Just as close counts in hand grenades and horse shoes, so does it seem to count in this years Best Elite program. Revamped and hard charging Aeroplan couldn’t get the extra thousandths of a percent in value rating to overcome AAdvantage’s tenth consecutive win in this category. AAdvantage has a spectacular run at ruling this important category which is considered the most challenging to win because elite status matters (most). What’s intriguing here is the float downward of the Alaska Airlines elite program which almost traditionally is in the mix (and has won) this particular Freddie Award category. Just as intriguing is the #topfive finish of the Spirit Airlines program—two low cost airlines, Southwest and Spirit in the top five… interesting. What is troubling is the full half of a percentage point that Delta trails American for elite rankings among the legacy carriers. United is a full two points below the value rating of American.

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Full Voting Results

Rank	Best Elite Program – Airlines (Americas)	Rating
1	American Airlines AAdvantage	8.71
2	Air Canada Aeroplan	8.71
3	Avianca LifeMiles	8.59
4	Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards	8.17
5	Spirit Airlines Free Spirit	7.91
6	Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	7.24
7	Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	6.79
8	United Airlines Mileage Plus	6.73
9	LATAM Pass	6.56
10	JetBlue TrueBlue	6.46
11	Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	6.36
12	Frontier Airlines Frontier Miles	6.13