According to a ValuePenguin survey of more than 2,000 consumers, 41 percent of Americans are members of a travel-related rewards program, which means more than half of consumers are missing out on opportunities to earn rewards, with 59 percent of Americans not taking advantage of any such programs.

The survey also looked at who is most likely to sign up:

• Men, at 45 percent, to 37 percent of women
• Business travelers, at 78 percent, versus pleasure travelers at 63 percent
• Gen Z has an overall higher participation in loyalty programs in general, but Boomers are more likely to belong to an airline, hotel or rental car loyalty program than other generations
• Two-thirds of consumers with six-figure household incomes are members of a travel loyalty program

When it comes to brand loyalty, airlines lead the way as one in four Americans say they have a preferred airline. Southwest was No. 1, at 26 percent. About one-quarter of respondents are members of a hotel or resort loyalty program, with 7 percent loyal to a cruise line and 6 percent to a rental car company. And three out of four consumers say the pandemic did not impact their loyalty to their favorite travel brands either way.

Forty percent of travel loyalty program members pay for at least one of their programs, through annual fees on a travel credit card or co-branded airline or hotel card. Almost 20 percent say they’ve paid for frequent-flyer miles as well.

Overall, the majority, at 82 percent, believe loyalty programs are worth it. Click here to check out the full results of the ValuePenguin survey.