This is a great perk for travelers who use rewards programs frequently and want to make the most of their benefits. Points and travel award search platform POINT.ME independently evaluated 65 airline loyalty programs around the world. Their research aims to help the average passenger get the most out of their loyalty points.
The study found that Air France and KLM’s joint rewards program, Flying Blue, offers the best mileage earning experience. We also have the most attractive redemption rates and the most flexible routing rules for smooth travel bookings.
Which airline has the best rewards program?
POINT.ME’s World’s Best Airline Rewards Programs report is the result of a thorough research process. A team of 55 top points and miles experts analyzed tons of data to determine which programs are the best. The nine needs of travelers considered include customer service, availability of flights on all routes, ease of earning points and miles, purchasing award tickets, partner programs, etc. .
“Getting real value from airline loyalty points is harder than it has to be for passengers,” POINT.ME CEO Adam Morwitz said in a press release. “This report leverages our team’s collective travel expertise and deep data-driven insights from our Rewards Meta search engine to take everyday travelers behind the curtain and understand the intricacies of rewards programs. We will uncover the true value and find out where the true value lies.
Top 10 Airline Rewards Programs
- Flying Blue (93.06%): Easy to earn points with abundant partnerships and excellent return rates.
- United MileagePlus (80.56%): Competitive on many metrics and great for infrequent users.
- Air Canada Aeroplan (77.43%): Enjoy seat availability on our partner airlines with the most extensive network and most generous routes around the world.
- British Airways Executive Club (77.43%): Great redemption rates, ease of acquisition and guaranteed seat availability.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (73.26%): Great points pricing and award seat assignments on popular routes.
- American Airlines A Advantage (68.06%): Achieving global travel through alliances with partner airlines and a strong domestic presence.
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (65.97%): Enhanced availability and 24-hour “free” stopover option.
- Avianca LifeMiles (59.72%): Redeem at competitive prices and earn miles easily.
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (59.72%): Affordable award seats at fair rates.
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (57.64%): Earning and redeeming miles on flights with limited fees is easy.