United Airlines Vs. American Airlines Vs. Delta Airlines Mileage Programs

I joined my first airline mileage program at 18. At the time, I hoped to have enough miles on one airline for a round-trip flight by the time I was 50. At the time, I was a college student working two jobs and traveling twice a year (if that). I felt like a fraud signing up for the program because I thought it was only for business executives and not a girl from small-town Michigan who had never left North America. A decade and some 40 countries later, I can thank my airline mileage program for getting me across the Pacific and Atlantic more than once. Last week I flew my husband and I to Hawaii for $11.20 each, thanks to an airline mileage program. So which is best?

There are numerous airline loyalty programs in the United States. The top three most popular include the

• United Mileage Plus
• American AAdvantage
• Delta Skymiles

Personally, I have a lot of experience with both United and American programs. And although I have never been a member of Delta's loyalty program, I am quite familiar with their setup and process as well.

In this blog, I break down what each award program entails, how miles are accumulated, how much award travel costs, and which I think is best for a loyalty program.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United Airlines MileagePlus has been my main airline rewards program for the past two years, and I have to say I absolutely love it.

With MileagePlus, members earn miles based on the distance they fly, the type of ticket they purchase, and the class of service. Members can also earn miles by pairing their membership with the United Chase Mileage Plus Credit Card, which often offers promotions of up to 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.

These miles can then be redeemed for award travel on United Airlines, its Star Alliance partners, or for a variety of other travel-related rewards.

One of the key benefits of MileagePlus is its wide range of redemption options. In addition to free flights on United and its Star Alliance partners, members can also redeem miles for upgrades, premium cabin seating, car rentals, and hotel stays. On a recent flight from Singapore to San Fransico I could request a $12,000 business class upgrade for $600 USD and 20k miles, not a bad deal. On some international flights, you can request business upgrades for as little as 20k miles.

Another advantage of MileagePlus is its elite status program, which offers benefits like priority check-in, baggage handling, and lounge access. Members can reach elite status by earning a certain number of miles, segments, or points. If you have the credit card and fly a few times a year, it's actually pretty easy to gain United Premiere Silver status, which offers additional benefits like extra checked bags & complimentary upgrades.

On the United MileagePlus program, a standard one-way flight in the United States goes for around 12,000 miles +5.60 fee. Flights to Europe can be booked for as little as 20,000 miles one-way, meaning the 50,000 bonus miles can be enough to cover a round-trip flight to Europe.

I pair my Mileage Plus Program with the United Explorer Card to Maximize benefits.

American Airlines AAdvantage

I was a member of the American Airlines AAdvantage program for nearly a decade. I didn't choose this as my first airline loyalty program, but I signed up as a member during my first international flight to Australia. At the time, I didn't know anything about airline loyalty programs and assumed I would never fly enough to get any benefits from it. I thought if I could get one round trip flight paid for by the time I was 50, that would be considered a win; little did I know how beneficial these programs were.

Now, I will also say I do not like American Airlines AAdvantage as much as United MileagePlus. This is for a few main reasons:

• American Airlines typically has more blackout dates and many more additional dates that are more expensive in miles compared to United's program.
• Their fees are more expensive than United's. For example, the United fee for a round-trip domestic ticket booked with miles is typically $5,60. On American, it is typically $11. Now, that isn't too much of a difference, but I've seen fees on international flights as high as $290, which sometimes defeats the purpose of trying to save money by paying with miles.

Like United Airlines, members earn miles based on the distance they fly, the type of ticket they purchase, and the class of service. They also have a Mastercard AAdvantage credit card that offers similar bonus incentives to United.

AAdvantage miles can then be redeemed for award travel on American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance partners.

One of the key benefits of AAdvantage is its partnerships with a wide range of travel providers, including hotels, car rental companies, and online travel agencies. This makes it easy to earn miles even when you're not flying American Airlines.

Another advantage of AAdvantage is its flexibility in terms of award redemption. Members can choose from a range of options, including one-way awards, award flights on American Airlines or its Oneworld partners, or a combination of both. Additionally, the program offers the option to purchase miles or transfer miles from other loyalty programs, making it easy to redeem an award.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta Airlines SkyMiles is the loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, one of the largest airlines in the United States. Members earn miles based on the distance they fly, the type of ticket they purchase, and the class of service. These miles can then be redeemed for award travel on Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam alliance partners.

One of the key benefits of SkyMiles is its emphasis on earning miles through everyday spending. The program offers a variety of co-branded credit cards that offer bonus miles for everyday spending, making it easy to earn miles even when you're not flying Delta. Additionally, the program offers a flexible elite status program that offers benefits like priority check-in, baggage handling, and lounge access.

Another advantage of SkyMiles is its dynamic pricing model, which allows members to redeem miles for award travel

based on the current availability and demand for flights. This means that members may be able to redeem fewer miles for a more desirable flight, compared to a less desirable flight that may require more miles. This flexibility provides members with more options for redeeming their miles, making it easier to find a flight that works for their schedule and budget.

United Airlines Vs. American Airlines Vs. Delta Airlines Mileage Programs: Which is Best?

In conclusion, the United Airlines MileagePlus program, American Airlines AAdvantage program, and Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program each have their own unique benefits and strengths. When deciding which program is right for you, consider your travel habits, where you fly the most, and what types of rewards you are interested in.

If you're a frequent United Airlines flyer and value a wide range of redemption options and a comprehensive elite status program, then MileagePlus may be the right choice for you. If you're an American Airlines traveler who values earning miles through partnerships with a wide range of travel providers, then AAdvantage may be the way to go. And if you're a Delta Air Lines flyer who prioritizes earning miles through everyday spending and flexible award redemption options, then SkyMiles is the program for you.

Regardless of which program you choose, the key to maximizing the benefits of a frequent-flyer program is to understand how it works and how you can earn and redeem miles in the most effective way possible. With the right approach, you can enjoy the rewards of your travels for years to come.