Consumers often confuse frequent flyer programs with air travel rewards credit cards. This is unfortunate, since top savings can often result from combining the best of both.

Here, CreditCards.ca evaluates Canada's most lucrative frequent flyer programs and air travel rewards credit cards. Below are the results of our two-part investigation.

Best frequent flyer programs
Airlines offer frequent flyer plans to lure customers toward taking more flights. Airliner loyalty schemes award free travel and other perks based on the number of trips taken, distance flown or the amount of related purchases.

Although small regional carriers, such as Porter Airlines, which runs flights out of its small Toronto Islands airport, have their own frequent flyer plans, larger loyalty programs generally provide a more diverse set of incentives. Rewards under all frequent flyer programs exclude fees, taxes and surcharges.

1st place: WestJet Frequent Guest Program
WestJet's loyalty program is simple and user-friendly. Members who spend under $1,500 annually on WestJet flights earn the equivalent of 1 per cent cash-back in WestJet dollars. Milestone bonuses for each $1,500 spent multiply that percentage to as high as 4 per cent after $7,500 in annual purchases.

Frequent flyers also qualify for a free companion trip within Canada after paying $4,500 towards WestJet flights in the same year, plus a complimentary international flight after $6,000 in annual spending.

Con: WestJet is limited to less than 100 destinations in North America and the Caribbean.

2nd place: Aeroplan
According to its latest fact sheet, Aeroplan has over 4.5 million active members. The Montreal-based loyalty program partners with Air Canada and almost 30 Star Alliance associates, such as Air China, United Airlines and US Airways. Aeroplan members can accumulate more reward miles by staying at participating hotels and scheduling Avis and Hertz car rentals.

Aeroplan is associated with a vast number of non-travel promotions. Retail providers such as Home Hardware, Esso, Nestlé Canada, Rexall Pharma Plus and grocer Sobeys distribute loyalty points and bonuses that can be converted into Aeroplan miles. Participants can also gather miles online after buying from the Aeroplan eStore. The latter features products from over 150 retailers including Apple Store Canada, Dell Canada and Sears.

As of October 2011, more than 600 billion Aeroplan miles have been redeemed since 1984. This represents more than 16 million seats on Air Canada and the Star Alliance flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Con: Aeroplan miles expire after 12 months of account inactivity or 7 years from when first earned.

3rd place: SkyMiles
SkyMiles is the loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, the world's largest airliner that services the third-most Canadian cities after Air Canada and WestJet. SkyMiles rewards are based on status groups called Medallions, the eligibility for which is determined by the number of miles flown annually. The average estimated value of one SkyMile is $0.0111 per flown mile, which generates a basic return of about 1.1 per cent.

SkyMiles can be redeemed for free flights, travel services, newspapers and magazine subscriptions, Broadway show tickets, as well as merchandise listed on the SkyMiles Marketplace ranging from electronics to wine.

Con: When redeeming SkyMiles, collectors have experienced limited seat availability.

Best air travel rewards credit cards
The winning air travel rewards cards are designed for specific airliner frequent flyer plans. When rewards cards and airliner programs are used effectively, cardholders optimize rewards by earning the maximum number of points both on and off the airplane.

1st place: WestJet RBC World MasterCard
New cardholders receive a $100 welcome bonus in WestJet dollars after their first transaction. Charging WestJet flights or vacation packages to this card garners 2 per cent worth of WestJet dollars, while other purchases earn 1.5 per cent.

Combined with the WestJet Frequent Guest Program including free trips and bonuses, cardholders can take home over 10 per cent in travel rewards.

Con: The card's APR is 19.99 per cent with a $79 annual fee.

2nd place: American Express Aeroplan Plus Card
This American Express premium card empowers its cardholders to earn twice as many Aeroplan miles. The card also comes with $25 worth of reward miles as an introductory gift, plus travel accident insurance and emergency assistance. American Express cards enable cardholders to easily transfer points to other airline points programs, including Delta SkyMiles.

Combined with the many promotions and deals available under the gargantuan Aeroplan loyalty program, avid collectors can earn an estimated 5 to 10 per cent in overall incentives.

Con: The card's APR is 30 per cent with a $60 annual fee, and balances must be fully paid each month.

3rd place: Capital One Delta SkyMiles World MasterCard
This Capital One MasterCard has an enticing first-purchase SkyMiles bonus worth $250, and provides an ongoing $25 renewal reward. The card awards two SkyMiles for each dollar spent on worldwide Delta airline travel, or one SkyMile per dollar spent on other purchases.

Combined with the SkyMiles program, cardholders eligible for the introductory bonus can generate over 10 per cent in rewards during their first year and receive more than 5 per cent in following years.

Con: The card's APR is 19.8 percent, with a $120 annual fee.

See related: The latest trends in driver rewards credit cards; Consumer alert: The hidden costs of premium credit cards