JetBlue frequent flier program ranks 1st in J.D. Power study

Airline loyalty programs are becoming increasingly lucrative for carriers. (Dreamstime)

Credit: Drreamstime

Credit: Drreamstime

Airline loyalty programs are becoming increasingly lucrative for carriers. (Dreamstime)

JetBlue Airways, which began flying to Atlanta last year, ranked 1st in a J.D. Power study of frequent flier programs released Wednesday.

New York-based JetBlue's TrueBlue loyalty program scored 812 out of 1,000 points in the J.D. Power 2018 airline loyalty program satisfaction study.

Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program ranked 2nd in the J.D. Power study, followed by Alaska Airlines in 3rd. Dallas-based Southwest is the second-largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program ranked 4th out of six ranked,with a score of 786 points out of 1,000. Delta is the dominant airline in Atlanta.

About half of frequent flier program members don’t understand how to earn or redeem points or miles, according to the J.D. Power study.

Airlines have “a huge opportunity to improve when it comes to customers’ ease of understanding the rewards program,” said J.D. Power travel practice lead Michael Taylor.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines’ AAdvantage program ranked fifth, followed by Chicago-based United Airlines’ Mileage Plus program in last place.

The study was based on 3,025 responses from rewards program members in May and June 2018.

J.D. Power 2018 Airline Loyalty Program Satisfaction Study

Overall satisfaction index ranking based on a 1,000-point scale

1. JetBlue Airways TrueBlue, 812

2. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, 798

3. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, 791

4. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, 786

5. American Airlines AAdvantage, 749

6. United Airlines Mileage Plus, 747

Source: J.D. Power