American starts letting customers mix cash and miles for tickets

AirlinesPublished Fri, Oct 2 202611:00 AM EDTUpdated 12 Min AgoKey PointsAmerican Airlines will soon allow customers to book with a combination of cash and AAdvantage miles.Airline loyalty programs are highly lucrative, and carriers are looking for new ways to make the programs more attractive.United, Delta and other carriers currently offer a miles and cash option.American Airlines planes wait at gates at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on May 1, 2026.Leslie Josephs | CNBCAmerican Airlines is joining carriers that allow customers to book with a combination of cash and miles, the latest change at the carrier as it tries to grow its lucrative loyalty program.American said customers will see a slider bar allowing them to combine AAdvantage program miles with cash for their tickets at checkout. The option could be useful when customers don't have enough miles for the entire ticket and are looking to shave some cash off the ticket price. Other airlines, including American's chief rivals United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, currently allow customers to combine their frequent flyer miles with cash. For example, a one-way ticket on United from its Newark Liberty International Airport h...