: Nurses who fly domestically between assignments, value flexibility, and travel with a companion.

Budget Airline Options

Frontier and Spirit offer ultra-low fares that can make sense for short flights between assignments, especially if you travel light. Their rewards programs are less robust, but the upfront savings on fares can be significant. Just factor in baggage fees and seat selection charges when comparing total costs.

Best Hotel Rewards Programs for Travel Nurses

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott operates the largest hotel portfolio in the world, with over 30 brands ranging from budget-friendly (Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites) to luxury (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis). For travel nurses, the breadth of properties near hospitals across the country is a major advantage.

Extended stay properties. Marriott’s Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites brands cater to extended-stay guests with in-room kitchens and more space than a standard hotel room. These are popular with travel nurses during assignment transitions or short-term stays while setting up longer-term housing.

Earning status. Bonvoy status is based on nights stayed. Silver Elite at 10 nights, Gold at 25, and Platinum at 50. If you use Marriott properties during transitions between assignments, status builds up faster than you might expect. Certain Marriott credit cards also grant automatic Gold or Platinum status.

Free Night Awards. Marriott credit cards offer annual free night certificates, typically valid at properties up to 35,000 or 50,000 points per night. These are perfect for scouting trips to potential assignment locations or vacation stays.

Best for: Nurses who want maximum hotel coverage across the country and value extended-stay options.

IHG One Rewards

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) operates brands including Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites. Candlewood and Staybridge are purpose-built extended-stay hotels, making them natural fits for travel nurses.

Points earning. IHG points are worth less per point than Marriott, but they are easier to earn and the program is less complicated. The IHG Premier credit card offers a strong earning rate and an annual free night certificate.

Extended stay advantages. If you frequently use Candlewood or Staybridge properties between assignments, concentrating your stays with IHG lets you accumulate points and status quickly.

Best for: Nurses who prefer extended-stay properties and want a simpler loyalty program.

Hilton Honors

Hilton offers a solid middle ground with properties ranging from Hampton Inn to Waldorf Astoria. The program is generous with promotions and status matches, and Hilton often runs bonus point offers that can accelerate your earnings.

Home2 Suites and Homewood Suites are Hilton’s extended-stay brands, both offering in-room kitchens and are commonly found near hospital systems.

Credit card perks. The Hilton Honors American Express cards offer high earning rates (up to 12x points at Hilton properties) and automatic Gold or Diamond status depending on the card tier.

Best Flexible Points Programs

These programs give you the most versatility because you can transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is the most popular flexible points currency for good reason. Transfer partners include United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, and several international airlines. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are the primary earning cards.

Why it works for travel nurses: Points transfer 1:1 to Southwest (great for domestic flights between assignments), Hyatt (excellent value per point for hotel stays), and United (broad domestic and international coverage). You can also redeem points at 1.25 to 1.5 cents each through the Chase travel portal.

Amex Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards offers premium transfer partners including Delta, JetBlue, Hilton, and Marriott. The Amex Gold and Amex Platinum cards are the flagship earning cards. The Platinum card also includes airport lounge access through Centurion Lounges.

Why it works for travel nurses: Strong airline and hotel transfer partnerships, excellent dining rewards (4x on restaurants with the Gold card), and lounge access that makes airport layovers between assignments much more comfortable.

Capital One Miles

Capital One has been rapidly expanding its transfer partner list, and its simplicity is appealing. The Venture X card offers 2x miles on all purchases and includes airport lounge access through Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass.

Why it works for travel nurses: Flat 2x earning on everything means you do not need to think about bonus categories. Transfer partners include major domestic and international airlines. The straightforward structure suits nurses who want rewards without complexity.

Strategies to Maximize Rewards as a Travel Nurse

Earning Strategies

Use the right card for every purchase category. Put dining on your highest dining-bonus card, groceries on your grocery-bonus card, and travel on your travel card. The difference between 1x and 4x earning adds up to thousands of extra points per year. See our best credit cards for travel nurses for specific card recommendations.

Stack credit card rewards with shopping portals and cashback apps. Use airline or hotel shopping portals for online purchases to earn bonus miles on top of your credit card rewards. Apps like Rakuten add another layer of cash back. Check our cashback apps guide for more stacking strategies.

Earn hotel points during transitions. When you stay in hotels between assignments or during orientation weeks, make sure you are earning loyalty points. Book directly with the hotel (not through third-party sites) to earn full points and get elite status credit.

Refer colleagues for referral bonuses. Most travel credit cards offer referral bonuses of 10,000 to 25,000 points when friends sign up through your link. Travel nurses are surrounded by other travel nurses. A few referrals per year can be worth hundreds of dollars in rewards.

Redemption Strategies

Book award flights during contract gaps. Use your miles for vacation flights between assignments. This is when your points are most valuable because you are turning what would be an out-of-pocket expense into a free trip.

Use hotel points for assignment scouting trips. Before committing to a new assignment location, use hotel points for a short visit to check out the area, hospital, and housing options. This turns your rewards into a practical career tool.

Transfer points strategically. Some programs offer periodic transfer bonuses (for example, 30 percent bonus when transferring Amex points to Delta). Wait for these promotions when possible to stretch your points further.

Avoid poor redemptions. Never use points for merchandise, gift cards, or statement credits if you can help it. The value per point on these redemptions is typically 0.5 to 0.7 cents, far below what you can get booking travel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Spreading spend across too many programs. Concentrate your loyalty with one airline and one hotel chain to build status and accumulate meaningful balances faster. Splitting your spend across five programs means you have small balances everywhere and status nowhere.

Letting points expire. Some programs expire points after periods of inactivity (typically 18 to 24 months). Set a calendar reminder to earn or redeem at least a small number of points in each program to keep your accounts active.

Booking through third-party sites. Sites like Expedia and Booking.com often prevent you from earning loyalty points or getting elite status credit. Always book directly with the airline or hotel.

Paying annual fees for cards that do not match your spending. If you are paying $95 per year for a hotel card but never stay at that chain, you are losing money. Annually review your cards and downgrade or cancel any that do not deliver value exceeding their fees.

Key Takeaways

Pick one airline and one hotel program to concentrate your loyalty, and build status and points strategically
Flexible points currencies (Chase, Amex, Capital One) give you the most options and should be the foundation of your rewards strategy
Stack rewards by using the right credit card for each purchase category, plus shopping portals and cashback apps
Redeem points for travel, which is where they deliver the highest value per point
Reassess your strategy annually as your assignments and travel patterns change

You are already spending the money. Make sure you are getting rewarded for it.

Affiliate Placement Notes

Credit card affiliate links (Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold/Platinum, Capital One Venture) in flexible points section
Airline credit card affiliate links (Delta, Southwest) in airline section
Hotel credit card affiliate links (Marriott, IHG, Hilton) in hotel section
Cashback app referral links in earning strategies section