2017 Freddie Awards name best airline, hotel loyalty programs

More than four million travelers had their say and named their favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs in the 2017 Freddie Awards.

Some 4.2 million travelers from around the world voted for their favorite loyalty programs, including airline frequent flier programs, hotel loyalty programs and co-branded "affinity" credit cards. Travelers from 237 countries cast ballots in 13 different languages and weighed in on 223 different programs.

The winners were announced April 27 at an event in Jersey City, New Jersey, and trophies were handed out to representatives of the winning organizations. The winners of the 2017 Freddie Awards are as follows:  

AMERICAS

Airline

  • Program of the Year — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards 
  • Best Elite Program — American Airlines – AAdvantage 
  • Best Promotion — Avianca – LifeMiles 
  • Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards 
  • Best Redemption Ability — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards 
  • 210 AWARD — Avianca – LifeMiles 
Hotel
  • Program of the Year — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards 
  • Best Elite Program — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards 
  • Best Promotion — MGM – M life Rewards 
  • Best Customer Service — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards 
  • Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards 
  • 210 AWARD — AccorHotels – Le Club AccorHotels 
Credit Card
  • Best Loyalty Credit Card - Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards by Chase Bank
EUROPE AND AFRICA

Airline
  • Program of the Year — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
  • Best Elite Program — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
  • Best Promotion — Air France/KLM – Flying Blue
  • Best Customer Service — Aeroflot Bonus 
  • Best Redemption Ability — Aeroflot Bonus 
  • 210 Award — TAP Portugal - Victoria Programme
Hotel
  • Program of the Year — Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels
  • Best Elite Program — Starwood – Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Best Promotion — Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels
  • Best Customer Service — Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels  
  • Best Redemption Ability — Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels
  • 210 Award — Choice Hotels - Choice Privileges
Credit Card
  • Best Affinity Credit Card — Norwegian Air - Norwegian Reward - Bank Norwegian Norwegian Card 
MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA/OCEANIA

Airline
  • Program of the Year — EL AL – Matmid Club
  • Best Elite Program — Virgin Australia – Velocity
  • Best Promotion — EL AL – Matmid Club
  • Best Customer Service — EL AL – Matmid Club 
  • Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia – Velocity
  • 210 Award — ANA - ANA Mileage Club
Hotel
  • Program of the Year — Starwood - Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Best Elite Program — Starwood - Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Best promotion — Starwood - Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Best Customer Service — Starwood - Starwood Preferred Guest
  • Best Redemption Ability — Starwood - Starwood Preferred Guest
  • 210 Award — Trident Hotels - Trident Privilege
Credit Card
  • Best Affinity Credit Card — American Express - Membership Rewards - American Express 
2017 is the 29th year of the Freddie Awards. Created in 1988 by Randy Petersen, the publisher and editor of InsideFlyer magazine, the “Freddies” are named in honor of Sir Freddie Laker and have grown in stature and importance to become the most prestigious member-generated awards in the travel loyalty industry.

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, according to the Freddie Awards website.

Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.

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