The author is not affiliated with any airline or frequent flyer program and makes no claims with regards to specific programs, nor does he claim that one style of program is better in an overall sense. The intent of this article is to provide travelers with a fair comparison of the options so that they can make informed decisions that fit their individual situations.

–

American Airlines launched its AAdvantage program in 1981. United Airlines followed soon after with Mileage Plus. To…