Key takeaways
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is popular among families due to its generous redemption options and lack of blackout dates.
- Southwest is also known for its popular Companion Pass, which lets users add a companion to every flight they take for the cost of airline taxes and fees.
- Members can earn points in the program through flights with the airline, spending on Southwest credit cards and other qualifying activities.
Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs for people who travel within the United States, as well as those who fly to the Caribbean and Mexico. This program is somewhat unique because it comes with unlimited rewards seats, no blackout dates and points that never expire. Plus, Southwest always offers two free checked bags per person for flights paid with cash or rewards, so members can save even more each time they travel with the airline.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be redeemed for flights, other types of travel, gift cards and more, so they’re slightly more flexible than other airline-based rewards. Better yet, Southwest is a Chase transfer partner, so you can rack up rewards with Chase travel credit cards and transfer them to Southwest Rapid Rewards later on.
If you’re curious about how this program works, read on to learn about the best ways to rack up and redeem Southwest points, the program’s elite status tiers and more.
Southwest Rapid Rewards basics
Southwest Airlines flies to over 100 destinations across the United States, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico. That said, Southwest does not belong to an airline alliance, so you can’t use points to book with other airline partners.
How many points you’ll earn when you fly with the airline depends on your elite status level (if you’re an elite flyer) as well as the type of fare you book. Here’s a breakdown of how many points you’ll earn for flying, by fare type:
Points you’ll earn for flying, by fare type
- Wanna Get Away: 6X points per dollar
- Wanna Get Away Plus: 8X points per dollar
- Anytime: 10X points per dollar
- Business Select: 12X points per dollar
From here, Southwest elites earn 25 percent to 100 percent more points for each dollar they spend on airfare, depending on their status tier. We’ll go over the types of Southwest elite status and how you can earn them in this article.
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
While you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points by booking paid airfare through the program, there are other ways to earn rewards. Consider the following strategies to increase your Southwest points haul:
Earn points through Southwest partners
Flying Southwest may be one of the best ways to earn Rapid Rewards points, but it isn’t the only way. The Southwest Rapid Rewards program partners with popular brands like Marriott Bonvoy, Alamo, Hertz and many more. The number of points you’ll earn will vary depending on the partner, but you can earn points when you book an eligible hotel or rental car or else make an eligible retail purchase.
Earn points through Southwest’s shopping portal
Southwest Rapid Rewards has its own shopping portal that lets you rack up points when you make purchases online. How many points you can earn varies by retailer and current promotions, but you can typically earn 2X to 5X points per dollar spent on eligible purchases when you click through the portal before you shop.
Earn points through Southwest’s dining program
You can also join the Rapid Rewards Dining program to earn points when you eat out. Rapid Rewards Dining members can earn 3X points per dollar spent at participating restaurants when they opt in to receive email communications and pay with their linked card.
New members can even earn 500 bonus points within the first 30 days of joining. To achieve this bonus, you have to spend $25 or more at a participating restaurant and complete an online review within the 30-day period.
Earn points through credit card spending
Southwest is a partner of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program; as such, you can use an eligible Chase credit card to rack up Ultimate Rewards points and then transfer them to Southwest Rapid Rewards.
However, Chase also offers a handful of co-branded credit cards with Southwest. These cards let you earn points for every purchase you make while enjoying perks like early boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases. With that in mind, signing up for a Southwest card could be well worth it.
How to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Once you have Southwest Rapid Rewards points to spend, there are plenty of ways to use them. Consider the following strategies to get the most value from your rewards.
Redeem for flights
The number of points required to book a flight varies based on the dollar value of the flight. This means that, when a Southwest flight drops in price, so does the number of points required to book the flight using your rewards. Also, note that the fare type will dictate how many points you need for a flight award. For example, Wanna Get Away flights cost less than Business Select flights.
Southwest also introduced a Cash + Points redemption option for airfare in April 2024. This option lets users pay for a flight with a combination of cash and points, which can come in handy if you’re short the points you need for a redemption.
Redeem for other travel
Southwest lets you redeem points for stays at more than 400,000 hotels around the world. Redemption options and available properties vary, as do the number of points you’ll need to cash in for a free night.
Redeem for gift cards or merchandise
You can also cash in Southwest points for gift cards with retailers like Apple, Target, Best Buy or Lowe’s. Alternatively, you can redeem rewards for select merchandise available through Southwest.
Redeem for experiences and events
Some experiences are also bookable with points, including spa packages and outdoor adventure tours. If you’re a Southwest credit card member, you can also use points to book exclusive events through Rapid Rewards Access Events.
How much are Southwest Rapid Rewards points worth?
According to our internal points and miles valuations, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth about 1.5 cents each. This means that 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points could be worth up to $750 if used for airfare.
How do Southwest Rapid Rewards points compare to other programs?
While some frequent flyer miles are worth more than Southwest points, rewards earned in the majority of programs are less valuable on average. The chart below shows how Southwest points compare in value to rewards from several other popular programs.
| Airline loyalty program | Bankrate value |
|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1.5 cents |
| Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles | 0.7 cents |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 2.9 cents |
| American AAdvantage | 1.0 cents |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1.2 cents |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1.3 cents |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 2.6 cents |
Southwest Rapid Rewards elite status tiers and benefits
Southwest Rapid Rewards offers two main status tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred. It also offers a highly-celebrated Companion Pass that’s often called out as the best in the industry. The chart below shows how you can achieve each status tier, along with the Companion Pass, and the perks you’ll get when you do:
| Elite status tiers and benefits | A-List | A-List Preferred | Companion Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to earn it | Fly 20 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year | Fly 40 qualifying one-way flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year | Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year |
| Earning bonus | 25% | 100% | N/A |
| Benefits |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards partners
Southwest Airlines doesn’t have any airline partners because it’s not a part of an airline alliance. However, the program does partner with other travel brands to help Rapid Rewards members earn more rewards. Here’s a rundown of major Southwest partners you should be aware of:
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- Best Western
- Choice Hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy
- MGM Rewards
- Southwest Hotels
- World of Hyatt
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- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar
- Hertz
- National
- Payless
- Thrifty
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- Emergency Assistance Plus
- eRewards
- NRG
- Reliant
- Rewards for Opinions
Top credit cards that earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
There are a range of Southwest credit cards you can use to earn points in this program, and some offer perks that can make flying with the airline a better experience. Here’s a rundown of some of the best Southwest credit cards to consider:
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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card* makes it possible for customers to earn:
- 2X points on Southwest airfare
- 2X points on purchases made with hotel and rental car partners
- 2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares)
- 2X points on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
- 1X points on other purchases
Cardholders will also get perks like 3,000 points on their cardmember anniversary, two Early Bird check-in passes per year and 25 percent back on in-flight purchases. A $69 annual fee applies.
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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card* offers:
- 3X points on Southwest airfare
- 2X points on purchases made with hotel and car rental partners
- 2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares)
- 2X points on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
- 1X points on other purchases
Cardholders will get perks like 6,000 points on their cardmember anniversary, two Early Bird check-in passes per year, 25 percent back on in-flight purchases and the chance to earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent. A $99 annual fee applies.
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Southwest loyalists may want to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card*. It offers:
- 3X points on Southwest flights
- 2X points on purchases made with hotel and rental car partners
- 2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares)
- 2X points on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
- 1X points on other purchases
The card also comes with several top perks for cardholders to help defray the $149 annual fee, including a $75 credit toward Southwest airfare each year, 25 percent back on in-flight purchases, four upgraded boarding passes per year (when available), the chance to earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent and 7,500 points each year on the cardmember anniversary.
The bottom line
Frequent flyer programs are free to join, so you can earn rewards with every airline you fly. However, if you’re looking for one program to stick with, the best program for you will depend on which airline you fly with most often.
Southwest Rapid Rewards offer a lot of flexibility and value, especially for people who can earn and use a Companion Pass. If you aren’t ready to commit to an airline, though, you can still get a lot of mileage for your travel buck with a top travel rewards card, perhaps even one that allows you to transfer miles to your favorite airline, Southwest or otherwise.
*Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been approved or reviewed by the issuer.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Southwest Rapid Rewards
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Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire.
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IYou can share Southwest Rapid Rewards points with friends or family members for a fee (additional terms apply). Points can be transferred in blocks of 500 to 1,000 points, and a minimum transfer of 2,000 points and a daily maximum of 60,000 points applies. That said, you can always use your points to book flights for other people with no additional charges required.
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Yes, you can purchase Southwest Rapid Rewards points through the airline. Points are offered in blocks of 1,000 points, and a minimum purchase of 2,000 points and a daily maximum of 60,000 points applies. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your Southwest account if you have an eligible Chase travel credit card.
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The number of Rapid Rewards points you earn per flight varies based on the fare type you book and whether you have elite status with the airline. For example, Wanna Get Away fares earn 6X points per dollar without an elite status bonus.
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Several Chase travel credit cards let users transfer rewards to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. These include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
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