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, and yes, the two do seem to be mutually exclusive. 😉
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’d like 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 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’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. I believe the inspiration behind this name is that South Korea is sometimes referred to as “the land of the morning calm.”
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!
TAAG Angola Airlines Umbi Umbi Club
I pity the person who is loyal to TAAG Angola Airlines (at least based on my experience flying with the airline), but I’ll give the carrier credit for its Umbi Umbi Club, which is the name of the frequent flyer program. I’m not sure what exactly the inspiration is for that name, but based a little research, it appears that “umbi” means “root” or “tuber” in the Kimbundu language, which… still doesn’t exactly help me understand the name?
Air Astana Nomad Club
Air Astana is the national airline of Kazakstan, and its frequent flyer program is named Nomad Club. I think that’s such an awesome frequent flyer program name. For one, it pays tribute to the country’s history, given that Kazakh people were traditionally nomadic pastoralists. But in many ways, those who fly a lot also have a “nomadic” lifestyle, so I find that to be creative.
Sichuan Airlines Golden Panda Club
Sichuan Airlines’ frequent flyer program is named Golden Panda Club, an obvious tribute to how Chengdu and the region are known for their pandas. Who wouldn’t want to be a Platinum Golden Panda Club member?!
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?
@Ben, how have you never flown Cayman Airways? According to Wikipedia they have four Max-8s each with 16 business seats.
Too bad Loganair CLAN is now Avios. Clan Club is an epic name
That's a "c", for those of you in MAGA-land.
Air Jamaica had a loyalty program called 7th Heaven
GOL airlines program name is ‘Smiles’
I like Porter Airlines, namely because of their cute raccoon mascot, which is often in clip art doing fun things; worth signing up for their emails just to get to see those!
Also, I still get a monthly reminder of my Sir Turtle Rewards statement, and it’s kinda funny. Not sure if I’ll ever use my 1,500 point, but there they are…
Flew Cayman Airways just yesterday. Free Rum Punch in coach. New Austin-Grand Cayman route announced today!
My greatest aspiration is to one day achieve platinum hawk silver status
Who could forget OnePass from Continental as a honorable mention.
Besides Cayman's Sir Turtle Club, there are some others I'd throw out there for top ten names:
Sky Gift (Iran Air)
My Happiness Rewards (Druk Air)
Sindbad (Oman Air)
Sheba Miles (Ethiopian)
Saga Club (Icelandair)
Rainbow Club (Air Zimbabwe)
Saffron Rewards (Safi Airways)
OK Plus (Czech)
And the most creative..."Status" (UTAir)
Bundes Deutsche Spohr Miles -- or, BDSM for short.
Fu¢king legend
Morning Calm is a direct translation of 조선(朝鮮, Joseon), the dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed until 1910. It's like a Chinese airline naming their FFP "Qing".
Thanks for including the xtranormal video. I think a lot of readers would be well served by reading the comments on it to see what people think of them and their Diamond Status.
My dad has not had airline status in decades but still refers to himself as the "Flying Colonel" from time to time.
I, for one, have collected nearly four million Delta InconsequentialLittleShrivelledUpNuts points! Not only is this irrefutable the world's single best loyalty program, but it comes from the world's single best airline. Delta serves all the best airports in the world and has the best employees, best ledgerbooks, and best strategy out of an airline to ever exist, anywhere. It's incredible!
Lil Timmy D has achieved DL Global Bootlicker Services
Curious - why such a high level of interest in a minor and unimportant airline like TAAG, which comes from, by coincidence, a minor and unimportant country.
I suppose it's the same reason that drives you to post here about insignificance.
@1990. That minor and unimportant country exported nearly $1 billion in crude petroleum to the US in 2023!
@1990 (and your sockpuppets), while we're all curious here... why does your place smell like too much Charlie perfume and regret? Ben's put together a good list here and the discussion has been, aside from your inane post, pretty fun.
Oh no… the imposter strikes again.
Believe it or not, I actually have been to Angola. No, I didn’t fly TAAG there.
—O.G. 1990
Other candidates:
- now defunct CSA’s OK Plus (slightly better than mediocre?)
- Sri Lankan FlySmiLes (is that fly less, smile less, or both?)
when'd you get insighter status with Starlux Ben? Any specific plans you have to use it?
I suspect this is from a covid era status matching that they did. I got it too, but never got to use the status.
My favorite is "Hyatt Gold Passport."
Hyatt should consider enhancing "WOH" to that; it would be a great and meaningful change, because then the levels could be Silver, Gold, and Platinum or Plutonium or Diamond or Saturn's Rings, three simple levels with logical, non-jargony names to remember. Yeah, that would be great.
And how about Gulf Air's "FalconFlyer"? I mean you already have the avian theme going on with Royal Jordanian's hawk, hah!
"Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles"
Speaking of Miles, how is Miles?! I hope Miles and Jet are doing alright!