Contests and Sweepstakes FlyerTalk hotel loyalty programs personal reflections

2014 FlyerTalk Awards Winners

Seeing the words, “The winners of the 2014 FlyerTalk Awards, sponsored by KAYAK, have been announced exclusively at CNN.com – click to check them all out! has me wondering if I am even permitted to share the awards winners with you on Loyalty Traveler blog.

I read the CNN piece this morning. I did not realize I was in exclusive company at the time. When I went to FlyerTalk to check the full list of winners, I learned that I had already seen all the winners announced on CNN.

FlyerTalk Awards

http://www.flyertalk.com/awards/

In a world where I strive to stay small and be open as a travel blogger (or should I say, be small and stay open as a travel blogger?), everyone wants a piece of the corporate media publicity pie.

FlyerTalk Awards Winners of Best Loyalty Programs

Americas:

Airlines

  1. American AAdvantage
  2. United Mileage Plus

Hotels

  1. Starwood Preferred Guest
  2. Hilton HHonors

Car Rental

  1. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Europe and Africa

Airlines

  1. British Airways Executive Club

Hotels

  1. Starwood Preferred Guest

Car Rental

  1. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Middle East/Asia/Oceania

Airlines

  1. Jet Airways Jet Privilege

Hotels

  1. Taj Hotels and Palaces Inner Circle

Car Rental

  1. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Winners of Best Travel Rewards Benefit

Americas

  • American Airlines Executive Platinum 8 systemwide upgrades.
  • Marriott Rewards Concierge Lounge
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards package benefits

Europe/Africa

  • British Airways Avios upgrades and distance-based reward chart.
  • Hilton HHonors Executive Lounge
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points for free rentals

Middle East/Asia/Pacific

  • Jet Airways JetPrivilege cash upgrades on domestic India flights.
  • Taj Hotels and Palaces Inner Circle room upgrades.

You can read more details in CNN’s exclusive coverage of the FlyerTalk Travel Awards Program.

You can read about FlyerTalk member reactions to the award winners here.

Personally, I have little interest in award winners for travel loyalty programs. Most of these noted travel loyalty program benefits are only available to the top elite members. There are several awards from several publishing companies that are published each year and there tends to be variability in award winners across the usual suspects of major airlines and hotel chains.

The travel industry giants get advertising copy from winning awards and exposure in the media. The award organizers get travel publisher social media attention, corporate sponsorships and an awards party.

I do like a good party, but I don’t care for travel industry awards parties.

How about a travel consumer awards party for all the best airline mistake fares and hotel rate mistakes that travelers are able to catch each year.

Would travel company winners come to that party for their awards?

As a travel consumer, given a good mistake fare or discount hotel rate enticing me to travel somewhere else on the date of the awards party, I would not be there.

*****

Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.

Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests.

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2 Comments

  • Traveler March 6, 2014

    cool lists.. I don’t agree with all of them but….

  • Kalboz March 6, 2014

    Jet Airways &Taj Hotels? Really? I believe the results are misleading or representing opinions of people who voted and not necessarily the best airlines/hotels. FT should change the survey to reflect “better” geographical choices for more accurate results.

Comments are closed.

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