Voting opens Sunday, Feb. 15, for travelers to select their favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs and affinity credit cards in the 27th Annual Freddie Awards.
The awards recognize loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels in
five categories each, across three regions of the world, as well as one
affinity credit card in each of the three regions. The goal of the
Freddie Awards is to give voice to the frequent flier and to honor the
efforts of the airline and hospitality industries.
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.
Travelers who vote at FreddieAwards.com may cast ballots for airline and hotel loyalty programs, which are each represented in five separate categories including Program of the Year, Best Promotion, Best Redemption Ability, Best Customer Service and Best Elite Program. A sixth category, Best Loyalty Credit Card, covers both airlines and hotels.
"As a Freddie’s voter, your voice as a traveler helps to select the best frequent flyer programs in the world," Peterson said in an email to potential voters. "You know loyalty and, with your vote, you share your preferences for travel brands and their associated loyalty programs each year."
One winning airline and one winning hotel chain will be selected for each category in three regions: the Americas, Middle East/Asia/Oceania, and Europe/Africa.
Last year’s winners were determined by approximately eight million frequent travelers who chose to vote for their favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs.
In the Americas category, the 2014 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
Winners of this year’s balloting will be announced April 30 at the Delta Flight Museum (NYSE:DAL) in Atlanta, Ga.
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
The awards recognize loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels in
five categories each, across three regions of the world, as well as one
affinity credit card in each of the three regions. The goal of the
Freddie Awards is to give voice to the frequent flier and to honor the
efforts of the airline and hospitality industries.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.
 | |
| Industry representatives at Seattle's Museum of Flight prior to presentation of 26th Annual Freddie Awards |
"As a Freddie’s voter, your voice as a traveler helps to select the best frequent flyer programs in the world," Peterson said in an email to potential voters. "You know loyalty and, with your vote, you share your preferences for travel brands and their associated loyalty programs each year."
One winning airline and one winning hotel chain will be selected for each category in three regions: the Americas, Middle East/Asia/Oceania, and Europe/Africa.
Last year’s winners were determined by approximately eight million frequent travelers who chose to vote for their favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs.
In the Americas category, the 2014 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
Winners of this year’s balloting will be announced April 30 at the Delta Flight Museum (NYSE:DAL) in Atlanta, Ga.
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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