View from the Wing
Jay Sorensen’s IdeaWorks is out with their annual study of airline frequent flyer award pricing, and he has interesting findings after making 1,200 flight searches in February 2025 for travel during between June and October. Looking at the cost of domestic roundtrip bookings with a Saturday night stay for one passenger, the report finds that award price inflation (36% since 2019) is much worse than inflation in the broader economy (24%). Compared to last year’s study results, though, all airlines charged fewer points on average for a ticket. American AAdvantage redemptions have actually got 21% cheaper in this category over the last six years. The airline has said a key component of their strategy has been offering a more compelling rewards program than competitors.
