Having trouble navigating the complicated, often frustrating world of airline loyalty programs?
This may help: Point.me, a points and travel Rewards search platform has ranked 62 global airline rewards programs based on nine criteria, with ease of earning miles, redemption rates, availability on partner airlines and ease of booking being the top factors.
Flying Blue, a loyalty program of Air France and KLM, is the world’s largest airline rewards program. according to the ranking. Air Canada’s program, Aeroplan, comes in at No. 2, while United Mileage Plus comes in at No. 3 on the global list.
This year’s rankings are the first edition of what will become an annual list from Point.me, a platform aimed at helping customers get the best value from their points.
“We want to provide that transparency and confidence in earning and redeeming points and help people not feel like this is a Wild West where they don’t understand how to use points. They don’t know which programs are good. We want that clarity,” said Tiffany Funk, president and co-founder of the company, on a call previewing the rankings.
On a scale of 100 points, Flying Blue beat its closest competitor by more than 15 points, with a score of 93.06. Point.me cited the program’s “ease of earning points thanks to its extensive partnerships and great redemption values” as its key strengths. Air Canada’s Aeroplan received high marks for “availability of reward seats on partner airlines with the world’s most extensive network and generous routes.”
United Airlines has received some negative attention in recent years as it reevaluates the airline experience for its most frequent flyers, Funk acknowledged, “but they’re actually very competitive in many ways and they’re excellent for the less frequent flyers.”
British airlines Virgin Atlantic and British Airways completed the top 5 on the global list with a tie. US airlines American (No. 6), Alaska (No. 7) and JetBlue (No. 9) also made the top 10 of the global list.
Delta Air Lines did not appear in the global top 10. The platform also ranked airlines by region, with Delta ranking No. 8 among North American airlines. Funk suggested that Delta has deliberately deprioritized SkyMiles in recent years, putting more emphasis on areas like operations, airport lounges and crew to build loyalty.
Air Canada’s program topped the North American rankings, with Avianca LifeMiles No. 1 in Latin America, Qatar Airways Privilege Club first in the Middle East and Africa and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and ANA Mileage Club tied for first place. top position in the Asia-Pacific region.
In an increasingly confusing landscape, many frequent flyers complain that their airline points aren’t worth as much as they used to be. Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a consumer protection research in US airline loyalty programs.
A rule of thumb for travelers: “If people aren’t getting at least a cent per point when they use their miles, they’re probably better off with a cash-back card,” Funk said, rather than trying to make money. points directly through an airline’s loyalty program.
“The best way to give yourself access to all of these programs and the valuable opportunities out there is to shift your spending to a credit card that offers flexible or transferable points,” she said.
The world’s top 10 airline rewards programs
Here are the top 10 programs worldwide and their scores on a 100-point scale, according to Point.me’s analysis:
1. Flying Blue (Air France and KLM): 93.06
2. Air Canada Aeroplan: 77:43
3. United MileagePlus: 72.22
4. British Airways Executive Club: 69.10 (tie)
4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 69.10 (tie)
6. American Airlines AVavour: 68.06
7. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: 65.97
8. Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 62.85
9. JetBlue TrueBlue: 61.81
10. Avianca LifeMiles: 59.72
Regional leaders
Number 1 in North America: Air Canada Aeroplan
No. 1 in Europe: Flying Blue (Air France and KLM)
Number 1 in Latin America: Avianca LifeMiles
Number 1 in the Middle East/Africa: Qatar Airways Privilege Club
#1 in Asia Pacific: Three-Way Tie – Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and ANA Mileage Club