Southwest is the latest airline to scale back rewards program

Southwest Airlines is the latest airline to reduce the value of loyalty rewards.

Southwest, which provides the most flights from Kansas City International Airport, has announced that rewards points earned by fliers will vary in value based on destination, time, day of travel, demand and other factors.

The changes, which take effect April 17, were announced in an alert to Southwest rewards members. The airline offered no more details on the change.

The change is the latest example of how the airline industry is trying to squeeze more profits out of rewards programs.

Delta Air Lines switched on Jan. 1 from a rewards system based on total miles traveled to one that doled out points based on dollars spent. United Airlines plans to switch to a similar plan March 1.

A study released last year by Boston flight research site Hopper.com found that United fliers will earn 11 percent fewer rewards points and Delta passengers will earn 22 percent fewer miles under the new dollar-based system.

Southwest overhauled its rewards program in 2011 from a system that rewarded points based on the number of trips taken to one in which points accrue based on the price of fares.

Brian Karimzad, director of the rewards program monitoring site MileCards.com, said the latest change by Southwest hurts passengers by reducing the value of each rewards point on the most popular flights.

“The loss to consumers is no longer knowing how much your points are worth in advance,” he said. “Now, what they’re worth will be at the whim of Southwest’s revenue management policies each day.”

In a statement, Southwest said the value of the points will vary on some flights but will remain the same on others. But the airline did not offer examples.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Southwest is the latest airline to scale back rewards program."