What do hotel points and status actually get you?

Points and status are worth exactly what they save you against the cash price on the same night — no more. The useful habit is to price both, every time: what the room costs in money, and what the same room costs in points. If the points rate does not clearly win, pay cash and keep the points.

Status is a different question from points. The benefits that hold their value are the boring, contractual ones — late checkout, breakfast, a guaranteed room type. Upgrades are discretionary, and no programme owes you one, whatever the tier chart implies.

This guide is being built out over the coming weeks. Until then, the comparison below is the most useful starting point.