To help people earn the most free flights and get the best perks while flying, WalletHub compared the 10 largest domestic airlines’ loyalty rewards programs across 21 key metrics, ranging from the value of a reward point or mile to blackout-date policies. You can find the highest-scoring frequent flyer programs below, and you can also customize the results based on your budget.

Best Frequent Flyer Programs of 2025

1. Alaska Airlines - Mileage Plan
2. United Airlines – MileagePlus
3. Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
4. Hawaiian Airlines - HawaiianMiles
5. American Airlines - AAdvantage

The rankings for the best airline rewards programs are based on a trio of annual airfare budgets: Light ($459), Average ($3,393) and Frequent ($6,326). As a result, the best overall frequent flyer programs are well-rounded and positioned to satisfy the needs of loyal airline customers of all types.

Main Findings

Alaska Mileage Plan is the best frequent flyer program of 2025, topping the list for the second year in a row and narrowly beating out United MileagePlus for the overall title.


Hawaiian Airlines offers the most rewards value, at $12.55 per $100 spent. Frontier Airlines comes in second, with $11.75 per $100 spent.


Only 3 of the 10 largest airlines are offering more rewards value in 2025 than in 2024. On average, the top 10 airlines are offering 5% less value than they did last year.


Six major airlines have miles that do not expire because of inactivity: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.


American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines give preference to frequent flyer program members when deciding whom to bump from overbooked flights.


Six major U.S. airlines will retroactively credit loyalty program members with miles for a flight up to 12 months after the fact.


Six of the 10 largest U.S. airlines allow rewards program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.


The following airlines do not have frequent flyer partnerships with other airlines: Southwest, Spirit, Frontier and Sun Country.

Airline miles cost an average of 2.6X more than they’re worth when purchased rather than earned.