Wyndham Hotels Group has recently quietly launched a points conversion portal on its official website for exchanging Wyndham Reward Points for Eastern Airlines miles. The conversion offers three tiers: 6,000, 16,000, and 30,000 Wyndham Reward Points can be exchanged for 1,200, 3,200, and 6,000 Eastern Airlines miles, respectively. This is the third mileage conversion program launched by a mainland Chinese airline, following Air China’s PhoenixMiles and Hainan Airlines’ Golden Eagle Club miles. As one of the three major domestic airlines, Eastern Airlines operates a fleet of over 800 aircraft as of 2024 and serves 1,050 destinations across 166 countries and regions. In particular, its extensive network in hub cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Kunming, and Xi’an is truly enviable. As one of the world’s leading hotel groups, Wyndham’s collaboration with Eastern Airlines offers a new solution for frequent flyers who diligently accumulate Eastern Airlines miles. This new channel allows travelers to Convert Wyndham reward points to Eastern Airlines miles with ease.
Since the revamp of the Eastern Airlines mileage program two years ago, mileage accrual for upgrades and flights has been solely based on actual spending, which means that many infrequent flyers often remain at a zero-status level. As a non-premium card member, the mileage accrual rate is frustratingly low. For example, as a three‐star member of Eastern Airlines myself, every time I fly with them, I only earn mileage at a rate of 0.66 times the amount spent. The painstaking process of gradually accumulating miles makes it nearly impossible to amass the hundreds of thousands of miles that some seasoned travelers boast about, with global business class flights seeming out of reach. The key to this mileage conversion scheme lies in the validity period of Eastern Airlines miles. According to the new policy effective from September 1, 2021, any mileage activity resets the validity period to the end of the 36th month from the date of the transaction. In other words, as long as there is any activity within three years, the Eastern Airlines miles never expire. This feature is extremely beneficial for frequent flyers who are meticulous about their mileage expiration.
As for the conversion ratios, I believe this channel is particularly suitable for those who need to top up their mileage balances. For example, on Eastern Airlines’ domestic routes, a one-way business class flight from Chengdu to Shanghai requires 20,000 miles for redemption. Internationally, an economy class ticket from Shanghai to Istanbul or Cairo requires only 30,000 miles, while business class tickets require 45,000 miles. Recently, there has also been an ongoing promotion offering a Friday discount at 88% of the standard mileage rate. With some foresight, it is relatively easy to secure mileage award tickets during national holiday periods. If your Eastern Airlines mileage balance falls just short of the required amount, and you happen to have sufficient Wyndham Reward Points in your account, you might as well proceed with the conversion to maximize your travel comfort. This opportunity also allows you to Redeem Wyndham hotel points for free international flights.
Specifically, How to Exchange: Steps
- Open the Wyndham Hotels website, log in to your member account, and click on “My Account”.
- Find and click on “Points Redemption”.
- Find and click on “More Points Redemption Options”.
- Find and click on “Points Transfer Partners”.
- Find and click on “China Eastern Airlines Eastern Miles” and then click “Exchange”.
- Select the desired conversion tier and complete the exchange.
Please note that once you decide to convert your points, you should pay attention to the crediting time. According to Wyndham’s instructions, the converted points will generally be credited to your Eastern Airlines account within 6 to 8 weeks after the exchange is completed.
It is well known that staying at hotels participating in the Wyndham Rewards program is the most straightforward way to earn Wyndham Reward Points. For every $1 of eligible spending, you earn 10 points, and for stays under $100, you are automatically credited up to 1,000 points. With the onset of the off-peak season, many domestic hotels have lowered their rates, so a single night’s stay can easily earn 1,000 points. Additionally, members of higher tiers—Gold, Platinum, and Diamond—can receive bonus points of 10%, 15%, and 20%, respectively. Combined with promotional discounts for consecutive-night bookings, reaching the redemption thresholds, such as the 7,500-point tier, becomes much more attainable.
As one of the many international hotel alliances, Wyndham has been rolling out a series of exciting promotions recently. Following last year’s end-of-year promotions like “Earn Triple Points, Enjoy Effortless Redemptions” and “Book Overseas Hotels via the WeChat Mini Program to Unlock Up to 2 Bonus Nights”, Wyndham now offers a holiday special where consecutive-night bookings can be made at rates as low as 70% of the usual price, helping members quickly accumulate Wyndham Reward Points. Unlike other international hotel alliances where the points required for free stays can fluctuate with peak and off-peak seasons, Wyndham offers fixed redemption tiers—7,500, 15,000, and 30,000 points—for all participating hotels. This fixed system makes it easier to maximize the value of your points. For instance, in January, I used 7,500 points to redeem a stay at the Qionglai Wenmai Fang Wyndham Garden Hotel on the outskirts of Chengdu. As some seasoned travelers on forums have remarked, this boutique property—dubbed the “Wyndham Black Gold, Limited, Secret Garden Hotel”—offers exceptional value. Earning 7,500 Wyndham Reward Points can secure a room that would normally cost over 600 on OTA platforms, and during the off-peak season, it was generously upgraded to a duplex garden suite. As the centerpiece of the Qionglai Wenmai Fang complex, this hotel delivers an all-around excellent experience in dining, entertainment, and cultural immersion. It is undoubtedly a must-try for domestic hotel enthusiasts.
Conclusion
In summary, hotel groups are continuously innovating to break down the barriers between hotel stays and airline frequent flyer programs. Encouraging the interoperability of points is a commendable strategy, as it allows you to maximize the value of your accumulated points. Wishing everyone enjoyable travels, consistent upgrades to suites, and frequent cabin class enhancements.