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

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 price for domestic economy flights across six big U.S. airlines has increased nearly 12 points more than the rate of inflation during that time, according to a report from IdeaWorksCompany.

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 of queries in February 2025 for comparable reward flights this June to October with distances of 251 miles to 2,500 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 sizable jumps. United’s increase was more modest, at 9%.

An exception: An award redemption for an American domestic economy flight now costs 18,690 miles, 21% fewer than it did in 2019 (23,700), according to the report. 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.”