Summary
- Southwest Airlines has introduced a Cash + Points payment method for Rapid Rewards Members for flexibility.
- While the new method allows reservation changes, it does not cover fare increases due to modifications.
- Understanding the value of miles can help maximize the benefits of combining points and cash for flights.
A new payment method is available for Southwest Airlines customers: Cash + Points.
According to Consumer Affairs, this new offering is designed to help Rapid Rewards Members become more flexible by combining points with other forms of payment when purchasing itineraries. This new solution includes five different point redemption options, starting from as low as 1,000 points.
However, there are a few caveats to take into account here. For instance, members who book using Cash + Points can change their reservation. However, it’s important to note that Cash + Points cannot be used to pay for any fare increase that may arise due to a modification.
This means it does not make flights booked through this new tool 100% flexible. Modification fees are pretty standard these days, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
Here’s how it works :
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Other airlines offer a combination of miles and cash.
To better understand how airlines can split the cost between miles and cash, it is essential to understand the value of a mile. We covered this in-depth in a previous article, but here are some examples using significant airlines.
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Do Frequent Flyer Points Have Any Cash Value & How Do They Differ Between Programs?
Points and miles do not usually have real cash value, but a value between $0.01 and $0.02 per point/mile is common.
The website Nerdwallet conducted a financial analysis to determine the average value per point or mile for ten leading programs, focusing on real situations rather than extreme values :
- American Airlines AAdvantage: 1.7 cents
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles: 1.2 cents
- United Airlines MileagePlus: 1.2 cents
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: 1.5 cents
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: 1.4 cents
- British Airways Avios: 1 cents
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue: 1.2 cents
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1.8 cents
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1.5 cents
- Emirates Skywards: 0.6 cents
British Airways, the national carrier of the United Kingdom, also offers a similar payment method. As per a marketing email obtained by Simple Flying, Executive Club members can reduce the price of their flights by logging into their Executive Club account, selecting their flights, and using their Avios part payment options on the price page. The availability of this offering differs based on factors like the route, travel period, Avios balance, and the number of people in the booking.
Bottom line
It is not just British Airways or Southwest Airlines that offer such payment options or make exciting updates to their loyalty schemes.
It is, therefore, always recommended to research the best possible deals by signing up for marketing emails directly or keeping a tab on loyalty news to see which airlines are introducing new policies or launching new award promotions. This way, passengers can make the most out of their miles.
What do you think of buying tickets using a combination of miles and cash? Is it something you are familiar with? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
