International travellers lag behind when using points, research finds

It drops significantly outside of the US

Nearly two-thirds of travellers use points to pay for some or all of their trips, and that behaviour is consistent regardless of age or gender, a new study has found. 

But the likelihood of using travel rewards drops significantly outside the US, according to the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey. 

Overall, 63% of respondents said they use points for travel, with usage rates nearly identical among men (65%) and women (61%). 

Age made little difference, with 62% of travelers under 35, 66% of those aged 35–54 and 63% of travelers 55 and older reporting they use points. 

“Whether you're young or old, male or female, point-based travel has become a core strategy for managing travel expenses,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. 

“But we see a sharp divide between US and non-US travellers.” 

US travellers are 35% more likely to use points than their non-US counterparts (67% vs. 50%). 

Meanwhile, 41% of non-US respondents said they do not use points for travel - a rate nearly 46% higher than among Americans (41% vs 28%). 

The disparity may reflect differences in access to loyalty programmes, rewards systems, or the popularity of travel credit cards between countries.