Last night I attended the 32nd annual Freddie Awards, which always offers a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow bloggers, and industry insiders. Unexpectedly, the night ended with a very special farewell from travel icon Randy Peterson, a titan of the loyalty industry.
2023 Freddie Awards At National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Created in 1988 by Randy Petersen to recognize the world’s best and most innovative frequent travel programs, the awards are named in honor of airline pioneer Sir Freddie Laker, who helped to make travel available to the masses through his budget carrier Laker Airways.
The 2023 event took place just down the road from Washington Dulles International Airport at the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is an extension of the National Air and Space Museum. The venue was beautiful with the dinner and the award ceremony taking place under a canopy of aircraft, including the space shuttle Discovery, an SR-71 Blackbird, and an Air France Concorde.
The master of ceremonies was Randy Petersen, who graced us with humor and wit.
He did a fabulous job, but threw us an unexpected twist at the end. Pulling up a chair on stage he announced he was retiring from the Freddies and this would be his last awards ceremony. With tears in his eyes, he thanked everyone but really it is him who we owe a deep debt of gratitude. I am so thankful for his innovation and vision over the decades and proud to continue to work with him at Boarding Area.
A special thanks to Ed Pizzarello and Gary Leff for organizing the event and laboring so hard to make it a success. I even thought the food was delicious! I was thankful to attend the event and now recognize the winners below.
2023 Annual Freddie Awards – Winners
Congrats to the 2023 winners. There were some surprises and some familiar winners. The 210 Award category recognizes “up and coming” loyalty programs.
- Americas
- Airline
- Program of the Year — Air Canada – Aeroplan
- Best Elite Program — American Airlines – AAdvantage
- Best Promotion — Air Canada – Aeroplan – 2023 Status Extension Promotion
- Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards
- Best Redemption Ability — Air Canada – Aeroplan
- 210 Award — WestJet – WestJet Rewards
- Hotel
- Program of the Year — Marriott – Marriott Bonvoy
- Best Elite Program — Hyatt – World of Hyatt
- Best Promotion — Marriott – Marriott Bonvoy – Make Every Night Count…Twice
- Best Customer Service — Marriott – Marriott Bonvoy
- Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels – Marriott Bonvoy
- 210 Award — Accor – ALL Accor Live Limitless
- Credit Card
- Best Loyalty Credit Card — Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Airline
- Europe & Africa
- Airline
- Program of the Year — Norwegian – Norwegian Reward
- Best Elite Program — TAP Air Portugal – Miles&Go
- Best Promotion — Norwegian – Norwegian Reward – Advent Calendar
- Best Customer Service — Norwegian – Norwegian Reward
- Best Redemption Ability — TAP Air Portugal – Miles&Go
- 210 Award — TAP Air Portugal – Miles&Go
- Hotel
- Program of the Year — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- Best Elite Program — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- Best Promotion — IHG Hotels – One Rewards – Earn Up To 4X
- Best Customer Service — Accor – ALL Accor Live Limitless
- Best Redemption Ability — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- 210 Award – GHA – Discovery
- Credit Card
- Best Affinity Credit Card — TAP Miles&Go Millennium BCP
- Airline
- Middle East & Asia/Oceania
- Airline
- Program of the Year — Vistara — Club Vistara
- Best Elite Program — Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
- Best Promotion — Vistara — Club Vistara — 100% Points Rebate
- Best Customer Service — Garuda Indonesia – GarudaMiles
- Best Redemption Ability — Vistara — Club Vistara
- 210 Award — Xiamen Airlines – Egret Miles
- Hotel
- Program of the Year — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- Best Elite Program — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- Best Promotion — ITC Hotels – Club ITC
- Best Customer Service — Taj Hotels – NeuPass
- Best Redemption Ability — IHG Hotels – One Rewards
- 210 Award – GHA – Discovery
- Credit Card
- Best Affinity Credit Card — American Express Membership Rewards
- Airline
CONCLUSION
What a great evening and I am so thankful to see friends and make new friends on these occasions. The “after party” at the Hyatt Regency Washington Dulles went well into the night, but it was one of those nights that you walk away from with a big smile on your face.
I hope to see some of you in the District of Columbia on Saturday.
More awards than the academy but nice suit
Farewell to an icon of the industry indeed!
Very happy for you and the others who were able to see Randy off in person. Sorry to miss this Sunday but hope to meet up with you Matthew sometime in the future.
Saw this on the gate. Interesting
Of interest to note is that Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines not only did not win an award — they were not even officially mentioned at all throughout the entire evening, with the exception of Delta Air Lines being mentioned a few times.
The Freddie’s are utter nonsense and a waste of space. The list of winners is hilarious, Marriott what a joke in any category. Anyway seems like it’s just the usual thought leaders circle jerking to get in with the executives of the programs to keep the gravy running for themselves.
So cynical…
I’ve only worked with Randy for four months but can confirm he’s an absolute legend. He’s got a heart that wants to see others succeed. What a role model that the corporate world should be following.
Agreed! And so glad we are both on Boarding Area, Alvin!
Alvin I like your your reviews as they are genuine and authentic. I would like to read an article on
Agree. Alvin’s blog is now one of the best out there.
If there was a Freddie Award for most improved blog, he would win.
There should be. I thought that’s what the Freddies were going to be or similar but I wasn’t familiar previously.
Randy is SUCH a legend. His heart was always too big for his business, just look at Flyertalk.
More than half of the commenters there haven’t been banned yet, though they should be. There are entire threads where there are more active users than “suspended” users. It’s not right.
What’s wrong with FT? Genuinely? I’ve used it for questions for airlines I rarely fly, like UA, Air Canada, Lufthansa groups, etc and the regulars have been extremely helpful. Southwest regulars OTOH are some really bitter people to put it nicely. AA, my most frequent carrier, had nice people answer the few questions I had. It’s been very helpful, except SWA people.
So many incredibly knowledgable people on there
knowledgeable*
Speaking of FT I wonder what’s with the boxes with x’s. Safari iOS
https://i.postimg.cc/MKRnzwHj/7-B7-AC1-C0-3070-4-C88-96-DF-B0449-E8-A5796.jpg
“The 2024 event took place just down the road from Washington Dulles International Airport at the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is an extension of the National Air and Space Museum.”
2024?!?!?
That looks fun, and this Randy fella sounds like a great guy… but the list of award winners really does look like a Business Insider intern asked their friends and put a list together. I know people vote, but giving Marriott a customer service award truly is funny to anyone who actually stays in their properties.
Also, how on Earth did Norwegian and TAP beat out M&M, Flying Blue, Executive Club, Miles & Smiles, and even Miles & Bonus on everything? Presumably they encouraged their passengers to vote. I would have enjoyed hearing the crowd response on those awards.
Never heard of him
Founder of Flyertalk. The original genuine Flyertalk that is, not today’s ghastly commercial-oriented gibberish.
Is that Gary Leff in the blue tux??!!
Gary’s tux was black.
Oh ok gotcha, thanks, kind of looks blue from the above lighting, that’s why.
*I would like to read an article on the things you’ve learned from Randy that you would like the corporate world to know. Sounds interesting to me at least.
@Alvin
I too want to give kudos to Randy and team, however these Freddie Awards undercut their legitimacy giving awards to Marriott for customer service.
I know it’s not Randy’s style, but Marriott should be shamed and given ‘worst’ awards for customer service, website/IT, and truthful communication with members.