American Airlines Will Let Travelers Mix Cash and Miles on Flights: How It Works and When It Makes Sense

With holiday airfares running high, a new way to use part of your miles could help stretch a travel budget.

American Airlines announced on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, that members of its AAdvantage loyalty program will soon be able to pay for flights with a mix of cash and miles. Until now, AAdvantage members generally had to choose one or the other.

The airline said the feature will roll out to eligible members over the coming weeks on aa.com and in its mobile app. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines already offer similar cash-and-miles options, according to PYMNTS and CBS News.

How the new option works

Here is the basic process, based on American's announcement:

1. Pick a flight that is priced in cash, the same way you normally would.
2. At checkout, use an on-screen slider to choose how much of the price to cover with miles and how much with cash.
3. Watch the fare summary update. It shows the new cash amount and the number of miles needed before you enter payment details.

The option is for domestic U.S. flights, excluding flights to and from Alaska and Hawaii, according to CBS News. American said cash and miles will be added alongside its existing ways to redeem miles, not replace them.

"The introduction of cash and miles is another step in our ongoing effort to provide AAdvantage members with more personalized ways to engage with the program and get more value from their membership," said Scott Long, senior vice president of AAdvantage, according to PYMNTS.

Why it matters right now

Holiday travel is expensive this year. CBS News reported in late September that holiday airfares had hit 10-year highs as jet fuel costs rose, citing an analysis by the travel app Hopper. For travelers who have some miles but not enough to cover a full ticket, the ability to use a partial amount could lower the cash cost of a trip.

In the past, travelers who were a few thousand miles short of a reward ticket often had to buy more miles, wait to earn them or pay the full cash fare. A slider gives more flexibility.

What this means for your wallet

Mixing cash and miles can be useful, but it is worth doing a little math before you slide.

• Figure out what your miles are worth. A simple way is to divide the cash you save by the miles you use. For example, if 10,000 miles lowers your fare by $100, each mile is worth 1 cent. Comparing that value across different flights and booking options can show whether a redemption is a good deal.
• Compare with a full award ticket. Sometimes a regular miles-only ticket gets more value per mile. Sometimes cash and miles does. Checking both may help.
• Watch for earning differences. Ask how the cash portion and the miles portion earn new miles and status. Rules can vary, so read the details at checkout.
• Don't buy more than you need. A cheaper ticket is only a win if you were already planning the trip.
• Watch your credit card balance. If you pay the cash part with a credit card, paying it off in full can keep interest charges from wiping out the savings.

American also announced other AAdvantage changes this year, including more gift card redemption options, according to its announcement.

This article is for education only and is not financial advice. Everyone's situation is different.