Which Loyalty Programs Have the Best Experience Auctions?
Most people think of miles and points as flight or hotel currency. Fair enough, that's what they're designed for. But a handful of programs also run auction platforms where you can bid on experiences: concert packages, VIP sporting events, cooking classes, resort getaways.
The catch? They're not all equally good. (New to all this? Start with how point auctions actually work, then come back.) Here's where I'd actually spend time browsing, ranked by how much you'll actually find to bid on.
Marriott Bonvoy Moments
If you want the deepest catalog, this is it. We track every program's closed auctions, and Marriott clears more lots than every other program combined, by a wide margin. The range is enormous: FIFA World Cup packages, NFL and NBA Moments, Formula 1, concerts, dining, and resort stays across the Bonvoy portfolio. You can see the full breakdown in our closed-auction data by program, where Marriott sits at the top by sheer volume.
If you're only going to watch one program's auctions, the simple math says watch this one. There is almost always something live.
United MileagePlus Exclusives
United's platform (powered by Vonality) is where the headline lots show up: full-motion flight-simulator sessions, the occasional Super Bowl package, backstage Broadway access, golf outings with PGA pros. The lot types are genuinely distinctive. The catalog itself is the smallest of the major programs, though, and runs thin between drops, so it's worth a regular check rather than your only stop. Bidding can get competitive when a trophy lot lands, which means winning prices sometimes run up.
Delta SkyMiles Experiences
Delta runs on the iSynApp platform and leans curated rather than sprawling. You won't get lost in the catalog, and the listings that do show up tend to be solid. Its sweet spots are music, sports, and dining: VIP festival packages, marquee game tickets, and exclusive restaurant events all show up regularly. One recurring standout is the Sphere Las Vegas Sky360 Club package.
A curated calendar can work in your favor on the quieter lots, where less competition sometimes means more reasonable winning bids. Just know that Delta also runs some of the most contested auctions we track, so the marquee lots are anything but quiet.
Hilton Honors Experiences
Hilton leans into what it knows: hospitality. Expect resort packages, spa retreats, and culinary experiences at its properties. But the catalog also carries plenty of arts, culture, sports, and entertainment lots, including big-ticket event packages like the McLaren F1 paddock experience, so it's not all "really nice trip you wouldn't have booked otherwise" redemptions.
If you're sitting on a pile of Hilton points and aren't excited about another standard night redemption, the auction page is worth a look.
Don't sleep on Buy It Now listings
Not everything goes through an auction. Several programs offer fixed-price "Buy It Now" experiences where you pay a set number of points and you're in. No bidding war, no waiting for a close date.
These tend to move fast, especially the ones priced reasonably. Checking PointAuctions.com regularly (or just browsing the live auctions and Buy It Now listings) is the best way to catch them.
The bottom line
The best program for auctions is whichever one you already have points in. But if you're collecting across several programs and want the most to actually bid on, the honest ranking by volume is Marriott first (it dwarfs everyone), then Delta and Hilton in the middle, with United the leaner trophy-lot play. Catalog depth shifts month to month, so check what's live rather than trusting a fixed order.
Before you bid, it's worth learning to check an auction's cents-per-point so you know what a fair price looks like. Then start by browsing categories you care about on PointAuctions.com, you might find something you didn't know existed. You can see what's live right now on the auctions page, or what past lots actually cleared at in the closed-auction archive.