Allegiant Wins Two No. 1 USA TODAY Travel Awards as PGD Grows

Allegiant has added another pair of national honors to its growing list of accolades, with USA TODAY readers naming the airline’s credit card and frequent flyer program the best in the country for 2026.

The Las Vegas-based carrier captured the No. 1 ranking for Best Airline Credit Card and Best Frequent Flyer Program in the USA TODAY 10Best 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. It is the third consecutive year Allegiant has finished first in both categories.

The recognition is especially noteworthy for Southwest Florida, where Allegiant has developed a major presence at Punta Gorda Airport and has become one of the most important providers of nonstop leisure travel for residents and visitors throughout Charlotte, Lee, Sarasota and surrounding counties.

Allways Rewards Visa Wins for Eighth Straight Year

Allegiant’s Allways Rewards Visa® earned the title of Best Airline Credit Card for the eighth consecutive year, an unusually long winning streak in the annual reader-voted competition.

Current card benefits include complimentary priority check-in and priority boarding on Allegiant flights, along with a complimentary beverage when flying. Cardholders also earn three points per dollar on eligible Allegiant purchases, two points per dollar on qualifying dining purchases and one point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Points earned through the card do not expire as long as the credit card account remains open.

The card program is issued and administered by Bank of America.

Allways Rewards Program Also Takes No. 1

Allegiant’s Allways Rewards® frequent flyer program was also voted the nation’s Best Frequent Flyer Program.

The 2026 award represents the program’s fourth overall victory in the category and the third consecutive year that Allegiant has won both the credit card and frequent flyer awards.

Unlike traditional airline loyalty programs centered primarily around miles flown, Allways Rewards was developed with leisure travelers in mind.

Membership is free, and customers generally earn one point for every qualifying dollar spent through Allegiant and two points per qualifying dollar on eligible Allegiant itineraries totaling $500 or more.

Another unusual feature is that the person purchasing travel can earn points even when booking tickets for other passengers. That can be especially useful for families purchasing several tickets together.

Points can be applied toward qualifying Allegiant purchases without the traditional blackout dates associated with some airline reward programs.

Readers, Not Airlines, Determine the Winners

The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards work differently from some airline rankings.

Nominees are initially selected through a process involving travel experts and editors, but the final winners are determined by public voting. Readers are allowed to vote during the competition period, and the highest-ranking nominees become the Readers’ Choice winners.

That means the awards reflect consumer preferences and loyalty rather than measurements such as on-time performance, cancellation rates, baggage handling or government complaint statistics.

For Allegiant, repeatedly winning the same categories suggests its loyalty products continue to resonate strongly with a segment of travelers who primarily fly for vacations and personal trips.

“We’re honored to be recognized again by USA TODAY readers for our credit card and frequent flyer programs as it reflects our commitment to providing meaningful value for our passengers,” Allegiant Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells said in announcing the awards.

Why Allegiant’s Success Matters to Southwest Florida

The national awards have an especially strong connection to this region because Punta Gorda Airport has become one of Allegiant’s major Florida gateways.

PGD handled a record 2,282,002 passengers in 2025, an increase of 18.5% over the previous record of 1,925,128 passengers in 2024, according to the Charlotte County Airport Authority.

Airport officials reported that Allegiant provides low-cost nonstop service to more than 50 destinations from Punta Gorda, making the airport an increasingly important alternative for travelers who might otherwise use airports in Sarasota, Fort Myers or Tampa.

The Allegiant network at PGD has continued expanding in 2026.

New nonstop service between Punta Gorda and Trenton, New Jersey, began in February, while service to Atlantic City also launched that month.

Another nonstop route connecting Punta Gorda with La Crosse, Wisconsin, is scheduled to begin October 1, 2026.

And looking ahead to the busy winter and spring travel season, Allegiant recently announced seasonal nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport, scheduled to operate from February 13 through April 24, 2027.

That continued expansion helps connect Southwest Florida directly with many smaller and midsize communities that might otherwise require passengers to make a connection through a major airline hub.

Punta Gorda Airport Is Growing Along With Allegiant

Passenger growth is also driving major investment at Punta Gorda Airport.

PGD is moving forward with an approximately 50,000-square-foot expansion of the Bailey Terminal, which airport officials say is expected to open in 2027. The project is designed to provide additional gate capacity, dining options and passenger amenities as traffic continues growing.

The combination of airport expansion and new Allegiant routes demonstrates just how dramatically air service in Charlotte County has changed.

What was once a relatively small regional airport has evolved into a significant leisure-travel gateway serving millions of passengers annually.

Allegiant Is Also Changing the Flying Experience

The rewards awards come as Allegiant is making additional changes to its passenger experience.

Beginning August 1, 2026, Allegiant introduced complimentary nonalcoholic beverage service aboard its flights, including options such as soda, juice and water.

The airline has also announced a new premium cabin product called Allegiant First, expected to debut on selected aircraft beginning in spring 2027. More information about aircraft assignments and routes is expected as the launch approaches.

Those changes signal an effort by an airline traditionally known for ultra-low base fares to broaden its appeal by offering passengers additional comfort and service choices.

The Bottom Line for Suncoast Travelers

For travelers from Sarasota south through Charlotte County, Allegiant’s latest USA TODAY awards are more than simply another airline industry accolade.

The carrier has become deeply intertwined with air travel in Southwest Florida, particularly through Punta Gorda Airport, where continued passenger growth, terminal expansion and new routes are giving residents considerably more nonstop options.

The awards also demonstrate the strength of Allegiant’s strategy of targeting leisure travelers rather than trying to duplicate the traditional mileage programs built primarily around frequent business travelers.

Whether the Allways Rewards program or its credit card is the right choice for an individual traveler will still depend on how frequently they fly Allegiant, their spending patterns and whether the card’s benefits outweigh any applicable costs.

But one thing is clear: USA TODAY readers continue to give Allegiant’s loyalty programs their vote.

Helpful Resources

• Allegiant Allways Rewards: Allways Rewards information
• Allways Rewards Visa: Allways Rewards Visa benefits
• Allegiant route map and reservations: Allegiant destinations and flights
• Punta Gorda Airport: Punta Gorda Airport official website
• USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: USA TODAY 10Best Awards