Travelore Tips: Which Frequent Flier Program Is Best For You?

Let’s face it. Travel is expensive. It takes considerable time and work to save money to enjoy a week of vacation.

Many travelers utilize rewards programs as a strategy to save money for trips. The challenge is to determine which program is right for you. With travel credit cards, hotel rewards programs, and frequent flyer programs, the path ahead is foggy.

WalletHub’s frequent flyer study compares the 10 largest domestic airlines’ loyalty rewards programs across 21 vital metrics, spanning from the value of a reward point (or mile) to blackout-date policies. The results will clear the fog and determine the best frequent flyer programs.

Your Airfare Budget Matters

WalletHub acknowledges that rewards programs are not one-size-fits-all because not everyone travels at the same frequency. They account for these differences by scoring loyalty programs across three annual airfare budget levels:

Light: $459

Average: $3,393

Frequent: $6,326

Of course, the best frequent flyer programs are well-rounded, satisfying the needs of travelers of all types.

The study includes a frequent flyer miles calculator. You can enter your annual flight spending to see the top two frequent flyer programs based on your airfare budget.

Best Overall Frequent Flyer Programs

So, which frequent flyer programs are the best, according to the study? The top 5 programs for 2025 are:

1. Alaska Airlines – Mileage Plan

2. United Airlines – MileagePlus

3. Delta Airlines – SkyMiles
4. Hawaiian Airlines – HawaiianMiles

5. American Airlines – AAdvantage

Destinations Offered

It is essential to note that each airline offers a different number of destinations, a factor that may matter to some travelers. Alaska Airlines finished first in the overall rankings but offers 128 destinations. United has 365, Delta 312, Hawaiian 30, and American 406.

Although United finished second in the overall rankings by a slim margin, the airline offers more than twice the destinations as top-rated Alaskan Airlines.

A Closer Look at Where Each Program Shines

While Alaska Airlines finished first overall, where do the remaining top four programs shine? United MileagePlus ranks the best for destination coverage, including domestic and international flights.

Although Delta SkyMiles did not finish first in any individual category, the program scored well across the board. HawaiianMiles offers the best rewards value and membership status perks. American AAdvantage provides the best airline coverage.

Let’s look at some specific categories.

Which Programs Offer the Best Value?

Hawaiian Airlines offers the best value for frequent flyers at $12.55 per $100 spent. Frontier Airlines is second, at $11.75, and Southwest Airlines is third, at $9.95.

Hawaiian Airlines’ rewards values hold steady if your annual airfare budget is average or light. While Frontier and Southwest remain the second and third-best carriers for average and light travelers, their reward values dip considerably.

Frontier yields $10.47 for average and $8.49 for light travelers, while Southwest provides a value of $8.76 for average and $8.52 for light travelers.

Generally, most frequent flyer programs provide lesser value this year. Of the ten largest airlines, only three offer increased reward value in 2025 compared to the previous year: JetBlue, Spirit, and Hawaiian.

Miles Expiration

You worked hard for those reward miles, so you do not want to lose them. However, not all programs are equal in this key feature.

Four of the rewards programs have points expiring due to inactivity within 12 to 36 months. The six programs where miles do not expire are Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, and United.

Some programs, such as American, Delta, United, and Alaska, give frequent flyer program members preferential treatment when determining who gets bumped from overbooked flights.

Alaska, United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, and JetBlue allow members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.

Many programs allow members to purchase points in addition to earning them. It is essential to note that airline miles cost an average of 2.6 times more than they are worth when purchased rather than earned.

Delta, United, and Frontier have the biggest markups on purchasing points, while American, Southwest, and Hawaiian have the lowest markups.

Customer Service

Julie and I firmly believe customer service still matters outside of the loyalty rewards programs. Travelers want to be treated fairly and feel that they matter.

We have found Delta Airlines to be the most flexible and accommodating whenever any questions or issues arise. Other airlines have been far more rigid, showing little to no flexibility, let alone apathy.

Other Factors to Consider

Although Delta did not rank first in any categories, its strong overall scores and excellent customer service make its rewards program attractive.

Airline Rewards Programs in the Future

What can we expect from airline rewards programs in the next five to ten years?

Jaishankar Ganesh, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing at Rutgers, School of Business, Camden, says, “I would venture to say that technology will play a greater role in personalizing reward programs and tying benefits accrual and redemption to the individual’s travel and purchase behaviors. You are likely to see extended use of AI tools and applications for such personalization and to provide an enhanced digital experience.”

Choosing a Rewards Program

It is essential to select an airline rewards program that is right for you. Use the WalletHub calculator and the data from their study as a starting point to evaluate your options. It is an excellent way to save money on your trips.

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Best Frequent Flyer and Hotel Guest Programs Chosen Among 3.6 Million Ballots In The 2020 Freddie Awards

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards was named frequent flyer Program of the Year for the fifth straight year while Marriott Bonvoy took top honors among hotel programs in the Americas region for the eleventh consecutive year and Chase Bank wins the popular credit card category with their Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

- In a virtual presentation, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards was named frequent flyer Program of the Year and Marriott Bonvoy took the same top honors among hotel programs in the Freddie Awards results released on Thursday April 30th. Internationally, the Norwegian Reward program and Accor Live Limitless took top honors in the Europe/Africa region and Virgin Australia Velocity and Accor Live Limitless took top honors in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region.

More than 3.6 million ballots were cast worldwide by members of travel loyalty programs to determine the winners in recognizing the best of travel loyalty programs for the 30th year. The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards win marks the fifth straight year of the Program of the Year honor while Marriott's loyalty program has now won the Program of the Year honor for eleven consecutive years. Also impressive is the nine consecutive years streak that American Airlines AAdvantage has won Best Elite Program in the Americas.

In the popular credit card category, Chase Bank was a big winner by issuing the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier credit card in the Americas. American Express Membership Rewards took top honors in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region while Norwegian Reward won in the Europe/Africa region with their credit card issued by Bank Norwegian. All three are repeat winners of this honor.

Also announced were the 210 Award for programs whose value vote rating was trending higher (rising stars). Winners in this category included Air Canada Aeroplan and Accor Live Limitless in the Americas region, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go and Choice Privileges in the Europe/Africa region and Air Arabia Air Rewards and Wyndham Rewards in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region.

The Freddie Awards represent excellence among travel loyalty programs around the globe and rate the best programs in six categories: Program of the Year, Best Promotion, Best Redemption Ability, Best Customer Service, Best Elite Program and Best Loyalty Credit Card. Voters had six weeks to vote and were permitted to vote for programs in one of three global regions: Americas, Europe/Africa and Middle East/Asia Oceania. Voting also was available in nine different languages.

The awards were announced by Freddie Awards Founder, Randy Petersen during a virtual presentation.

"For this 30th year of the Freddie Awards, we are delighted to once again allow frequent flyers throughout the world to voice their choice of frequent travel programs that truly rise up in excellence," Petersen commented. "This is not an elitist view of these programs but rather the 'best' are determined by the votes of those who spend a great deal of their life on the road and in the air."

The Freddie Awards honor quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the overall merits of each program as reflected in a "Value Vote." Value Voting asks the voter to assign a number between one and three to the program for which he or she votes. To be eligible to win a Freddie Award, however, a program must receive at least two percent of the category vote.

The Freddie Awards are named after the late Sir Freddie Laker, who attracted fame (and a knighthood in the United Kingdom) for pioneering low-cost air travel across the Atlantic in the 1970s.

Sponsors of the virtual presentation included iSeatz—loyalty tech solutions, luggage maker Knack and BoardingArea—required reading for frequent flyers. The Freddie Awards were custom designed by Society Awards.

The results were presented virtually and may be viewed online at freddieawards.com/.

THIS YEAR'S WINNERS ARE:
AMERICAS
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards
Best Elite Program — American Airlines - AAdvantage
Best Promotion — Avianca - LifeMiles 
Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards 
Best Redemption Ability — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards 
210 AWARD — Air Canada - Aeroplan

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Elite Program — Hyatt - World of Hyatt
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Customer Service — MGM - M life Rewards
Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
210 AWARD — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 

Credit Card Category
Best Loyalty Credit Card — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards from Chase Bank

EUROPE/AFRICA
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Elite Program — Aeroflot – Aeroflot Bonus
Best Promotion — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Customer Service — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Redemption Ability — TAP Air Portugal - Miles&Go
210 AWARD — TAP Air Portugal - Miles&Go

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Elite Program — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless
Best Promotion — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Customer Service — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Redemption Ability — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
210 AWARD — Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

Credit Card Category
Best Affinity Credit Card — Norwegian Reward - Bank Norwegian Norwegian Card

MIDDLE EAST/ASIA OCEANIA
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Elite Program — Virgin Australia – Velocity 
Best Promotion — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Customer Service — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia – Velocity 
210 AWARD — AirArabia - AirRewards

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Elite Program — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Customer Service — ITC Hotels - Club ITC 
Best Redemption Ability — ITC Hotels - Club ITC
210 AWARD — Wyndham Hotels – Wyndham Rewards

Credit Card Category
Best Affinity Credit Card — American Express Membership Rewards

SOURCE Freddie Awards

The Best And Worst Airlines For Spending Frequent-Flier Points

Airlines Loosen Their Grip on Free Seats, but Biggest U.S. Carriers Trail International Rivals

A new survey from IdeaWorks ranked the world's 25 largest frequent-flier programs. Who came out on top? WSJ 'Middle Seat' columnist Scott McCartney discusses the results on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images.

It may not help you score a free ticket to Paris in July, but many airlines have started making it a bit easier for consumers to use frequent-flier miles for trips.

An annual survey found greater availability of award tickets at the lowest "saver" levels at more than half of the 25 airlines surveyed around the world.

"There's been a meaningful lift," said Jay Sorensen, president of Wisconsin-based consulting firm IdeaWorks, which conducts the annual survey. "Traditionally airlines cut back on award seats as they enter [financial] recovery because they can sell more seats for cash. But that's not happening this time."

Delta Air Lines  had one of the biggest changes. Delta has perennially ranked at the bottom of the five-year-old ranking.

The data show Delta has started to make small improvements. In this year's survey, Delta had two tickets available at the saver level on 55% of the 280 queries made, up from 36% last year. That put Delta on par with American Airlines. Both still trail Alaska, United, JetBlue  and Southwest among U.S. carriers.

Delta says on Jan. 1 it started to slowly change award seat allocations, telling inventory managers to be less tightfisted with saver-level seats. If flights aren't selling as well as planned, Delta says it now allocates more frequent-flier award seats rather than holding out longer for low-fare ticket purchases.

"We are taking a slightly less conservative approach in how we manage flights far out," said Delta Vice President Jeff Robertson, who said lack of award availability was Delta's top customer gripe. The airline has bigger changes coming for its program.

The survey, sponsored by technology company Switchfly Inc., checks online for two seats at the lowest possible mileage level on the busiest routes for each airline. That tends to be a coach ticket for 25,000 miles on U.S. domestic trips. The survey checked travel dates between June and October 2014 on 10 medium-length routes under 2,500 miles, plus 10 long-haul routes, a total of 280 queries for each airline.

By using each airline's busiest routes, the survey checks where airlines have the most seats to offer and where travelers most often fly. Savvy travelers know an experienced phone agent can help find award seats that might not show up on the airline's website, but this survey represents a more standard search.

Air Berlin and Southwest Airlines  had seats available on every query made in the survey, ranking them at the top for the third year in a row. JetBlue improved its availability a bit and had seats available for 93% of the requests.

Southwest has some natural advantages. Its short-haul, high-frequency network means that on its busiest routes, it may have a dozen flights a day or more. "If they can't find two seats, something is wrong," Mr. Sorensen said.

In addition, Southwest moved to a point-based system several years ago. Every flight is shown with a cash price and a point-based price. Since Southwest's credit card offers one point for every dollar spent, just like other airlines, IdeaWorks looks for trips on Southwest at 25,000 points or lower.

At the bottom of the rankings were US Airways and Avianca  Taca of Latin America. US Airways, with seats available on only 35% of queries, has consistently found itself around the bottom of the rankings, showing "a management philosophy toward stinginess" on frequent-flier awards, Mr. Sorensen said.

United

United boasts of seat availability in its advertising, but suffered a decline this year. Long-haul routes bore the brunt, with an 11% drop in award-seat availability. United said it hasn't changed how it allocates award seats, but thinks demand this year may be higher than last year, so more free seats have already been grabbed.

American

For several years US Airways has been the stingiest with free trips at the lowest mileage level. This year IdeaWorks found US Airways was the most expensive of North American carriers, at an average of 31,082 miles per round-trip ticket for trips under 2,500 miles. Most of the new leadership at American Airlines comes from US Airways as the two carriers merge. Will the stinginess carry over?

Delta

Out of the cellar, Delta says it began offering more award seats on Jan. 1 and will continue loosening up a tight grip on availability. So far, most of the improvement has come on domestic routes, IdeaWorks found.

Now those US Airways executives comprise most of the senior management team after the carrier's merger with American Airlines. Regular travelers on the airline may wonder if American will make it more difficult to get seats at saver-mileage levels after the US Airways and American frequent-flier programs merge.

A spokesman for American said as the two airlines merge frequent-flier programs, "we will offer a loyalty program that supports and reflects our industry-leading position."

Airlines have been under intense pressure from customers, accountants and banks to make more seats available for awards so consumers can use their miles. It's the accounting rule changes and pressure from banks that seem to be driving the most change now.

The majority of airline miles and points are sold to banks, which give them out as credit card rewards. When customers have a difficult time cashing in the miles, they may switch to other cards. In addition, accounting rules adopted by many airlines now let carriers record only a portion of revenue when miles are sold to banks and defer the rest until miles are redeemed.

Airline executives admit that Mr. Sorensen's five-year-old availability survey has also had an impact, quantifying seats available for the first time and comparing airlines head-to-head. United began advertising its strong showing last year; Delta says its low ranking prompted internal debate that pushed changes.

Many customers still aren't happy. Bob Anderson of Minneapolis boosted his mileage by getting a new American Express  credit card that offered a sign-up bonus in Delta miles. In January, he shopped for two seats to Acapulco, Mexico, telling Delta he'd take any flight any day in January, February or March. Nothing was available. When he complained in writing, Delta responded by urging him to be more flexible.

"I can't redeem them," Mr. Anderson said.

Delta announced a dramatic change in its SkyMiles program in February. Beginning in 2015, miles will be awarded based on the fare paid, not distance traveled, with hefty bonuses for elite-level status. As part of the changes, Delta promised to make more award seats available. Mr. Robertson said the airline wanted to ramp up availability over the course of 2014. Delta also plans to roll out enhanced search capabilities for awards on its website.

"I think customers will really see us start walking the talk over the next six to eight months," Mr. Robertson said. Most of the improvement at Delta came on domestic trips, IdeaWorks noted, rather than long-haul international flights.

Turkish Airlines posted the biggest turnaround in the IdeaWorks survey. It has used athletes Kobe Bryant, seated left, and Lionel Messi, seated right, in a high-profile U.S. ad campaign. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines  saw the biggest turnaround. The carrier is pushing hard to expand, including new flights from North America. Turkish has employed star athletes Kobe Bryant and Lionel Messi in its advertising and promised more award seats after acknowledging in a news release that its frequent-flier program needed an upgrade. The airline plans to make more award seats available starting June 1.

Mr. Sorensen notes that airlines like United and Air France,  both of which are trailing competitors' profitability and both of which had declines in reward availability this year, sometimes reduce availability of reward seats to get more paying customers instead.

A spokesman for United said the airline's strategy on frequent-flier awards this year is consistent with past years. The decline in 2014 "may simply be the result of the change in booking demand in March of this year versus March of 2013." Air France didn't answer a request for comment.