U.S. KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program Terms & Conditions

NOTICE: The KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program is ending. See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

How Do I Join the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program?

• For eligible members, joining the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program is easy. Simply download the KAYAK mobile app and create or sign in to your account. Navigate to the Profile menu, tap the KAYAK Explorer sign-up button, and follow the prompts to join the program.
• The KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program may not be available in all jurisdictions, and if it is not available in your jurisdiction, you will not be presented with the opportunity to join.

How Do I Collect Explorer Points?

• Only eligible, registered KAYAK account holders can participate in the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program and collect Explorer Points. To collect Explorer Points, an eligible member must first sign into their KAYAK account and book a travel product or service via Book with KAYAK on a KAYAK website, mobile site or app (each, an “KAYAK Site” and collectively, the “KAYAK Sites”) or conduct any of the other activities that KAYAK may make available to collect Explorer Points from time-to-time. You will collect the number of Explorer Points, if any, indicated when you made the booking on the KAYAK Site after the travel product or services has been used and paid for by you (for example, you will collect the Explorer Points after you have completed your stay at the hotel). If a booking is eligible for Explorer Points, KAYAK will disclose the number of Explorer Points associated with that reservation through means such as displaying the number of Explorer Points on the reservation detail and confirmation pages or the reservation confirmation email.
• All Explorer Points are considered “processing” until they are “verified.”
• Explorer Points are considered “verified” and will be added to your account once you’ve consumed an eligible booking (after you’ve paid for and completed your full stay at the hotel) that is verified by the booking provider (which could take approximately 6-8 weeks).
• If you need to modify a booking, the change should be made online through a KAYAK Site, in order for any applicable Explorer Points to be collected for the modified booking. Explorer Points are subject to recalculation, at KAYAK’s sole discretion, for any and all modified bookings.
• You will not receive Explorer Points if you cancel your booking or do not pay for the products or services related to your booking for any reason.
• Opportunities to collect Explorer Points, and the amount of Explorer Points collectable for any particular booking or other activity, may change from time to time at KAYAK’s sole discretion.

Do My Explorer Points Expire?

• After you consume a booking, any Explorer Points earned for that booking will be verified by the booking provider and credited to your KAYAK account as verified Explorer Points.
• If your KAYAK account meets the minimum threshold of 10,000 verified Explorer Points, you may redeem those verified Explorer Points within one (1) year of the date that the Explorer Points were earned (usually, the check-out date for your most recent booking).
• If you have not met the minimum 10,000 verified Explorer Point threshold, or you fail to redeem your 10,000+ verified Explorer Points during the year-long redemption window, your Explorer Points will expire within one (1) year of your last points-related activity – booking or completing a stay, for example. (The booking date for a canceled booking will still count for purposes of calculating the date of your last points-related activity.)
• Regardless of the frequency of points-related activity, all verified Explorer Points will expire within three (3) years if, within that time, you do not:

  • collect enough points to meet the minimum threshold of 10,000 verified Explorer Points; and/or
  • redeem your 10,000+ verified Explorer Points for a reward
• As a courtesy to our existing clients, verified Explorer Points earned before Aug 1, 2022 will expire at the earliest on Aug 1, 2023 regardless of the date of your last point-related activity pre-Aug 1, 2022.

When Are My Explorer Points Eligible for Redemption?

• Your Explorer Points will be eligible for redemption once they are verified by the booking provider and you’ve reached the minimum threshold for redemption of 10,000 verified Explorer Points.

How Do I Redeem Explorer Points?

• Redemption options and methods may change from time to time at KAYAK’s sole discretion.
• To redeem your Explorer Points, please log into your KAYAK account on the KAYAK Site and follow the redemption instructions.
• All redemptions are final.
• The number of Explorer Points required to be redeemed for different rewards may vary and will be determined at KAYAK’s sole discretion.
• You must have a minimum of 10,000 verified Explorer Points in your KAYAK account in order to redeem a reward.
• Redemption for electronic prepaid debit cards is limited to the first 100,000 Explorer Points redeemed during a single calendar year.
• Once Explorer Points are verified and eligible for redemption, KAYAK will send an email (and push notification, if opted in). The email will include a link to the Explorer Points redemption page featuring the available rewards. Redemption for electronic gift cards or electronic prepaid debit cards may redirect participants to the applicable partner’s site. If so you agree to be bound by applicable partner’s terms and conditions and privacy policy. All electronic gift cards are applicable issuing partner’s terms and conditions. All electronic debit cards are subject to the applicable issuing bank’s terms and conditions. At KAYAK’s sole discretion, perks, such as special dining and travel discounts, may be made available from time-to-time as part of the perks and rewards. If special dining and travel discounts are available for redemption, you agree to be bound by applicable participating partner’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.

How Much are Explorer Points Worth?

• A variety of redemption options are available with different exchange values. For example, 10,000 verified Explorer Points may be redeemed for a $10 electronic gift card. Other redemption options, like special discounts on dining and travel, may be available from time-to-time with different values (which vary based on incentives that are being offered by the travel and dining partners) so you can make the most of your Explorer Points. Explorer Points have no independent cash value, are not redeemable or refundable for cash (except where required by state law), and may not be sold or transferred in exchange for cash. All determinations of the exchange rate of Explorer Points and the corresponding redemption value of perks and rewards shall be made by KAYAK in its sole discretion and are subject to change.

Additional Terms

• KAYAK reserves the right to terminate the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program, or to change the terms, regulations or benefits of participation of such program, in whole or in part, at any time with or without notice, even though changes may affect the number or value of Explorer Points already collected or the availability or value of redemption options. KAYAK may also modify the number of Explorer Points required for redemption or withdraw, limit, change, or cancel the number, value or type of rewards or redemption options offered. KAYAK will make the final determination (in its sole and absolute discretion) should any disputes over Explorer Points or redemption options arise.
• All redemptions of Explorer Points, electronic gift cards, electronic prepaid debit cards, and special dining and travel discounts are final.
• Except to the extent required by applicable law, electronic gift cards, electronic prepaid debit cards, and special dining and travel discounts are not redeemable for cash.
• Resales or transfers of Explorer Points, electronic gift cards, electronic prepaid debit cards, and special dining and travel discounts are prohibited.
• Explorer Points, electronic gift cards, electronic prepaid debit cards, and special dining and travel discounts are non-returnable and non-refundable.
• KAYAK is not responsible for any Explorer Points, electronic gift cards, electronic prepaid debit cards, and special dining and travel discounts used without your permission or lost, stolen or destroyed.
• KAYAK reserves the right to terminate a KAYAK Explorer Points Program and cancel any or all collected Explorer Points if KAYAK believes, in its sole discretion, that the account holder is abusing the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program or is misrepresenting any information furnished to KAYAK.
• Should KAYAK offer rewards from or through any partners, KAYAK will not be responsible for any partner's participation in or withdrawal from the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program.
• Explorer Points collected in two or more different KAYAK accounts cannot be combined for redemption.
• Membership in KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program is void if prohibited by law in the state of the Member’s residence, and subject to change as may be necessary for compliance with such laws or regulations.
• Members are solely responsible for any tax liability related to participation in the KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program.
• These KAYAK Explorer Rewards Program Terms are a part of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and both are incorporated by reference herein.

If you need further information, please visit our FAQs.

Last updated: November 1, 2022