Southwest lets customers use currency-points combo to pay for airline tickets

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members can now book flights using a combination of currency and points. 

The Cash + Points capability, teased by the airline last October, went live Monday. Flyers can use as few as 1,000 Rapid Rewards points, combined with money, to purchase travel. Southwest Business customers can also now use a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards Business points to book corporate travel. 

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And via a new hotel booking portal, Rapid Rewards members can now combine points and currency for lodging purchases. 

In offering the new flexibility, Southwest joins other airlines -- including United, Delta and JetBlue -- that allow customers to combine points and currency for bookings.