Winner: Southwest Rapid Rewards
Second Place: American AAdvantage
Honorable Mention: Delta SkyMiles
"In the frequent flyer program category, SmarterTravel readers preferred simplicity over bells and whistles, with Southwest's Rapid Rewards program garnering the most votes (23 percent)," says SmarterTravel Frequent Flyer expert Tim Winship.
"But while the more robust programs of the full-service carriers ranked behind Southwest's, as a group they dominated. The American AAdvantage program— the oldest and largest mileage scheme—came in second, with 14.35 percent of the votes; Delta was third, with 12.01 percent; and United was next, with 9.02 percent. Continental, Northwest, Alaska, and US Airways' programs were next—all with more votes than the second-most-popular discount carrier program, JetBlue's TrueBlue, which received just 3.99 percent."
Voting Breakdown:
Southwest Rapid Rewards................23.00%
American AAdvantage......................14.35%
Delta SkyMiles.................................12.01%
United Mileage Plus..........................9.02%
Continental OnePass........................8.60%
Northwest WorldPerks......................6.50%
US Airways Dividend Miles................4.42%
JetBlue TrueBlue..............................3.99%
AirTran A+ Rewards..........................3.52%
Other...............................................14.59%
Total................................................100%
Best Value Domestic Airline | Best Customer Service | Best Airfare Prices | Best In-Seat Comfort | Best Onboard Entertainment | Best Routes and Availability | Most Reliable On-Time Service | Best Baggage Service | Best Standard Economy Class | Best Value Frequent Flyer Program | Least Favorite Domestic Airline | Cleanest Airline Cabin | Dirtiest Airline Cabin | Best Value International Airline | Favorite U.S. Airport | Least favorite U.S. Airport
