With fuel prices going up due to the Iran war, which adds significantly to the financial strain people are already experiencing, saving money on airfare will be increasingly important in this year.
“High gas prices and TSA staffing concerns are a major drag on people’s travel plans, but consumers do have some ways to fight back,” Chip Lupo, an analyst for WalletHub, a personal finance website, said in a statement.
Lupo points to frequent flyer programs that can save you an average of 7 percent on airfare as a way to reduce the cost of travel.
But which frequent flyer programs are the best?
To help travelers figure it out, WalletHub prepared a report on the “2026’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs,” which ranks the 10 largest domestic airlines based on 21 key items, ranging from the value of a point/mile to blackout dates for reward flights.
Best frequent flyer programs for 2026
- Alaska Airlines – Atmos Rewards
- United Airlines – MileagePlus
- Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles
- American Airlines – AAdvantage
- JetBlue Airways – TrueBlue
Alaska Atmos Rewards, the best frequent flyer program of 2026, topped the list for the third year in a row.
Five of the 10 largest airlines are offering more rewards value in 2026 than in 2025. The top 10 airlines are offering 5 percent more value than last year, on average.
The analysis also found that only half of the 10 largest U.S. airlines allow program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.
In addition, WalletHub reported that airline miles cost an average of 2.5 times more than they’re worth when purchased rather than earned.
Other findings:
- Five major airlines have miles that don’t expire because of inactivity are Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United.
- American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, 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.
- Five of the 10 largest U.S. airlines allow reward program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.
WalletHub’s report also includes a custom calculator that allows travelers to personalize the results based on their own budget.
Happy travels. I hope your frequent flyer program results in a free ticket soon.
