Alaska Airlines tops another airline rewards programme ranking

US News and World Report Tuesday released results for its annual survey of airline (and hotel) rewards programmes and, for a second year in a row, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan got top honors. JetBlue’s TrueBlue programme was ranked No. 2. “By rewarding points based on the number of miles flown rather than dollars spent, [Alaska Airlines] makes it easier for budget-conscious travellers to earn free flights on its vast partner network,” US News and World Report said, adding that JetBlue’s programme gains high marks “because of its multiple ways to earn points, high airline quality performance and elite member perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and expedited security.” The survey ranks 10 airline rewards programmes using six weighted categories: ease of earning a free round-trip flight, added benefits, network coverage, flight volume, award flight availability and airline quality ratings.<br/>