A new analysis finds one airline offers flyers $160 more than domestic rivals
Loyalty pays when it comes to flying "” on some airlines more than others.
Alaska Airlines offers the best perks to its frequent flyers, according to a new analysis from credit-card rewards website The Points Guy. The elite status programs offered by the airline beats out those offered by five competing domestic companies, according to the study, which analyzed in-flight benefits, fee waivers, bonuses, airport perks, flexible perks, non-flying perks, partner perks and reservation perks. The domestic airlines ranked as follows:
1. Alaska Airlines ALK, -1.14%
2. United Airlines UAL, -0.98%
3. Delta Air Lines DAL, -0.13%
4. American Airlines AAL, -2.05%
5. JetBlue Airways JBLU, -0.63%
6. Southwest Airlines LUV, -1.02%
Alaska Airlines took the top spot largely because it offers elite status based on miles rather than spending, according to The Points Guy analyst Nick Ewen, a norm many other airlines have rolled back in recent years. (The airlines in the story were not immediately available for comment.)
"Alaska has claimed for some time they are not moving towards that model," he said. "You take home significantly more miles with Alaska than you do with other carriers on the list. The way they award miles has really helped propel them to the top."…
