Traveler’s guide to the best frequent flyer programs

Part of the Oneworld Alliance, the Alaska Mileage Plan is the best overall frequent flyer program. The program has reasonable elite status requirements and is one of the few still publishing an award chart. This makes it easy for members to figure out how many miles they need for a flight. Award flights start at just 4,500 miles, and the free stopover allowance on one-way awards allows you to stretch your miles further by working multiple trips into one award redemption.

One of the best ways to redeem Alaska miles is for long-haul business-class flights with partner airlines. Examples include 50,000 miles one-way for a business class seat to Asia on Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific. It’s worth noting that award charts were revamped in March 2024 to become distance-based. Even so, the rates are reasonable compared to other loyalty programs. Flying from the West Coast to Japan, for example, will still cost just 50,000 miles each way in business class.

The merger with Hawaiian Airlines further enhances the program’s value, expanding its network to 141 direct destinations and over 1,200 global locations through Oneworld Alliance partners. Members will soon enjoy benefits like free mileage transfers between accounts, streamlined booking across both airlines and Honolulu as a key hub, solidifying the Alaska Mileage Plan as one of the most valuable frequent flyer programs.

Network coverage: 5/5

Alaska Airlines may be a domestic carrier, but thanks to its vast partnerships, it has an extensive route network spanning 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 3/5

Alaska Airlines has two credit cards: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card*, providing opportunities to boost your Mileage Plan balance via credit card welcome bonuses and rewards for everyday spending. The Alaska Mileage Plan is also a 1:1 transfer partner of Bilt Rewards, the only loyalty program that lets you earn points on fee-free rent payments. Bilt also runs periodic transfer bonuses, making it easy to stock up on Alaska miles quickly.

Ease of redeeming miles: 5/5

Alaska Airlines makes earning and redeeming miles easy by publishing an award chart that clearly states redemption rates (which start at 4,500 miles each way). Best of all, you can redeem most partner awards online, which is convenient when trying to research multiple partner flights on the same route.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 5/5

The Alaska Mileage Plan has one of the lowest elite status requirements of any frequent flyer program. It takes just 20,000 miles to earn baseline MVP status, which entitles you to useful perks like 25 percent elite bonus miles, first and premium class upgrades up to 48 hours before departure, priority check-in, up to two free checked bags, an Alaska Lounge membership discount and priority security lines at participating airports.

Mileage expiration: 5/5

Alaska miles don’t expire, which means you don’t have to worry about losing out on your hard-earned miles because you didn’t get to redeem them before a specific date.

Airline reliability: 5/5

Alaska Airlines ranks above-average when it comes to OTP. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Alaska’s OTP as of June 2024 was 81.7 percent. This number is right at or slightly above-average, giving Alaska flyers peace of mind and reason to keep working towards their elite status goals.

The American Airlines AAdvantage program has several things going for it. For starters, the program still publishes an award chart for partner flights, so you can know exactly how many miles you’ll need for a flight. American Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance, meaning you can use AAdvantage miles on partner carriers like Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Finnair, to name a few.

One of the best “sweet spot” awards includes off-peak economy tickets to Europe for just 22,500 miles each way. Even luxury travel is reasonably priced, with the famous Qatar Airways Qsuites priced out at 70,000 miles each way to the Middle East.

American Airlines is also one of the only frequent flyer programs that counts nearly all rewards earned towards elite status. This includes purchases made through credit card spending, shopping portals and dining rewards. In other words, you could earn top-tier elite status with AAdvantage without ever stepping on a plane.

Network coverage: 4/5

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in North America by passengers carried and serves over 350 airports in 60 countries. The airline is also part of the Oneworld Alliance, which serves over 900 destinations in 170 countries. This wide network provides members with plenty of opportunities to earn and redeem miles.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 3/5

American Airlines has five credit cards that let you earn miles via generous welcome bonuses and everyday spending. Unfortunately, American AAdvantage has discontinued its transfer partnership with Bilt Rewards, so there is no longer a 1:1 transfer option for topping up your account balance. However, you can still transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

Ease of redeeming miles: 4/5

American Airlines utilizes dynamic pricing for its own flights but still publishes a partner award chart. Free flights start at just 7,500 miles and the program even has a handy tool to help you figure out how many miles you need for a partner flight. With 21 partner airlines bookable online, the AAdvantage program makes it easy to redeem miles for flights.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 4/5

American AAdvantage uses Loyalty Points to calculate elite status progress. Loyalty Points are earned via flights, credit card spending and other qualifying partnership activity. This makes status much more attainable, even if it does take 40,000 Loyalty Points to reach Gold status and 200,000 to achieve top-tier Executive Platinum.

Point expiration: 2/5

AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, which is less time than most other frequent flyer programs impose. However, since AAdvantage miles are fairly easy to earn via credit card spending and other activities, it may not be an issue for most members.

Airline reliability: 3/5

Airline reliability is important if you’re traveling frequently with one airline. American Airlines performs below-average on on-time performance compared to other carriers. BTS reports 70.91 percent on-time performance between January and July 2024 (vs. 75.36 percent average for all airlines) and 75.94 percent in 2023 (vs. 78.22 percent). This may be a hindrance for frequent fliers who want to minimize delays while traveling for work or leisure.

The Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles is a member of Star Alliance and offers some incredible sweet spot awards that are significantly cheaper than most other loyalty programs. Miles&Smiles also offers one of the easiest ways to earn Star Alliance’s elite status. It takes just 25,000 miles to earn Classic Plus status, equivalent to Star Alliance Silver. There’s no revenue requirement, making earning status from cheaper flights possible.

Network coverage: 5/5

Turkish Airlines flies to 349 destinations in 130 countries, providing plenty of opportunities to redeem your miles for travel. In addition, Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member, a network that provides coverage in over 1,150 destinations in 189 countries worldwide.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 4/5

While Turkish Airlines doesn’t have any co-branded credit cards in the U.S., it makes up for it with numerous transfer partnerships. You can get Turkish miles easily through 1:1 transfers from Bilt Rewards, Capital One and the Citi ThankYou program. This makes Turkish Miles&Smiles incredibly accessible, so you can save up for your dream vacation faster.

Ease of redeeming miles: 5/5

Turkish Miles&Smiles still publishes an award chart, which makes it easy to determine how many miles you’ll need for an award flight (and save up accordingly). Award flights start at just 4,500 miles each way, and sweet spots include 20,000-mile round-trip flights within the U.S. on United Airlines.

Turkish Airlines even allows online redemptions for these United flights, which is incredibly convenient if you don’t want to deal with long hold times. The only downside? Turkish Airlines’ website is notoriously glitchy.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 5/5

Turkish Airlines makes it fairly easy to earn elite status, requiring just 25,000 miles for Classic Plus status and 80,000 for top-tier Elite Plus. This status is valid for two years, and Classic Plus members receive practical perks like extra baggage, complimentary lounge access and business class check-in for domestic flights. Top-tier elites are spoiled with luxury perks like access to a special terminal entrance and passport counter at Istanbul International Airport (IST), seat upgrades, elite card gifting privileges and more.

Mileage expiration: 3/5

Turkish miles expire after three years of inactivity. It’s worth noting that point transfers usually aren’t considered a qualifying activity. However, if you earn or redeem miles during that period, your miles typically won’t expire. Furthermore, if you fly a Star Alliance carrier like United and credit your miles to Turkish Miles&Smiles, you’ll earn miles and qualifying activity that will keep them from expiring.

Airline reliability: 3/5

According to Cirium, a company that publishes aviation statistics, Turkish Airlines made the top 10 list regarding OTP in October 2024. The airline ranked 10th, with 77.44 percent OTP. This indicates significant improvements in flight punctuality since 2022, when the airline ranked 16th, with 64.08 percent OTP.

Air France and KLM’s joint Flying Blue program is part of the SkyTeam alliance and offers some of the cheapest international flights using miles. The program partners with five transferable rewards programs, making it easy to save up miles for an award flight.

Not only are Flying Blue miles easy to earn, but they’ll go a long way thanks to generous sweet spot awards. Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Rewards offer value beyond its standard award chart, with discounts of up to 50 percent.

Network coverage: 5/5

Flying Blue has a strong route network, thanks to its SkyTeam membership. SkyTeam serves over 1,000 destinations in over 160 countries worldwide. With Flying Blue miles, you’re not just earning and redeeming miles on KLM and Flying Blue: You can also fly Delta Air Lines, ITA Airways, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic, to name a few.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 5/5

Flying Blue is one of the best loyalty programs when it comes to earning miles via co-branded cards and transfer partnerships. While the program offers just one co-branded credit card in the U.S. (the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*), it offers a generous welcome bonus and benefits at a reasonable $89 annual fee.

But where Flying Blue shines is in its transfer partnerships: The program is a 1:1 transfer partner of every major rewards program: Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards. These partnerships make Flying Blue miles incredibly accessible and easy to earn.

Ease of redeeming miles: 2/5

While earning Flying Blue miles is easy, redeeming them can be challenging. Not all transfer partner flights are bookable online, so you may have to call the airline for some bookings. Flying Blue currently does not have an award calculator or chart, but it has a list that shows how many miles you’ll need for a flight.

The program also offers deep discounts on award flights through monthly Promo Rewards. Considering long-haul flights between the U.S. and Europe start at just 15,000 miles round-trip, this is an excellent program for stretching your rewards further.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 4/5

FlyingBlue has four elite status levels, starting with Explorer and going up to Ultimate. Members have to earn Experience Points (XP) for status, which is calculated based on flight distance, cabin and elite status. Members can earn between two and 60 XP, depending on these factors.

Furthermore, you can earn XPs by buying carbon credits, donating to charity or via the Flying Blue credit card, which offers 20 XP on every account anniversary and an additional 40 XP after you spend $15,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year – that’s 60 percent of the way to Silver status.

Silver status requires earning 100 XP and provides benefits like free checked bags and seat selection, priority check-in, complimentary free checked bag on SkyTeam flights and 6 miles per Euro spent on flights.

Top-Tier Ultimate status requires earning 900 UXP (Ultimate Experience Points) in a year, earned entirely from Air France or KLM flights. These elites receive ultra-luxury perks like a dedicated Platinum Service Line, 8 miles per Euro spent on flights, Sky Priority access at airports, lounge access with guest privileges and more.

Point expiration: 2/5

Unfortunately, simply earning and redeeming miles won’t keep your Flying Blue miles from expiring after two years. You have to travel at least once every two years on Air France, KLM or a partner airline flight. Mileage expiration is waived if you’re a Flying Blue Silver, Gold or Platinum member during this period. You can also avoid mileage expiration by making a purchase with a co-branded credit card once every two years.

Airline reliability: 4/5

According to OAG, a travel data provider, KLM and Air France rank 57th and 85th, respectively, in terms of OTP in December 2024. Air France achieved 68.49 percent OTP while KLM reached 74.69 percent. While this isn’t going to be a priority for U.S.-based travelers, it’s useful information to have when traveling abroad.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is great for families and domestic travelers who want a straightforward loyalty program that offers practical rewards. Members earn points based on the fare type and cost. In addition to making their way toward higher status, members can qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass after earning 135,000 points. Families who can manage to earn two or more of these Companion Fares can cut the cost of family travel in half. Points earned from Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses also qualify for the Companion Pass, making it incredibly attainable.

Further, Southwest famously offers two free checked bags per passenger, making this a preferred airline for value travelers who want a no-frills travel experience with practical perks and easy redemptions.

Network coverage: 2/5

Southwest has a limited route network compared to other airlines, but it’s a solid option for domestic travelers. The airline flies to over 100 destinations in 42 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. While its route network is limited, it does serve key markets at competitive fares.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships:  4/5

There are five Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards to choose from, providing ample opportunity to rack up points. Southwest is also a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, so members can transfer rewards earned from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® to their Rapid Rewards account. Marriott points also transfer 3:1 to Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Ease of redeeming miles: 4/5

Southwest airlines makes it easy to redeem points for flights. There is no award chart, but points are worth around 1.5 cents each towards Wanna Get Away fares. Since Southwest Airlines does not offer first-class seating, you won’t be able to use your Rapid Rewards points for first-class flights. However, the simplicity of the program more than makes up for it. You can redeem your points on any available flight without worrying about blackout dates or restrictions, making it easy to maximize the value of your rewards.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 3/5

Southwest Rapid Rewards has three elite status tiers and they’re fairly attainable. It’s worth noting that Southwest doesn’t have a premium cabin and offers two free checked bags per traveler (for now). So, elite status with this frequent flyer program doesn’t offer the same level of perks and luxury.

However, the program has one major advantage that makes earning status worthwhile: The Southwest Companion Pass. Reserved for top-tier elites who complete 100 flights or earn 135,000 points in a calendar year, it allows you to designate a companion who then flies for just the cost of taxes and fees. The Companion Pass can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on airfare, making it one of the best elite status perks out there. The best part? The welcome bonus from the Southwest credit cards actually counts towards the 135,000-point requirement.

Point expiration: 5/5

Southwest points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. That’s a significant feature, especially when you factor in the ease of earning and redeeming points.

Airline reliability: 3/5

By 2024, Southwest has improved its OTP by nearly two percentage points. According to Cirium, the airline has achieved an OTP of 77.77%. Placing Southwest in fifth place among airlines. This makes it a decent frequent flyer program with a consistently reliable airline.

The United MileagePlus program is popular among domestic frequent flyers seeking valuable elite perks and a large partner network. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, which includes 25 airlines serving over 1,200 airports worldwide. While award flights are priced dynamically (i.e. based on demand and paid fares), the program can offer excellent value on short-haul and off-peak season travel. Unlike Star Alliance airlines like Lufthansa, United doesn’t impose fuel surcharges on award flights. So, even if you redeem more miles, you might save money by redeeming United miles.

Travelers also remain loyal to United because of its attainable elite status requirements. United allows members to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) by spending on select United credit cards. Once they’ve earned status, United elite members can enjoy perks like complimentary seat upgrades, free checked bags and access to better award availability.

Network coverage: 4/5

United has a large network, with hubs in major cities domestically and abroad. As of 2024, United served 350 destinations on its own and over 1,290 across 200 countries through the Star Alliance network.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 5/5

United MileagePlus has six co-branded credit cards issued by Chase, catering to different types of travelers. United is also a 1:1 transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, providing plenty of opportunities to top off your balance quickly for an award flight. Plus, United is a 3:1 transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy.

Ease of redeeming miles: 3/5

United no longer publishes an award chart. Instead, it utilizes dynamic pricing, which makes redemption rates more unpredictable. That being said, the cheapest award flights start at around 4,500 miles and increase to six figures depending on the fare and cabin.

Partner programs like Turkish Miles&Smiles offer award charts and might have better redemption rates during peak travel season, especially on premium cabin flights.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 4/5

United MileagePlus has four elite status tiers, with numerous paths to get there. Base-level Premier Silver status requires 15 Premier Qualification Flights (PQF) and 5,000 Premier Qualification Points (PQP). Alternatively, you can earn this status level by earning 6,000 PQP instead.

Premier Silver elites get useful perks like one free checked bag, upgrades to Economy Plus, priority boarding and 7X miles earned on every flight. Top-tier Premier 1K status can also be rewarding, with three checked bags, Economy Plus upgrades at booking for you and up to eight companions, 11X miles on every flight and more. MileagePlus Premier 1K status requires 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP or 28,000 PQP.

Since you can earn PQPs from the United Quest℠ Card* and United Club℠ Infinite Card*, earning status with United MileagePlus is much easier.

Point expiration: 5/5

United MileagePlus miles don’t expire, making them ideal for folks with trouble earning and rapidly redeeming miles.

Airline reliability: 5/5

United Airlines ranks slightly above average when it comes to airline reliability. According to Cirium, in November 2024, United achieved an OTP of 80.12%, securing second place among airlines, although this marked a slight decline from 82.88% the previous month. Travelers can generally rely on United for punctual service, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing reliability.

The United MileagePlus program is popular among domestic frequent flyers seeking valuable elite perks and a large partner network. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, which includes 25 airlines serving over 1,200 airports worldwide. While award flights are priced dynamically (i.e. based on demand and paid fares), the program can offer excellent value on short-haul and off-peak season travel. Unlike Star Alliance airlines like Lufthansa, United doesn’t impose fuel surcharges on award flights. So, even if you redeem more miles, you might save money by redeeming United miles.

Travelers also remain loyal to United because of its attainable elite status requirements. United allows members to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) by spending on select United credit cards. Once they’ve earned status, United elite members can enjoy perks like complimentary seat upgrades, free checked bags and access to better award availability.

Network coverage: 4/5

United has a large network, with hubs in major cities domestically and abroad. As of 2024, United served 350 destinations on its own and over 1,290 across 200 countries through the Star Alliance network.

Co-brand and transfer partnerships: 5/5

United MileagePlus has six co-branded credit cards issued by Chase, catering to different types of travelers. United is also a 1:1 transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, providing plenty of opportunities to top off your balance quickly for an award flight. Plus, United is a 3:1 transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy.

Ease of redeeming miles: 3/5

United no longer publishes an award chart. Instead, it utilizes dynamic pricing, which makes redemption rates more unpredictable. That being said, the cheapest award flights start at around 4,500 miles and increase to six figures depending on the fare and cabin.

Partner programs like Turkish Miles&Smiles offer award charts and might have better redemption rates during peak travel season, especially on premium cabin flights.

Elite status requirements and benefits: 4/5

United MileagePlus has four elite status tiers, with numerous paths to get there. Base-level Premier Silver status requires 15 Premier Qualification Flights (PQF) and 5,000 Premier Qualification Points (PQP). Alternatively, you can earn this status level by earning 6,000 PQP instead.

Premier Silver elites get useful perks like one free checked bag, upgrades to Economy Plus, priority boarding and 7X miles earned on every flight. Top-tier Premier 1K status can also be rewarding, with three checked bags, Economy Plus upgrades at booking for you and up to eight companions, 11X miles on every flight and more. MileagePlus Premier 1K status requires 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP or 28,000 PQP.

Since you can earn PQPs from the United Quest℠ Card* and United Club℠ Infinite Card*, earning status with United MileagePlus is much easier.

Point expiration: 5/5

United MileagePlus miles don’t expire, making them ideal for folks with trouble earning and rapidly redeeming miles.

Airline reliability: 5/5

United Airlines ranks slightly above average when it comes to airline reliability. According to Cirium, in November 2024, United achieved an OTP of 80.12%, securing second place among airlines, although this marked a slight decline from 82.88% the previous month. Travelers can generally rely on United for punctual service, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing reliability.