You're dreaming of that "free" flight on Southwest Airlines, aren't you? Who isn't! The thought of hopping on a plane without spending a dime on the fare is incredibly appealing. But here's the thing: it's not about "miles" in the traditional sense with Southwest. Their loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, operates on a points system, and the number of points you need for a free flight is dynamic, meaning it changes.
Let's embark on this journey together to understand exactly how many points you'll need and, more importantly, how to get them!
Unlocking "Free" Flights on Southwest Airlines: A Step-by-Step Guide
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| How Many Miles For Free Flight Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Get Engaged with Rapid Rewards – It's Your Passport to Points!
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of points, are you already a Southwest Rapid Rewards member? If not, that's your very first and most crucial step! It's completely free to join and takes just a few minutes. Think of it as opening a savings account, but instead of money, you're saving up for amazing travel experiences.
Why is this so important? Because you can't earn or redeem points without an account. Every flight you take, every dollar you spend with their partners, those valuable points need a place to go! So, head over to Southwest.com and sign up for Rapid Rewards if you haven't already.
Step 2: Understanding the Southwest Rapid Rewards System – It's Not About Fixed Miles!
Unlike many other airlines that use a fixed award chart (e.g., 25,000 miles for a domestic round trip), Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is revenue-based. This means:
The number of points needed for a "free" flight is directly tied to the cash price of that flight. If a flight costs $100, it will require fewer points than a flight costing $300.
Fares vary, and so do point redemptions. Just as cash prices fluctuate based on demand, time of year, and how far in advance you book, so too will the points required. This is actually a great thing for savvy travelers! When cash fares go on sale, the points needed for that same flight also decrease.
Points have a relatively consistent value. Generally, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are valued at approximately 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point. This means if a flight costs $100, you'd typically need around 7,000 to 7,500 points (100 / 0.013 = ~7,692 points).
Sub-heading: The Impact of Fare Types on Point Redemption
Southwest offers different fare types, and while they all offer the same great Southwest experience, they differ in flexibility and, crucially, how many points you'll need to redeem them:
Wanna Get Away®: These are typically the lowest-priced fares and, consequently, require the fewest points for redemption. They are less flexible if you need to change plans (though points are re-deposited if you cancel).
Wanna Get Away Plus™: A step up in flexibility and earns more points if you're paying with cash, but also requires more points for redemption than Wanna Get Away.
Anytime®: These are more flexible, fully refundable fares. They require significantly more points than Wanna Get Away fares.
Business Select®: The most premium fare, offering benefits like priority boarding, a complimentary premium drink, and higher point earning on paid flights. Naturally, these require the most points for redemption.
Your best bet for "free" flights using the fewest points will almost always be the Wanna Get Away fares.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Step 3: Strategizing to Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points – Your Path to Takeoff!
Since the number of points for a free flight isn't fixed, your focus should be on accumulating as many Rapid Rewards points as possible. Here's a comprehensive guide to doing just that:
Sub-heading: Flying Southwest Airlines
This is the most straightforward way, but not always the fastest if you're not a frequent flyer.
Earn points based on fare type: The higher the fare class, the more points you earn per dollar spent.
Business Select: 12 points per dollar
Anytime: 10 points per dollar
Wanna Get Away Plus: 6 points per dollar
Wanna Get Away (soon to be "Basic"): 2 points per dollar (for bookings made on or after May 28, 2025)
Sub-heading: Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards (Your Superhighway to Points!)
This is, by far, the most lucrative and fastest way to earn a substantial amount of Rapid Rewards points. Chase offers several co-branded Southwest credit cards for consumers and businesses.
Welcome Bonuses: These cards often come with generous welcome bonuses after you meet a certain spending requirement within the first few months. These bonuses can often provide enough points for multiple "free" flights!
Everyday Spending: You'll earn points on all your purchases, with bonus categories for Southwest purchases, hotel and car rental partners, local transit, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
Anniversary Points: Many cards offer a bonus number of points each year on your cardmember anniversary.
Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost: Southwest credit card holders receive a 10,000-point boost towards the coveted Companion Pass each calendar year, making it easier to achieve (more on this later!).
Sub-heading: Partner Programs – Maximizing Your Existing Habits
Southwest has various partners where you can earn Rapid Rewards points for your everyday activities.
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Earn points by shopping online at hundreds of your favorite retailers. Simply start your shopping through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards to your Rapid Rewards Dining account and earn points automatically when you dine at participating restaurants.
Hotel Partners: Earn points when you book stays with hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, and others.
Rental Car Partners: Earn points when you rent cars through partners like Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
Home & Lifestyle Partners: Explore other opportunities with partners related to utilities, mortgages, and more.
Sub-heading: Transferring Points from Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you have a premium Chase credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. This is an incredibly valuable option as Chase Ultimate Rewards are highly flexible.
Sub-heading: Buying Points
While generally not the most cost-effective way, you can purchase Rapid Rewards points directly from Southwest if you're just a few points short of a desired flight. Only do this if absolutely necessary, as the cost per point is usually higher than the value you'll get.
Step 4: Redeeming Your Hard-Earned Points – Your "Free" Flight Awaits!
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
Once you've accumulated a healthy stash of Rapid Rewards points, redeeming them for a flight is surprisingly simple.
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
Enter your desired flight details (origin, destination, dates).
Crucially, select the "Points" radio button instead of "Dollars" before you search.
Browse the available flights and their corresponding point costs. You'll see the point requirement for different fare types (Wanna Get Away, Anytime, Business Select).
Select your preferred flight and fare type.
Confirm your booking! You will still need to pay for any government-imposed taxes and fees, which are typically very low for domestic flights (starting from $5.60 one-way).
Remember, there are no blackout dates with Southwest Rapid Rewards, and every seat on every flight is a reward seat! This offers immense flexibility compared to other airline loyalty programs.
Step 5: The Ultimate "Free" Flight Perk: The Southwest Companion Pass!
If you're serious about maximizing free travel on Southwest, the Companion Pass is your holy grail. It's truly one of the best travel benefits available.
What is it? The Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees, typically $5.60 one-way) on every single flight you take, whether you pay with cash or points. This means if you book a flight with your points, your companion flies for essentially nothing!
How to Earn It: To qualify for the Companion Pass, you need to either:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in one calendar year.
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in one calendar year.
The easiest and most common way to earn the Companion Pass is through accumulating 135,000 qualifying points, often achieved by:
Opening one or two Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards and meeting their welcome bonus spending requirements. Many people strategically apply for one personal and one business Southwest credit card at the right time to hit this threshold.
Remember: Points earned from credit card spending (including welcome bonuses) and some partner activities count towards the Companion Pass. Purchased points, transferred points from other members, and converted points from hotel/car loyalty programs typically do not count.
Timing is Key: The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year. So, if you earn it early in a calendar year (e.g., January 2026), you could enjoy nearly two full years of BOGO flights!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Southwest Rapid Rewards and "Free" Flights
Here are 10 common "How to" questions to help you navigate the world of Southwest "free" flights:
How to calculate how many points I need for a specific flight?
Tip: Slow down when you hit important details.
To calculate the points needed, go to Southwest.com, log in, enter your flight details, and select "Points" before searching. The website will display the exact point cost for each available fare. Generally, divide the cash price by 0.013 (your estimated point value) for a rough idea.
How to get the most value out of my Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
You'll typically get the best value by redeeming your points for Wanna Get Away fares, especially during fare sales or for flights booked far in advance when cash prices are lower. Avoid using points for Business Select or Anytime fares unless flexibility is paramount and you have an abundance of points.
How to check my current Rapid Rewards point balance?
Simply log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your point balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to ensure my credit card spending counts towards the Companion Pass?
Points earned from spending on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (including welcome bonuses and regular purchases) and base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners do count. Always double-check the specific terms and conditions of promotions and partnerships.
How to avoid paying high taxes and fees on "free" flights?
For domestic flights within the US, taxes and fees are minimal, usually around $5.60 per one-way trip. International flights will have higher taxes and fees, which are unavoidable regardless of how you book.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling fast, start reading slow.
How to change a flight booked with Rapid Rewards points?
Southwest has a very flexible change policy. You can change your flight without a fee, and if the new flight is cheaper, the difference in points will be credited back to your account. If it's more expensive, you'll need to pay the difference in points.
How to cancel a flight booked with Rapid Rewards points?
You can cancel a flight booked with points without a fee up to 10 minutes before departure. The points will be re-deposited into your Rapid Rewards account.
How to earn Rapid Rewards points without flying?
The most effective ways are through Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (welcome bonuses and everyday spending), the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, Rapid Rewards Dining, and booking with hotel and car rental partners.
How to qualify for A-List or A-List Preferred status with Southwest?
A-List status requires 20 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year. A-List Preferred requires 40 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points. Tier qualifying points are earned primarily from paid Southwest flights and some credit card spending.
How to use the Southwest Companion Pass once I've earned it?
First, book your own flight (either with points or cash). After your flight is booked, log into your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Trips," find your upcoming flight, and click "Add Companion." You'll then follow the prompts to book your designated companion's flight for just the cost of taxes and fees.
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