How Much Do You Really Know About Airline Loyalty Programs?
So you think you're a frequent-flying expert? Find out how well you really know your airline loyalty programs with this quiz — then check your answers below and let us know how you did.
1. What was the first airline in the world to launch a loyalty rewards program for its customers?
a) American Airlines
b) Western Airlines
c) United Airlines
d) Delta Air Lines
2. Which airline was the first to come out with a loyalty program that specifically counted the miles traveled?
a) Texas International Airlines
b) American Airlines
c) Pan Am
d) Hawaiian Airlines
3. What is the the only major U.S. airline currently operating without a frequent-flyer program?
a) Allegiant Air
b) JetBlue
c) Sun Country
d) Virgin America
4. For $99 (or 117 points and $60), you can order an inflight marriage-proposal kit from which airline? (An attendant will also bring wine, two glasses and chocolates — if the answer is yes.)
a) Air France
b) El Al
c) Thai Airways
d) Alitalia
5. For 9,000 miles, Air France will give you a make up bag made out of what item you'd normally expect to see on your flight, not in your purse?
a) Part of the wing
b) An old-school captain's uniform
c) A captain's cap
d) A recycled life vest
6. What's the name of the LAM Mozambique Airlines loyalty program?
a) Sandpiper Rewards
b) Flamingo Club
c) Cloud Miles
d) Choice Privileges
7. If you're redeeming FlySmiLes, you're a member of which loyalty program?
a) Spirit Airlines
b) Caribbean Airlines
c) SriLankan Airlines
d) Wizz Air
8. What's the name of the lowest membership tier of the Air France-KLM Flying Blue mileage program?
a) Bleu
b) Ivory
c) Roquefort
d) Gold
9. In 2011, United Airlines changed the name of its old frequent-flyer program to MileagePlus. What was it called before?
a) SkyPass
b) United Airlines Frequent Flyer Rewards
c) UFIA (United Flyers International Awards)
d) Mileage Plus
10. The designer of the logo for the American Airlines AAdvantage program, Massimo Vignelli, also designed which of the following?
a) The New York City subway map
b) The logo of the 1984 Summer Olympics
c) The New York Yankees logo
d) The Adidas trefoil logo
Answers:
1. c) United Airlines, in 1972.
2. a) Texas International Airlines, in 1979.
3. a) Allegiant Air
4. b) El Al
5. d) A recycled life vest
6. b) Flamingo Club
7. c) SriLankan Airlines
8. b) Ivory
9. d) Mileage Plus (with a space)
10. a) The New York City subway map
How many of these did you get right? Share your results in the comments section, below.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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- Valuable dining and food-related credits
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- No foreign transaction fees
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
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- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.


