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2015-16 Best Airline Rewards Programs

By U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News announces Best Airline Rewards Programs

No loyalty program is ideal for everyone, but choosing one that best matches your lifestyle can help you maximize your chances of earning and redeeming meaningful rewards. To help you weigh your options, U.S. News evaluated 10 leading frequent flier programs using an unbiased methodology that takes into account each program’s earning and redemption values, benefits, network coverage and award flight availability, among other data points. Here’s the ranking, starting at No. 10 and working up.

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

10. FREE SPIRIT

Overall Score: 1.16

Pro: Mileage credit can be earned up to 30 days after flying with Spirit
Con: Miles expire after three months of account inactivity

See why FREE SPIRIT ranks No. 10

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

9. Delta SkyMiles

Overall Score: 3.11

Pro: Miles do not expire
Con: Delta no longer has rewards charts, making it difficult to determine the number of points needed to cover a flight

See why Delta SkyMiles ranks No. 9

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

8. United MileagePlus

Overall Score: 3.45

Pro: United and its partners fly to more than 1,100 destinations worldwide
Con: Miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity

See why United MileagePlus ranks No. 8

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

7. Frontier EarlyReturns

Overall Score: 3.55

Pro: Airline flies to wider selection of smaller airports
Con: Frontier has fewer daily flights than major carriers

See why Frontier EarlyReturns ranks No. 7

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

6. Virgin America Elevate

Overall Score: 3.61

Pro: Points can be earned on hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and retail purchases
Con: There are a limited number of seats available for rewards travel on partner airlines

See why Virgin America Elevate ranks No. 6

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

5. HawaiianMiles

Overall Score: 3.88

Pro: Numerous award flight fare classes to choose from
Con: Elite status cannot be earned by booking flights with partner airlines

See why HawaiianMiles ranks No. 5

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

4. JetBlue TrueBlue

Overall Score: 3.95

Pro: Points can be earned on multiple airlines
Con: Program only offers one elite membership tier

See why JetBlue TrueBlue ranks No. 4

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

3. Southwest Rapid Rewards

Overall Score: 3.99

Pro: Rapid Rewards Points can be earned on flights and hotel stays
Con: Southwest’s only flights outside the U.S. are to Mexico and the Caribbean

See why Southwest Rapid Rewards ranks No. 3

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

2. American Airlines AAdvantage

Overall Score: 4.04

Pro: Can earn miles with more than 1,000 partner companies
Con: Mileage credit for American and AAdvantage-affiliated partners will be forfeited if your account is inactive for 18 months

See why American Airlines AAdvantage ranks No. 2

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Overall Score: 4.39

Pro: Can earn and redeem miles with Alaska Airlines or 15 partner airlines
Con: Blackout dates apply on reward travel

See why Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan ranks No. 1

See the 2015-16 Best Travel Rewards Programs

More from U.S. News

How to Pick the Right Travel Rewards Program for You

Best Airline Rewards Programs

Best Travel Rewards Programs of 2015-16

2015-16 Best Airline Rewards Programs originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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