For a second consecutive year, About.com readers have voted AAdvantage from American Airlines their favorite frequent-flier program. Both years, AAdvantage won by a wide margin over the other finalists in the frequent-flier category.

Many of those voters probably didn't know that American established one of the first frequent-flier programs in 1981. AAdvantage requires a minimum of 25,000 miles for a free round trip, and provides free booking when completed at least 21 days prior to travel.


At this writing, AAdvantage remains one of the largest and most popular loyalty programs in the world. Members connect within the alliances and with about 1,000 other companies within the travel industry and beyond. The AAdvantage web site claims members can redeem miles "to almost 950 destinations worldwide as well as other awards including flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products."

Active members earn the following tiered designations: standard, AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, and AAdvantage Executive Platinum Elite. Higher tier designations lead to privileges such as priority check-in and upgrade considerations. AAdvantage members must have mileage earning or redemption activity once every 18 months in order to remain active and retain their miles.

More information about AAdvantage

AAdvantage web site