Eight Best Frequent Flyer Programs

You can earn free travel and other benefits when you accumulate all your miles from one frequently flyer program. Like much else in the travel industry, though, these loyalty programs are often changing, and finding the most rewarding program can be difficult.

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As noted by many comments in the call for your favorite frequent flyer program, many of the programs have become less valuable in the last few years, due to airline mergers, flight cutbacks, and just general program changes. Still, if you frequently travel with the same airline, joining their free rewards program makes sense. In addition to flying with the airline, all of the major programs offer additional ways to earn miles, such as using their credit card or shopping with their retail partners.

Here are the top frequent flyer programs nominated by readers. (There are actually eight contenders in this Hive Five due to a four-way tie in the nominations.)

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest recently changed their Rapid Rewards program—from giving travelers credits based on their number of flights to points based on their flights' fares and fare class. Points can be redeemed for free flights and, if you have the rewards credit card, other types of purchases. There are no blackout or expiration dates, and Southwest's generous two-bags-free policy and no penalties for flight changes (as mentioned by user Unicorn Man) has earned the airline some loyal customers. To earn the lowest-level elite (A-List) status for a year, you need to fly 25 one-way flights or earn 35,000 qualifying points in one year; that will get you priority boarding and check-in, 25% points earning bonus, and standby priority.

Continental OnePass

Continental OnePass members earn miles based on fares flown on Continental, as well as airline partners, including Air Canada, United, and US Airways. You can redeem OnePass miles for travel, upgrades, merchandise, etc. As an example: to get a free coach ticket in the US with Saturday night stay, you'd need 25,000 miles. Once you reach 25,000 miles, though, you'll have Elite status (the Silver, lowest of the three tiers). Elite members get complimentary upgrades, bonus mileage earnings, priority check-in, free baggage checks, and more.

American Airlines AAdvantage

The AAdvantage program has over 1,000 ways for you to earn miles, including flying on AA (most fares earn 100% flight miles and premium fares earn more) and partner airlines including British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific. Similarly, you can redeem your miles in many various ways, with flights on AA starting at 12,500 miles. To reach the lowest Gold status tier, you'll ned 25,000 miles, but as user onenotesam pointed out, this is the only FF program where your miles earned from any source can get you elite status.

United Airlines Mileage Plus

United Airlines Mileage Plus members earn miles for United or United Express fares, as well as other Star Alliance Members, including Aegean Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Lufthansa, and Continental (above). Miles can be used for free travel as well as merchandise, but miles can expire after 18 months of inactivity. 25,000 miles earns you Premier status with two bags free and unlimited domestic upgrades. If you fly over a million miles with United or its partners (seriously always flying like George Clooney in "Up in the Air"), you'll get lifetime elite status and other exclusive rewards.

Lufthansa Miles and More

Along with Continental and United above, Lufthansa lets members earn miles from flights with other Star Alliance airlines. You can share miles with friends and family, but also beware that, like United, miles can expire with inactivity, unless you are a credit card holder. To get elite status, you need 35,000 miles, for which you'll get Business Class check-in, 2 bags free, and Business Lounge access.

Delta Skymiles

You can earn miles on flights with Delta as well as partners that include Air Europa, Korean Air, and Alaska Airlines. One notable feature of Delta's program is that you earn a minimum of 500 miles for all members, whereas other programs have gotten rid of that minimum earning. Like the AAdvantage structure, Delta Skymiles redemption for flights depends on which tier the specific flight is in. As an example, 25,000 miles can get you a roundrip coach ticket in the continental US, Alaska, and Canada. You can also redeem your miles at the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace.

Aeroplan

Formerly Air Canada's loyalty program, the independent Aeroplan has a network of 150 travel and retail partners to earn miles with, including Air Canada and other Star Alliance members mentioned above; you can earn 160% of the miles flown on those partner flights. Flight awards have no blackout dates but can be limited to specific airlines or capacity controlled. Aeroplan offers a wide variety of rewards for travel or merchandise, starting at 5,000 miles.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan includes over a dozen airlines for mileage earning and travel awards—including, according to their site, more major U.S. airlines than any other frequent flyer program. Short flights earn a minimum of 500 miles and miles never expire, but your account needs to be active for 2 years. To get elite status, you'll need 20,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines or 25,000 flown on Alaska Airlines and/or a few select partners (with whom you also earn bonus miles).

Have a favorite that didn't get a nod or other thoughts about these programs? Let's hear about it in the comments.