The Results of the 2015 FlyerTalk Awards — Best Rewards Program, Outstanding Benefit & Special Recognition
FlyerTalk March 03, 2015
The annual FlyerTalk Awards honor the best affinity programs in the airline, hotel and car rental industries, as voted on by the world’s most elite frequent travelers.
Perhaps the most rewarded group in the history of these programs, FlyerTalk is a community of over half a million business and leisure travelers dedicated to finding and sharing elite-level knowledge of airline, hotel and car rental programs. For the fourth consecutive year, FlyerTalkers cast their ballots to determine the community’s favorite travel affinity programs.
Best Rewards Program
Voting was open from January 20 through February 3, and during that time, more than 100 programs worldwide vied for Best Program — an honor which signifies the finest combination of value, ease-of-redemption and customer service. FlyerTalk is proud to present nine of these awards across three geographic regions to the following:
Americas
Fly: American Airlines AAdvantage
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Europe/Africa
Fly: British Airways Executive Club
Stay: Hilton HHonors
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Middle East/Asia/Oceania
Fly: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Outstanding Benefit
Following a weeks-long nominations process in the FlyerTalk forums in December 2014, community members also voted on a single benefit to represent each program. FlyerTalk is also presenting awards to the following nine programs recognized for Outstanding Benefit:
Americas
Fly: American Airlines AAdvantage — EXP Systemwide Upgrades
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest — Platinum Room & Suite Upgrades
Drive: National Emerald Club — Choice of Car/Bypassing Rental Counter
Europe/Africa
Fly: British Airways Executive Club — Lounge Access
Stay: Club Carlson — 2-for-1 & 4-for-2 Nights
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — Gold Service
Middle East/Asia/Oceania
Fly: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles — Seat Guarantees
Stay: Starwood Preferred Guest — Platinum Room & Suite Upgrades
Drive: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — Gold Plus Rewards
Special Recognition Award
In addition, a Special Recognition Award is being handed out to William R. Sanders, AKA “Starwood Lurker,” who has been the SPG liaison to FlyerTalk for an amazing 15 years. Congratulations, William!
SCORING:
Voters are asked to submit a six-part online ballot, ranking their top four programs (1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, 4th place) in each award category. Ballots are tabulated using a single-winner voting method (a modified Borda count) with a proprietary weighting system, and audited over a period of weeks. This ensures that small programs, meeting a modest minimum qualifying percentage of votes cast, have the same chance of winning as the largest players in their industry; high program participation does not necessarily equate to a higher Quality Score. A perfect Quality Score — receiving nothing but 1st-place votes — is 10.
These results originally appeared on USA Today.
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Seems odd that a company that pushes out emails about being named best awards program can't respond to a question reference about why they picked up my rental car in the middle of my spring break vacation without any notice? They provided another car but when the family is dress and ready to go our to dinner and the valet asks "when was the last time you saw your car" it's a bit of an awkward moment.
Cant believe Hertz gets so may awards. Having been Hertz PC, Avis PC & National EE, I couldn't rate Hertz anywhere near Avis / National in terms of upgrades, pricing and even point earn/redemption.
Congrats to Aeroplan, Marriott and Delta on not making the lists. Who wants to be on any lists?
Well that's surprise to me! Other than Hertz in Europe none of mine !!
Awards are given for the preceding 12 month period; basically, calendar year 2014.