The best airline loyalty programs worldwide

When you’re busy traveling, you might not have the time to scour the internet for the best frequent flyer program. The truth is, there isn’t one best program for everyone. There are several great programs, and we’ve put together all of the finer details so you can easily review them and sign up for the one that works for you.

Want the quick answer to which one you should pick? Skim the "partner airlines" section for each program and see if the airlines you often fly with are included. If there’s some overlap with your top-trusted airlines, you can just take a look at the benefits of each and make your choice.

And remember, using TravelPerk’s business travel management software, you can easily save loyalty program membership numbers for business travelers. This way, no matter who’s booking—your internal travel manager, administrative assistant, or the traveler themselves—the business travelers will automatically collect their miles.

Here’s our airline rewards program comparison with all the top worldwide programs for US-based business travelers.

Airline Loyalty Programs Comparison

JetBlue TrueBlue

With no blackout dates, eight partner airlines, and sweet bonuses in the upper tier, this rewards program from JetBlue is a fan favorite. Besides flights, hotel stays, and car rentals, you can also earn points on purchases with retail partners like Apple and Gap through the TrueBlue Shopping Portal.

Partner Airlines:

JetBlue

Qatar Airways

Hawaiian Airlines

Icelandair

JSX

Silver Airways

Singapore Airlines

South African Airways

Top Partner Companies:

JetBlue credit cards by Barclays

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Jet Opinions (points for taking surveys!)

Avis

Budget

Amazon (earn 3x JetBlue points when you do your Amazon shopping on JetBlue’s free Fly-Fi Wi-Fi)

Citi

IHG One Rewards (there are over 6000 participating hotels across 17 brands in over 100 countries/regions)

Tiers & Benefits

You’ll be collecting three points for every dollar spent with JetBlue and their partners (except on Blue Basic fares, where you’ll earn one point). If you travel often, the four-level Mosaic program will give you priority boarding, free same-day flight changes, checked bags, priority security, extra legroom, and free booze!

Tier Names

TrueBlue

TrueBlue Mosaic (1-4)

Qualifications

Free

50 tiles ($5,000 in spending on JetBlue flights, or $50,000 in spending on your JetBlue credit card)

No blackout dates for spending points on JetBlue

Use points for any seat, any time

Points never expire

Pool points with family or friends

Same-day switches with no fee or fare difference

First two checked bags free

Expedited security lane

Dedicated check-in

Extra legroom

Dedicated customer service line

Complimentary alcoholic beverages

Select extra “Perks you Pick” each time you level up

Earn points on every flight

At least three points per dollar spent with JetBlue, excluding Blue Basic fares, plus bonus points when booking on jetblue.com (when on the Premium plan, your TravelPerk representative can do this for you to keep all travel spend trackable in one place)

An additional 3x the points on all JetBlue flights, regardless of the fare booked.

Learn more about signing up for TrueBlue

Southwest Rapid Rewards

The Rapid Rewards program from Southwest Airlines won’t allow you to collect points from airlines other than Southwest. However, the airline does have partnerships with over 800 retailers in the US (including heavyweights like Macy’s, Home Depot, and Sephora), as well as several popular hotel chains and rental car companies.

Partner Airlines:

Southwest Airlines

Top Partner Companies:

Southwest Hotels

Best Western

Choice Hotels

World of Hyatt

MGM Rewards

Marriott Bonvoy

Rocketmiles

Avis

Hertz

Budget

Macy’s

Home Depot

Sephora

Tiers & Benefits

When you ascend the tiers, you get even more points for dollars spent, bringing you that much closer to the famed Companion Pass.

Tier Names

Base

A-List

A-List Preferred

Qualifications

Free

Fly 20 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year

Fly 40 qualifying one-way flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year

No blackout dates for spending points

Same-day change/standby

Included in all fares except “Wanna Get Away” fares

Earn points on every flight

12 points per dollar on Business Select flights. 10 points per dollar on Anytime flights. 8 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away Plus flights. 6 points per

15 points per dollar on Business Select flights. 12.5 points per dollar on Anytime flights. 10 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away Plus flights. 7.5 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away flights.

24 points per dollar on Business Select flights. 20 points per dollar on Anytime flights. 16 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away Plus flights. 12 points

Priority boarding

Priority lane and express lane

Dedicated customer service

25% earning bonus on qualifying flights

100% earning bonus on qualifying flights

Free in-flight Wi-Fi

Companion Pass

We can’t talk about Rapid Rewards without mentioning the Companion Pass. If you qualify (fly 100 one-way flights or earn 125,000 points in a calendar year) then you get a Companion Pass for the remainder of that calendar year plus the entirety of the next calendar year. The Companion Pass allows you to bring another passenger with you on any flight and only pay the applicable taxes and fees (not the airline charges for the ticket). Pretty sweet deal for the business traveler who’s also a weekend warrior. You can earn qualifying points from flights, shopping, dining, and spending on your Rapid Rewards credit card. If you fly Southwest with a “companion” a lot, it’s certainly worth looking into!

Learn more about signing up for Rapid Rewards

Get the ultimate travel management guide. It's a game-changer.

Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines’ rewards program, the Mileage Plan, has partnerships with global airlines, including many in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If your travel takes you out of the States often, then choosing a program with a lot of global partnerships is a smart move.

Partner Airlines:

Alaska Airlines

Aer Lingus

American Airlines

Air Tahiti Nui

British Airways

Cathay Pacific

Condor

EL AL Israel Airlines

Fiji Airways

Finnair

Hainan Airlines

Iberia

Icelandair

Japan Airlines

Korean Air

Latam Airlines

Malaysia Airlines

Qantas

Qatar Airways

Ravn Alaska

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Jordanian

Singapore Airlines

Sri Lankan Airlines

STARLUX Airlines

Tiers & Benefits

With First Class and Premium upgrades on lots of fares, you’ll be sitting pretty if you earn MVP status.

Tier Name

Mileage Plan

MVP

MVP Gold

MVP Gold 75K

MVP Gold 100k

Qualifications

Free

In a single calendar year: 20,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines and partners, including at least 2 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines

In a single calendar year: 40,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines and partners, including at least 6 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines

In a single calendar year: 75,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines and partners, including at least 12 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines

In a single calendar year: 100,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines and partners, including at least 24 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines

Blackout dates

No blackout dates on Alaska Airlines, blackout dates may apply on partner airlines

Earning points (as of 2025)

25% more bonus miles earned

50% more bonus miles earned

100% more bonus miles earned

150% more bonus miles earned

First class upgrades at time of booking(Alaska Airlines only)

Y or B fares

Y, B, H or K fares

Y, B, H, K or M fares

Premium class upgrades at time of booking (Alaska Airlines only)

Y, B or H fares

Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S or N fares

All fares except Saver fares

First or Premium Class upgrades on other fares

48 hours before departure

72 hours before departure

120 hours before departure

120 hours Highest waitlist priority

First and Premium Class upgrade eligibility on Saver fares

Within 2 hours of departure

Companion upgrades to First Class (Alaska Airlines only)

Companion Upgrades to Premium Class (Alaska Airlines only)

First Class guest upgrades (max. 4 per year)

International upgrade certificates on American Airlines

1 one-way

2 one-way

Complimentary premium beverage or chocolate in Main Cabin

Complimentary snack or meal in Main Cabin

Priority check-in and boarding

Free checked bags

Preferred seating

Express security line

Standby and waitlist for full flights

Alaska Lounge membership discount

Four Alaska Lounge day passes (max. 4 per year)

$10 off a CLEAR Plus membership

Priority call routing in call centers

Elite Leave for new parents

Complimentary same-day flight changes

Learn more about signing up for Mileage Plan

SkyMiles

This is the best fit for the traveler who flies in Europe and Asia just as often as the States! If your national carrier is likely to be Delta but you want global partners, then consider SkyMiles for your top-choice rewards program.

Partner Airlines:

Delta Air Lines

AeroMexico

AirFrance

China Eastern

KLM

Korean Air

LATAM Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

AirBaltic

EL AL

AirEuropa

Cape Air

China Airlines

China Southern Airlines

Czech Airlines

Garuda Indonesia

Hawaiian Airlines

ITA Airways

Kenya Airways

Middle East Airlines

Saudia

Tarom

Vietnam Airlines

WestJet

XiamenAir

Aerolineas Argentinas

Top Partner Companies:

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

American Express Membership Rewards

Starbucks

Lyft

Delta Vacations

Ticketmaster

Delta

Airbnb

Marriott Bonvoy

IHG

Le Club Accor Hotels

Hyatt

Langham Hospitality Group

Shangri-La

Hertz

Dollar Car Rental

Thrifty Car Rental

Alamo

Enterprise

National

AVIS

Budget

Payless Car Rental

TURO

Europcar

SIXT

Energy Plus

SkyMiles Shopping

SkyMiles Dining

Tiers & Benefits

As of January 1, 2024, Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) will be the only determinant of benefits. Every dollar spent on Delta, its partner airlines (except basic economy fares), and Delta retail partners earns you one MQD. If value matters more to you than racking up miles, this is the program for you.

Another interesting element of this program is that in the two higher tiers, you choose 1-3 benefits.

Are you curious about the program but already have elite status with another airline? Delta’s new Medallion Status Match Challenge lets you swap your elite status for a free three-month trial of SkyMiles Medallion perks.

Tier Names

SkyMiles

Silver Medallion Status

Gold Medallion Status

Platinum Medallion Status

Diamond Medallion Status

Qualifications

Free

$5,000 MQDs

$10,000 MQDs

$15,000 MQDs

$28,000 MQDs

No blackout dates for Delta Airlines

Blackout dates for partner airlines

Some blackout dates apply

Earning points

5 miles spent for each $1 on Delta flights

7 miles spent for each $1 on Delta flights

8 miles spent for each $1 on Delta flights

9 miles spent for each $1 on Delta flights

11 miles spent for each $1 on Delta flights

Choice Benefits Options

Choose 1 “Choice Benefit”

Choose 3 “Choice Benefit”

Unlimited Complimentary US Delta One Upgrades (except E fares)

Day of Departure

Unlimited Complimentary First Class Upgrades (except E fares)

Begins 1 day (24 hours) prior to departure

Begins 3 days (72 hours) prior to departure

Begins 5 days (120 hours) prior to departure

Begins 5 days (120 hours) prior to departure (with priority over Platinum members)

Unlimited Complimentary Delta Comfort+ Upgrades (except E fares)

Begins 1 day (24 hours) prior to departure

Begins 3 days (72 hours) prior to departure

Shortly after ticketing

Unlimited Complimentary US 50 Delta One, First Class, and Delta Comfort+ Upgrades for a Companion (except E fares)

Unlimited Complimentary Clase Premier Upgrades on select Aeromexico-operated flights

Begins 1 day (24 hours) prior to departure

Begins 3 days (72 hours) prior to departure

Begins 5 days (120 hours) prior to departure

Begins 5 days (120 hours) prior to departure (with priority over Platinum members)

Complimentary Preferred Seats

Priority Waitlist Status

Waived Baggage Fees

Waived Same-Day Confirmed Fees

Dedicated Phone Line

Priority

High Priority

Higher Priority

VIP Line

Priority Check In

Priority Boarding

Sky Priority

Highest among Medallion Members

Priority Security Line

Expedited Baggage Service

Priority Baggage Handling (for International Flights with SkyTeam airline partners)

CLEAR® Plus Membership

$179/year

$149/year

Complimentary

Reclaim My Status

SkyTeam Status (for International Flights)

Elite

Elite Plus

SkyTeam Lounge Access

Miles earned per $1 spent on qualifying car rentals with Hertz

Status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Program

Five Star®

President’s Circle®

Savings of up to $350 per booking with Delta Vacations

Drink Vouchers

Four (4) drink vouchers

Bag Tags

Learn more about signing up for SkyMiles

Save money when booking flights for business travel today!

AAdvantage

With a long list of partner airlines, the AAdvantage program from American Airlines is a great option for the global traveler. Note that there are fewerEuropean airlines here than the SkyMiles program. With the highest number of participating retailers (over 1,000), this card lets shoppers rack up miles.

Partner Airlines:

American Airlines

Alaska Airlines

British Airways

Cathay Pacific

Finnair

Iberia

Japan Airlines

Malaysia Airlines

Qantas

Qatar Airways

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Jordanian Airlines

SriLankan Airlines

Aer Lingus

Cape Air

China Southern Airlines

Etihad Airways

Fiji Airways

GOL Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

IndiGo

JetBlue

JetSMART

Silver Airways

Air Tahiti Nui

Top Partner Companies:

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

American Airlines Vacations

Ticketmaster

eShopping

Marriott Bonvoy

Avis

Hertz

Budget

Alamo

Bask Bank

Dollar Car Rental

Hyatt Hotels

IHG Rewards

Miles for Opinions

National Car Rental

NRG

Payless Car Rental

Reliant

Shell Fuel Rewards^®

SimplyMiles^™

Stand Up To Cancer

Thrifty Car Rental

Tiers & Benefits

To move up the tiers, you only need Loyalty Points, which can be earned when you fly, use an AAdvantage credit card, or shop at an AAdvantage partner. AAdvantage status members can also take advantage of oneworld^® benefits as passengers on scheduled flights that are marketed and operated by oneworld^® member airlines.

Tier Names

AAdvantage

Gold

Platinum

Platinum Pro

Executive Platinum

Qualifications

Free

40,000

75,000

125,000

200,000

No blackout dates for American Airlines

Blackout dates for partner airlines

Some blackout dates apply

Earning points

5 miles for every dollar

7 miles for every dollar, plus mileage bonus

8 miles for every dollar, plus mileage bonus

9 miles for every dollar, plus mileage bonus

11 miles for every dollar, plus mileage bonus

Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades (including award tickets)

Complimentary upgrade for one (1) companion traveling with you on the same flight

Upgrades confirmed before departure (as early as)

24 hours

48 hours

72 hours

100 hours

Complimentary upgrades on Alaska Airlines flights

Status mileage bonus

40%

60%

80%

120%

Priority through the airport at check-in, security, and boarding

Free checked bags for each flight

Priority bag delivery

Basic Economy cancellation for a partial Trip Credit for a fee

Extended Trip Credit

Same-day standby

Complimentary same-day flight change

Discounted Admirals Club® membership

Exclusive Admirals Club® One-Day Passes for a fee

Exclusive Flagship® Lounge Single Visit Passes for a fee

24-hour trip hold

Exclusive service desk

Complimentary preferred seats

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats

Within 24 hours of departure

Guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin

Waitlist priority for purchased First or Business class

Complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin

oneworld® priority check-in and standby

oneworld® priority boarding

oneworld® priority security

oneworld® partner lounge access

Business Class and frequent flyer lounges

First and Business Class and frequent flyer lounges

oneworld® preferred or pre-reserved seating

oneworld® complimentary bags

Total of 1 bags on American

Total of 2 bags on American

Total of 3 bags on American

Learn more about signing up for AAdvantage

United MileagePlus

As part of the Star Alliance, United Airlines offers MileagePlus members the ability to collect miles from over 35 other airlines. With domestic hubs in eight US cities and territories and daily flights to cities across five continents, MileagePlus is a great option for the States-based traveler who also flies internationally. There are also 900+ partnering retailers that can help you earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

Partner Airlines:

United Airlines

Aegean

Aer Lingus

Aeromar

Air Canada

Air China

Air Dolomiti

Air India

Airlink

Azul

Boutique Air

Cape Air

Discover Airlines

Edelweiss

Emirates

Eurowings

FlyDubai

Hawaiian Airlines

JSX

Olympic Air

Silver Airways

Virgin Australia

Vistara

Air New Zealand

ANA

Asiana Airlines

Austrian

Avianca

Brussels Airlines

Copa Airlines

Croatia Airlines

Egyptair

Ethiopian Airlines

Eva Air

Juneyao Air (connecting partner)

LOT Polish Airlines

Lufthansa

SAS

Shenzhen Airlines

Singapore Airlines

South African Airways

Swiss Airlines

TAP Air Portugal

Thai Airways

Turkish Airlines

Top Partner Companies:

United Hotels

Several Chase Credit Cards

FTD^®

Apple Rewards Store

Vrbo

Vinesse

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Vacation Club

Teleflora

NRG

Avis

Budget Car Rental

Norton

Emergency Assistance Plus

1-800-Flowers

MyPoints

Therabody

Timeshifter

Rocketmiles

Bilt

SimpliSafe

CLEAR

Rocket Mortgage

FareLock^®

Opinion Miles Club

Tiers & Benefits

Tiers are based on either a combination of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) or by meeting a higher PQP goal.

Tier Names

Mileage Plus

Premier Silver

Premier Gold

Premier Platinum

Premier 1k

Qualifications

As soon as you join

12 PQF and 4,000 PQP OR 5,000 PQP

24 PQF and 8,000 PQP OR 10,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 1 million miles)

36 PQF and 12,000 PQP OR 15,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 2 million miles)

54 PQF and 18,000 PQP OR 24,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 3 million miles)

No blackout dates for award flights on United and United Express

Earning points

7 miles for every dollar spent

8 miles for every dollar spent

9 miles for every dollar spent

11 miles for every dollar spent

Complimentary access to Economy Plus or preferred seating

Preferred seating at booking; Economy Plus at check-in

At booking

Complimentary Economy Plus for travel companions

Preferred seating for travel companions

Complimentary Premier Upgrades (as early as)

Day of departure

48 hours

72 hours

96 hours

Instant upgrades to the premium cabin on Economy tickets

Y or B class fares

Y, B, or M class fares

PlusPoints

+280

1 free drink and 1 snack in Economy

Confirmed flight changes within 24 hours

Free within same fare class

Access to most sold-out flights

Y-class ticket, at least 24 hours before departure

Y-class ticket, at least 2 hours before departure

Y- or B-class ticket, at least 1.5 hours before departure

United Club annual membership discount

$50 discount

$100 discount

CLEAR discounted annual membership

$149

Waived

Better award availability in Economy

Better award availability in select premium cabins

Priority award waitlisting

Standby for international award flights

Premier Priority Desk phone line

Fee waived for making changes or canceling an award ticket with redeposit

Priority check-in

Priority security screening

Priority boarding

Group 2

Group 1

Pre-board

International lounge access

Complimentary checked bags in Economy

3 complimentary checked bags in premium cabin

Learn more about signing up for MileagePlus

HawaiianMiles

This program is great for Pacific Coast or Hawaii-located travelers who fly often from the islands to the mainland, or from either place to Asia. With their signature motto “a mile flown is a mile earned,” we’ll leave it to you to guess how you earn miles.

Partner Airlines:

Hawaiian Airlines

Air China

China Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Airlines

Japan Airlines

JetBlue

Korean Air

Philippine Airlines

Turkish Airlines

United Airlines

Virgin Australia

Top Partner Companies:

Mastercard

Starwood Preferred Guest

Hyatt

Hilton

Marriott

IHG

Avis

Budget

Payless Car Rental

Old Navy

Papa John’s

Vera Bradley

Hele

Petco

Sharper Image

Tiers & Benefits

The higher tiers are some of the easier ones to access versus other plans. Fly round-trip between SFO and HNL four times in one year and you’ll almost reach Pualani Gold. A few partner hotel stays should get you to the 20,000 mile requirement.

Tier Names

HawaiianMiles

Premier Club

Pualani Gold

Pualani Platinum

Qualifications

As soon as you join

$299/year or redeem 40,000 miles; annual renewal at $249/year or 35,000 miles

Fly 30 segments or 20,000 miles in a calendar year

Fly 60 segments or 40,000 miles in a calendar year

No blackout dates

Earning miles

Based on destination

Earn 500 HawaiianMiles on any neighbor island flight

Bonus frequent flyer miles when flying on a revenue ticket

50%

100%

More seats available for selection

Premier Club Access (Honolulu, Hilo, Kona, Kahului, Lihue) for the member and two guests

Access to The Plumeria Lounge at Honolulu airport for the member and one guest when flying internationally.

Access to select international partner lounges for the member and one guest.

Priority boarding

Zone 2

Zone 1

First Class check-in and express security line

At select airports

Priority baggage handling

Complimentary checked bags

Exclusive Reservations customer service line

Discounted Main Cabin flight awards when booking online

Complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort seats on flights to neighbor islands

Complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort seats on North America-bound and international flights

Upgrades to First or Business Class on flights to neighbor islands

50% discount

Complimentary, upon check-in

Guaranteed seat availability in Coach Class on on neighbor island flights when purchased via Hawaiian Airlines Reservations

Until 72 hours before departure

Two complimentary upgrade certificates for Business/First class on longer flights. Pualani Platinum members who earn 75,000 miles in one calendar year will receive six upgrade certificates, plus one certificate for every additional 10,000 miles after 75,000 miles.

Ticket change fee waived for neighbor island flights

Neighbor Island Standby for an earlier flight with no additional fee

Complimentary First Class Upgrade based on availability

50% discount

Complimentary access to preferred seat on all Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights

::yes:: *Not valid for Main Cabin Basic fares

Learn more about signing up for HawaiianMiles

British Airways Executive Club

There are many reasons why frequent business travelers would want to join the British Airways Executive Club. With its distinct reward currency, Avios, cardholders have countless ways to redeem miles for flights, hotels, airport lounges, and even travel experiences. The program’s Balance Booster even allows you to double or triple your Avios. You can use miles for a number of exciting perks that fall under the One World umbrella.

Partner Airlines:

American Airlines

Cathay Pacific

Qantas

Finnair

Iberia

Japan Airlines

Qatar Airways

China Southern Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Malaysia Airlines

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Jordanian

S7 Airlines

Sri Lankan Airlines

Aer Lingus

LATAM

Top Partner Companies:

British Airways American Express^® Credit Card

Accor

Airbnb

Avios Hotels

IHG

Marriott International

Avis

Budget Car Rental

Zipcar

British Airways Holidays

British Airways Lounge Pass

ParkVia Airport Parking

Heathrow Express

Heathrow Valet Parking

Barclays

Red By Dufry

Nectar

The Wine Flyer

Heathrow Rewards

The Bicester Collection^TM

High Life Shop

American Express Membership Rewards

HSBC Credit Card Rewards Programme

Uber

BPme Rewards

Capital on Tap - Business Rewards Credit Card

Avios For Thoughts

eRewards

Nutmeg

Tiers & Benefits

There are 4 tiers of membership that you can join—Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Your award miles and the way you redeem them will differ depending on which membership tier you are part of. You automatically become a Blue Member as soon as you join the British Airways Executive Club.

Tier Names

Blue

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Qualifications

As soon as you join

Earn 300 Tier Points and fly 2 eligible flights with BA OR fly 25 eligible BA or Iberia flights

Earn 600 Tier Points and fly 4 eligible flights with BA OR fly 50 eligible BA flights

Earn 1500 Tier Points and fly 4 eligible BA flights

Share Avios with a household account

Gift Avios

Transfer Avios for free

For a fee

::yes::For a fee

For a fee

Combine Avios

Priority waitlist

Seating preference stored and offered where possible

Meal preferences stored and offered where possible

Priority check-in

Priority boarding

Free seat selection

24 hours before departure (not including travel on basic fare)

7 days before departure

At time of booking

Lounge access when flying with British Airways and partner airlines

Use of British Airways First and other oneworld® First Class check-in desks

Extra baggage allowance

Reservation assurance

No booking or service fees for Priority Reward bookings

Gold Priority Reward

Additional reward flight availability in Economy

Gold Upgrade for Two voucher (at 2,500 Tier Points in one year)

Two Gold Upgrade for One vouchers (at 3,500 Tier Points in one year)

One Gold Executive Club partner card and two Silver cards (at 5,000 Tier Points in one year and 3,000 Tier Points thereafter)

Concorde Room access (at 5,000 Tier Points in one year and 3,00 Tier Points thereafter)

Status freeze for Maternity/Paternity/Adoption

Bonus Avios on flights with Japan Airlines

25%

50%

100%

Flying Blue

This union between AirFrance, KLM, and Transavia is considered one of the most popular loyalty programs in the world. Earning miles on air travel with them is easy, as is finding desirable airfare options with their Promo Rewards. Discounts can often reach up to 50% off on trips to specific cities around the world!

Partner Airlines:

Aerolíneas Argentinas

AeroMexico

Air Corsica

AirEuropa

Air France

Air Mauritius

airBaltic

Aircalin

Bangkok Airways

Chalair Aviation

China Airlines

China Eastern

China Southern Airlines

Copa Airlines

Czech Airlines

Delta

Etihad Airways

Garuda Indonesia

GOL

Japan Airlines

Kenya Airways

KLM

Korean Air

Malaysia Airlines

Middle East Airlines

Qantas

Saudia

TAROM

Transavia

Twin Jet

Vietnam Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

WestJet

Winair

Xiamen Airlines

Top Partner Companies:

Bose

Apple

Tumi

Fitbit

Rituals

Tiers & Benefits

You can actually start claiming award tickets with a relatively low number of miles thanks to the Promo Rewards feature offered. Flying Blue provides a great tool for finding seats and issues interesting new award programs and deals every month.

Tier names

Explorer

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Ultimate

Qualifications

As soon as you join

Starting with 100 XP

Starting with 180 XP

Starting with 300 XP

Starting by gaining 900 UXP (Ultimate XP) in one (1) qualification year

Miles per euro spent

Earn Elite bonus Miles on all partner airlines (except Bangkok Airways)

50%

75%

100%

Pay with Miles and Cash

Book any seat on the plane using Miles

Extra baggage allowance

10% discount on the first checked bag on Air France and KLM flights

Upgrade with Miles

Book extra options with Miles

Preferred waitlist status

Preferred standby status

Priority travel service with SkyPriority

Upgrade to La Première on Air France flights

Complimentary one-cabin upgrades

Four vouchers per membership year

Miles overdraft on rewards tickets

SkyTeam Status

Elite

Elite Plus

Priority check-in

SkyPriority

Priority baggage drop-off

SkyPriority

Priority baggage handling

SkyPriority

Free standard seat selection on Air France and KLM operated flights

During check-in

Upgrade last-minute before boarding the aircraft

Priority boarding

Boarding zone 3

SkyPriority

Extra legroom on Air France and KLM operated flights

Available 24 hours before departure

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Front section seat on Air France and KLM operated flights

Available 24 hours before departure

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Seat in a row of 2 on Air France and KLM operated flights

Available 24 hours before departure

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Economy Comfort seat (only available on KLM operated flights)

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Guaranteed seat in Economy

Priority at immigration and security with SkyPriority

Delta Air Lines operated flights: Delta Comfort+ seat

25% discount

50% discount

Kenya Airways operated flights: Standard seat selection

During check-in

Kenya Airways operated flights: Preferred seat

Available 24 hours before departure

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Kenya Airways operated flights: Extra legroom

Available 24 hours before departure

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Kenya Airways operated flights: Economy Comfort

Available 72 hours before departure

At time of booking

Air Mauritius operated flights: Standard seat selection

GOL operated flights: GOL+ Conforto

Lounge access

Fees apply

Free for you + one (1) guest

Free for you + up to eight (8) guests

Miles never expire

Gain XP to maintain tier or move up a tier

Roll over surplus XP

Dedicated service line

Premium Service Line

Ultimate Assistant

Waived service fees

Change/Refund

One Flying Blue Platinum card for one of your travel companions

Hertz Platinum card

Maintain your Silver, Gold, or Platinum status after personal leave

Lifelong membership

After 10 consecutive years of Platinum

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Gather frequent flyer miles with the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and redeem them particularly well with Delta, specifically. You can collect award seats for very reasonable sums, and can even put them on hold for free for 24 hours before transferring points.

Partner Airlines:

Aerolíneas Argentinas

AeroMexico

AirEuropa

China Airlines

China Eastern

Czech Airlines

Delta

Garuda Indonesia

ITA Airways

Kenya Airways

KLM

Korean Air

Middle East Airlines

Saudia

TAROM

Vietnam Airlines

Xiamen Air

Air France

Singapore Airlines

Air New Zealand

Virgin Australia

ANA

Hawaiian Airlines

IndiGo

LATAM Airlines

Scandinavian Airlines

South African Airways

Top Partner Companies:

American Express

Virgin Holidays

Virgin Hotels

Virgin Galactic

Hyatt Hotels

Marriott Bonvoy

Yotel

Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Hilton Hotels

Appleyard London

Hotel Chocolat

Selfridges

Pandora

Nespresso

lookfantastic

Harvey Nichols

Fortnum & Mason

Harrods

Sephora UK

Lego UK

Very

Net-A-Porter

B&Q

Goldsmiths

eBay UK

Booking.com

John Lewis & Partners

Just Eat

Parcel2Go

Hotels.com

Screwfix

Argos.co.uk

Coach

Swaine

Sim Local UK

Verisure

UK Rugby Store

Tiers & Benefits

If there's one thing Virgin Atlantic does well, it's giving you perks. From giving you the opportunity to earn points on every flight to clubhouse guest passes, this program's got it all! It's especially good for frequent flyers traveling to London often. If you connect your Flying Club account to a free Virgin Red rewards club account, you’ll rack up points even faster.

Tier names

Red

Silver

Gold

Earn points on every flight

Additional bonus points per flight

30%

60%

Gold Reward Seat

Up to 8 sectors per membership year

Guaranteed Y seat

Points + money

Free seat selection ahead of your flight in Economy cabins

7 days prior to departure for member only

Anytime for you and your party

Free seat selection ahead of your flight in Premium

Anytime for member only

Upper Class Check-in flying in any cabin

Premium Check-in flying in any cabin

Extra hold baggage

Clubhouse passes for you and a guest when flying in any cabin

Access to London Heathrow Rivals Lounge

Earn Virgin Points on Virgin Holidays and Flight + Hotel (lead booker only)

Earn Tier Points with Virgin Holidays and Flight + Hotel (lead booker only)

Earn Tier Points on every flight including redemptions

Tier renewal bonus

Enroll your children without any age restriction

2,000 bonus birthday points

Complimentary companion ticket upon yearly renewal of Gold tier

Clubhouse passes for you to keep or share when you earn 1,500 Tier Points within your membership year

Cabin Upgrade Reward when you earn 2,000 Tier Points within your membership year

Supplementary Silver membership for a friend

Guaranteed Economy seat on any flight

Status extension for maternity, paternity and adoption

Dedicated Flying Club phone line

Household account for up to nine (9) people

Gift companion and upgrade vouchers to your loved ones

Discounted access and earn points and No1 Lounges

Airline partner airport extras

Member benefits with Virgin Hotels

Factors to consider when choosing the best frequent flyer program

Whether elite status is the goal or whether you’re simply trying to save money on business travel expenses, there are certain factors to take into account before committing to a frequent flyer program. This will help you determine how beneficial the airline miles program is for your organization, and optimize your business travel program in general.

Here are 4 factors to consider before choosing the best airline rewards program.

1. Where you travel and how often

This is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing your frequent flyer program. In short, there’s little point in choosing a frequent flier program with all the bells and whistles if you’re not actually going to benefit from it.

The most influential factor here is whether you fly more domestically or internationally, or whether there’s a mix of both. Not only will you have a bigger and more suitable flight inventory to choose from, but you’ll have more chances to earn miles and book reward air travel in the future.

Plus, choosing a frequent flyer program solely based on its points policy is a big no-no. Although you might earn more points with a certain program, you may end up making more or multiple connections if you choose an airline that doesn’t align with your base location and destinations, resulting in a huge waste of travel time for frequent travelers.

2. Whether points are accrued based on miles traveled or money spent

Frequent flyer loyalty programs and airline loyalty schemes have, traditionally, rewarded customers based on the number of miles they fly. However, it’s now also common to reward the customers that spend more money with them, resulting in reward programs that combine both the number of miles flown and the amount of money spent.

Which type of points accrual is best will depend on your business and the balance of long and short-haul journeys made and the type of airfare you regularly choose.

3. Which partners the program offers

Many airlines have both partner airlines and partner hotels, travel companies, and credit card providers, which makes earning miles much easier. Choosing a frequent flyer loyalty program with relevant partners for your needs can greatly expand the range of available destinations, as well as the chance to earn and redeem more frequent flyer miles for free flights.

Not only does this increase the flexibility you have with your travel plans, but you can also benefit from credit card reward programs, hotel partnerships, and many other perks.

4. What exactly is redeemable

Frequent flyer miles are regularly used for reward flights, but check to see what else is on offer with each airline rewards program, and how exactly you can spend your points. For example, some airlines might only offer certain flights when you redeem your points, while others may not allow you to redeem 100% of the flight cost.

If you’re looking for a program that will allow you to redeem miles for more than just free flights, check whether each program offers perks such as upgrading to extra legroom, having access to airport lounges, or putting your points towards hotel stays and car hires.

The best airline loyalty programs worldwide

Airline Loyalty Programs Comparison

JetBlue TrueBlue

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

Companion Pass

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Mileage Plan

Partner Airlines:

Tiers & Benefits

SkyMiles

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

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AAdvantage

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

United MileagePlus

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

HawaiianMiles

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

British Airways Executive Club

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

Flying Blue

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Partner Airlines:

Top Partner Companies:

Tiers & Benefits

Factors to consider when choosing the best frequent flyer program

1. Where you travel and how often

2. Whether points are accrued based on miles traveled or money spent

3. Which partners the program offers

4. What exactly is redeemable

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