well I think its the best but I am or have only ever been a member of any significance in 3 programs. I get a real charge out of polls asking to rank the best plan or what have you. Unless you are OR have been a significant flyer and member of 5 or 7 airlines you really cant rate a program against a grading scale of other airlines. What I do know is that from the 3 Ive ever used frequently Id rate Alaska an A-, Continental a B-, and Delta a D+. Id give NW a B but DL since turned them into D+ material. Bear in mind I can only rank between these 3 or was 4 airlines. I have no idea how UA, US, AA(just from what ive experienced and read about AA program Id rank it an F-), VX, F9, HA, Jet Blue, Airtran, etc programs would rank. Heck some of them might even be better than AS. I can look at what others say and read their benefits but you cant really read a book by its cover. AS allows free elite upgrades to Hawaii and Mexico...something most other big legacys dont allow. Golds on AS in coach get a free premium beverage. AFAIK no other big carriers do that...I hear DL is going to start doing it? You can become an AS elite at a lower mileage level than other legacys. AS also allows golds waived change fees. The waived change fees alone in 2009 wouldve cost me $1200+ had I been a DL gold using DL. Of course AS has their down side of not flying all around the globe and not being a member of some vast alliance where you can use elite benefits on 12 different carriers. AS customer service is top notch although CO's was right behind it when I used them