Ranking the Best Frequent Flyer Programs
Finding the best frequent flyer program depends on how often you fly and how much you spend when you do.
Personal finance website WalletHub recently compared the 10 largest U.S. airlines’ loyalty rewards programs across 21 key metrics such as the value of a rewards point or mile and blackout-date policies. The rankings are based on three different annual airfare budgets, including light ($472), average ($4,659) and frequent ($8,846).
The research determined that United Airlines MileagePlus program is the best of 2023, surpassing last year’s winner, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Rounding out the top five are Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles and American Airlines AAdvantage program.
JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Sun Country Airlines all ranked in the bottom half.
Meanwhile, WalletHub found that Hawaiian offers the most rewards value at $15.37 per $100 spent (frequent). Keep in mind that the figure drops to $11.53 and $7.68 per $100 spent for average or light flyers, respectively. Alaska is right behind at $14.14 per $100 spent (frequent).
Seven of the 10 largest airlines are offering fewer rewards value in 2023 than in 2022, the study shows, with only JetBlue, Spirit and Sun Country offering loyal passengers the same or more value this year compared to last. However, JetBlue is the only one of the three that has miles that do not expire because of inactivity. The same goes for Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Southwest and United.
American, Delta, United and Alaska even give preference to frequent flyer program members when deciding whom to bump from overbooked flights and six of the 10 largest U.S. airlines—United, Delta, Alaska, American, Hawaiian and JetBlue—allow rewards program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.
On average, WalletHub found that airline miles cost 2.5 times more than they’re worth when purchased rather than earned, with Hawaiian and Delta having the highest markups at 212 percent.
Click here to view a complete breakdown of the scoring and to use the Frequent Flyer Miles Calculator to determine the best program for you based on your annual amount spent on air travel.