2015 FlyerTalk Awards: The top loyalty programs are ...
American Airlines, Starwood Hotels and Hertz car rental took home the "Best Rewards Programs" awards for the Americas in the fourth-annual FlyerTalk Awards, announced Tuesday.
Those companies have had a stranglehold on those coveted categories, winning every year since the FlyerTalk Awards debuted in 2012. The awards are voted on by members of FlyerTalk, a popular online community devoted to frequent-traveler interests.
The FlyerTalk Awards are one of two by big frequent-traveler communities to recognize frequent-flier programs. They join the long-standing Freddies, now in their 26th year. For FlyerTalk, voting is open to active FlyerTalk members, known as FlyerTalkers. FlyerTalkers may cast one ballot, voting for up to four programs in each category. The votes are weighted, giving more sway to a first-place vote than a second-place vote, and so on.
In the Americas region, American's AAdvantage program was tabbed as the best program in the "Fly" category that recognizes airline loyalty programs. Starwood's Preferred Guest program took the honor in the "Stay" category" while Hertz' Gold Plus Rewards topped the "Drive" category.
American and Starwood also took the top honor in the Americas for the top "Outstanding Benefit," an award highlighting the top promotion or specific perk offered by a loyalty program in the previous year.
American took that title for the eight one-way "systemwide upgrades" it gives to AAdvantage members each year if they quality for the carrier's top-tier Executive Platinum status. The benefit allows members to upgrade to the next class of service, a perk that's especially coveted for international flights.
"The exact same benefit has won for American every single year. It's really popular," says Brent Conver, FlyerTalk's General Manager.
Starwood's Preferred Guest program won the "Outstanding Benefit" award for the room and suite upgrade options it gives to its top-tier Platinum members. Starwood replaced previous winner Marriott, which was recognized in the 2014 awards for its Concierge Lounge access.
There was a shake-up for Outstanding Benefit in the Drive category. National's choose-your-own-car option that allows customers to bypass the rental counter helped it unseat three-time defending champion Hertz. It was a rare setback for Hertz in the FlyerTalk Awards.
"For the first time in the history of the FlyerTalk Awards, a rental car company other than Hertz won an award," Conver says of National's win in the Americas Outstanding Benefit category. "It's a really popular benefit, and it finally overtook Hertz. Hertz' perfect record in the FlyerTalk Awards is gone."
Of course, the FlyerTalk Awards extend beyond the Americas. Winners also are chosen for two other regions: Europe/Africa and Middle East/Asia/Oceania.
Among airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific swept both the Best Reward Program and Outstanding Benefit categories in their respective regions.
Scroll down to see the entire list of 2015 FlyerTalk Award winners. Included below that are previous winners.
For those who don't know the site, FlyerTalk is a site popular with airline and travel enthusiasts. In its own words, FlyerTalk describes its "community" as having "one of the most-traveled groups in the world, with many members holding the highest levels of status across multiple travel reward programs."
FlyerTalk says it established its FlyerTalk Awards as "a way for this group of hardcore travel enthusiasts to recognize and recommend their favorite programs."
BEST REWARDS PROGRAM (2015)
Americas
Fly: American Airlines AAdvantage
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Europe/Africa
Fly: British Airways Executive Club
Stay: Hilton HHonors
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Middle East/Asia/Oceana
Fly: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
OUTSTANDING BENEFIT (2015)
Americas
Fly: American Airlines AAdvantage (Executive Platinum Systemwide Upgrades)
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest (Platinum Room & Suite Upgrades)
Drive: National Emerald Club (Choice of Car/Bypassing Rental Counter)
Europe/Africa
Fly: British Airways Executive Club (Lounge Access)
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest (2 for 1 Nights/4 for 2 Nights)
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Gold Service)
Middle East/Asia/Oceana
Fly: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (Seat Guarantees)
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest (Platinum Room & Suite Upgrades)
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Gold Plus Rewards)
+ + +
PREVIOUS WINNERS: AMERICAS
Fly – Best Program
2014: American Airlines AAdvantage
2013: American Airlines AAdvantage
2012: American Airlines AAdvantage
Fly – Outstanding Benefit
2014: American Airlines AAdvantage (Executive Platinum Systemwide Upgrades)
2013: American Airlines AAdvantage (Executive Platinum Systemwide Upgrades)
2012: American Airlines AAdvantage (500-mile and Systemwide Upgrades)
Stay – Best Program
2014: Starwood Preferred Guest
2013: Starwood Preferred Guest
2012: Starwood Preferred Guest
Stay – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Marriott Rewards (Concierge Lounge Access)
2013: Club Carlson (Earn 50,000 Points Per Stay Promotion)
2012: Starwood Preferred Guest (Suite/Room Upgrades)
Drive – Best Program
2014: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2012: Hertz Gold #1 Club
Drive – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Gold Service)
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Gold Service)
2012: Hertz #1 Club (Gold Service)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: EUROPE/AFRICA
Fly – Best Program
2014: British Airways Executive Club
2013: British Airways Executive Club
2012: British Airways Executive Club
Fly – Outstanding Benefit
2014: British Airways Executive Club (Upgrade Using Avios)
2013: British Airways Executive Club (Upgrade Using Avios)
2012: British Airways Executive Club (MFU/UUA/Avios Upgrades)
Stay -- Best Program
2014: Starwood Preferred Guest
2013: Starwood Preferred Guest
2012: Hilton HHonors
Stay – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Hilton HHonors (Executive Lounge Access)
2013: Hilton HHonors (Executive Lounge Access)
2012: Hilton HHonors (Complimentary Room Upgrades)
Drive – Best Program
2014: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2012: Hertz #1 Club
Drive – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Gold Service)
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (Earn Points or Exchange For Other Programs)
2012: Hertz #1 Club (Free Upgrades)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: MIDDLE EAST/ASIA/OCEANIA
Fly – Best Program
2014: Jet Airways JetPrivilege
2013: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
2012: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Fly – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Jet Airways Jet Privilege (Cash Upgrades on Domestic Award Tickets)
2013: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (Seat Guarantees)
2012: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (Seat Guarantees for Marco Polo Members)
Stay – Best Program
2014: Taj Hotels & Resorts InnerCircle
2013: Starwood Preferred Guest
2012: Starwood Preferred Guest
Stay – Outstanding Benefit
2014: Taj Hotels & Resorts InnerCircle (Room Upgrades)
2013: Hilton HHonors (Lounge Access)
2013: Hilton HHonors (Complimentary Room Upgrades)
Drive – Best Program
2014: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
2012: Hertz #1 Club
Drive – Outstanding Benefit
2014: No nominated programs
2013: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (5 Star/Presidents Circle)
2012: Hertz #1 Club (Free Rental Days)