Which frequent flyer programme is best

Miles never expire and can be used to book travel on Delta or partner airlines, purchase cabin upgrades or shop on the SkyMiles Marketplace. Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines. United's MileagePlus program is excellent for domestic and international travelers, who can earn and use points with United and more than 30 partner airlines to access over 1, destinations around the globe. Besides booking travel, rewards points can go toward hotels, car rentals, cruises, shopping or dining.

Photo courtesy of United Airlines. Passengers earn miles on every flight, as well as on eligible flights with 15 partner airlines and by booking stays with 11 different hotel partners. Points can be used for booking free flights or cabin upgrades, and elite status begins at just 20, miles. Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines. A recent cut in fuel surcharges has made award tickets much more appealing. Photo courtesy of Emirates. Aeroplan miles can be earned by flying to some 1, destinations worldwide through Air Canada and Star Alliance partners, as well as by shopping with more than retail partners online.

Altitude, Air Canada's tiered frequent flyer program, offers passengers a chance to earn Qualifying Miles to go toward flights, upgrades or Aeroplan rewards. Photo courtesy of Air Canada. Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer program offers plenty of attractive benefits to American frequent flyers, who can earn miles by flying partner airlines in the Star Alliance or JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America.

Photo courtesy of Singapore Airlines. Savvy frequent travelers know that loyalty to a specific airline can translate to big savings on flights and upgrades. But not all loyalty programs are created equal. Generally, points are more effectively used getting business-class seats for less rather than reducing economy-class prices.

Finally, using points for shopping or to book nights in hotels is best avoided, since it's done at a pretty poor exchange rate. Earning and spending It varies by route, but Virgin is a little more generous than British Airways. Credit card and online shopping opportunities are similar. Availability The British Airways route network is far more extensive, therefore it's much easier to use whatever points you've accrued with them.

However, for specific routes, especially the more popular ones, the availability of 'reward' flights that can be bought with points is largely similar between the two airlines.

Partner airlines British Airways is part of the Oneworld Alliance, so its points can be used with dozens of partners. Virgin's partner options are more limited, but include Delta and Singapore Airlines. KLM and Air France are said to be coming on board soon. They can help you earn airline miles that can be redeemed for free travel.

But not all airline rewards programs in the United States are created equal. Look at the 10 largest passenger airlines in the country. Some are worth your time and money. Forget about it. These are the best and worst airline frequent flyer programs in the U. The "best for" category is only for the top five airlines.

Is credit card worth it: No. The annual fee makes it too expensive for the perks. Yes, Spirit often has very low rates for an American airline , but flying with it is often so inconvenient and uncomfortable that it may not be worth saving a bit of money. Its reward program, Free Spirit, is also terrible. Choosing the best airline rewards program for you involves weighing a number of factors. The loyalty programs of major U. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. American Airlines AAdvantage.

Delta SkyMiles. Southwest Rapid Rewards. United MileagePlus. All of these loyalty programs are free to join. We recommend opting in to their email marketing to learn about the latest specials and promotions. With each of these loyalty programs, you'll earn miles by flying the airline or its partner airlines or by staying in partner hotels. To choose from these major programs, consider the following questions. Unfortunately, not every flight is a nonstop between your hometown and your preferred destination.

Airlines typically pick cities around the U. Departing from a hub city, you have increased options for nonstop flights, saving you the time and hassle of connecting through another city. For travelers who live in regions with multiple airports, you have more options. For example, in Southern California, there are five airports in driving distance from each other.