Change in points value algorithm?
 

Booked flights MKE-MCO yesterday on points and noticed something odd, all of the flights were the same point value. When I looked at the cash fares there was a fairly large spread in cost. Was this changed and announced and I missed it? It appears that all of the fares were the previous ratio of the lowest cash fare.

I am gonna guess there was a fluke in the system.

Do you have the specific dates to see if we can duplicate?

Not seeing it when choosing random date. Note that additional connections add additional taxes on revenue fares, but the base fare amount (upon which mileage amount is based) may be exactly the same. These taxes are not charged on award tickets (only the fixed $5.60 TSA tax is charged on domestic awards). The second and fourth flight options below have the same base fare for WGA fares, but the total price is more on one because of additional taxes on connections.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...35d6e3b90f.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f8c1160122.png

mke-mco 1/17-1/23

On the outbound they are almost all the same; 10 options at 9140, 2 at 9758, and 1 at 11225. But then switch to dollars and you see the same similarity in $. So nothing unusual/changed, just a day where 13 flights between 2 city pairs are all similarly priced for both $ or points.

They must of fixed it. Just checked and looks normal.

I have seen this same phenomenon several times and have taken advantage occasionally. Although I cannot understand why this occurs, I don't think it is a glitch.

Not a fluke. I saw and booked the same behavior for certain markets and dates during the last big sale a few Tuesdays ago.

I have seen it too.

I’ve seen this many times. The points don’t match the fares.
lwhrn you look at base price they are likeky the same. Having direct vs connection or what airport you go through can add different takes.

if an airport does a major terminal overall they will add surcharge taxes to those flying in, flying out, and those thst connect therr. They might not charge if you don’t deplane

This explains small discrepancies in points per dollar of cash fare. Large discrepancies have appeared in the distant past when Southwest was running secret promotions or tests, for example 55 points per dollar for very early and very late flights in selected markets.

my redemption tpa to cmh Monday before Christmas redeemed at less than 1.2 cpp.