A new survey conducted by Wyndham Rewards reveals Americans do not feel qualified to properly take advantage of travel loyalty programs. The survey showed that 77 percent admit significant advantages can be had from participating in loyalty programs, but 32 percent do not feel they have the skills to really benefit from such programs, while 64 percent would greatly prefer their loyalty program memberships be professionally managed. These 64 percent even said they would agree to certain extreme lengths to have their loyalty program memberships professionally managed, including sitting in the middle seat on every flight for a year, downgrading to a flip phone for six months, giving up social media for six months or living with their in-laws for a year.

The survey also addressed 2016 travel budgets, finding 83 percent will use a quarter of their discretionary income for travel, with 40 percent using half or more of their discretionary income for travel. However, these same travelers are also looking for ways to make their travel more cost-effective. Of those surveyed, 54 percent plan to visit a new domestic destination, 39 percent plan to use their travel to visit distant family or friends and 26 percent plan to take a cross-country road trip. Women especially are looking to spend less in the coming year, with 40 percent describing themselves as “very cost-conscious” and 35 percent planning to spend less than they did in 2015, compared to male respondents, out of whom only 24 percent are “very cost-conscious” and only 19 percent plan to spend less in 2016.