Aeroplan Climbs 4 Spots to #3 on Global Airline Loyalty Program Ranking
by Bruce Parkinson
Aeroplan is ranked third among global airline loyalty programs according to a recent study.
Award travel search platform Point.me has released its 2026 World’s Best Airline Loyalty Program Rankings. Air France-KLM Flying Blue held the global No. 1 spot for the third consecutive year, while United MileagePlus jumped from No. 5 to No. 2 globally and Air Canada Aeroplan climbed four spots to No. 3.
Point.me analyzed more than 250 million award fares across 33 global loyalty programs to determine which deliver the best value, availability, flexibility and booking experience for travellers.
Globally, Flying Blue ranked first for award availability, partner opportunities, and ease of earning. United MileagePlus placed second, with the best redemption experience of any program, and ranked first for customer service. Air Canada Aeroplan placed third as a well-rounded performer, finishing runner-up in award availability, partner opportunities, and ease of earning.
The World’s Best Airline Rewards Programs for 2026: Overall Winners
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- United MileagePlus
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Alaska / Hawaiian Atmos Rewards
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- British Airways Club
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Top Airline Loyalty Programs by Region:
Americas: #1 United MileagePlus, #2 Air Canada Aeroplan
Europe: #1 Air France-KLM Flying Blue, #2 British Airways Club
Asia & Oceania: #1 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, #2 Japan Airlines Mileage Bank and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (tie)
Middle East: #1 Qatar Airways Privilege Club, #2 Emirates Skywards
“Travellers want to use their points without having to become an expert to do it,” said Adam Morvitz, CEO of point.me.
“A great loyalty program isn’t the one with an incredible deal every once in a while. It’s one where you can find a seat, at a price that makes sense, book it easily, and change your plans if you need to. That’s what we measure, and the programs at the top of this list are the ones delivering on it.”
Airline Loyalty Program Trends
- The analysis identified several key loyalty program trends for 2026.
- Airlines are increasingly reserving their best award pricing and availability for members who carry the airline’s credit card. American Express paid Delta a reported $8.2 billion in a single year (Source: Delta.com), and as card portfolios have become among the most profitable parts of an airline’s business, programs have followed.
- Partner award space is shrinking as airlines steer premium inventory to their own members.
- Flexibility has emerged as a key differentiator among loyalty programs. Only three programs in the report offer free changes and cancellations on all award tickets. The remaining programs either have fees of up to $150 or have some form of restriction on refunds.
For the complete report, click here.
