Actually, it’s not an Oscar. It’s a Freddie. Like the Oscars for motion pictures, the Freddies are the most-coveted award for frequent traveler programs.
Now celebrating its 20th year, the Freddies are the brain child of frequent flier guru, Randy Petersen, publisher of Inside Flyer and arguably the world’s most knowledgeable frequent traveler, USA Today reports. Petersen launched the awards to answer the question asked of him most often: “Hey Randy, who’s got the best frequent flier program?” Unfortunately, there is no patent answer to that question, according to Petersen. It’s different if you have 30,000 miles or 300,000 miles and if you live in Madison, Wis., or Dallas, he says. It also depends on what you intend to do with those miles. “Do you want to upgrade or go to Europe?” he asks.
The annual Freddies Awards ceremony took place in Phoenix last week. Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards took six of eight airline awards. Marriott Rewards took Program of the Year honors and dominated the hotel category with the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program, each earning 10 of the 25 hotel award. The Intercontinental Hotel Group Priority Club Rewards program also won four Freddies.
Why Freedie, you ask? The award was named for the late Sir Freddie Laker, (see photo) who pioneered discount travel across the Atlantic.