8 Best Frequent Flyer Programs For Redeeming Miles

If you could only ever redeem miles through a limited number of frequent flyer programs again, which would they be? I’ll share my picks, and then I’m curious to hear how my choices compare to those of others.

What makes a frequent flyer program useful?

Admittedly this question is entirely theoretical. For those of us in the United States with access to credit cards, the reality is that you never really have to commit to just several frequent flyer programs, as the major transferable points currencies give you access to dozens of partners. That kind of flexibility is invaluable. Furthermore, lots of loyalty programs sell miles at a discount, in a way where it can make sense to outright purchase miles and then immediately redeem.

But still, if you had to commit yourself to only redeeming points through a limited number of airline frequent flyer programs, how would you go about picking them? Essentially I’d try to find the programs that offer the best balance between good redemption rates, a lot of airlines and routes you can potentially redeem on, access to as much award availability as possible, and an easy booking process.

Furthermore, I’d want to consider which routes I frequently fly and want to redeem on, rather than just the general value of a program. However, I wouldn’t base my choice on whether a program has a particular sweet spot, but rather would base it on the overall value and flexibility offered.

Admittedly a major issue with making a choice is acknowledging that programs change over time. I’m not sure I’d want to be locked into any program for a lifetime, so I’m basing my choices on the current realities of redemption options.

The frequent flyer programs I find to be most valuable

With the above out of the way, let me share what I’d currently consider to be the most valuable programs for award redemption opportunities. If I could only redeem through these eight programs again, I actually wouldn’t feel like I’m losing out that much (at least based on current conditions).

With that in mind, below are my picks, roughly in order, starting with my favorite. If you wanted to make this a list of the top five programs for redeeming miles (as I see it), then just ignore the last three programs on the list. Separately, also consider airline points expiration policies, and award ticket change and cancelation fees.

Air Canada Aeroplan

I consider Air Canada Aeroplan to be one of the most useful frequent flyer programs. Aeroplan has reasonable redemption rates, an amazing array of airline partners, and allows stopovers for 5,000 points. Simply put, I think Aeroplan leaves one best positioned for aspirational redemptions. On top of that, there are no fuel surcharges through Aeroplan.

I book a ton of awards through Aeroplan, ranging from a “simple” Lufthansa first class award across the Atlantic, to a complicated round the world journey with stopovers.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is the most useful SkyTeam frequent flyer program, in my opinion. A lot of us like to fly across the Atlantic, and Flying Blue has access to more Air France and KLM business class award space than partner programs.

I’d say that Air France and KLM are probably the two best airlines at releasing transatlantic premium award space regularly, and I frequently redeem this way for travel to Europe. While there are carrier imposed surcharges through Flying Blue, they’re quite mild. Flying Blue transatlantic business class awards start at just 50,000 miles one-way, and you can even have a free stopover on a one-way award.

Furthermore, in many cases Flying Blue has fair transpacific award redemption rates, including for China Airlines business class. The program even offers some partner first class awards.

American AAdvantage

While I’d consider Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus to both be pretty uncompetitive when it comes to redemption value, American AAdvantage is a different story, among the “big three” US carriers.

The reality is that AAdvantage has excellent partner redemption rates, especially on Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. These are among the most useful for traveling to the Middle East, India, Africa, Central Asia, etc., and AAdvantage miles leave you best positioned for those redemptions. While many of those awards are now restricted on routes to and from the United States, availability is still quite good between other regions.

I also find that AAdvantage often has good redemption rates on its own metal, including for first and business class travel on long haul flights, which can be practical, though not particularly aspirational. I also love how AAdvantage has no change and cancelation fees, so you can speculatively lock in itineraries that work best for you.

Emirates Skywards

Ironically, Emirates Skywards isn’t a useful program in terms of partner redemptions, as Skywards has no efficient partner redemption opportunities. However, there’s no denying that Emirates is a global force to be reckoned with, and being able to redeem miles for Emirates first class is awesome.

I typically redeem on Emirates multiple times a year, whether I’m just taking the fifth freedom flight between New York and Milan, or am traveling to the Middle East and beyond via Dubai. It takes some work, but it’s worth it for those inflight showers. 😉

British Airways Executive Club

British Airways Executive Club has a unique distance based award chart, which is valuable in many markets where other points currencies aren’t. Personally I don’t use Executive Club quite as often as others do, but there’s no denying that the program is very useful for short haul awards, especially between regions.

Perhaps what’s most valuable is that you can transfer Avios between all the programs that use Avios as their rewards currency, including Aer Lingus AerClub, Finnair Plus, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This unlocks so many opportunities, whether you want to take advantage of the award seat guarantee on Finnair, unlock extra award space on Qatar Airways, or redeem for JetBlue Mint.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

While Air France-KLM Flying Blue is my top SkyTeam frequent flyer program, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers some great redemptions as well. The program has extremely attractive redemption rates on Virgin Atlantic (thanks to the new dynamic award pricing), a lucrative distance based award chart on SkyTeam, and some niche redemption partners that represent a good value.

So whether you’re looking to redeem on Aeromexico, All Nippon Airways, or Air New Zealand, the program offers quite a few valuable opportunities.

Alaska Mileage Plan

The Alaska Mileage Plan program has evolved a lot over the years, both for better and worse. Nowadays Mileage Plan has a zone and distance based award chart, which is particularly lucrative for short haul awards.

I redeem a ton of Mileage Plan miles for domestic flights on American, like being able to fly from Miami to Chicago or New York for 15,000 miles in first class. You can also redeem Mileage Plan miles across oneworld airlines, plus on some other unique partners, like Starlux.

Mileage Plan will get even more intriguing as of 2025, when the program will start awarding elite qualifying miles for award travel, including on partner airlines, which sure gives whole new meaning to “mileage running.” We’re also going to finally see the program allow multiple partner airlines on a single award, which is an exciting development.

Avianca Lifemiles

I’m going to include two Star Alliance programs on this list, since I use the programs in different ways. While I love Aeroplan for the ability to build complex awards with stopovers, I love avianca lifemiles for the ability to book simple Star Alliance first and business class awards.

The reality is that lifemiles did devalue some redemptions several months ago, so not all values are as good as they used to be. However, some transatlantic business class awards start at just 45,000 miles, so there’s huge value to be had.

What also makes lifemiles unique is how frequently we see transfer bonuses to the program (unlike with Aeroplan). So I acquire most of my miles with the program with a 20-25% bonus through a transferable points currency, getting me even more value.

Bottom line

Everyone has different frequent flyer programs that they value most based on their own redemption patterns. Personally the eight programs I redeem through most are Air Canada Aeroplan, American AAdvantage, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Emirates Skywards, British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Alaska Mileage Plan, and avianca lifemiles. Between those programs, I’d say most kind of awards are pretty well covered, and certainly a vast majority of my redemptions are accounted for.

Fortunately most of us don’t have to limit ourselves to a limited number of programs, given the flexibility afforded by transferable points currencies.

I’m curious — what frequent flyer programs do you value most and/or redeem through most?