Ready to unlock the secret to free flights on Southwest Airlines? It's a question many travelers ponder, and the answer, while not a fixed number, is completely within your reach! Forget complicated award charts and blackout dates – Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is designed for simplicity and flexibility. Let's dive in and discover how you can turn your everyday spending and travel into amazing free flights.
The Quest for Free Flights: Understanding Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest Airlines uses a points-based loyalty program called Rapid Rewards. Unlike some other airlines that have fixed award charts based on distance or zones, Southwest's point redemption is dynamic and tied directly to the cash price of the fare. This means when a fare goes on sale, the points needed for that flight also decrease! This is a fantastic benefit, as it allows you to get more value for your points during sales.
The number of points required for a "free" flight on Southwest Airlines varies significantly based on several factors:
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Fare Type: Different fare classes (Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select) require a different number of points for the same cash value. Generally, cheaper fares like "Wanna Get Away" (or "Basic" for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025) require fewer points than "Business Select" fares.
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Flight Distance & Popularity: Longer flights and those to popular destinations or during peak travel times will naturally require more points.
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Time of Booking: As with cash fares, booking further in advance can often yield lower point redemption rates.
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Demand: Flights with higher demand will typically cost more points.
The general rule of thumb is that Southwest Rapid Rewards points are typically worth about 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point. So, if a flight costs $130, you'd generally need around 10,000 points. However, this is an average, and you can often find better or slightly worse redemption values depending on the specific flight.
Now, let's get to the step-by-step guide on how to make those free flights a reality!
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| How Many Points Does It Take For A Free Flight On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Already a Rapid Rewards Member? If not, let's get you signed up right away!
This is the absolute first and most crucial step. You can't earn or redeem points without an account!
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Action: Head over to the Southwest Airlines website (Southwest.com) and click on the "Rapid Rewards" section. You'll find an option to "Enroll" or "Create an Account." It's quick, easy, and free to join.
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Why it matters: Your Rapid Rewards account is where all your hard-earned points will accumulate. Think of it as your personal flight savings bank!
Step 2: Strategizing Your Point Accumulation: The Many Paths to Free Flights
Once you're a member, it's time to become a point-earning maestro. There are numerous ways to rack up Rapid Rewards points.
Sub-heading 2.1: Flying with Southwest Airlines
Tip: Make mental notes as you go.
This is the most direct way to earn points. The number of points you earn depends on the fare type and your Rapid Rewards tier status.
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Fare Class Earning Rates (per dollar spent on base airfare):
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Basic (for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025) / Wanna Get Away (before May 28, 2025): 2 points per dollar
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Wanna Get Away Plus: 6 points per dollar
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Anytime: 10 points per dollar
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Business Select: 14 points per dollar
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Tier Status Bonuses:
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A-List Members: Get a 25% earning bonus on every qualifying flight.
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A-List Preferred Members: Enjoy a 100% earning bonus on every qualifying flight, effectively doubling your points!
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Sub-heading 2.2: Unlocking the Power of Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
This is often the fastest and most lucrative way to earn a significant chunk of points, especially through welcome bonuses. Southwest offers several co-branded credit cards issued by Chase.
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Welcome Bonuses: These cards typically offer a large bonus of Rapid Rewards points after you meet a certain spending requirement within the first few months of opening the account. These bonuses can range from 50,000 to 80,000 points or more, often enough for multiple "free" flights!
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Everyday Spending: Beyond the welcome bonus, these cards earn points on your daily purchases, with bonus categories for Southwest purchases, hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and more.
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Annual Anniversary Points: Many Southwest credit cards offer a bonus of points (e.g., 3,000, 6,000, or 7,500 points) each year on your cardmember anniversary. These add up over time!
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Companion Pass Qualifying Points: Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome offers and spending count towards the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which we'll discuss later.
Sub-heading 2.3: Leveraging Rapid Rewards Partners for Extra Points
Southwest has a wide network of partners where you can earn points on purchases you might already be making.
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Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: This is an online shopping mall where you can earn bonus points per dollar spent at hundreds of popular retailers. Always check this portal before making an online purchase!
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Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards to this program and earn points automatically when you dine at participating restaurants. Bonus points are often available for new members or for submitting reviews.
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Hotel & Car Rental Partners: Book your hotel stays and car rentals through Southwest's partners to earn additional Rapid Rewards points.
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Surveys & Subscriptions: Companies like e-Rewards and Rewards for Opinions allow you to earn points for completing surveys. You can also earn points for subscribing to certain publications or services.
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Other Lifestyle Partners: Southwest partners with various companies for home services, energy, and more. Keep an eye out for these opportunities!
Step 3: Calculating Your Point Needs: The Dynamic Redemption
Since Southwest doesn't have a fixed award chart, the best way to determine how many points you need for a specific flight is to search for it directly on their website or app.
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Action:
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or the Southwest mobile app.
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When searching for flights, make sure you select the option to "Show fares in points" instead of dollars.
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Enter your desired origin, destination, and travel dates.
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The search results will display the number of points required for each available flight and fare type.
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Pro Tip: Be flexible with your dates if possible. Shifting your travel by a day or two can sometimes significantly reduce the number of points needed. Weekends and holidays generally require more points.
Step 4: Redeeming Your Points for a Free Flight: The Grand Finale!
Once you have enough points for your desired flight, redemption is straightforward.
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Action:
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After finding your desired flight in points (as described in Step 3), simply select it.
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Proceed through the booking process, and at checkout, select to pay with your Rapid Rewards points.
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You'll still be responsible for the mandatory government taxes and fees, which are typically $5.60 per one-way flight within the U.S. These cannot be paid with points.
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Confirm your booking, and voil�! You've just booked a "free" flight!
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QuickTip: Pause when something clicks.
Sub-heading 4.1: Consider Cash + Points if You're Short
Southwest also offers a "Cash + Points" option, allowing you to combine Rapid Rewards points with a cash payment for your flight. This can be useful if you're slightly short on points for a particular redemption but still want to save some money. Starting January 1, 2025, Cash + Points bookings will even earn Rapid Rewards points on the cash portion of the base fare.
Step 5: Supercharging Your Savings: The Southwest Companion Pass
This is the holy grail of Southwest travel and can effectively double the value of your Rapid Rewards points.
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What it is: The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (you just pay the taxes and fees, usually $5.60 one-way), on unlimited flights whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight.
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How to Qualify: To earn the Companion Pass, you need to either:
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Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
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Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year.
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Qualifying Points for Companion Pass: Points earned from revenue flights, Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card spending (including welcome bonuses!), and base points from Rapid Rewards partners all count towards the 135,000 qualifying points. Keep in mind that purchased points, transferred points, or points converted from hotel/car loyalty programs do not count towards Companion Pass qualification.
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Strategy for Earning: Many people achieve the Companion Pass by strategically opening one or two Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, taking advantage of their welcome bonuses, and then earning the remaining points through everyday spending or flying.
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Duration: Once earned, the Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year. Timing your earning correctly can give you almost two full years of this incredible benefit!
Step 6: Maintaining Your Rapid Rewards Status (A-List/A-List Preferred)
While not directly tied to the number of points for a free flight, achieving A-List or A-List Preferred status can enhance your overall Southwest experience and help you earn points faster for future free flights.
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A-List Status: Qualify by flying 20 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year. Benefits include priority boarding, a 25% earning bonus on flights, and same-day standby.
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A-List Preferred Status: Qualify by flying 40 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year. You get all A-List benefits, plus a 100% earning bonus on flights, free in-flight Wi-Fi, and up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight.
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Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs): You earn TQPs from revenue flights and by using eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (e.g., 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent).
By understanding these steps and actively participating in the Rapid Rewards program, those "free" flights on Southwest Airlines will become a regular part of your travel adventures!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to calculate the value of my Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
To calculate the approximate value, divide the cash price of a flight by the number of points required for the same flight. For example, if a $130 flight costs 10,000 points, your points are worth $130 / 10,000 points = $0.013, or 1.3 cents per point.
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly?
The fastest ways are through Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card welcome bonuses, followed by everyday spending on those cards, and utilizing the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal for online purchases.
How to find the cheapest flights using Southwest points?
Log into your Rapid Rewards account, select "Show fares in points" when searching, and be flexible with your travel dates and times. Look for "Wanna Get Away" or "Basic" fares, and consider traveling during off-peak seasons or days of the week.
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass?
You need to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Credit card welcome bonuses and spending are often the easiest way to reach the point threshold.
How to use Southwest points for things other than flights?
While flights offer the best value, you can also redeem Rapid Rewards points for merchandise, gift cards, hotel stays, rental cars, and even unique "Rapid Rewards Access Events" for Cardmembers.
How to transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member?
QuickTip: Slow down if the pace feels too fast.
You can transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member online through your account, typically for a fee (e.g., $10 for every 1,000 points transferred).
How to avoid losing my Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your account remains open and active.
How to use a combination of cash and points for a flight?
Log into your Rapid Rewards account, search for flights, and at the payment screen, you'll see an option to select "Cash + Points" to pay for your booking with a mix of both.
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards point balance?
You can easily check your point balance by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or through the Southwest mobile app.
How to earn points from hotel stays and car rentals for Southwest?
Book your hotel or car rental through Southwest's official partners, ensuring your Rapid Rewards number is linked to your booking to earn points.
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