Everyone loves getting something for free. When it comes to travel, that's no different. That's where frequent flyer miles and airline loyalty schemes come in. Everyone has one they prefer, and some are definitely better than others . However, one of the best times to be a points-based traveler is around the end of the year.

At this point, airline loyalty systems tend to up their game. With travelers trying to reach status-qualifying levels by the end of the year, it's a great opportunity to capitalize on deals and extra perks. Add in Black Friday and Travel Tuesday , and it's one of the best times to be booking travel, whether your plans are domestic or international.

However, it can be difficult to know which airline system is best in the U.S. So, let's compare Southwest, United, a

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