And what would any award be these days without recognition of a little bit of plastic (though w/ virtual cards blossoming, maybe even the mention of plastic will be replaced at some point)? The years 2021-2022 proved to be more interesting than ever for loyalty programs as several programs announced that earning elite status via use of your spending power outside of travel was a #thing. As such, we expect this category to gain more impact and more relevance in years to come. But there is little change from the past in this year’s winner—Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Premier Credit card issued by Chase. When we mention “little change ….”, well, this credit card has won for the fifth consecutive year and eight of the past nine years (in case you are wondering, SPG’s American Express Card interrupted this current streak in 2016). That’s quite a record for Rapid Rewards. But since you’re reading along (DYK>), Diners Club Rewards is the record holder in this category with an astounding nine consecutive years of #best (1998-2006). Avianca LifeMiles Visa claims second place in this category but it’s not a sure lock given that Citi AAdvantage, MGM, and Caesars are all clumped in close enough for a near traffic jam for that #2 spot. And in the *small trivia category, you likely noticed that Mastercard captured both the #4 and the #7 slots in the top ten ratings. And as it is becoming more common to say—may the power of plastic be to all the winners.
Full Voting Results
| Rank | Best Loyalty Credit Card (Americas) | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | 8.54 |
| 2 | Avianca LifeMiles Visa Credit Card | 8.33 |
| 3 | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card | 8.30 |
| 4 | MGM Mlife Rewards Mastercard | 8.30 |
| 5 | Caesars Rewards Visa | 8.27 |
| 6 | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase | 8.14 |
| 7 | Free Spirit Travel More Elite Mastercard | 7.98 |
| 8 | American Express Membership Rewards | 7.95 |
| 9 | Wyndham Rewards Earner Card | 7.94 |
| 10 | Capital One Rewards | 7.77 |
| 11 | AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard | 7.76 |
| 12 | Chase Ultimate Rewards | 7.44 |
| 13 | Alaska Airlines Visa Signature | 7.24 |
| 14 | Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express | 7.19 |
| 15 | United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase | 7.00 |
| 16 | Diners Club International Club Rewards | 6.85 |
| 17 | LATAM Visa | 6.84 |
| 18 | Citi ThankYou Rewards | 6.63 |
| 19 | JetBlue Card | 6.62 |
| 20 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | 6.60 |
| 21 | IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card | 6.59 |
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