Looking to travel to Hong Kong in 2025? Cathay Pacific — a Hong Kong-based carrier — currently has open award availability in business and first class from January through March 2025, as first flagged by @FindFlightsforMe.
23.04.2024 - 23:51 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines
Southwest Airlines is rolling out a new option for redeeming your Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
As of Monday, the Dallas-based carrier now offers Cash + Points redemptions — the option to redeem a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards points toward your Southwest flight.
Southwest noted in the FAQ section for the feature that not all Rapid Rewards members will have the option available to them during this initial rollout. So be sure to check your Rapid Rewards account to see if you've been given early access to this feature.
Here's what to know about Rapid Rewards Cash + Points:
Cash + Points is a new redemption option for Rapid Rewards members. Essentially, it's a payment option to use a chunk of points toward a portion of a flight and finish covering the rest of the cost of the plane ticket with cash.
Rapid Rewards members will now see up to five Cash + Points options when booking a flight. These redemptions will start for as few as 1,000 points.
It's important to note that you won't earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points for A-List or A-List Preferred status, or Companion Pass qualifying points on Cash + Points bookings, so keep that in mind if you're considering this redemption.
To book a flight, first log in to your Rapid Rewards account and search for an itinerary through Southwest's website or app. After you select your flight, choose "Cash + Points" as your payment option.
You will see up to five options to pay with a combination of Rapid Rewards points and cash, totaling out to the value of your ticket. Note that you'll need at least 1,000 Rapid Rewards points to book with Cash + Points.
If you're more of a visual learner, Southwest released a video demonstrating how to book with Cash + Points.
TPG values Southwest points at 1.37 cents each; therefore, redeeming your Southwest points to pay for a fraction of your trip is not the best redemption option. For example, if you redeem 3,320 points, you'll only receive $20 off your plane ticket when using Cash + Points as your redemption option. However, TPG values 3,320 points at about $45, which means you'll be getting far less value for those points.
Overall, we think it's best to save your points for one big redemption instead of using the Cash + Points option.
Southwest is introducing another way for Rapid Rewards members to save on the cash price of a ticket. It will allow members with a lower number of Rapid Rewards points or those who are trying not to use them all in one place to redeem a portion of their points for a flight and finish paying with cash.
However, the inability to earn more Rapid Rewards points on Cash + Points redemptions, as well as the lack of tier qualifying points and Companion Pass qualifying points, could
Looking to travel to Hong Kong in 2025? Cathay Pacific — a Hong Kong-based carrier — currently has open award availability in business and first class from January through March 2025, as first flagged by @FindFlightsforMe.
I'm a frequent United Airlines flyer. I pretty much have to be since I live near Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — a United hub where most of the gates in the airport belong to the legacy carrier.
Under a new rule announced by the Department of Transportation, Southwest Airlines must provide passengers with a $75 travel voucher for certain flight delays and cancellations.
Looking to travel to Europe? Is an island vacation on your bucket list? Want to take that dream trip for fewer points than you thought you could?
In April 2020, United MileagePlus removed its partner award chart. Partner awards continued pricing at the lowest Saver level from the last-published award charts for a while. But over time, United Airlines has slowly raised its unpublished partner award rates. Last month, United devalued first-class partner redemptions, increasing award prices up to 100%. Now, the loyalty program has struck again with another devaluation.
Starting April 30, Southwest Airlines is required to provide a transferrable voucher worth at least $75 for any controllable cancellation or delay that causes passengers to reach their destination three or more hours after their scheduled arrival time, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday.
Last week, Southwest’s CEO Bob Jordan ignited a flurry of headlines when he suggested that the struggling airline could make changes to some of its long-standing policies in an attempt to increase ancillary revenue.
Southwest Airlines' settlement terms with the Department of Transportation (DOT) are kicking in — leading to future customers receiving compensation if they experience a significant flight delay. As part of the settlement sparked from the airline’s 2022 holiday meltdown, Southwest has agreed to award $75 or more in transferrable vouchers to travelers who reach their destination at least three hours late due to an airline-caused disruption or cancellation, according to the DOT.
When Southwest Airlines reported larger than expected financial losses in its most recent quarterly earnings call on April 25,the airline also announced that it will be cutting service to four airports airports as of August 4, 2024. Additionally, Southwest is planning to reduce capacity at two other major destinations. The goal of these cuts is to “improve unit revenue performance and operating margin,” according to the earnings call. The airline has not ruled out further cuts to its network, adding to the uncertainty plaguing the airline industry in recent months.
A United Airlines passenger has been ordered to pay the carrier more than $20,000 after forcing a flight to divert.
If you're considering changing your Chase credit card, here's an important step to consider before doing so.
Southwest Airlines is considering making major changes to its seating process.