Ranking the Top US Airlines' Frequent Flyer Programs

Air travel is bouncing back more than one year into the COVID-19 pandemic but much has changed in the time of coronavirus, including some carriers' frequent flyer programs. WalletHub recently analyzed the 10 largest domestic airlines' loyalty rewards program based on 21 key metrics, including things like the value of a point/mile, partnership offerings and blackout dates for rewards flights, among others. Here's a look at how each stacks up in 2021.

Budget carrier Spirit Airlines' Free Spirit loyalty program rounds out the top 10 with an overall WalletHub score of 33.14 for the average traveler (annual airfare budget of $3,038), 35.5 for frequent flyers ($5,503) and 31.61 for light flyers ($574). Only Sun Country Airlines and JetBlue fare worst for rewards value with the average Free Spirit flyer earning $8.06 per $100 spent.

Sun Country Airlines has plenty of room for improvement as well, earning an overall WalletHub score of just 38.65. Sun Country Rewards offer a value of only $2 per $100 spent, the website found, which is by far the lowest of any of the 10 carriers analyzed.

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines is among the five major U.S. airlines whose miles do not expire because of inactivity but still, its Rapid Rewards program trails those of most U.S. carriers in terms of overall WalletHub score. Southwest's rewards value declined slightly from 2020 to 2021 as well, dropping from $12.90 per $100 spent to $12.36.

JetBlue boasts the lowest markup on purchased miles at 33.68 percent but offers loyalty program members just one partnership. Still, that's more than Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines. TrueBlue's rewards value declined by nearly $4 from 2020 to 2021, falling to $7.21 per $100 spent.

Only one other carrier offers loyalty program members more rewards value than Frontier Airlines. FRONTIER Miles members who are average or frequent flyers can earn $20.99 per $100 spent while even light flyers will find a steady value of $16.79.

Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles program offers the most rewards value of any frequent flyer program that WalletHub analyzed at an impressive $24.19 per $100 spent. Nonetheless, HawaiianMiles ranks just fifth among the 10 carriers that were examined. The program is held back by a 141.94 percent markup on purchased miles and only five frequent flyer partnerships.

American Airlines' AAdvantage ranks fourth overall and offers the fourth-highest number of partnerships among the 10 carriers WalletHub looked at with 18 total. Meanwhile, American also has the highest markup on miles that are purchased rather than earned at 191.67 percent.

Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program sees its five-year run atop the rankings come to an end in 2021. Nonetheless, SkyMiles ranks first for having the most additional features and secures an average flyer WalletHub score of 61.86.

Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan ranks second in 2021, faring the best for redemption policies and partner coverage. Only Hawaiian and Frontier top Alaska when it comes to rewards value, with frequent fying Mileage Plan members earning nearly $20 per $100 spent.

With an overall WalletHub score of 71.42, United Airlines' MileagePlus is undoubtedly the best frequent flyer program of 2021. MileagePlus is also the best for frequent flyer partnerships, boasting 35 total, which is 12 more than both Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines.