American Airlines' AAdvantage® frequent flier program has been
awarded the 2014 Freddie Award for Program of the Year by an airline serving
the Americas region while Marriott Rewards program has
been accorded the honor of best frequent guest program in the same region by frequent travelers who cast ballots in the annual competition.
Travelers also voted Southwest Airlines' (NYSE:LUV) Rapid Rewards credit card Best Loyalty Credit Card.
"AAdvantage is honored
to receive the Program of the Year award for the third year in a row," Suzanne Rubin, President of the AAdvantage program, told me in an e-mail in which she thanked the airline's loyal customers and pledged continued improvement.
"We will continue to work hard and listen to your feedback as we invest in the program through promotions like last year's Elite Rewards program and functionality such as the Award Map," she said.
American Airlines is owned by American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL).
Recipients of the 26th annual Freddie Awards were decided
upon by more than eight million travelers worldwide who voted for their favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs in five separate
categories including Program of the Year, Best Promotion, Best Redemption
Ability, Best Customer Service and Best Elite Level.
A sixth category, Best Loyalty Credit Card, covers both airlines and hotels.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Museum of Flight located at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle the evening of April 24.
In the Americas category, the winners were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards
Best Promotion — Avianca LifeMiles Mileage Purchase 2x1
Best Elite Level — American Airlines – AAdvantage
Best Redemption Ability — Avianca - LifeMiles
Program of the Year — American Airlines – AAdvantage
Avianca is the flag airline carrier of Columbia.
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards Mega Bonus
Best Elite Level — Hyatt – Gold Passport
Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
Program of the Year — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD - Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards Premier Card
The Freddie Awards also presented “best of” awards for the Europe/Africa region, and the Middle East and Asia/Oceana region.
Winners in the Europe/Africa region were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — SAS – EuroBonus
Best Promotion — Air France/KLM -- FlyingBlue, The Great Take-Off
Best Elite Level — Lufthansa – Miles & More
Best Redemption Ability — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
Program of the Year — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — IHG Rewards Club
Best Promotion — IHG Rewards Club, The Big Win
Best Elite Level — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Redemption Ability — IHG Rewards Club
Program of the Year — IHG Rewards Club
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD — Flying Blue American Express
Winners in the Middle East and Asia/Oceania region were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Promotion — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Elite Level — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia Velocity
Program of the Year — Virgin Australia Velocity
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Promotion — IHG Rewards Club, The Big Win
Best Elite Level — Hyatt – Gold Passport
Best Redemption Ability — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Program of the Year — IHyatt – Gold Passport
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD — ADIB Etihad Guest Card
Introduced in 1988 by InsideFlyer magazine’s Randy Petersen, the “Freddies” are named in honor of Sir Freddie Laker (1922-2006) and have grown in stature and importance to become the most prestigious member-generated awards in the travel loyalty industry, according to the Freddie Awards’ website. The goal of the Freddie Awards is to give voice to the frequent flier and to honor the efforts of an industry that counts more than 300 million members worldwide.
Known for his pioneering marketing ideas within the travel industry, Laker founded Britain’s first all-jet air carrier, Laker Airways Ltd., in 1966, which eventually became the largest individually and privately owned airline in the world. Laker was one of the first airline owners to adopt the "no-frills" airline business model that has since proven to be very successful worldwide with companies such as Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), Ryanair, easyJet, AirAsia, WestJet and Virgin Australia.
He also founded the “SKYTRAIN” service, which revolutionized the airline industry by offering the first no-reservation, low-cost air service.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Follow @TheTravelProUS
Photo by Carl Dombek
Click on photo to view larger image
Travelers also voted Southwest Airlines' (NYSE:LUV) Rapid Rewards credit card Best Loyalty Credit Card.
"We will continue to work hard and listen to your feedback as we invest in the program through promotions like last year's Elite Rewards program and functionality such as the Award Map," she said.
American Airlines is owned by American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL).
 | |
| Industry representatives at Museum of Flight prior to presentation of Freddie Awards |
A sixth category, Best Loyalty Credit Card, covers both airlines and hotels.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Museum of Flight located at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle the evening of April 24.
In the Americas category, the winners were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards
Best Promotion — Avianca LifeMiles Mileage Purchase 2x1
Best Elite Level — American Airlines – AAdvantage
Best Redemption Ability — Avianca - LifeMiles
Program of the Year — American Airlines – AAdvantage
Avianca is the flag airline carrier of Columbia.
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards Mega Bonus
Best Elite Level — Hyatt – Gold Passport
Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
Program of the Year — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD - Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards Premier Card
The Freddie Awards also presented “best of” awards for the Europe/Africa region, and the Middle East and Asia/Oceana region.
Winners in the Europe/Africa region were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — SAS – EuroBonus
Best Promotion — Air France/KLM -- FlyingBlue, The Great Take-Off
Best Elite Level — Lufthansa – Miles & More
Best Redemption Ability — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
Program of the Year — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — IHG Rewards Club
Best Promotion — IHG Rewards Club, The Big Win
Best Elite Level — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Redemption Ability — IHG Rewards Club
Program of the Year — IHG Rewards Club
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD — Flying Blue American Express
Winners in the Middle East and Asia/Oceania region were:
AIRLINE
Best Customer Service — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Promotion — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Elite Level — Virgin Australia Velocity
Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia Velocity
Program of the Year — Virgin Australia Velocity
HOTEL
Best Customer Service — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Promotion — IHG Rewards Club, The Big Win
Best Elite Level — Hyatt – Gold Passport
Best Redemption Ability — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
Program of the Year — IHyatt – Gold Passport
BEST LOYALTY CREDIT CARD — ADIB Etihad Guest Card
Introduced in 1988 by InsideFlyer magazine’s Randy Petersen, the “Freddies” are named in honor of Sir Freddie Laker (1922-2006) and have grown in stature and importance to become the most prestigious member-generated awards in the travel loyalty industry, according to the Freddie Awards’ website. The goal of the Freddie Awards is to give voice to the frequent flier and to honor the efforts of an industry that counts more than 300 million members worldwide.
Known for his pioneering marketing ideas within the travel industry, Laker founded Britain’s first all-jet air carrier, Laker Airways Ltd., in 1966, which eventually became the largest individually and privately owned airline in the world. Laker was one of the first airline owners to adopt the "no-frills" airline business model that has since proven to be very successful worldwide with companies such as Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), Ryanair, easyJet, AirAsia, WestJet and Virgin Australia.
He also founded the “SKYTRAIN” service, which revolutionized the airline industry by offering the first no-reservation, low-cost air service.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Follow @TheTravelProUS
Photo by Carl Dombek
Click on photo to view larger image
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