The Best Airline Loyalty Programs

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February 13, 2023

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Airline loyalty programs are a great way for frequent travelers to save money on flights and earn travel rewards for their loyalty to a particular airline. With so many different programs available, determining which is the best can be hard. In this article, we will look closely at some of the top airline loyalty programs and what sets them apart from the rest.

Overview of the best airline loyalty programs

Airline Loyalty Program	Best Feature
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	Higher miles worth than most airlines
United Airlines MileagePlus	Star Alliance network
American Airlines AAdvantage	Elite status benefits
Southwest Rapid Rewards	Low fees
JetBlue TrueBlue	In-flight experience
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	Basic economy tickets
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	Simple miles earning process
Frontier Airlines FRONTIER Miles	Rewards value
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit	Points on every dollar spent

The best airline loyalty programs

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta is one of the most popular frequent flier programs among travelers, with a large network of flights and a reputation for high-quality service. The Delta SkyMiles program allows travelers to earn miles for every dollar spent on Delta flights, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.

A notable feature of the SkyMiles program is the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Miles through flying, which can help travelers reach elite status and unlock additional perks such as priority boarding and free checked bags. Members can also earn and redeem miles on Delta and its partner airlines, including Air France and KLM, which are also a part of the SkyTeam alliance.

Miles earned:

Basic Member: 5 miles per dollar
Medallion Member: up to 11 miles per dollar

United Airlines MileagePlus

Another top loyalty program is the United MileagePlus program. United is another major airline with a wide reach, and the MileagePlus program allows travelers to earn miles for flights, hotel stays, and purchases with United's partners. Like the SkyMiles program, MileagePlus offers elite status tiers with additional benefits such as priority boarding and free checked bags.

A unique feature of the MileagePlus program is the ability to redeem miles for experiences, such as concert tickets or access to exclusive events. Being a MileagePlus member makes you eligible to earn and use miles on United and its 40-plus airline partners like Singapore Airlines, ANA, and Lufthansa, which are part of the Star Alliance network.

Miles earned:

Basic Member: 5 MileagePlus miles per dollar
Premier Silver: 7 MileagePlus miles per dollar
Premier Gold: 8 MileagePlus miles per dollar
Premier Platinum: 9 MileagePlus miles per dollar
Premier 1K: 11 MileagePlus miles per dollar

American Airlines AAdvantage

The AAdvantage program is another popular loyalty program for travelers. American Airlines has a large network of flights and a strong presence in many major cities worldwide. The AAdvantage program allows travelers to earn miles for free flights, car rentals, and purchases on affiliated partner carriers through the extensive Oneworld frequent flier network, which includes Qantas, British Airways, and Qatar Airways.

One of the best features of the AAdvantage program is the ability to earn elite status through flights and spending on eligible American Airlines products and services. This means travelers willing to spend a bit more on American Airlines can earn elite status faster than those who only fly with the airline.

Miles earned:

Member: 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar
Gold: 7 AAdvantage miles per dollar
Platinum: 8 AAdvantage miles per dollar
Platinum Pro: 9 AAdvantage miles per dollar
Executive Platinum: 11 AAdvantage miles per dollar

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest is a budget airline popular for its affordable fares and convenient route network. The Rapid Rewards program allows travelers to earn points for every dollar spent on Southwest flights, which can be redeemed for flights or hotel stays.

The Rapid Rewards program is popular for the lack of blackout dates, meaning travelers can redeem their points for flights on any available seat. Southwest also offers several tier levels for its loyalty program members, each offering additional perks such as priority boarding and free checked bags. Southwest also offers a unique feature called companion pass, which allows a designated companion to fly with you for free.

Miles earned:

Wanna Get Away: 6 points per dollar
Wanna Get Away Plus: 8 points per dollar
Anytime: 10 points per dollar
Business Select: 12 points per dollar

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue is another budget airline known for its comfortable seats and friendly service. The TrueBlue program allows travelers to earn points for flights, hotel stays, and purchases with JetBlue's partners. The TrueBlue program also lets you redeem points for any available seat with no blackout dates or capacity controls.

JetBlue offers several tier levels for its loyalty program members, offering additional perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding. The airline is one of Emirates Skywards partner airlines, which allows you to earn and redeem Skywards Miles on flights with JetBlue if you're a member.

Miles earned:

Blue Basic: 1 base point plus 1 bonus point per dollar
Blue: 3 base points plus 3 bonus points per dollar
Blue Plus: 3 base points plus 4 bonus points per dollar
Blue Extra: 3 base points plus 3 bonus points per dollar
Mint: 3 base points plus 3 bonus points per dollar

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is also worth mentioning, which is a fantastic program for those who frequently fly on Alaska and its partners. While it's less well-known than the big three, it offers a variety of redemption options, including flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals. Plus, Alaska offers one of the industry's most generous elite status levels, with free first-class upgrades and priority boarding perks.

Miles earned:

3 miles per dollar spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on eligible gas, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including rideshare) purchases
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

HawaiianMiles isn't just about getting you to the islands, it's also about making your time there as enjoyable as possible. This rewards program is ideal for those traveling from the United States, Asia, and the South Pacific to Hawaii. You can access exclusive deals on rental cars, hotels, and activities as a program member. Plus, you can use your miles to upgrade your seat or even book a first-class flight.

But perhaps the best part of HawaiianMiles is the ability to earn miles through flying and everyday purchases. You can earn miles with American Express, Hertz, and Starbucks partners. So whether you're taking a business trip or buying your morning coffee, you'll be racking up miles in no time.

Miles earned and other perks on credit cards:

3 HawaiianMiles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
One-time 50% off companion discount
A $100 discount for a companion’s ticket each year.

Frontier Airlines FRONTIER Miles

This program is popular with travelers who frequently fly within the United States. As a member of FRONTIER Miles, you'll have access to exclusive deals on seat upgrades and baggage, as well as discounts on car rentals and hotels. Plus, you can use your miles to book flights to Frontier's international destinations, like Cancun, Mexico, or Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The standout feature of the FRONTIER Miles program is the ability to earn miles not just through flying, but also through everyday purchases. You can earn miles with partners like VISA, Budget, and even hotels.com and charge everyday expenses to the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard from Barclays.

Miles earned with Mastercard:

5 miles for every dollar spent on eligible Frontier Airlines purchases
3 miles for every dollar spent on restaurant purchases
1 mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases
Earn and transfer points across Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards and Wyndham Rewards hotel points programs

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit

If you frequently fly with Spirit Airlines, you can use the Free Spirit rewards program that lets you earn points and redeem them for award flights. The airline caters to leisure travelers and flies to 67 destinations in the US, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

With the Free Spirit program, travelers can book reward flights at any time with no blackout dates and earn points by purchasing fares and add-on perks like seat selection and baggage. Members can also sign up for a Free Spirit Travel Mastercard or Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard credit card from Bank of America or enroll in the fee-based Spirit Saver$ Club to get more opportunities to earn points.

Points earned:

All Free Spirit members earn 6 points per dollar spent on airfare and 12 points per dollar spent on A La Smarte options like seat selection and checked bags
Silver elite members earn 8 points per dollar on airfare and 16 points per dollar on A La Smarte
Gold elite members earn 10 points per dollar on airfare and 20 points per dollar on A La Smarte

How to get the most out of an airline loyalty program?

There are a few strategies you can use to get the most out of an airline loyalty program:

Choose a program that aligns with your travel habits: Choosing a loyalty program that aligns with your travel habits, such as the routes you typically fly and the class of flights you prefer to help you maximize your rewards and benefits is important.

Earn as many points as possible: Look for ways to earn points or miles, such as airline credit card bonuses, flying with partner airlines, or participating in special promotions.

Redeem your points wisely: Make sure to redeem your points to book flights or avail of other rewards that offer the best value. Consider redeeming your points for elite status, which can come with additional perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. It’s important to note that most airlines today either have a list of blackout dates or use dynamic award charts to make point redemptions correspond to the ticket rates that vary according to changes in demand.

Stay loyal to one airline rewards program: It can be tempting to switch between loyalty programs to take advantage of promotions or bonuses, but it's generally more rewarding to stay loyal to one program and earn elite status.

Take advantage of your benefits: Don't forget to use the benefits and perks of your loyalty programs, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges. These benefits can save you time and money and make your travel experience more enjoyable.

FAQs

How do airline loyalty programs work?

Airline loyalty programs or frequent flier programs (FFPs) are incentive schemes run by airlines to reward their passengers, foster traveler loyalty, and support retention. The initial idea was simple and straightforward: The more people fly, the more points or miles they earn, the more perks they get.

What to think about ahead of joining an airline reward program?

Flight access, pricing, fees, airline alliance membership, credit card offers, miles worth, and points are some factors to consider before joining an airline loyalty program.

How can travelers redeem points?

The points earned can be used to get free tickets, flight class upgrades, access to airport lounges and fast-track service, extra baggage allowance, priority booking and other discounts and perks.

The bottom line

Choosing a loyalty program really depends on your individual travel needs and preferences. If you frequently fly with Delta, the SkyMiles program may be your best choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a budget airline and are okay with earning points instead of miles, the Southwest Rapid Rewards program may be a better fit. Ultimately, the best loyalty program for you is the one that aligns with your travel habits and offers the perks and rewards that are most valuable to you.

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Aimen Hakim is a business writer with over six years of experience covering the financial, global markets and real estate industries. In her off time she likes to paint and photograph.

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