Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan is the best frequent-flyer program, a new report says.
It ranks above last year’s top program, United Airlines’ MileagePlus, which now ranks No. 2, according to personal-finance website WalletHub. The website ranked the 10 largest U.S. airlines’ frequent-flyer programs based on 21 metrics, including earning and redeeming points or miles, expiration policies, ease of achieving elite status and number of destinations served.
An Alaska Airlines jet takes off at Washington's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (AP ... [+]
"With an impressive overall score and a strong rewards value, Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan caters well to frequent and occasional flyers,” says WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “The program's flexibility, generous policies and lack of blackout dates make it particularly appealing for leisure travelers. While United Airlines' MileagePlus and Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles also rank high, Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan stands out as the optimal choice, offering a seamless and rewarding experience tailored to the needs of leisure travelers."
Some travelers, Happe says, scoff at airline loyalty programs, because they believe only the most frequent flyers can benefit. But the programs, she says, are free to join and save members an average of 9% on airfare.
Seven of the 10 largest airlines’ frequent-flyer programs, according to the WalletHub report, are offering more rewards value in 2024 than in 2023. Besides providing free flights, many programs offer additional benefits, such as priority boarding, free checked bags and access to airport lounges, Happe says.
Miles or points earned in the programs of six airlines — Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United Airlines — do not expire because of inactivity. Members of programs that allow miles or points to expire can use strategies to prevent them from expiring, “such as making a small purchase or engaging with the program periodically,” Happe says.
