The Cost of Your Reward Flight Has Soared—Unless You’re Flying American Airlines

Key Takeaways

• According to a survey, the average reward for domestic economy flight on six large U.S. carriers has increased by 12 points or more than the inflation rate since the pandemic.
• According to IdeaWorksCompany, so-called "reward payback"—the value provided per dollar spent on base fares—dropped overall by about half over the past six years.
• According to the report, there is an exception: A redemption for a domestic economy flight on American Airlines now costs 18,690 points, 21% less than it did in 2019.

Since the pandemic, the cost of a domestic award flight has done nothing but rise—except at American Airlines (AAL), according to new research.

The average reward for domestic economy flight across six large U.S. carriers has increased by nearly 12 points over the rate of inflation in that time period, according to an IdeaWorksCompany report.

The firm’s survey assessed “the most popular basic reward type offered” by American, Delta Air Lines (DAL), United Airlines (UAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), Alaska Air (ALK), and JetBlue Airways (JBLU), finding that “reward payback”—the value provided per dollar spent on base fares—dropped overall by about half in 2025 from 2019. It determined this by making hundreds queries in February 2025 about similar reward flights from June to October this year with distances ranging from 251 miles to 2,525 miles.

Over the past six years, the cost of an average domestic economy reward flight has surged, according to the report. At Southwest, for example, what cost rewards members 7,367 miles on average for a free flight in 2019 now costs 18,673 miles—a more than 150% increase. Delta (26%), JetBlue (25%) and Alaska (23%) also saw significant increases. United's increase was more modest, at 9%.

A report states that an award redemption on a domestic American flight in economy costs 18,690 mile, which is 21% less than the cost of 23,700 miles in 2019. American uses a dynamic awards pricing system, according to Gary Leff, proprietor of travel site View From the Wing, meaning "cheap domestic coach awards are plentiful."