One Key Card review: Expedia rewards for no annual fee
Editor's Note
One Key Card overview
The One Key™ Card (see rates and fees)is a no-annual-fee offering that comes with decent earnings rates and some unique benefits within Expedia's OneKey travel rewards program. If you use Expedia and its affiliated services frequently, the card could make sense for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
One Key is a loyalty program from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. It's free to join and allows travelers to earn rewards for their purchases across all three travel apps, the first rewards program of its kind.
The One Key Card is a pared-down version of the $99-annual-fee One Key+™ Card (see rates and fees). However, given its earnings rates, it could still be a fit for some potential cardholders.
It has no annual fee, and we recommend a credit score of 670 to increase your chances of approval. Here's what else you need to know.
One Key Card pros and cons
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One Key Card welcome offer
With the One Key Card, new cardholders can earn $250 in OneKeyCash™ after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
It's important to note that OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Still, this welcome offer provides decent value for those who use these platforms often and it's relatively easy to earn for many travelers.
Related: The best credit card welcome offers
One Key Card benefits
The One Key Card is relatively short on benefits, but you will get automatic Silver tier status in the One Key rewards program, which includes savings of 15% or more on over 10,000 hotels worldwide. You'll unlock Gold status after spending $15,000 or more per calendar year.
For frequent travelers, the card offers a few travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, an auto rental collision damage waiver and travel accident insurance.
The card also provides cellular telephone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the One Key Card. Cardholders get up to $1,000 in protection against damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible (limit of two paid claims per 12-month period).
Just like most other travel credit cards, the One Key Card has no foreign transaction fees.
Again, the One Key+ Card will win out on the benefits front for most users, but this card can make sense if you want to avoid paying an annual fee.
Earning rewards with the One Key Card
With the One Key Card, you'll get:
- 3% back in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo
- 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, dining and food delivery
- 1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases
Those are solid earnings rates with some nice bonus categories, but it's worth noting that you won't be able to use your rewards outside of Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo redemptions.
Related: Best travel cards of 2025
Redeeming rewards with the One Key Card
Once again, OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used at Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
If you often book travel through one of those sites, this card can make sense for you. Otherwise, though, you'll get more value from a different travel rewards credit card.
Which cards compete with the One Key Card?
If you want additional travel perks or more flexible rewards, you may want to choose one of these cards instead.
- If you want more perks: The One Key+ Card comes with a $99 annual fee but has higher earnings rates and additional benefits that more than make up for the difference in annual fees. To learn more, check out our full review of the One Key+.
- If you want more Marriott Bonvoy benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees) comes with perks like automatic Bonvoy Silver Elite status and five elite night credits per year, plus an earning rate of 3 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels — all for no annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold.
- If you stay at Hilton properties more often: The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and allows cardholders to earn Hilton Honors points and enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex.
For additional options, see our list of the best hotel credit cards.
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Is the One Key Card worth it?
Most travelers will want more flexible rewards than OneKeyCash, which can only be redeemed with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. But if you don't mind that aspect of the One Key Card, it's a solid no-annual-fee offering that will rack up rewards relatively easily.
Bottom line
If you want a card that earns rewards with Expedia, Hotels.com and or Vrbo and has an easy-to-earn welcome offer to boot, you just found it.
It's not the most valuable travel card out there, but the One Key Card will make sense for consumers who want to make use of those platforms without having to worry about paying an annual fee.
Apply here: One Key Card
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex, click here.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees