Unlocking the Skies: A Comprehensive Guide to How Southwest Airlines Points Work
Ever dreamt of jetting off on a spontaneous adventure without breaking the bank? Or perhaps you're a frequent traveler looking to maximize every dollar you spend? If so, understanding how Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards points work is your key to unlocking a world of travel possibilities. Southwest is renowned for its unique approach to air travel – open seating, two free checked bags, and no change fees – and their loyalty program is no different. It's designed to be straightforward and rewarding, making it a favorite among many.
So, are you ready to transform your everyday spending and travel into exciting future flights? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Embark on Your Rapid Rewards Journey – Sign Up!
Before you can start accumulating those valuable points, you need to become a Rapid Rewards member. It's completely free and takes just a few minutes.
How to Sign Up:
Visit the Southwest Airlines Website: Head over to Southwest.com. You'll typically find a "Rapid Rewards" link in the top navigation or footer.
Click "Enroll Now" or "Join Rapid Rewards": Follow the prompts to create your account. You'll need to provide some basic personal information.
Receive Your Rapid Rewards Number: Once registered, you'll be assigned a unique Rapid Rewards number. Keep this handy, as you'll use it for all your point-earning activities.
Pro-Tip: Even if you're not planning a flight right away, it's a good idea to sign up. You never know when an opportunity to earn points might arise!
Step 2: Mastering the Art of Earning Rapid Rewards Points
This is where the magic begins! Southwest offers a variety of ways to rack up points, turning your everyday activities into future travel.
Sub-heading 2.1: Earning Points Through Flying
The most direct way to earn Rapid Rewards points is by flying on Southwest Airlines. The number of points you earn per dollar spent depends on the fare type you purchase:
Wanna Get Away®: Generally earns 6 points per dollar spent on base airfare. This is Southwest's most economical fare.
Wanna Get Away Plus®: Earns 8 points per dollar spent on base airfare. Offers more flexibility than Wanna Get Away.
Anytime®: Earns 10 points per dollar spent on base airfare. This is a more flexible and often more expensive fare.
Business Select®: Earns 12 points per dollar spent on base airfare. Southwest's most premium fare, offering maximum flexibility and perks.
Important Note: Points are earned on the base fare of the ticket, not including taxes and fees. Also, if you're an A-List or A-List Preferred member (we'll get to that later!), you'll earn bonus points on top of these base rates.
Sub-heading 2.2: Accelerating Your Earnings with Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
For many, Southwest co-branded credit cards are the fastest route to accumulating a significant number of points. Chase offers several personal and business Southwest credit cards, each with its own benefits and earning structures.
Sign-up Bonuses: These cards often come with generous sign-up bonuses after meeting a certain spending requirement within the first few months. These bonuses can be a huge boost to your point balance.
Everyday Spending: Beyond the sign-up bonus, these cards earn points on everyday purchases. Typically, you'll earn:
2-3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases.
Higher earning rates on categories like local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Consider This: Carefully evaluate the annual fees, benefits, and earning rates of each card to determine which best fits your spending habits and travel goals.
Sub-heading 2.3: Partner Up for More Points!
Southwest has a wide network of partners where you can earn Rapid Rewards points. Don't leave points on the table!
Hotel Partners: Earn points on hotel stays with various chains like Marriott and Hyatt. Make sure to link your Rapid Rewards account or book through the Southwest portal.
Car Rental Partners: Renting a car? Choose one of Southwest's car rental partners to earn points on your booking.
Rapid Rewards Shopping: This online shopping portal allows you to earn points for purchases made at hundreds of popular retailers. Simply log in to the portal, click through to your desired store, and shop as usual.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards to the Rapid Rewards Dining program and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
Other Partners: Keep an eye out for other opportunities, such as switching electricity providers in certain states, taking surveys, and more.
Step 3: Understanding the Value and Redemption of Your Rapid Rewards Points
Now that you're earning points, let's talk about how to use them!
Sub-heading 3.1: Redeeming for Flights – Your Best Bet
The most common and often most valuable way to redeem Southwest points is for flights.
Dynamic Pricing: Unlike some other airline loyalty programs with fixed award charts, Southwest's point value is tied to the cash price of the ticket. When cash fares go on sale, so do the points needed for redemption. This means your points generally offer a consistent value, usually around 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point, though this can fluctuate.
No Blackout Dates: A fantastic perk of Rapid Rewards is that there are no blackout dates when redeeming for flights. If a seat is available for purchase with cash, it's also available with points.
Booking with Points:
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
When searching for flights, select "Points" instead of "Dollars" as your currency.
Choose your desired flight. The system will display the point cost.
Proceed to checkout. You'll only need to pay the nominal taxes and fees (typically $5.60 each way for domestic flights) in cash.
Sub-heading 3.2: Other Redemption Options (Use with Caution!)
While flights offer the best value, Southwest also allows you to redeem points for:
Gift Cards: Redeem points for gift cards to various retailers. The redemption rate here is usually significantly lower than for flights, so it's generally not recommended unless you have a specific need.
Merchandise: Shop for electronics, home goods, and more through their merchandise portal. Again, the value per point is often poor.
Hotel Stays and Car Rentals: You can book hotels and rental cars using points through Southwest's More Rewards program. While convenient, the redemption value is usually less optimal compared to using points for flights or booking directly with cash.
Experiences: Access unique experiences like cruises, spa packages, and more. Review the value carefully before redeeming.
General Rule: Always compare the cash cost to the point cost for non-flight redemptions to ensure you're getting reasonable value. For most members, focusing on flight redemptions will yield the greatest benefit.
Step 4: Achieving Elite Status: A-List and A-List Preferred
Southwest offers two tiers of elite status: A-List and A-List Preferred. These statuses come with valuable perks that enhance your travel experience.
Sub-heading 4.1: A-List Status
To qualify for A-List status, you need to:
Fly 25 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
Earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
A-List Benefits:
Priority Boarding: Automatically receive an earlier boarding position (usually A1-A15, or within 36 hours of the flight) for you and everyone on your reservation.
25% Earning Bonus: Earn 25% more Rapid Rewards points on eligible flights.
Same-Day Standby: The ability to fly standby for an earlier flight on the same day without a fare difference (taxes and fees may apply).
Priority Lane Access: Use dedicated A-List lanes at check-in and security checkpoints (where available).
Dedicated A-List Phone Line: Access a special customer service phone line.
Sub-heading 4.2: A-List Preferred Status
To reach the pinnacle of Southwest elite status, A-List Preferred, you need to:
Fly 50 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
Earn 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
A-List Preferred Benefits: All the benefits of A-List, plus:
100% Earning Bonus: Double the Rapid Rewards points on eligible flights.
Free Inflight Wi-Fi: Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi on Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.
Two Free Premium Drinks: Receive up to two complimentary premium drinks on select flights.
Dedicated A-List Preferred Phone Line: Even higher priority on customer service calls.
Understanding Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs): TQPs are primarily earned from revenue flights flown on Southwest. Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card spending also count towards TQPs (typically 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent annually). Welcome bonuses from credit cards usually do not count towards TQPs.
Step 5: The Coveted Companion Pass – Fly Two for the Price of One!
The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably one of the best travel perks in the industry. It allows you to designate one person to fly with you on any Southwest flight (paid with cash or points) for just the cost of taxes and fees (as low as $5.60 one-way).
How to Earn the Companion Pass:
To qualify for the Companion Pass, you must, in a calendar year:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights, OR
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points.
Once earned, the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the entirety of the following calendar year.
Companion Pass Qualifying Points: These points include:
Points earned from Southwest revenue flights.
Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card sign-up bonuses.
Points earned from everyday spending on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards.
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners (e.g., hotels, car rentals, shopping, dining).
Exclusions: Purchased, gifted, or transferred points do not count towards Companion Pass qualification.
Strategy Tip: A popular strategy for earning the Companion Pass quickly is to apply for two Southwest credit cards (one personal and one business, or two personal if eligible) and earn their sign-up bonuses around the beginning of a calendar year. The combined points from these bonuses often get you very close to or over the 135,000 point threshold.
Using Your Companion Pass:
Book your own flight (either with cash or points).
Once your flight is confirmed, go to the "My Trips" section of your Rapid Rewards account.
Find your booked flight and click "Add Companion."
Enter your designated companion's information and pay the applicable taxes and fees.
Your companion will receive a separate confirmation number.
Important Considerations:
You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year.
Both you and your companion must be on the same flight for the Companion Pass to be valid.
If you cancel your flight, your companion's reservation will also be canceled.
Step 6: Managing Your Points and Account
Keeping track of your Rapid Rewards points is easy and crucial for maximizing their value.
Sub-heading 6.1: Checking Your Point Balance
Online: Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your point balance is prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
Mobile App: The Southwest Airlines mobile app also provides quick access to your point balance and account information.
Sub-heading 6.2: Point Expiration and Important Policies
No Expiration! This is fantastic news! As of December 2024, Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This gives you immense flexibility to save up for big trips without worrying about losing your hard-earned points.
Flight Credits: While points don't expire, be aware of Southwest's policy on flight credits. As of May 28, 2025, flight credits created from certain fare types (like Basic fares) will have a specified expiration date. Always check the terms for your specific flight credit.
Transferring and Gifting Points: You can transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member or gift points. However, there's typically a fee associated with these transactions, and these transferred/gifted points do not count towards A-List or Companion Pass qualification. Generally, it's not the most cost-effective way to acquire points.
Buying Points: If you're just a few points shy of a redemption, you can purchase points. Similar to transferring, the cost per point is usually higher than the value you'd get when redeeming for flights, so use this option sparingly.
Conclusion: Flying High with Rapid Rewards
Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program is designed for simplicity and value. With no change fees, two free checked bags, and points that don't expire, it offers a strong proposition for both leisure and business travelers. By understanding how to strategically earn and redeem your points, and by aiming for elite status or the coveted Companion Pass, you can significantly reduce your travel costs and enjoy more adventures in the sky!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly?
The quickest ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points are by applying for and meeting the sign-up bonus requirements on Southwest co-branded credit cards, and by flying frequently on Southwest with higher fare types like Anytime or Business Select.
How to use Southwest points for international flights?
You can use Southwest points for international flights to destinations served by Southwest Airlines (primarily Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America). Simply select "Points" as your payment method when searching for these international flights on Southwest.com.
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards point balance?
You can check your Southwest Rapid Rewards point balance by logging into your account on Southwest.com or through the Southwest Airlines mobile app. Your balance will be clearly displayed on your account dashboard.
How to get Southwest Companion Pass easily?
The easiest way to get the Southwest Companion Pass is by strategically earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, often achieved by opening one or two Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards and meeting their sign-up bonus requirements, as credit card bonus points count towards the Companion Pass.
How to transfer Southwest points to another person?
You can transfer Southwest points to another Rapid Rewards member by logging into your account on Southwest.com and navigating to the "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" section. Be aware that a fee is typically charged for point transfers.
How to get A-List status with Southwest?
To get A-List status with Southwest, you need to fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year. TQPs can be earned through revenue flights and spending on eligible Southwest credit cards.
How to use Southwest points for hotels?
You can use Southwest points for hotel stays through the "More Rewards" section on Southwest.com. However, the redemption value for hotels is generally lower than for flights, so it's often more economical to use points for flights and pay for hotels separately.
How to find out when Southwest points expire?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This policy was changed, meaning your points will remain in your account until you redeem them or close your account.
How to combine Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts?
Southwest does not allow combining Rapid Rewards accounts. Points earned are tied to individual accounts. However, you can transfer points between accounts, though fees may apply.
How to calculate the value of Southwest points for a flight?
To calculate the value of Southwest points for a flight, divide the cash price of the flight (excluding taxes and fees) by the number of points required for that same flight, then multiply by 100. For example, if a flight costs $150 or 10,000 points, your points are worth ($150 / 10,000) * 100 = 1.5 cents per point.
