WalletHub evaluated the loyalty programs of the 10 largest U.S. airlines using 23 metrics, including point and mile value, blackout date policies, expiration rules, partner-carrier relationships and other program features.
The analysis ranked Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles program highest overall, followed by United Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
Although Delta took the top overall spot, Hawaiian Airlines’ program delivers the greatest rewards return, estimated at $21.29 in travel value per $100 spent. Alaska Airlines ranked second in rewards value, at about $18.12 per $100 spent.
One-third of the airlines improved their award value compared with the previous year. Only about 20 percent of the carriers in the comparison allow members to keep miles indefinitely regardless of account activity; most programs enforce expiration rules tied to activity. On the other hand, 80 percent of the airlines do not impose blackout dates for award tickets, giving members greater flexibility when booking travel with miles.
Southwest Airlines, Spirit and Sun Country stand apart in this review for not permitting loyalty members to both earn and redeem miles with partner carriers, limiting those programs to flights operated by the airline itself.
The study also highlights that buying miles directly tends to be a poor value: on average, purchasing miles costs about 61 percent more than the value they represent when compared with earning miles through flying and other program activity.