American Airlines is introducing a cash-and-miles option for ticket bookings, allowing AAdvantage members to combine programme miles with money at checkout.
The feature, due to be rolled out in the coming days, will use a slider bar so customers can choose how many miles to apply. Using more miles will result in a larger reduction in the cash price.
The option is intended for passengers who do not have enough miles to pay for an entire ticket but want to reduce the amount they spend.
American is following rivals including United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which already allow customers to combine frequent-flyer miles with cash.
For example, a one-way United flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Paris in the first week of November was listed at either 40,000 MileagePlus miles plus 5.60 dollars in taxes, 428.50 dollars in cash, or 369 dollars plus 6,000 miles.
The move comes as airlines compete for high-spending customers through loyalty schemes, airport lounges, larger premium cabins and in-flight Wi-Fi.
