The Best Airline Rewards Programs

Ready to dip your toes back into travel but feeling overwhelmed by all the different airline rewards programs? Confused about how to make the most of points and miles — especially in the waning months of a global pandemic?

Not to worry: You don’t need to be a seasoned traveler to start racking up points and cashing them in for free flights, upgrades and other perks. Whether your job sends you on a cross-country flight every other week or you only hop on a plane for the occasional family vacation, there’s a frequent flier program for you.

Below, you’ll find the best airline rewards programs for every type of traveler.

• Our Top Picks for Best Airline Rewards Programs
• Best Airline Rewards Guide
• Best Airline Rewards Program FAQ
• How We Evaluated the Best Airline Rewards Programs
• Summary of Money’s Best Airline Rewards Program Reviews

The Best Airline Rewards Programs

Best Overall: American Airlines AAdvantage

Highlight: Members can use points to purchase an Admirals Club membership and get access to more than 100 airport lounges across the globe — and elite members get cheaper membership rates.

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is our top pick for the average traveler. With hub cities in Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, New York and more, you’re likely to find options with American wherever you’d like to fly. You can start redeeming benefits at just 7,500 points — that’s about $1,500 spent with American Airlines for regular customers. Citi AAdvantage card holders earn exclusive benefits and rack up points faster.

Runner up: Delta Skymiles

Highlight: Earn points with unique partners including Lyft, Airbnb and Instacart

Runner up: United Mileage Plus

Highlight: Members get discounts on the Clear service to save time at the airport

Delta Skymiles and United Mileage Plus are also great choices for conventional travelers. Each of these programs share many of the same perks as American’s AAdvantage program, like free checked baggage for members with higher tiers of status. Both serve major hub cities across all regions of the United States. The points earning structure is similar at both airlines, and both allow customers to book flights with a combination of cash and points (though United has an edge when it comes to partner airlines and awards destinations). And as is the case with nearly every airline rewards program, airline credit card holders get exclusive perks and earn points much faster than general members. While all three of the top three loyalty programs have lots of benefits, American Airlines AAdvantage has the edge thanks to its easy-to-use points structure and extensive network of partners.

Best for spring breakers: JetBlue TrueBlue

Highlight: Members get 300 extra points for bringing a pet along for the ride

With plenty of flights from all over the U.S. to warm-weather destinations like Orlando, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, JetBlue’s TrueBlue program is ideal for vacationers. And because the program lets you pool your points with up to six other people, it’s a great choice for larger groups traveling together. JetBlue’s partnership with IGH Hotels and Resorts (which includes the Kimpton, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza brands) means you can keep earning points once you arrive at your beach getaway. You’ll earn top-tier “Mosaic” status after 15,000 points, which can be accrued relatively quickly (in some cases by spending less than $2,500 with the airline in a year). JetBlue credit card holders earn more points per dollar and get bonus points for opening their accounts.

Best for Long Haul Travelers: Alaska Air Mileage Plan

Highlight: Club 49, a program within Mileage Plan specifically for people who live in Alaska, offers two free checked bags on every flight to or from Alaska as well as two 30% discounts per year on flights to, from or within the state.

For transcontinental travelers or those traveling up and down the West Coast frequently, Alaska Air’s Mileage Plan is a great choice. Alaska calculates rewards points based on miles flown, not dollars spent, which the airline says nets members 30% more miles on average than they would on other airlines. Alaska has 24 partner airlines including American Airlines, Emirates and British Airways, and while you may earn fewer points on those partner routes depending on what type of fare you purchase, you can still rack up points on non-West Coast flights.

Best for Couples: Southwest Rapid Rewards

Highlight: The program’s best perk is the ability to earn a “companion pass” that lets you bring someone with you when you fly — for free.

Southwest is famous for its low fares, making it popular among younger, budget-minded travelers. The airline has no assigned seating, which makes it easier for travelers to sit in their preferred seats without paying extra fees on their reservation. It has fewer fees than its competitors and also offers two free checked bags on every flight. The Rapid Rewards program only allows you to earn points on flights with Southwest (or on purchases with the airline’s retail partners), and you’ll reach A-List status after taking 25 flights in a year or earning 35,000 points. A-List status unlocks priority boarding, priority check-in and security line access and same-day standby benefits. One of the best perks of the Rapid Rewards program as a whole is the Companion Pass, which can be earned after taking 100 flights or earning 125,000 points in a year. The pass allows you to bring a guest with you every time you fly — for free (though you’ll both have to pay the taxes and fees on the ticket).

Best for Families: Frontier Miles

Highlight: One child under 15 can fly free with a Discount Den membership of just $60 per year — an expense that pays for itself after just one flight.

Budget airline Frontier, based in Denver, is a great choice for families flying within the United States. Members earn one point for every mile flown, and reaching the first tier of elite status requires just 20,000 points. That tier of status gets you a free carry-on bag, priority boarding and the ability to pool points within your family. Frontier also offers a special program called Discount Den, which gets you access to discounted fares and lets one child under age 15 fly for free on certain qualifying flights. The Discount Den membership is half price once you reach the second tier of membership status and it’s free at the top tier.

Best Airline Rewards Program Guide

What are airline rewards programs?

Airline rewards programs are specialty “frequent flier” programs offered by every major airline. They are generally free to join, and allow you to earn points or miles on purchased airfare that you can then exchange for a bunch of different perks. Generally, the programs have multiple tiers of membership that offer better rewards as you accumulate more points.

How do airline rewards programs work?

Airline rewards programs allow you to earn rewards based on how much you spend or how far you fly with a certain airline or group of airlines. Usually, these reward programs track your progress through points. Once you’ve accumulated enough points by spending money on flights and other eligible expenses, you can redeem them for perks and rewards with the airline or its partners. Those perks might include free flights, free upgrades to first or business class, free checked bags and access to exclusive airport lounges — just to name a few. Many programs also let you redeem points through partnerships with hotels, rental car agencies, cruise lines, retailers and more.

Each airline structures its rewards program a little differently, which is why it's so important to do some research before deciding which one makes the most sense for you.

How we evaluated the best airline rewards programs

To determine the best rewards programs for different types of travelers, Money evaluated the exclusive features, destinations served, network partners (including hotels and other airlines) and ease of earning and spending points for ten popular airline rewards programs. We used this information to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each program, highlighting the features that differentiate the winners while keeping in mind that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all program that works for every traveler. We only considered rewards programs from airlines based in the United States.

Most airlines offer branded credit cards to accompany their rewards programs. We’ve chosen to focus on the program itself, not the perks of the credit card, in our analysis. That said, these cards can offer significant benefits and savings and can help you earn points at a faster rate. Learn more about the best travel credit cards here.

Summary of Money’s best airline program reviews

Best overall: American Airlines AAdvantage
Best for spring breakers: JetBlue TrueBlue
Best for long haul travelers: Alaska Air Mileage Plan
Best for couples: Southwest Rapid Rewards
Best for Families: Frontier Miles