U.S. News & World Report ranks Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan as the nation’s best airline rewards program

U.S. News & World Report recently announced their annual 2018-19 Best Travel Rewards Programs. Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan made the No. 1 spot in the Best Airline Rewards Programs category for the fourth year running.

The report, which evaluates rewards programs based on criteria such as membership benefits and ease of use, cites Alaska's mileage-based earning structure, the option to cash in miles for free flights, and the elite members' benefits as reasons for its top ranking.

This may come as good news to former Virgin America Elevate members who were recently transferred to the Mileage Plan as a part of the merger between Virgin America and Alaska announced in 2017. Virgin America Elevate ranked 5th on the 2016-2017 list.

This year, Delta SkyMiles took the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row, and JetBlue's TrueBlue program ranked third. The report also includes a category for Best Hotel Rewards Programs; Marriott Rewards is in the No. 1 spot on that list.

The full listings for the Best Airline Rewards Programs and the Best Hotel Rewards Program are below:

Best Airline Rewards Programs

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Delta SkyMiles

JetBlue TrueBlue

American Airlines AAdvantage

Southwest Rapid Rewards

United MileagePlus

Frontier Miles

HawaiianMiles

Free Spirit

Best Hotel Rewards Programs

Marriott Rewards

Wyndham Rewards

World of Hyatt

Choice Privileges

Best Western Rewards

IHG Rewards Club

Radisson Rewards

La Quinta Returns

Invited (Small Luxury Hotels of the World)

Leaders Club

Hilton Honors

Sonesta Travel Pass

Stash Hotel Rewards

Omni Select Guest

Le Club Accorhotels

I Prefer Hotel Rewards