Travel website Orbitz has launched a new loyalty program that rewards flight and hotel purchases with credit toward future pre-paid hotel bookings.
The credits, called Orbucks (of course) translate to U.S. dollars, one to one. Users earn Orbucks when they book travel on the site: 1 percent back on flight purchases, 3 percent on pre-paid hotel reservations, and 5 percent for hotel purchases made from Orbitz's mobile apps, including the Orbitz iPhone app, Android app, and iPad app.
The Orbucks are not subject to blackout dates or discount-bundling restrictions (i.e., coupon stacking), and are redeemable from the moment you earn them to one year after. Redeeming Orbucks only works for hotel reservations, though, not flights or car rentals.
The program comes with a few other perks, as well. For example, a refer-a-friend incentive gives you and the new member 25 Orbucks when the friend books travel. Another perk is that for a limited time, mobile app users can upload a photo of their checked bag fee receipt and get reimbursed in Orbucks for their first checked bag for a flight booked through Orbtiz (through Nov. 30). Members who book through Orbitz often enough can level up to "Star" (four nights' hotel booking in a single calendar year) or "SuperStar" (after 12 nights' bookings) status to get special concierge services, event booking assistance, and other travel rewards.
Orbucks are awarded and redeemed at the time of booking rather than at the time of travel, meaning if your Orbucks are due to expire soon, you can use them now to book a trip that's months away.
The program has been running quietly in a closed beta since March of this year. For additional details about the program, see Orbitz's Rewards page.