Brief
American Airlines to let AAdvantage members blend cash and miles on bookings
The new payment option aims to give loyalty members more flexibility as airfare prices rise.
By Felo News Desk · Published
American Airlines announced that U.S. members of its AAdvantage program will soon be able to mix cash and airline miles when paying for domestic flights, according to a CBS News report published on Oct. 2, 2026.
The feature, which will roll out in the next few weeks, excludes routes to and from Alaska and Hawaii but will be available through the airline’s website and mobile app. Travelers will select a flight, then use an interactive slider on the checkout screen to set the cash‑mile split.
American said the change is meant to increase the value of its loyalty program. The carrier also introduced a limited‑time promotion granting status‑equivalent tiers to travelers who can prove elite status with competing airlines such as Delta SkyMiles or JetBlue TrueBlue.
Industry rivals Delta and United already offer similar flexible payment options, and the move comes as jet‑fuel costs surge following the war in Iran, pushing holiday‑season fares toward a ten‑year high.
Key facts
- AAdvantage members can combine cash and miles for domestic flights (cbsnews.com)
- The option excludes Alaska and Hawaii routes (cbsnews.com)
- American plans to launch the feature in the coming weeks (cbsnews.com)
- A limited‑time promotion offers instant status passes to travelers with elite status on other airlines (cbsnews.com)
- Delta and United already provide similar cash‑miles payment options (cbsnews.com)
Sources
- [1] cbsnews.com — originally reported as “American Airlines will let travelers mix cash and miles to pay for flights”
