If you’re a serious traveler, you’re someone who keeps track of your mileage, which may guide your decision of which airline to fly and be loyal to. But even if you don’t fly that often, it’s still worth it to join a frequent flyer program because they’re free to join and save you money on airfare. Some airlines will consider your membership if they need to bump people off an overbooked flight. And if you get an airline credit card, you can start racking up miles even if you aren’t traveling. You can earn perks like free flights (of course, the goal), priority boarding and free checked bags. WalletHub has analyzed the various loyalty programs and has information to share with its 2024 Best Frequent Flyer Programs report. This ranks the 10 largest U.S. airlines based on 21 metrics, such as the value of a point/mile and its tendency to blackout (or not) dates for reward flights.
Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, says that two airlines have the best frequent flyer programs in 2024: Alaska and United. She says, “Alaska Mileage Plan and United MileagePlus ...save members the most money and generally have the most consumer-friendly policies. For example, neither has blackout dates, award-ticket cancellation fees, short-notice booking fees, or miles that expire. Plus, both offer retroactive flight credits for up to 12 months and the ability to book flights more than 300 days in advance.” But of these two, Alaska edges out last year’s winner, United, for 2024.
Other takeaways:
- Savings Available to Frequent Flyers: The average rewards program saves you nearly nine percent on airfare. This doesn't mean frequent flyer program members see a better price for airfare than non-members; it simply means that over time, value is achieved by earning points and miles, which can be redeemed for free or discounted airfare.
- Increased Rewards in 2024: Seven airlines are offering more rewards value this year than last year: on average, 18 percent more. Frontier Airlines does best with $15.40 per $100 spent. Alaska Airlines comes in second, with $11.00 per $100 spent.
- Six airlines—Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United—offer miles that don’t expire due to inactivity, which is great when you don’t fly that often but still want to keep the credit.
- Earn with partners, too: Six airlines, United, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, and JetBlue, allow you to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.
- Best Airline Credit Card: The JetBlue Plus Card is 2024’s best airline credit card, says WalletHub, because of its generous terms. The annual fee is reasonable at $99, and you can earn 60,000 points as an initial bonus for signing up so long as you spend $1,000 on the card in the first 90 days. You also get 5,000 bonus points each year on your anniversary of creating an account. Throughout the year, you earn six points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, two points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per $1 on everything else. You get free checked bags and 50 percent off in-flight purchases.
Best Frequent Flyer Programs of 2024
1. Alaska Airlines - Mileage Plan
2. United Airlines – MileagePlus
3. Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
4. Hawaiian Airlines - HawaiianMiles
5. American Airlines - AAdvantage