Rove Miles launches as loyalty option for travelers without rewards credit cards

For example, one search showed the potential to earn 23 miles per dollar for a stay at Level Seattle Downtown — South Lake Union or redeem 15,000 Rove miles plus $34 in taxes for a value of 1.81 cents per mile. In comparison, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders may get up to 2 cents per point under certain conditions.

When booking flights through Rove Miles, earning rates range from 1 to 10 miles per dollar spent depending on the specific flight. However, these rates are not always displayed upfront; users need to proceed to the booking page for details.

Rove also offers a feature similar to Seats.aero by allowing searches from a user’s home airport to any region or “anywhere,” which could benefit flexible travelers seeking deals.

The program currently supports transfers to 12 airline and hotel loyalty programs: Accor Live Limitless (ALL), Aeromexico Rewards, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air India Maharaja Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Etihad Guest, Finnair Plus, Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles. Most transfers are at a 1:1 ratio except ALL (1.5:1). Suggested “sweet spots” are highlighted for some partners within the platform.

Despite similarities with established programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards—which also allow users to earn bonus points on online purchases and travel bookings—Rove does not require members to hold specific credit cards. This makes it more accessible for individuals building or rebuilding credit or those preferring cash or debit payments.

However, many entry-level travel credit cards have low or no annual fees and may be attainable after six months of credit-building efforts; they often come with welcome bonuses that Rove does not offer.

According to the article: "Rove's tagline is 'The first universal airline mile,' which seems like a stretch considering that the currency functions similarly to many others that came before it." The author adds: "What Rove is doing is not exactly new."

Another statement reads: "The difference is that you don't need the right credit card to access Rove," comparing it more closely with Bilt Rewards than other transferable currencies.

In summary: "Still, I think Rove is a program to watch. It could become a valuable addition to the loyalty program space if it adds more user-friendly features and new transfer partners."