10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Southwest Airlines is one of the largest airline carriers in the United States by passengers served. Its network includes more than 100 destinations in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Southwest is also known for its flyer-friendly policies, such as no ticket change or cancellation fees and the option to bring two free checked bags up to 50 pounds each on every flight. That’s better than the luggage policies offered by more expensive airlines.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Overview
Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of the best and simplest airline loyalty programs out there. Earning and redeeming Rapid Rewards points is extremely easy. You never have to worry about blackout dates or award availability. Any seat on a Southwest flight that’s for sale is eligible to be booked with Rapid Rewards points.
Rapid Rewards points never expire, meaning that you should sign up for this program even if you rarely fly with Southwest. Not to mention, enrolling in the program is completely free, so there’s no reason not to join.
There are many ways to earn Rapid Rewards points beyond flying, and the points can be used for more than award flights. Here’s everything you need to know about the Southwest Rapid Rewards program.
How Many Rapid Rewards Points for a Flight?
The number of Rapid Rewards points required for a Southwest flight varies based on the cash price of the ticket. Southwest operates on a revenue-based award system, meaning the points needed are directly tied to the current fare of the flight.
- Point Value Estimation: Rapid Rewards points are typically valued at about 1.5 cents per point.
- Calculating Points Needed: To estimate how many points you’ll need for a flight, divide the cash price (minus taxes and fees) by 0.015.
Example: If a flight costs $150 (excluding taxes and fees), you would need approximately 10,000 Rapid Rewards points ($150 / $0.015 = 10,000 points).
Factors Affecting Points Required
- Flight Demand: High-demand flights may require more points due to higher cash prices.
- Advance Booking: Booking well in advance can help secure lower fares, thus requiring fewer points.
- Promotional Fares: Keep an eye out for Southwest sales and promotions to get flights for even fewer points.
Is Using Rapid Rewards Points Worth It?
Redeeming Rapid Rewards points for Southwest flights often provides good value. Since the points are tied to the cash price, cheaper flights require fewer points, offering excellent opportunities for savings.
- Best Value: Short-haul and low-cost flights typically offer the best value per point.
- Flexible Cancellations: Southwest allows you to cancel award flights without fees, and points are redeposited into your account.
Southwest Elite Status and Companion Pass
The crown jewel of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is the famous Companion Pass, which allows you to add a second passenger to your booking free of charge (with the exception of taxes and fees). However, Southwest also has two elite status tiers that come with valuable perks.
Southwest A-List Elite Status
To achieve Southwest A-List elite status, you’ll need to either fly 25 qualifying one-way flights with Southwest in a calendar year or earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points.
Southwest A-List Elite Perks Include:
- Priority boarding
- Priority check-in and security lane access
- Free same-day standby
- 20% bonus Rapid Rewards points on paid flights
- Dedicated A-List member customer service phone line
Southwest A-List Preferred Elite Status
To achieve Southwest A-List elite status, you’ll need to fly 40 qualifying one-way flights with Southwest or earning 70,000 tier-qualifying points in a calendar year.
With Southwest A-List Preferred elite status, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of A-List elite status as well as the following perks:
- 100% bonus Rapid Rewards points on paid flights
- Free in-flight Wi-Fi
- Dedicated A-List Preferred member customer service phone line
Companion Pass
As of Jan. 1, 2023, Southwest requires 135,000 tier-qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights to earn the Companion Pass.
Benefits:
- Add a designated companion to fly with you free of airline charges (taxes and fees apply)
- Valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the entire following calendar year
- No blackout dates or seat restrictions
- You can use this perk on both paid and award tickets
To learn more about this perk, check out our article on how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.
How to Earn Rapid Rewards Points
While the most obvious way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points is to book flights with Southwest, there are several other methods to boost your balance.
1. Flying with Southwest
As you probably already knew, you can earn Rapid Rewards points every time you take a paid flight with Southwest Airlines. The number of points you’ll earn depends on the cost of your flight, the fare class and whether you have elite status with Southwest.
- Earnings Based on Fare Class:
- 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
- Elite Status Bonuses:
- A-List: 25% bonus points
- A-List Preferred: 100% bonus points
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
80,000
bonus points
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $199
2. Southwest Credit Cards
By signing up for a co-branded Southwest credit card, you can earn Rapid Rewards points through everyday spending.
| Annual fee | Spending bonuses | Notable perks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | $69 | • 2X points on Southwest purchases • 2X points on purchases from Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners • 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare • 2X points on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming services • 1X points on all other purchases | • 3,000 points every cardmember anniversary • Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year • 25% back on in-flight purchases |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | $99 | • 3X points on Southwest purchases • 2X points on purchases from Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners • 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare • 2X points on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming services • 1X points on all other purchases | • 6,000 points every cardmember anniversary • Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent • Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year • 25% back on in-flight purchases |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | $149 | • 3X points on Southwest purchases • 2X points on purchases from Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners • 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare • 2X points on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming services • 1X points on all other purchases | • 7,500 points every cardmember anniversary • Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) • Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent • 25% back on in-flight purchases • $75 annual Southwest travel credit |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | $99 | • 3X points on Southwest purchases • 2X points on purchases from Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners • 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare • 1X points on all other purchases | • 6,000 points every cardmember anniversary • Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent • $500 fee credit for points transfers per year • Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year • 25% back on in-flight purchases • Employee cards at no additional cost |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | $199 | • 4X points on Southwest purchases • 3X points on purchases from Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners • 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare • 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services • 1X points on all other purchases | • 9,000 points every cardmember anniversary • Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) • Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent • $500 fee credit for points transfers per year • $100 application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck • Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year • Employee cards at no additional cost |
It’s also worth noting that all co-branded Southwest credit cards have no foreign transaction fees. So, you can take a Southwest flight to an international destination and use your Southwest card abroad without having to worry about fees.
Each of these cards also offers a welcome bonus that you can earn by spending a certain amount on the card in a certain amount of time—usually within three months. These welcome bonuses often offset the card’s annual fee by giving you enough rewards for (almost) free flights. So, if you want to quickly boost your Rapid Rewards points balance, that’s a great way to do so.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
60,000
bonus points
after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $99
3. Transfer Partners
Southwest also has several transfer partners that allow you to convert their points into Southwest Rapid Rewards points at various conversion rates. Here is a breakdown of Southwest’s transfer partners.
| Transfer partner | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|
| Best Western Rewards | 5:1 |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 |
| Radisson Rewards | 10:1 |
| World of Hyatt | 25:12 |
As you can see, the only partner that provides a favorable transfer ratio is Chase Ultimate Rewards, which allows you to convert your points at a 1:1 ratio.
4. Hotels and Rental Cars
Not only can you transfer points to Southwest Rapid Rewards from one of their partnered hotel loyalty programs, you also can earn Rapid Rewards points directly for booking stays with these hotel chains.
Both Marriott, MGM Resorts and Hyatt allow you to earn 600 Rapid Rewards points per qualifying stay. You will need to choose Rapid Rewards as your rewards currency when you’re making the booking, and you should be prepared to present your Rapid Rewards account number when you check in.
Unfortunately, you can’t earn both Rapid Rewards points and hotel points on the same booking, so you’re going to want to compare which rewards currency will provide you with the most value.
If you’re booking a stay at a boutique hotel that doesn’t have its own rewards program, you may be able to earn Rapid Rewards points by booking through Southwest Hotels or Rocketmiles. You may be eligible to earn up to 10,000 points for a single qualifying stay by booking this way, but it’s usually a lot less.
It’s also possible to earn Rapid Rewards points by making bookings with one of their rental car partners: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty. You’ll earn 600 points per qualifying rental with all eight partners. You may also be able to get discounts by providing your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number when making your booking.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Earn 50,000
Bonus Points
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $99
5. Rapid Rewards Shopping
Like most other airline loyalty programs, Southwest has its own shopping portal called Rapid Rewards Shopping. You can earn Rapid Rewards points for qualifying purchases from more than 1,000 merchants by making purchases through this portal. All you have to do is sign up for the program and do your shopping through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.
If you want to make matters even easier, Rapid Rewards Shopping members who have Google Chrome can add the extension button to their browser. This extension allows you to go shopping online as normal and will alert you if there’s an opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards points for making a certain purchase. It will also automatically apply coupon codes at checkout.
It’s also worth noting that you will still earn credit card points in addition to Rapid Rewards points if you make your purchases through Rapid Rewards Shopping with a rewards credit card.
6. Rapid Rewards Dining
Southwest also has its own dining rewards program that allows you to earn Rapid Rewards programs by eating out or ordering in with your favorite restaurants. To do so, you can go to the Rapid Rewards Dining website, sign up for an account and link a credit card. Then, every time you make a purchase at a participating restaurant, you’ll earn up to 3X points per dollar.
When signing up for the program, make sure to allow email notifications. By opting in for emails, you’ll earn 3X points per dollar. However, if you choose to opt out of email notifications, your earnings will be cut to just 2X points. Also, apparently, you need to open these emails from time to time as well or Southwest will bump you down to 2X points.
You also can earn points by leaving reviews, and there are several bonuses offered within this program that reward you with extra points after you meet certain earnings requirements.
If you want to specifically seek out restaurants that participate in Rapid Rewards Dining, you can search for restaurants in your area through the Rapid Rewards Dining website by entering your city, state or ZIP code in the search bar.
Also, like with Rapid Rewards Shopping, you will also earn credit card points on top of your Rapid Rewards points when you make purchases at a participating restaurant.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Earn 50,000
Bonus Points
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $69
7. Southwest Points Transfers from Friends and Family
Southwest does give members the option of transferring Rapid Rewards points between accounts. However, we strongly advise against it. They charge a hefty fee of $5 per 500 points transferred. And, since 500 Rapid Rewards points are valued at about $7, you’re losing the majority of the value by transferring your points to another member.
Southwest gives you the option to make a flight reservation for someone else. So, instead of making a points transfer from someone else’s Rapid Rewards account into yours so you can book an award flight, you’re probably better off just asking that person to make a booking in your name.
How to Redeem Rapid Rewards Points
Redeeming Rapid Rewards points is straightforward and flexible, while there are several ways to redeem Rapid Rewards points, you’re almost always going to get the most value by redeeming your points for flights with Southwest. Other redemption options such as gift cards and merchandise tend to offer far less value.
Booking Southwest Flights
- Search Flights: Visit Southwest.com and select the “Points” option when searching for flights.
- Choose Your Flight: All available flights will display with the points required.
- Select Fare Class:
- Wanna Get Away: Offers the best value.
- Wanna Get Away Plus: Includes additional benefits like transferable flight credits.
- Anytime and Business Select: More expensive; benefits may not justify the extra points.
- Complete Booking: Pay with your points and cover taxes and fees with cash.
On Southwest.com, the "Dollars" option is selected by default on flight searches. Choose the "Points" option instead to find the award rates for your flight.
The options will populate with the point rates. You can sort by points price or other criteria.
When it comes to which fare class you should choose, we recommend going with Wanna Get Away. While Anytime fare class is more expensive, the only real advantage that it offers over Wanna Get Away is that your ticket is fully refundable. However, any booking made with points through Southwest is fully refundable anyway, so Anytime fare class really doesn’t provide any advantage at all.
Wanna Get Away Plus tickets are usually only slightly more expensive than the same tickets in Wanna Get Away fare class. The main difference between the two is that Wanna Get Away Plus tickets come with same-day confirmed flight changes, same-day standby and the option to transfer flight credits to other Rapid Rewards members if you need to cancel your flight.
If these benefits are worth the minor price increase over Wanna Get Away fare class, you may want to consider going with Wanna Get Away Plus instead.
Similarly, the additional benefits of a Business Select ticket aren’t worth the additional cost. A Business Select ticket comes with priority boarding, expedited security access and a complimentary alcoholic drink on board. And, when Business Select class can cost as much as three times more than Wanna Get Away, those benefits just aren’t worth it.
One of the best parts about Southwest is that it allows you to cancel or change any booking for free, even award flights. The only time you’ll have to pay is if you change your award reservation to a more expensive flight, in which case you’ll have to pay the price difference in cash or points between the two flights. On the other hand, if you change your reservation to a cheaper flight, you’ll be refunded the price difference.
When it comes to canceling an award flight, it’s extremely simple. You can cancel your flight online, and your points will be refunded to your account without any additional cancellation fees.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Earn 50,000
Bonus Points
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $149
More Rewards
If you have a co-branded Southwest credit card, you can access its More Rewards program by signing in with your card details and account information. This program allows you to redeem your Rapid Rewards points in ways that other Rapid Rewards members (without Southwest credit cards) can’t, including buying gift cards, booking flights with other airlines, purchasing merchandise and booking experiences.
However, nearly every redemption option that’s offered through the cardmembers-only More Rewards portal provides low value. So, when it comes to redeeming your Rapid Rewards points, you’re better off sticking to award flights through Southwest.
FAQs About Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Do Rapid Rewards Points Expire?
No, Rapid Rewards points never expire as long as your account remains open.
Can You Use Rapid Rewards Points for International Flights?
Yes, but only to Southwest’s international destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
How Can I Earn the Companion Pass Quickly?
- Credit Card Bonuses: Apply for a Southwest credit card with a large welcome offer.
- Maximize Spending: Use your card for everyday purchases and business expenses.
- Promotions: Participate in Southwest promotions to earn additional qualifying points.
To learn more about the Companion Pass, read our article about how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.
Is There a Limit to How Many Points I Can Earn?
No, there’s no cap on the number of Rapid Rewards points you can earn.
Can I Transfer Rapid Rewards Points to Someone Else?
Yes, but it’s not recommended due to transfer fees that diminish the value of the points.
The Bottom Line
Southwest Airlines provides an excellent customer experience with low fares and flexible policies. The Southwest Rapid Rewards program enhances this experience by offering easy ways to earn and redeem points, especially for flights. The Companion Pass and elite statuses add significant value for frequent flyers.
Even if you don’t have elite status with Southwest, racking up Rapid Rewards points is fairly easy between flying with Southwest, getting a co-branded Southwest credit card, dining, shopping, or staying at one of Southwest’s partner hotels.
Once you earn some Rapid Rewards points, the best redemption option is purchasing award flights operated by Southwest. Other redemption options typically offer less value.
Overall, Southwest Rapid Rewards is a user-friendly program that offers substantial benefits, making it worthwhile for both frequent and occasional travelers.
New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
bonus cash back
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Miles
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
bonus points
after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
