Point.me has released a report on the world’s best frequent flyer programs, with a surprise “bronze” finish for United Airlines MileagePlus. Let’s unpack this list and explore the value of each of the top programs.
The 10 Best Frequent Flyer Programs Via Point.me
As a reminder, point.me is a service that helps you find frequent flyer award seats and set up accounts…it’s a valuable tool that anyone sitting on a cache of points or miles should explore.
Let’s take a look at its top-10 list of best frequent flyer programs:
1. Flying Blue
2. Air Canada Aeroplan
3. United MileagePlus
4. British Airways Executive Club (tie)
4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (tie)
6. American Airlines AAdvantage
7. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
8. Qatar Airways Privilege Club
9. JetBlue True Blue
10. Avianca LifeMiles
The list, other than #3, is not a surprise. I’m going to work my way through this list, saving United for last.
Flying Blue
FlyingBlue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, offers excellent value for economy class awards and transatlantic business class awards for as little as 50,000 miles one-way (including an onward connection beyond Paris or Amsterdam). On the flip side, some last-minute tickets can run over 700,000 miles one-way in business class…worse than even Delta’s deplorable SkyMiles program…but at least there is a balance and at least with some flexibility you can score some very good deals (and the ease and wide availability of Flying Blue miles via multiple transfer partners also add value to the program.
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada is also an excellent program: easy to use, reasonably priced (no more fuel surcharges), and with a host of partners. Air Canada also has an annoying cancellation fee and partner booking fee plus long hold times to speak to an agent and a website that is still not nearly as functional as promised years ago. Still, though, it is an easy program to use and the points are easy to come by.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
We’ll jump past United for a moment and move to British and Virgin Atlantic, which tied for fourth place. I am fond of both programs and both have sweet spots that bring tremendous value.
People like to focus on the ANA business class and first class awards on Virgin, which are theoretically highly valuable, but I like that Virgin tends to offer plenty of award space and all three cabins and last-minute Upper Class space at a good price, despite the heavy carrier-imposed fees.
British Airways Executive Club
British Airways Executive Club is a very different program but has gotten better, not worse over the last couple years. Intercontinental flights on Finnair or Qatar Airways are now reasonably priced and I continue to find great value in short-haul awards. Longhaul flights from Europe to the USA via London continue to have moderate surcharges and achieving oneworld emerald status via British Airways is reasonable, not overly burdensome.
American Airlines AAdvantage
I still find American Airlines a very valuable program…the last-minute deals on AA space in premium cabins are impressive and the award charts, long overdue for a devaluation, have somehow persisted, with deals like 75,000 miles one-way to fly from Los Angeles to Cape Town via Doha in Qsuite Business Class or 80,000 miles to fly from New York to Tokyo in first class on JAL’s brand new A350-1000.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Alaska Mileage Plan remains an eclectic and excellent program with an eclectic mix of partners and earning based on miles flown, not dollars spent.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
The great thing about Qtar Airways Privilege Club, now part of the Avios family, is the ability to pay double the points for space on Qatar Airways…which can still make sense versus cash purchases.
JetBlue True Blue
Not my favorite program, but flying Qsuites for 79,000 points is not a bad deal (JetBlue partners with Qatar Airways). Always check cash prices versus points prices, since redemption values can vary.
Avianca LifeMiles
I’ve soured on this program….there are still sweet spots, but the recent devaluation rubbed me the wrong way. The advantage is that miles can often be purchased very cheaply so if you’re looking to go to Europe or Asia with some flexibility, buying Avianca miles and redeeming can save you a lot of money versus a revenue ticket.
On United Airlines MileagePlus…#3?
I’m known as the United guy (sometimes the United apologist) around here and I want to focus specifically on United. How could United wind up at #3?
I am quoted in the point.Me report. Here’s what I said about United:
“United Airlines MileagePlus has consistently proven to be a strong loyalty program when it comes to giving members access to the world. Thanks to United’s Star Alliance partnerships and its own extensive route network, members enjoy points redemption options to some of the most far-flung destinations on the globe. Over the last two decades, I have immensely enjoyed traveling across six continents thanks to United MileagePlus and helped countless others do the same.
“With the recent introduction of miles pooling, United has made it easier than ever before for families and friends to create priceless memories together. If there is anywhere in the world you wish to visit, chances are strong that your United miles can take you there.”
I made that statement months ago, but stand by it. I think it is undeniable that for the majority of travelers, MileagePlus has become a more valuable program. Yes, we’ve seen coach award inflation as well, but it has not been nearly as significant as in premium cabins.
We’ve also seen a great app and website that makes booking easy, no cancellation or change fees, miles pooling, and more last-minute saver space, especially now that United is limited its own saver space to MileagePlus members. Plus, the Star Alliance network does give passengers far more reach than using Alaska, American, or Delta miles in nearly any region in the world.
The premium cabin devaluations drive me crazy too…I think it’s so foolish considering how much loyalty that fosters in passengers on the margins when United’s own reimbursement rates for those seats are so low.
Would I have put United at #3 ahead of Alaska Mileage Plan? No, I would not have. Is United as valuable as it was before? Not for premium cabin travelers. But it remains valuable and for the occasional traveler or United MileagePlus credit card holder, MileagePlus is more valuable than it has been in years past.
CONCLUSION
Point.me is out with its rankings of airline frequent flyer programs and overall the list is solid. United’s high rank may have surprised me in some ways, but in other ways, it does not…the ease of using miles is itself a value, even at higher price points.
Finally, I’m proud of what Tiffany Funk and Adam Morvitz have done with point.me. It’s a valuable service and both Funk and Morvitz are people I fully trust and who truly understand the loyalty space. Do take a look at the full rankings and methodology. This isn’t a fly-by-the-night ranking propped up by sponsors: it’s a thoughtful and insightful analysis into the frequent flyer programs that continue to offer great value…and some that do not.
image: Air France
