Fancy A Trip Abroad? Fly High with These Frequent Flyer Programs!

Do you travel frequently?
If so, chances are you're already aware of the advantages that come with being a member of a travel loyalty program. 
If you haven't joined one yet and you're planning to embark on exciting travel adventures this year, it's time to consider the benefits of a frequent flyer program.
So, what is a frequent flyer program, and why should you care about it?
Simply put, a frequent flyer program is a loyalty program offered by airlines to encourage customer loyalty and reward passengers for choosing a specific airline over its competitors.
If you travel a lot, joining a frequent flyer program is highly recommended. By earning miles and points, you unlock a world of numerous perks and benefits, such as lounge access, hassle-free check-ins, free flight upgrades, complimentary hotel stays, and other premium services. 
To assist you in choosing the best frequent flyer program that suits your travel needs, we've compiled a list of the top frequent flyer programs for 2023.

United MileagePlus

United Airlines is one of the biggest air carriers in the U.S. and the world. The airline has one of the most popular travel loyalty programs among frequent flyers: MileagePlus.
With millions of members, United MileagePlus stands as one of the largest loyalty programs globally. As the program's parent company, United Airlines serves an extensive network of over 1,000 destinations in more than 60 countries.
In addition, United has 14 partner airlines and is a member of Star Alliance, which has 26 airlines, offering members more flexibility and opportunities to earn and redeem miles on different airlines and access to a wider range of destinations.
United MileagePlus provides several ways to earn rewards. If you want to accumulate miles, you can book a flight with the airline and its partner airlines, use the United credit cards, book rental cars with Avis, purchase a vacation package or hotel stay through United Hotels and United Vacations, buy gift cards, shop, watch a Broadway show through Audience Rewards, dine out, and many more.
The more you fly with United, the easier you can aim for their program’s elite status. So far, MileagePlus has 4 elite status tiers, which you can reach based on the number of flight segments you’ve flown. The four tiers are the following:

• Premier Silver
• Premier Gold
• Premier Platinum
• Premier 1K

Each tier comes with additional benefits and privileges, such as complimentary upgrades, priority services, bonus miles, free drinks and snacks, and lounge access, to save you money and provide an elevated travel experience.

Delta SkyMiles

Delta Airlines is one of the world’s largest air carriers headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the first major U.S. airline to launch a comprehensive mobile application, providing passengers instant access to bookings, tracking flights, and digital boarding passes.
Delta Airlines serves over 325 destinations in 52 countries. The airline is also a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance including 19 airlines such as Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Aeroméxico, China Eastern, and Virgin Atlantic.
If you occasionally or frequently fly through Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Detroit, or Minneapolis airport, this is an ideal frequent flyer program for you.
SkyMiles, previously known as Delta Airlines Frequent Flyer Program, is one of the most preferred frequent flyer programs among U.S. travelers. As a member, you can earn points and miles by flying on the airline and its partners and using the airline’s co-branded credit cards.
Aside from flying, you can also earn miles and points through Delta’s partner programs. For instance, you can accumulate one mile per USD 1 spent at participating Starbucks branches if you link your Starbucks app with your Delta SkyMiles account. The same goes with every Lyft ride you take anywhere in the U.S. You just have to make sure your Lyft account is linked to your SkyMiles account.
If you love dining out, you may register your credit card with SkyMiles Dining, the Delta SkyMiles dining program. You’ll earn up to 5 miles per USD 1 spent on their participating restaurants. The best part is, your card doesn’t have to be a Delta-branded card!
SkyMiles Shopping, the airline’s shopping portal with over 100 retailers, also rewards miles when you shop at their site online. After registering to their portal, you’ll be able to earn SkyMiles for eligible purchases.
Delta SkyMiles has an elite status program for its most loyal customers. With Medallion Status, you will enjoy more exclusive benefits and rewards depending on your tier, which are:

• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum
• Diamond

Each of the four tiers offers added service, exclusivity, and rewards to make your travel journey more memorable and comfortable. 

AAdvantage

Just like United Airlines and Delta Airlines, American Airlines is a major air carrier in the U.S. currently headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The airline operates a fleet of around 6,700 daily flights, flying to 350 destinations in 50 countries.
Established in 1981, AAdvantage is one of the oldest frequent flyer programs in the industry, with over 115 million members as of 2021. Over the years, the program has evolved to offer its members a wide range of benefits, rewards, and partnerships.
Like any other airline, flying with American Airlines is one of the easiest ways to earn miles. The good news is the airline is one of the founding members of the Oneworld airline alliance, which consists of 14 member airlines. The alliance provides AAdvantage members with access to a vast network of partner airlines, allowing for earning and redeeming miles on a global scale.
The airline also partners with several airlines outside of Oneworld, such as Air Tahiti Nui, Cape Air, China Southern Airlines, Etihad Airways, Gol Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, IndiGo, JetBlue, and Silver Airways.
Additionally, you may earn miles and points through American Airlines’ co-branded credit cards like Citi and Barclays. Since AAdvantage miles expire in 18 months, you may consider using an American Airlines credit card to prevent your earned miles from expiring.
As a member, you can also earn miles and points through the AAdvantage partners. You can earn miles when you stay at their partner hotels, register your credit card with AAdvantage Dining and eat at a participating restaurant, club, or bar, shop online using AAdvantage eShopping Mall, and book a cruise trip through AA Cruises.
AAdvantage also offers elite status tiers, such as:

• Gold
• Platinum
• Platinum Pro
• Executive Platinum

To attain elite status, you need 25,000 qualifying miles or 30 qualifying segments in a calendar year. As an elite status member, you can access complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and American-operated flights within the U.S., Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Other benefits you may enjoy as an elite status member include priority boarding and check-in, bonus miles, access to premium lounges, and more. If you are an Executive Platinum member, you’ll get free complimentary upgrades on award flights.
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These are some of the most notable frequent flyer programs you may consider enrolling in this year. If you want to sign up, learn more about their benefits, or know their terms and conditions, you may check their websites online.
All in all, joining a frequent flyer program offers travelers like you an opportunity to earn rewards, save some cash, enjoy exclusive benefits, and enhance your travel experience. If you are a constant road warrior or planning to cross out a lot of destinations in your travel bucket list, enrolling in a loyalty program can be a worthwhile decision to make your vacation more memorable.