See Your Fellow TPG Readers' Preferences on Airlines, Hotels and More

It's been almost a year since we released the TPG To Go app, and I'm really happy with all the positive feedback I've received from readers. The goal of the app is not only to help you stay organized and maximize your spending, but also to give you insights into your favorite loyalty programs and how you earn (and redeem) rewards more generally.

The app has given us some insights as well, thanks to all the input we've received. The team at Wallaby — the folks who produce both the TPG To Go app and the TPG Maximizer — just compiled some interesting statistics for us based on user surveys and preferences from July, 2015. I thought it would be fun to share them with you so you can get a better sense of where your fellow readers are coming from.

The charts below report which airlines and hotels are favored by TPG To Go users, along with their home airports and self-assessed credit ratings. Check out the data below and see what resonates with you.

Top 5 Airlines

As you might expect, the three legacy carriers were tops among TPG readers, with American Airlines showing a substantial edge over both Delta and United. I found it intriguing that Southwest scored well behind those three airlines despite carrying roughly the same passenger volume. None of the other domestic carriers scored above 3.3%, while over 27% of readers indicated that they don't have a preferred airline.

Top 5 Airports

I wasn't surpised to see that San Francisco is popular among those using the app. Along with Oakland and San Jose, the Bay Area totaled just over 9.5% of users. While JFK is 5th on the list at 5.4%, Newark and LaGuardia also showed up in 8th and 15th, respectively, giving the greater New York area a total of 11.6%.

While these numbers don't precisely reflect the distribution of TPG readers, none of these results are too surprising. Not only are the top airports found in major population centers, but we know from emails and social media that there are plenty of TPG fans in these cities. On that note, I'm reminding myself that it's about time for another TPG Reader Event, so we can continue to spread the award travel gospel!

Top 5 Hotels

Unlike the airlines, the numbers here weren't what I would have expected. To start with, a much larger group (over 43%) replied that they don't have a preferred hotel chain. Among those who do play favorites, Starwood managed to top the list even though Hilton, Marriott and IHG each have 3-4 times as many properties worldwide. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Starwood Preferred Guest, and I get a lot out of the program. I'd like to think that these results reflect the savviness of TPG To Go users in recognizing great value when they see it.

Credit Scores

Of all the data we got from Wallaby, it was one of the numbers in this chart that excited me the most. No, it's not that seven out of eight users have a credit score that qualifies as good or excellent (though that's pretty awesome too). The good news to me is that only 2.3% of users said they didn't know their own score. I talk a lot about the best credit card sign-up bonuses and how to maximize your rewards, but I also preach the importance of knowing and protecting your credit score, and I'm glad to see that readers and app users are paying attention!

So there you have it. I'm glad so many of you are using the app and Maximizer, and that they've been helpful to you. If you have questions, check out this post on Using the TPG To Go App and TPG Maximizer to Boost Rewards. If anything jumps out at you in the charts above, please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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