Merely having an airline reward system gives you privileges over unsubscribed passengers. For example, if the flight you have confirmed the booking to is overbooked, you will be upgraded to the business class . A Frequent Flyer’s Program (FFP), as it is better known, is a point-based system.
You earn points or miles depending upon the number of miles you have flown with the particular airline.
What’s interesting is that you can earn these points even if you have not flown with the airline before.
And, airlines today offer more benefits than just free travel. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Check out below-listed frequent flyer’s programs that offer great perks
1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
If you fly to below-listed US destinations a lot, getting the Alaska Airlines Mileage plan is going to be favorable:
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- Alaska
- Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and other west coast cities
- New York, Atlanta or other primary transportation centers
- Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and some other nearby locations.
Moreover, you can avail of the benefits of the reward system with Alaska Airlines’ partner airlines.
Some of the partners include prominent air carriers such as Emirates, American Airlines, and British Airways.
What is even more convenient is that you can earn miles by using the services of the airline’s travel partners.
Staying at partner hotels or renting transportation makes you points.
Redeeming points against flights are fairly easy, cheap and flexible. Taking an international trip has never been this convenient.
Imagine, no need to hunt for cheap flight deals to India from the USA when you can just use your miles to fly free!
2. Delta SkyMiles
The popular Delta airline’s frequent flyer program called Delta SkyMiles is ideal for:
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- Los Angeles, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Minneapolis
- Air travelers to and from New York
- Other Major USA Cities
Delta airlines have widespread operation and fleet. For instance, it operates close to fifteen thousand flights each day! It flies to over a thousand destinations in fifty countries.
You earn miles based on the amount of business you give to the airline.
Meaning, it depends on the airfare you pay for Delta, Delta Shuttle, or Delta Connection flights. So, for every dollar spent, you earn five frequent flyer points.
Besides, flying with Delta’s partner airlines such as KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, etc. guarantee you miles.
You can use these miles for free air travel, in-flight upgrades, and even unique perks such as complimentary concert tickets.
How would you like a complimentary international return ticket after your dream Indian expedition? You can skip digging for cheap airline tickets from India to the USA.
3. JetBlue TrueBlue
JetBlue’s TrueBlue scheme is extremely useful for travelers that are based in:
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- New York, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Orlando, Florida
- Travelers that frequent fly to the Caribbean
The TrueBlue points earned never expire. Every dollar invested in the JetBlue airline ticket earns your air miles or points.
Also, you can earn points by making bookings with partner hotels, car rental agencies, and even retail partners, such as Amazon.
Another way to earn points is by using JetBlue Plus, JetBlue Business Card, or JetBlue Card to make purchases.
A unique feature offered by TrueBlue is point pooling. This means groups can obtain and avail points together.
4. United MileagePlus
United Airline’s mileage program called Mileage Plus must be considered if your travels involve:
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- Major US cities
- European destinations
- Middle-East or the Gulf
- Australia
- Asia
- Latin America
An advantage of subscribing to the MileagePlus is that its points can be redeemed from a wide range of airlines.
These include Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA, and other 35 major airlines.
Flying as a MileagePlus member will accrue you to Premier Qualifying Miles (PQMs), Premier Qualifying Segments (PQSs) and Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQDs).
After earning sufficient PQM, PQS, and PQD will take you to the premier status.
So, this status means you can book international flights at throwaway prices; in other words, cheap airline tickets to India from the USA get even cheaper!
Additionally, you can earn miles on a cruise vacation, train fares, car rentals, shopping, even dining!
Accommodations from around the world will earn you points as well.
Further, the airline offers four different United MileagePlus credit cards.
5. American Airlines AAdvantage
American Airlines AAdvantage program is best-suited to:
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- All American cities, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas.
- Frequent Flyer’s in general.
The benefit of being an AAdvantage is that on top of miles, you will also ear Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD).
Use Citi/AAdvantage credit cards or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercards to earn miles by making daily purchases.
American Airlines has vast business network coverage. It is the world’s largest airline in terms of destinations served, and other criteria.
Therefore, car rentals, hotels, cruise lines, and other services from the airline’s travel partners will earn you points.
6. Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards is perhaps the best for budget travelers that frequently fly to
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- Major USA cities
- Mexico and Central America
- The Caribbean
Subscribing to the program is especially rewarding due to Southwest Airline’s high operations.
The airline operates more than four thousand flights a day to over one hundred locations.
Besides, southwest flights, spending on accommodation, transportation, and retail partners will earn you miles.
Moreover, a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase Visa will earn you bonus points on purchases on everyday items.
The easiest way to earn points is to take part in market research surveys.
Additionally, other rewards include hotel stays, gift vouchers, car transfers, merchandise, and more! Free air travel on Southwest or any international travel airline.
7. FRONTIER Miles
Frontier airline’s Frequent flyer’s program is especially beneficial in the below cases:
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- Passengers that frequently fly within the United States of America.
- Passengers flying major US locations like Atlanta, Denver, etc.
- Frequent flyer’s to smaller destinations such as Montana, Sioux Falls, Fargo, Missoula, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
- Frequent travelers to various locations in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Earn Frontier miles based on the airport to airport distance covered.
Also, you can redeem these points for car transfers, hotel stays, airfare, and even magazine subscriptions.
Frontier Airline World Mastercard by Barclays gives you miles on every purchase with the travel retail merchants.
Importantly, Frontier covers a lot of smaller destinations. Hence, if that is your target location, then getting a subscription is wise.
8. Hawaiian Miles
Hawaiian Miles is rewarding for travelers that fly to the Hawaiian Islands from
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- Asia
- United States of America
- South Pacific Regions
Even though the airline serves only 25 destinations, it operates multiple nonstop flights to various US destinations.
Just like others on the list, Hawaiian Airlines has its credit card too. Hawaiian Airline World Elite by Barclays will gain you point on everyday purchases from the airline’s partner vendors.
9. Free Spirit
Free Spirit is a rewards program by Spirit Airline. The program serves
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- US passengers that fly domestically.
- Travelers of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Even if you never intend to fly with the concerned airline, you must sign up for their rewards system. There is no downside to frequent flyer’s programs except not having them! There are just so many benefits to ignore. Hotel stays, transportation, retail, and of course, reduced airfare!
Isn’t it the best USA to India flight ticket deal when you can fly free?