Summary
- United MileagePlus has over 110 million members, making it the most popular loyalty program in the world.
- Delta SkyMiles is a close competitor, with 109 million members and the potential to surpass United. American Airlines’ AAdvantage rounds out the US Big Three, with about 100 million members.
- Miles & More is the leading loyalty program in Europe, with 36.6 million members, while Emirates Skywards has recently reached 30 million members.
Loyalty programs are a massive source of revenue for airlines, allowing them to act as de facto financial service companies by partnering up with credit cards and awarding points. Passengers have been equally excited to generate maximum value from these businesses, so which programs have the most interest?
Note that most airlines don’t publicly share their exact membership amounts, providing only rough figures, if that. However, using publicly available data, this is what we found, but feel free to share your findings below!
1 Delta SkyMiles: 120 million
Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles program takes the top prize, with over 120 million members. The program has seen massive growth in recent years, with 8.5 million added in 2022 alone, making it the biggest program in the United States and the world.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
However, SkyMiles is currently caught in a firestorm of its own making after ditching its old elite qualification system for the American Airlines-style Mileage Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). New thresholds were set extremely high, and the benefits significantly rolled back for loyal cardholders, leaving many fuming. But there’s no doubting the program’s popularity, and with changes coming, it will be hoping to cling to the top spot.
2 United MileagePlus: 110 million
Not very far behind is United Airlines’ MileagePlus program. The Chicago-based operation currently has over 110 million members across the globe. This is no small feat and handily beats out competition outside the United States. We’ve looked at the program in detail in recent months, from earning and spending points to getting elite status.
Photo: United Airlines
MileagePlus’ popularity is helped by United’s status as the US’ best-connected international airline, recently taking the crown as the biggest by ASKs (available seat kilometers). This opens the doors to more global members while certainly attracting American travelers on their next journey, only furthered by its Star Alliance membership.
3 American Airlines AAdvantage: 100 million
Coming in third place is AAdvantage. The Fort Worth-based program currently boasts over 100 million members, drawing strongly as the biggest carrier in the US by flights, fleet size, destinations, and more. While the airline has fewer international destinations than its two closest rivals, its domestic presence is massive and only growing.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
American is also tight-knit with its oneworld partners, especially the likes of British Airways and Iberia, with the joint ventures taking off a lot of load from American’s own metal. This naturally moves some members to programs like the Executive Club, especially those who may not reside in the US.
4 Miles & More: 36.6 million
Finally, moving away from the US, Miles & More is the most popular program in Europe. It benefits heavily by bringing together members from Lufthansa, SWISS, LOT Polish, Austrian, Eurowings, Brussels Airlines, and even more carriers under one umbrella, totaling 36.6 million.
Photo: Miles & More
With bases across Europe’s biggest cities, like Geneva, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, and Brussels, passengers from around the world are likely to connect onward, making M&M one of the most visible programs. While qualification thresholds are high, even Silver status can give you lounge access at all hubs, as well as priority check-in and boarding. Add great redemption options and the program is popular in Europe.
5 Emirates: 30 million
Long-haul international travel and Emirates go hand-in-hand for many passengers, and this has given rise to a vast base for the Skywards program. Speaking to Simple Flying in early 2023, Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Senior Vice President of Emirates Skywards, noted the importance of hitting the 30 million member mark after decades.
Photo: Karol Ciesluk | Shutterstock
Emirates’ connecting business means it is well-known in Australia, the UK, India, and its home in the UAE, making up its biggest markets, with the US highlighted as a fast-growing one. The carrier has also pushed its Skywards program at Dubai International Airport, with dedicated queues everywhere and plenty of First and Business class lounges to keep members satisfied.
Which airline programs are you a part of? Let us know in the comments!