Don’t Fly Often? You Can Still Save Money With an Airline Rewards Program

While many Penny Hoarders find great deals on flights by shopping around for the best price, sometimes loyalty to one airline can pay off — thanks to the benefits of airline rewards programs.

But which airline’s program offers you the most bang for your buck?

Last week, WalletHub released the results of its 2018 study on airline rewards.

It compared the rewards programs of the 10 largest domestic airlines and looked at 23 key metrics, including value earned, miles expiration and membership perks, to score the best frequent flyer programs.

Recognizing not all members of frequent flyer programs are, well, frequent flyers, WalletHub separately scored which programs are best for light travelers, or those who only spend an average of $453 a year on airline expenses.

WalletHub found Delta SkyMiles to be the best rewards program for light flyers (and for average and frequent flyers, as well).

Delta’s program allows members to rack up miles that never expire, plus members can earn miles from partners, including hotels, rental-car companies and even other airlines.

Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards program was ranked second for light travelers, and Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan came in at third place.

WalletHub ranked Spirit Airlines’ Free Spirit program as a the worst for light travelers. Frontier Airlines’ Early Returns and Sun Country Airlines’ Ufly Rewards rounded out the bottom three.

To find out more about WalletHub’s frequent flyer program analysis, see its 2018 airline rewards study.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She often flies on Spirit Airlines and is a member of its $9 Fare Club. She’s a satisfied Spirit customer, despite the airline’s poor reviews.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2F8Kb2P