If you’ve ever flown in the U.S., chances are you’ve come across Southwest Airlines. It’s one of the biggest names in the industry, flying to over 100 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
What really makes Southwest stand out? No extra fees for changing or canceling your ticket. Plus, you get two checked bags—free. Not those tiny carry-ons—actual checked luggage, up to 50 pounds each. Most airlines nickel-and-dime you for that, but Southwest keeps it simple.
Why Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Is Worth Signing Up For
Loyalty programs can be complicated, but Southwest Rapid Rewards keeps things simple and rewarding. You earn points effortlessly and can redeem them for any available seat—no blackout dates, no frustrating restrictions. If a ticket is up for sale, you can grab it with your points.
What makes this even better? Your points never expire. Whether you fly Southwest regularly or just once in a while, signing up is a smart move—especially since joining won’t cost you a dime. There’s zero risk, only potential savings.
And you’re not limited to earning points just from flights. There are plenty of other ways to rack up rewards—and even more ways to use them. Let’s get into how you can make the most of this program.
Calculating Rapid Rewards Points for Your Next Flight
Ever wondered how many points you’ll need for a Southwest flight? It all comes down to the cash price. Unlike traditional award programs with fixed charts, Southwest ties its points directly to ticket prices—meaning fares that cost more in dollars will also require more points.
So, how do you estimate what a flight will cost in points? A general rule of thumb is that each point is worth about 1.5 cents. To get a quick estimate, take the ticket price before taxes and fees and divide it by 0.015.
Let’s break it down: If a flight is going for $150, you’ll need around 10,000 points ($150 ÷ 0.015).
Want to Spend Fewer Points? Here’s How:
🔹 Book Early: The sooner you grab a ticket, the better the deal. Southwest prices tend to rise as flights fill up.
🔹 Watch for Sales: Southwest frequently runs fare sales, which means flights can cost even fewer points if you time it right.
🔹 Avoid Peak Travel Times: Flights during holidays or busy travel periods usually require more points because of higher demand.
Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Points a Smart Way to Book Flights?
If you’re sitting on a stash of Rapid Rewards points, should you use them for flights? In most cases, the answer is YES. Since Southwest bases point values on ticket prices, cheaper flights require fewer points—which means more trips for less.
That said, some redemptions give you more bang for your points than others. Short-haul routes and already low-cost fares tend to be the best deals, letting you stretch your rewards even further.
Another reason to consider using points? Flexibility. Plans change, and Southwest makes it easy to adjust your flights without worrying about penalties. If you cancel an award booking, your points go straight back into your account—no fees, no hassle.
How to Maximize Southwest Perks: Companion Pass & Elite Status
Let’s dive into the best perks Southwest Rapid Rewards Program has to offer. If you’re someone who loves flying smarter (and saving big), these benefits will make every trip feel like a win.
The Companion Pass
This is Southwest’s ultimate reward. With the Companion Pass, you can add a designated travel buddy to your flights—no airline fees required (just pay taxes and fees).
How do you earn it?
✔️ Earn 135,000 points or complete 100 flights in a calendar year.
✔️ Once you qualify, the pass is valid for the rest of the year you earn it and all of the following year.
What makes this perk so amazing is that it has no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and unlimited use while it’s valid.
Fly Smarter with A-List Elite Status
Southwest’s A-List Elite status is all about cutting down travel stress. To qualify, you’ll need to fly 25 one-way trips or earn 35,000 points in a year.
Here’s what you get:
✔️ Priority boarding to grab the best seat before others.
✔️ Skip the lines with exclusive check-in and security lanes.
✔️ Enjoy free same-day standby if you need to catch an earlier flight.
✔️ A 20% points bonus on every paid flight to boost your rewards.
✔️ Access to a dedicated support line for faster help when you need it.
Level Up with A-List Preferred
For those of us who spend even more time in the air, A-List Preferred Elite Status comes with all the A-List perks plus some amazing extras. You’ll need 40 one-way flights or 70,000 points in a year to qualify.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
✔️ Double points on every paid flight, so you rack up rewards twice as fast.
✔️ Stay connected with free in-flight Wi-Fi on all flights.
✔️ Access a priority customer service line to resolve issues faster.
Boosting Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Program: All the Ways to Earn Points
When it comes to earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points, most people think of flights—and yes, that’s a big part of it. But if you’re looking to grow your balance faster, there are smarter ways to make every dollar count.
#1 Flying Southwest
Every Southwest flight you book puts points in your account, but the amount you earn depends on the type of ticket you buy. Some fares are more rewarding than others, so choosing the right one can make a big difference.
Let’s break it down:
✔️ Wanna Get Away: The most budget-friendly option earns you 6 points per dollar.
✔️ Wanna Get Away Plus: A step up, with 8 points per dollar.
✔️ Anytime Fare: A more flexible choice, giving you 10 points per dollar.
✔️ Business Select: The premium choice, earning you a whopping 12 points per dollar.
Now, here’s where it gets even better: If you’ve worked your way up to elite status (and we hope you have), you’ll earn bonus points every time you fly.
✔️ A-List Members: Get a 25% boost on your points.
✔️ A-List Preferred Members: Double your rewards with a 100% bonus.
So, what does this mean for you? Choosing the right ticket and aiming for elite status can supercharge your earnings. A single Business Select flight as an A-List Preferred member could net you double the points, putting you that much closer to your next reward flight.
#2 Southwest Credit Cards: Comparing Which One Fits Your Needs
If you’re looking to earn Rapid Rewards points while enjoying valuable travel perks, Southwest’s co-branded credit cards offer excellent options.
Here’s a detailed comparison
| Southwest Credit Cards | Annual Fee | Earning Points | Key Perks |
| Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | $69 | – 2X points on Southwest flights, hotel, and car rental partners – 2X points on transit, commuting (including rideshares), internet, cable, and streaming services – 1X points on all other purchases | – 3,000 bonus points on your card anniversary – Two EarlyBird Check-Ins every year – 25% back on in-flight purchases |
| Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | $99 | – 3X points on Southwest flights – 2X points on hotel, car rental partners, transit, commuting, and streaming services – 1X points on all other purchases | – 6,000 anniversary points annually – Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year – Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $10,000 spent toward A-List status – 25% back on in-flight purchases |
| Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | $149 | – 3X points on Southwest flights – 2X points on hotel, car rental partners, transit, commuting, and streaming services – 1X points on all other purchases | – 7,500 points every anniversary – Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) – $75 annual Southwest travel credit – Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $10,000 spent – 25% back on in-flight purchases |
| Premier Business Credit Card | $99 | – 3X points on Southwest flights – 2X points on hotel, car rental partners, and transit/commuting – 1X points on all other spending | – 6,000 bonus points on your card anniversary – Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $10,000 spent – $500 credit for points transfers annually – Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year – Employee cards at no cost |
| Performance Business Credit Card | $199 | – 4X points on Southwest flights – 3X points on hotel, car rental partners, and transit/commuting – 2X points on advertising, internet, cable, and phone services – 1X points on all other spending | – 9,000 anniversary points annually – Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) – Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit up to $100 – Up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits annually – $500 points transfer credit |
Here’s a big win for Southwest credit cardholders
No foreign transaction fees. That means you can swipe your card abroad—whether you’re flying to Mexico, the Caribbean, or other international destinations—without worrying about sneaky extra charges.
If you’re looking to quickly boost your Southwest Rapid Rewards points, the welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards are your golden ticket. After spending a specific amount within the first few months (usually three), you’ll earn a bonus large enough to cover nearly free flights.
Here’s why this matters:
✔️ The points you earn from the bonus can offset the card’s annual fee.
✔️ You can redeem those bonus points for flights, helping you save money right away.
#3 Maximizing Your Points with Southwest’s Transfer Partners
Did you know you can grow your Rapid Rewards balance by transferring points from other loyalty programs? Southwest has a handful of partners that allow you to convert their points into Rapid Rewards. While the transfer rates vary, this option can give your balance a significant boost, especially if you already have points sitting in these programs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Southwest’s transfer partners and their conversion ratios:
| Transfer Partner | Conversion Rate |
| Best Western Rewards | 5 points → 1 Rapid Rewards point |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1 point → 1 Rapid Rewards point |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 points → 1 Rapid Rewards point |
| Radisson Rewards | 10 points → 1 Rapid Rewards point |
| World of Hyatt | 25 points → 12 Rapid Rewards points |
As you observe, Chase Ultimate Rewards is the sole partner that offers an advantageous transfer ratio, enabling you to exchange your points at a 1:1 ratio.
#4 Earn Rapid Rewards Points Through Hotels and Rental Cars
Earning Rapid Rewards points doesn’t stop at booking flights—you can also grow your points balance by taking advantage of Southwest’s partnerships with hotel chains and rental car companies.
If you’re staying with major hotel brands like Marriott, World of Hyatt, or MGM Resorts, you can earn 600 Rapid Rewards points for every qualifying stay. To do this, simply choose Rapid Rewards as your preferred rewards currency when booking your room and provide your account number at check-in. While this means forfeiting the hotel’s loyalty points for that stay, it’s worth comparing which rewards currency offers you the most value based on your travel goals.
For travelers staying at boutique hotels or properties without a dedicated loyalty program, there’s another way to earn points. By booking through Southwest Hotels or RocketMiles, you can rack up Rapid Rewards points directly. Some bookings even offer up to 10,000 points for a single qualifying stay, though most rewards are typically lower.
Rental cars are another easy way to earn Rapid Rewards points. Southwest has partnered with eight major rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty. Every qualifying rental earns you 600 Rapid Rewards points. All you need to do is include your Rapid Rewards account number when making the reservation. On top of that, many rental car partners offer exclusive discounts for Southwest members.
#5 Earn Rapid Rewards Points While You Shop
Southwest makes it easy to earn Rapid Rewards points outside of flights with their Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. By using this online platform, you can earn points for purchases from over 1,000 popular retailers. The process is simple: just sign up for Rapid Rewards Shopping, log in, and shop through the portal. Every qualifying purchase adds to your points balance, bringing you closer to free flights.
For even more convenience, you can streamline your shopping with the Rapid Rewards Shopping Chrome extension. Once added to your browser, the extension notifies you whenever a retailer offers Rapid Rewards points for a purchase. It works seamlessly in the background, so you can shop as usual while maximizing your rewards. As a bonus, it also applies available coupon codes at checkout, saving you money while earning points.
One of the best parts? You don’t have to choose between earning Rapid Rewards points and earning credit card points. If you pay with a rewards credit card while using Rapid Rewards Shopping, you’ll earn points through both programs.
#6 Earn Rapid Rewards Points While Dining Out
Southwest makes it possible to earn Rapid Rewards points just by enjoying a meal out—or even ordering in—through its Rapid Rewards Dining program. It’s an easy and rewarding way to grow your points balance while indulging in your favorite restaurants.
To get started, visit the Rapid Rewards Dining website, sign up for an account, and link one or more of your credit cards. From there, every time you dine at a participating restaurant and pay with your linked card, you’ll earn up to 3X points per dollar spent.
There’s a small catch when it comes to maximizing your points: make sure to opt in to receive email notifications when signing up for the program. By doing so, you’ll secure the full 3X points per dollar. If you choose not to receive emails, your earnings drop to 2X points per dollar. And to keep earning the higher rate, you’ll need to occasionally open the emails, as inactivity could bump your earning rate down.
You can also earn additional points by leaving restaurant reviews through the program, and there are special bonuses for hitting certain spending milestones. For example, after a set number of dining transactions, you might be rewarded with a bonus point boost, which makes the program even more appealing.
If you’re wondering which restaurants qualify, the Rapid Rewards Dining website makes it easy to find participating locations. Simply enter your city, state, or ZIP code into the search bar to discover eligible restaurants in your area.
One more perk to keep in mind: similar to Rapid Rewards Shopping, using a rewards credit card while participating in this program means you’ll double up on rewards. You’ll earn credit card points alongside your Rapid Rewards Dining points, making every meal more rewarding.
#7 Sharing Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest allows members to transfer Rapid Rewards points between accounts, but it’s not the most cost-effective option. While the idea of sharing points with friends or family might seem helpful, the high fees involved can significantly reduce the value of the points being transferred.
Southwest charges $5 for every 500 points transferred. Since 500 Rapid Rewards points are worth approximately $7, you’re essentially paying a large chunk of their value just to move them between accounts.
Instead of transferring points, Southwest offers a much better alternative: book a flight directly for someone else. You can use your own Rapid Rewards points to make a reservation in another person’s name. This eliminates the need for transferring points entirely and allows you to get the full value of your rewards without losing anything to fees.
Your Guide to Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Points
When it comes to using your Rapid Rewards points, Southwest keeps it simple and flexible. While there are several redemption options available, like gift cards and merchandise, the best way to maximize your points is by redeeming them for flights on Southwest. Here’s how to make the most of your points and navigate the booking process.
- Search for Flights: Head to Southwest.com, select the “Points” option, and search for your desired flights.
- Compare Options: You’ll see a list of available flights along with the points required for each option.
- Choose Your Fare Class:
- Wanna Get Away: The best value for your points.
- Wanna Get Away Plus: Slightly higher cost, but includes perks like transferable flight credits and same-day confirmed changes.
- Anytime and Business Select: These cost significantly more points and often aren’t worth the extra expense.
- Complete Your Booking: Pay with points and cover taxes and fees with cash.
For most travelers, Wanna Get Away fares are the smartest choice. These fares offer the lowest point redemption rates and give you incredible value for your rewards. Although Anytime fares are fully refundable, award bookings made with points are already refundable, which eliminates the main advantage of choosing this fare.
If you’re looking for a slight upgrade, consider Wanna Get Away Plus. It costs a little more than Wanna Get Away, but it comes with useful extras like same-day flight changes and the ability to transfer flight credits to other Rapid Rewards members.
As for Business Select, the additional perks—like priority boarding, expedited security, and a complimentary alcoholic drink—come at a steep cost, often requiring up to three times the points of a Wanna Get Away fare. For most travelers, these benefits don’t justify the higher redemption price.
Southwest’s Flexible Policies
One of Southwest’s greatest strengths is its flexibility. You can change or cancel any booking without worrying about fees, even award bookings made with points. If you change your flight to one that costs more, you’ll just pay the difference in points or cash. If you switch to a cheaper flight, Southwest will refund the difference.
Canceling an award flight is just as simple. You can cancel online, and your points will be refunded back into your account without any penalties or additional fees.
Extra Redemption Options with More Rewards
If you hold a Southwest credit card, there’s an added perk you have access to that regular Rapid Rewards members don’t: the More Rewards program. By logging in with your card details, you can explore a whole new set of ways to redeem your points. These include buying gift cards, booking flights on other airlines, purchasing merchandise, or even planning unique experiences.
We’ve taken a closer look at these options, and, most of them just don’t deliver the same value as booking Southwest flights. For example, redeeming points for gift cards or gadgets might sound fantastic, but the point-to-dollar value is noticeably lower. Simply put, you’ll be spending far more points than you would for a Southwest flight.
If you’re like us and want to get the most out of every point, sticking with award flights on Southwest is the way to go.
Now, we’re not saying the More Rewards portal is useless. It’s nice to have as a backup option for points you might not use otherwise. But if your goal is to stretch your points as far as possible, booking award flights should always be your first choice.
Why Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Is Worth Your Time
Southwest Airlines has earned its reputation for offering low fares, flexible policies, and an overall great customer experience. The Southwest Rapid Rewards program takes this experience up a notch by making it simple to earn and redeem points, especially for flights. And if you’re a frequent flyer, perks like the Companion Pass and elite status tiers can add even more value to your travels.
What we love most about Rapid Rewards is how accessible it is. Even if you’re not chasing elite status, earning points is straightforward—whether it’s through flying, using a Southwest credit card, dining, shopping, or staying at partner hotels. There’s no need to jump through hoops or keep track of complicated rules.
Once you’ve built up a stash of Rapid Rewards points, the smartest way to use them is for Southwest award flights. This is where you’ll get the most value, thanks to the program’s fair pricing and flexible booking policies. Other redemption options, like gift cards or merchandise, tend to give you less bang for your points, so we recommend saving your rewards for flights.
Overall, the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is one of the most user-friendly and rewarding loyalty programs out there. Whether you’re a frequent traveler who values flexibility or someone who only takes the occasional trip, it’s worth taking advantage of this program to save money and enjoy extra benefits along the way.
