There are the best frequent flyer programs, and then there are the frequent flyer programs with the best names. This post is about the latter. 😉
Airlines all have their own unique names for frequent flyer programs, but there aren’t many that really make you go “wow.” In the United States, you have programs like American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, etc. I mean, the names are easy enough to remember, but nothing too exciting.
Then you have the names of the individual elite membership tiers, which are all too often just the name of a precious metal, whether it’s Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond.
In this post, I wanted to share the frequent flyer program names that I find to be most fun and memorable. In some cases it’s the program as such that has a unique name, while in other cases it’s the elite tier. With that in mind, below are my six favorites, in no particular order.
In this post:
Cayman Airways Sir Turtle Rewards
I’ve never flown Cayman Airways, but the carrier’s Sir Turtle Rewards program almost makes me want to. I mean, how cool is that?! Can you even have a meltdown as an elite member when that’s the name of the program?
Like, picture the below interaction, but replace “Diamond guest” with “Sir Turtle Rewards member.” It instantly makes everything more fun, no?!
Royal Jordanian Royal Club Platinum Hawk
Royal Jordanian’s frequent flyer program is named Royal Club, which is whatever. What’s much more memorable are the names of the three elite tiers — Silver Jay, Gold Sparrow, and Platinum Hawk. Who would want to be a Platinum member, when you could instead be a Platinum Hawk?! Kee-eeeee-arr!
Korean Air SkyPass Morning Calm
Korean Air is actually the airline that motivated me to write this post. Korean Air’s frequent flyer program is named Korean Air SkyPass, which is nothing exciting. However, the carrier’s elite tier is Morning Calm, and I can’t help but love that. Maybe it’s in part because I’m a morning person, and I’m also pretty calm… most of the time.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines’ frequent flyer program is named Miles&Smiles, and I just find that adorable. What a fun, positive name for a program. Of course when the program has a devaluation, perhaps many of us view it more as Miles&Frowns.
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
EVA Air’s frequent flyer program is named Infinity MileageLands, and that’s… a mouthful. I find it equal parts fun and cute, as it’s somewhere between Toy Story and something being lost in translation.
Starlux COSMILE Insighter
Airlines from Taiwan sure know how to name frequent flyer programs, or something. 😉 Starlux Airlines’ frequent flyer program is named COSMILE, and it has several membership tiers — Traveler, Adventurer, Explorer, and Insighter.
Much like with EVA Air, I feel like being a Starlux COSMILE Insighter member is quite a fun distinction!
Bottom line
You’ve gotta respect when airlines get creative with the names of their frequent flyer programs, and I think the above airlines all do that. We’re so used to airlines taking similar approaches to naming their programs, so it’s nice when there’s a bit of creativity. In some cases it’s just lighthearted fun, while in other cases it’s also a reflection of the culture of the country the airline is from.
What’s your favorite frequent flyer program name?
Flying a million kilometers with Sichuan Airlines will get you Golden Panda Club Lifetime Platinum. (You'll have to read their Mandarin site for the details: https://www.sichuanair.com/member-advancedMembers/ )
Then there's the names of Marriott credit cards.
Fun post. Some great lounge names out there too which might be worthwhile for another post.
I forgot where I've seen that, but Korea is apparently also referred to as "The Land of Morning Calm".
Umbi Umbi from TAAG is also a nice one.
Air Astana Nomad Club is the best imo
Turkish has largely been Miles & [No] Smiles for the uninitiated LOL
Beware of booking awards on Turkish metal for NOT yourself, the pax must present the credit card used to pay the taxes & fees or they will be denied boarding
"Morning Calm" doesn't sound like the type of heirs and heiresses (or other types of spoiled passengers) airline staff can encounter. Unless it refers to the aftermath...
But, nothing beats being a "Sir Turtle".
Well, if you rise above just being a KE frequent flyer and become a heiress, you can become a Morning Nutcase (pun intended) I guess...
LOL, was thinking about her too, she deserves her own beyond-top tier status.
I mentioned this as an aside in a comment below but not seeing Egret Miles of XiamenAir included in this list was a disappointment. That name is definitely unique, although the program is admittedly somewhat obscure
i aspire to be 'Morning Calm' so perhaps Korean is the way to get there ;)
Oman Air Sindbad programme always gives me a smile.
Two points I’d like to make, one on European FFPs and the other on Northeast Asian FFPs:
1. It’s crazy how many Star Alliance members from Europe have the same naming convention for their FFPs: Miles & More for the LH group (and LOT Polish Airlines), Miles&Smiles for Turkish Airlines, Miles&Bonus for Aegean — which I always found to be very oddly named, given how lovely an airline A3 is otherwise — and Miles&Go for...
Two points I’d like to make, one on European FFPs and the other on Northeast Asian FFPs:
1. It’s crazy how many Star Alliance members from Europe have the same naming convention for their FFPs: Miles & More for the LH group (and LOT Polish Airlines), Miles&Smiles for Turkish Airlines, Miles&Bonus for Aegean — which I always found to be very oddly named, given how lovely an airline A3 is otherwise — and Miles&Go for TAP Air Portugal. That they’re all in the Star Alliance makes it even more of an odd coincidence.
2. Outlandish names like Infinity MileageLands and COSMILE are a function of Northeast Asian countries’ very poor command of English, and Sinophone countries in particular, which explains why Taiwanese airlines have those names. I’m surprised this isn’t so in Japan, given the very kawaii nature of many things in that country: we could’ve had much cooler names than ANA Mileage Club and JAL Mileage Bank! (Or Asiana Club, for that matter, given that Korean airline’s mascot-heavy branding.)
re: 2 this is absolutely true, Northeast Asia pumps out some of the funniest/most outlandish English in general. On the mainland, though, I have been shocked at the names being... fine? (Especially given that those airlines are not by any means good at English, or maintaining websites and running programs, otherwise). Eastern Miles is reasonable for China Eastern, and Sky Pearl Club makes sense with China Southern being based on the Pearl River Delta. XiamenAir's...
re: 2 this is absolutely true, Northeast Asia pumps out some of the funniest/most outlandish English in general. On the mainland, though, I have been shocked at the names being... fine? (Especially given that those airlines are not by any means good at English, or maintaining websites and running programs, otherwise). Eastern Miles is reasonable for China Eastern, and Sky Pearl Club makes sense with China Southern being based on the Pearl River Delta. XiamenAir's "Egret Miles" is a hilarious exception to this, though. Don't get me started on that
While semi vanilla I love QF Platinum One
Yet another Japan romanticizer.
I guess harsh working culture, denial of war crimes, fabricating history, and poor level of democracy is a kawaii to you.
... though undeniably still better than the rest of East Asia.