Can you join multiple airline loyalty programs?

The membership rewards programs or frequent flyer programs that most airlines have in place have so many benefits and advantages as far as frequent business and leisure travelers are concerned. The majority of large airline companies offer membership programs where passengers and customers are awarded points, miles, or segments each time they travel. These points can then be used to unlock free flights, upgrade to premium seating, get fees for checked baggage or in-flight meals, and even access to lounges or other services.

As the number of available loyalty programs increases, people who travel often ask if it is possible and if it would be beneficial, to join multiple airline reward programs. The short answer is yes, for the benefits of accruing points/miles and earning free flights, you should join multiple airline loyalty programs. Here is the information you should be aware of about combining and leveraging frequent flyer points and status across airlines.

Based on the above discussions, one must join multiple programs.

Evaluating just one program means one is committed to earning and redeeming that particular airline’s points. However, it means that in case one wants to join several programs, he/she will be enjoying more options and using more opportunities connected with promotions and complementary relations between airlines. This gives you more opportunities to:

• Earn more miles and points: This means that you can gain points whether you are flying with any of the airlines on the program.

• Gain elite status: So perhaps it is more feasible to reach an elite status for multiple airlines instead of just one.

• Access more lounge options: Frequent flyer status on two or more airlines entitles you to use the lounges of the specific airlines when you are flying with them.

• Take advantage of bonus offers: Promotions and bonus points, for example, sign-up bonuses may be offered at a better rate in another airline’s loyalty program at another time.

• Leverage additional benefits: Get more airlines’ preference services like free checked bags in addition to all the elite services.

• Redeem rewards with any airline: This allows for the interchangeability of points earned in a program to redeem flights with a certain airline.

  With multiple loyalty programs, you have more possibilities for earning points and redemptions, and overall, you get more recognition with privileges on more airlines.

  What Programs Should You Attend?

  In general, it is most wise to sign up for the airline loyalty/ frequent flyer program of the airlines that have their hubs in your home airport and the ones which you anticipate that you will be flying with most often. For many travelers in the U. S., that means considering the following major airline options and their affiliated partners:

• American Airlines AAdvantage

• Delta Air Lines often uses SkyMiles as their means of customer satisfaction.

• United Airlines MileagePlus

• Alaska Airlines has its frequent flyer program called the Mileage Plan which is popular among its clients.

• SWAP Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

  Here’s a breakdown of the different features of each program as you sign up – so that you can then concentrate on the programs that fit your traveling style and objectives, namely how to receive, qualification for elite status, award chart, partner airlines, and alliance benefits.

  Also, there are credit cards that offer the opportunity to earn more rewards, points, or miles within an airline’s loyalty program when you use your card for daily purchases.

  Can You use program accounts together?

  Though you can be a member of several airlines, each of the airlines will assign you a different membership account number. It is not possible to transfer the miles, segments, or status across the program or to merge your accounts and accumulation. You will have separate member numbers and passwords and there will be balances of the rewards in the respective accounts.

  However, many airline alliances and partnerships allow you to link your accounts to more easily share miles or status benefits between partner programs:

• Another important feature is that these Oneworld carriers have reciprocity in terms of elite status, and all the programs have common possibilities to earn and redeem miles.

• Some of Delta’s partners include Air France KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, which are members of the SkyTeam alliance, which has a program where they can match elite status and transfer miles.

• The Star Alliance, also including United Airlines and 26 other member airlines, allows the gold and higher level of elite members to share some of the privileges of the program.

  Similarly, credit card points obtained through travel rewards cards are usually transferable to different airline partners to balance your points to redeem.

  Managing Multiple Airline Accounts

  Although it is wise to join several programs to increase the chances of getting rewards, it also implies that you have to open more accounts to track. To avoid losing track of your miles and status, implement these best practices in managing multiple airline loyalty programs:

• Ensure that your accounts are connected to share information where this is possible.

• The best way to earn even more miles is to use transfer partners.

• To save the member website pages you are viewing in your browser

• By using its mobile applications, the consumer can directly navigate through the available airlines.

• It must be noted that member numbers are to be updated in the frequent flyer profiles.

• Other features include setting up account alerts and newsletters.

• Some brilliant ideas include signing up for point expiration notifications.

• This is very important as it helps one ensure their accounts are up to date and their balances are not exhausted.

• Use a travel diary to write down account information about the significant customers.

  Something that frequent travelers should avoid is signing up for multiple accounts within the same airline program for waivers, promotions, and status. This is considered fraud. This is the most common gesture that most airlines offer to their clients, where they allow them to link profiles to share the benefits where necessary.

  The Bottom Line

  Fortunately, some loyalty programs allow the accumulation of points across different airlines, which may be slightly inconvenient but offers passengers more choices as well as incentives when they begin to take more flights. All the airline rewards are free to join, so make sure you sign up for all the ones that are affiliated with the airlines that you fly with and the hotel chains that you stay in. As a rule, target your loyalty strategy on the programs that match your typical trips and travel patterns.

• Book your American Airlines ticket now and experience comfort and reliability. Call +1 833-902-2090 to speak with our travel experts.