Transfer and airline partners: ANA is transfer partners with American Express and Marriott Bonvoy. It’s in Star Alliance along with other airlines such as United, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, EVA, and Avianca. But it also has non-alliance partners like Garuda Indonesia and Virgin Atlantic.

Reasons to consider it: Two words: award chart. While other airlines have repeatedly raised the price of business- and first-class awards, ANA has remained a bastion of value. A round-trip award flight on ANA from North America to Japan ranges from 40,000 to 55,000 miles in economy, 75,000-90,000 miles in business class, or 150,000-165,000 in first class. On the same ticket, United would charge 70,000 miles for economy, 160,000 miles for business class, and 210,000 miles for first class.

Another perk: ANA lets up to eight family members pool their miles (if they live outside Japan), putting more awards within reach.

Drawbacks: Like Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club charges exorbitant taxes and fees on some awards. Redemptions on partner airlines and ANA’s own international flights must be for round-trip travel, so no convenient one-way awards.

British Airways Executive Club

A distance-based awards system offers great value for short-haul flyers, both in Europe and North America.

Transfer and airline partners: Folks with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy points can transfer them to British Airways. The airline is in the Oneworld alliance with other carriers like American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, but also partners with Alaska Airlines. Also helpful: A U.S. credit card with sign-up bonuses that regularly top 100,000 Avios, the BA loyalty currency.

Reasons to consider it: Short-haul flights (except those in North America) under 650 miles require only 4,000-4,500 Avios each way in economy. Flights that are 1,151 miles or less, including those in North America, require just 7,500 Avios each way, and award pricing goes up from there but can still be a relative bargain. For example, from the West Coast to Hawaii, you could pay as few as 25,000 Avios round trip—vs. 40,000-45,000 miles with American Airlines.

Drawbacks: On the flip side, that same distance-based formula means long-haul flights in premium cabins are astronomically expensive. For example, it would cost 140,000 British Airways Avios to fly from Los Angles to Hong Kong one-way in first class on Cathay Pacific, while Alaska Airlines would charge you only 70,000 miles. Awards on British Airways’ own flights also incur shockingly high taxes and fees, well over $1,000 round-trip in some cases.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer