Using frequent flyer miles and travel rewards is a great way to enjoy the perks of traveling. While there is no perfect airline program for everyone, certain programs have benefits that may make more sense for the way you travel.
Maybe blackout dates are important to you or you travel often on a certain airline for work. Figuring out what is important to you will help you narrow down your choices. Here’s a round-up of a few key considerations when choosing the best airline rewards program. Fo you.
How are the Rewards Earned
The type of rewards programs you want to go with will have a lot to do with how the rewards points are earned.
Let’s say you often travel on Air New Zealand, for example, your best bet is to go with a Koru membership which has a ton of perks for New Zealand business and leisure travelers.
Traditionally, you’ll earn miles based on your flight distance or the price of your flight. Let’s say you take a flight from one continent to another. You can rack up a lot of miles based on the distance.
Airlines such as Delta, United, and American Airlines, for example, are all on a revenue-based model where you’ll earn more miles with more expensive flights. Buying flights at a discount will put you at a disadvantage.
How Do You Want to Use Your Rewards
If you aren’t going to use the points you earn, this is all a useless exercise. Let’s say for example, you want to redeem your miles for an expensive flight, a program that has little flexibility but you can use it during a peak period, is a good option.
United, Delta, and American all use zone-based redemptions where the number of miles you can use will depend on what region you are flying to and from. Buying expensive flights that are in business or first-class, are best bought using a zone-program model, for example.
A revenue-based rewards system is going to be your best bet if you don’t need a lot of flexibility but you want to use them during a peak time to travel economy.
Perks of Some of the Best Frequent Flyer Programs
Different airlines have different things they are known for. The JetBlue frequent flyer program, for example, is known for not having blackout dates. If you need to travel a lot during peak travel dates such as holidays or weekends, this can be a huge perk.
There are also programs that allow you to buy rewards points. You can buy Southwest points, for example, so if you’re short on points for a certain trip, you can buy more to make up the difference.
Delta is one of the best U.S. airlines for domestic and international travel because you can earn five miles for every $1 spent. There are also no blackout dates here.
Wheels Up: Go Enjoy the Best Airline Rewards Program for You
Doing your homework will help you determine what the best airline rewards program is for you. From how the points are earned to how you can redeem your points, there are a few main points to consider before you sign up.
Now that you’ve thought about what’s important to you, check out the airlines you frequently travel and get signed up. There’s an entire world out there, get out and go see it.
Visit the travel tips section for more helpful guides on traveling.