Hello there, aspiring traveler! Ever wondered how to unlock the magic of "free" flights with Southwest Airlines? It all comes down to understanding their Rapid Rewards program, specifically how many points you earn per dollar spent. It's a bit like a treasure hunt, and I'm here to be your guide! Let's dive in and demystify the world of Southwest Rapid Rewards points!
Understanding Southwest Rapid Rewards: Your Path to Free Flights
Southwest Airlines operates on a revenue-based loyalty program called Rapid Rewards. This means the number of points you earn on flights is directly tied to the price of your ticket and the type of fare you purchase. It's not about how many miles you fly, but how much you spend. But earning points isn't just about flying; there are many other avenues to build up that valuable points balance!
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| How Many Points Per Dollar On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Discovering Points Earning on Southwest Flights
This is often the most straightforward way to earn points, and it's where the "points per dollar" concept really comes into play. The earning rate varies significantly depending on the fare class you choose.
The Fare Class Factor: How Your Ticket Type Influences Points
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Business Select®: This is Southwest's most flexible (and typically most expensive) fare. You'll earn a generous 12 points per dollar. This is ideal for business travelers or those who need maximum flexibility.
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Anytime: A step down from Business Select, Anytime fares offer good flexibility. With these fares, you'll earn 10 points per dollar.
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Wanna Get Away Plus®: This is a newer fare class that offers more flexibility than the standard Wanna Get Away fare. You'll earn 6 points per dollar.
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Wanna Get Away® (Basic): This is Southwest's lowest-cost fare. It's the most restrictive but also the most budget-friendly. You'll earn 2 points per dollar.
Remember: These points are earned on the base fare of your ticket, excluding taxes and fees. So, if your ticket is $100 base fare and $20 in taxes, you'll earn points on the $100.
Step 2: Unlocking More Points with Southwest Credit Cards
This is arguably the fastest and most lucrative way to rack up Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Chase offers a suite of Southwest co-branded credit cards, each with its own earning structure and perks.
Personal Southwest Credit Cards:
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases made directly with the airline.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, passenger trains, buses, taxis, tolls, and parking lots and garages.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming.
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Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
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Bonus: 3,000 anniversary points each year.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card:
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Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, passenger trains, buses, taxis, tolls, and parking lots and garages.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming.
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Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
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Bonus: 6,000 anniversary points each year.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card:
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Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, passenger trains, buses, taxis, tolls, and parking lots and garages.
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Earn 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming.
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Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
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Bonus: 7,500 anniversary points each year, plus a $75 Southwest annual travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings per year.
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Tip: Highlight sentences that answer your questions.
Business Southwest Credit Cards:
Southwest also offers business credit cards that provide excellent earning opportunities for small business owners.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card:
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Earn 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
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Earn 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
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Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
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Bonus: Anniversary points and other benefits.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card:
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Earn 4 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
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Earn 3 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
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Earn 2 points per $1 on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
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Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
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Bonus: 9,000 anniversary points, annual Wi-Fi credits, and other premium benefits.
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Pro-Tip: These cards often come with generous sign-up bonuses after meeting a minimum spending requirement. These bonuses alone can give your Rapid Rewards balance a significant boost!
Step 3: Diversifying Your Earnings with Southwest Partners
Southwest has a robust network of partners where you can earn Rapid Rewards points on everyday activities, from dining out to booking hotels.
Hotel Partners: Sleep Your Way to Points
Southwest partners with several major hotel chains, allowing you to earn points on your stays. The earning rates vary by partner, but generally, you'll earn points per stay or per dollar spent. Some popular partners include:
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Marriott Bonvoy™: You can choose to earn Rapid Rewards points on your Marriott stays.
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Choice Hotels®: Exchange Choice Privileges® points for Rapid Rewards points.
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Best Western®: Earn Rapid Rewards points for qualifying stays when you set your earning preference to Southwest.
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Hyatt®: Earn points per qualifying stay and transfer World of Hyatt points to Rapid Rewards.
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MGM Resorts®: Earn points for qualifying stays at participating MGM Resorts destinations.
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Radisson Hotels: Convert Radisson Rewards points to Rapid Rewards points or earn points for stays.
Car Rental Partners: Drive Towards Your Next Flight
Renting a car? You can often earn Rapid Rewards points with Southwest's car rental partners. Typically, you'll earn a fixed number of points per qualifying rental. Partners include:
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Alamo®
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Avis®
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Budget®
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Hertz®
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National Car Rental®
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Thrifty®
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Shop Online, Earn Points
This is a fantastic way to earn points on purchases you'd already be making!
Tip: Revisit challenging parts.
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How it works: Visit the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, log in with your Rapid Rewards account, and then click through to your favorite online retailers. When you make a purchase, you'll earn a certain number of points per dollar spent at that retailer. The earning rates vary widely (e.g., 1 point per $1, 5 points per $1, or even more during promotions).
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Maximizing Earnings: Always check the portal before making an online purchase. Look out for bonus point offers or increased earning rates during special promotions.
Rapid Rewards Dining Program: Eat Your Way to Rewards
Love to dine out? Southwest's Rapid Rewards Dining program lets you earn points simply by eating at participating restaurants.
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How it works: Sign up for free and link your credit cards. When you use a linked card at a participating restaurant, you'll automatically earn points.
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Earning Rates: Generally, you'll earn 3 points per dollar spent if you're opted into email communications. If you opt out, the rate drops to 1 point per $2 spent.
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Bonus Points: Keep an eye out for new member bonuses, first-dine bonuses, and bonus points for submitting reviews.
Step 4: Exploring Other Earning Opportunities
Southwest continuously adds new partners and promotions, so it's always worth checking their Rapid Rewards partners page. Some other ways to earn points include:
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Home & Energy Partners: In select areas, you can earn points by switching energy providers.
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Specialty Partners: This can include everything from flower delivery services (like 1-800-Flowers.com) to wine clubs, where you can earn a fixed number of points or points per dollar.
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Surveys: Participate in surveys through partners like e-Rewards or Valued Opinions to earn points.
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Buying Points: If you're just a few points shy of a redemption, you can purchase points directly from Southwest, though this is generally not the most cost-effective option.
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Transferring Points from Chase Ultimate Rewards: If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Freedom Flex/Unlimited (when paired with a Sapphire card), you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. This is a powerful strategy, especially if you hold the Southwest Companion Pass!
Step 5: Understanding Elite Status and Companion Pass
While not directly about "points per dollar," these programs significantly enhance your points earning potential and the value you get from your points.
Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred:
Achieving elite status with Southwest grants you valuable benefits and a points earning bonus:
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A-List Status: Earned by flying 25 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year. A-List members receive a 25% points earning bonus on qualifying flights.
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A-List Preferred Status: Earned by flying 40 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 TQPs in a calendar year. A-List Preferred members receive a 100% points earning bonus on qualifying flights, essentially doubling the base points you'd earn.
Companion Pass: The Ultimate Travel Perk
This is arguably the most valuable perk in the airline loyalty world.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
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How to Earn: Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights. Points earned from revenue flights, Southwest credit card spending (including sign-up bonuses), and base points from Rapid Rewards partners count towards the Companion Pass.
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The Benefit: Once earned, a designated Companion can fly with you for free (just pay taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight you take, for the remainder of the year you earn it and the entire following calendar year. This effectively doubles the value of every point you earn!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to calculate how many points I will earn on a specific Southwest flight?
To calculate points on a flight, multiply the base fare (excluding taxes/fees) by the points per dollar rate for your fare class (Business Select 12x, Anytime 10x, Wanna Get Away Plus 6x, Wanna Get Away/Basic 2x). If you have A-List (25% bonus) or A-List Preferred (100% bonus) status, apply that bonus to the calculated points.
How to earn Southwest points without flying?
You can earn Southwest points without flying by using Southwest co-branded credit cards, shopping through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, dining with Rapid Rewards Dining, booking hotels or car rentals with Southwest partners, and transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
How to quickly earn enough points for the Southwest Companion Pass?
The fastest way to earn the Companion Pass is often by applying for and earning the sign-up bonuses on two Southwest credit cards (one personal and one business, if eligible), and supplementing with spending on those cards or through Rapid Rewards partners.
How to maximize points earned through Southwest credit cards?
Maximize points by using your Southwest credit card for purchases in bonus categories (Southwest flights, certain transit, internet/cable/phone, select streaming, hotel/car rental partners depending on the card) and by meeting the spending requirements for sign-up bonuses.
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
How to transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest?
Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, navigate to the "Transfer to Travel Partners" section, select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, and then enter the desired number of points to transfer (in 1,000-point increments). Transfers are typically instant and at a 1:1 ratio.
How to find participating restaurants for Rapid Rewards Dining?
Visit the Rapid Rewards Dining website (rapidrewardsdining.com) and enter your location to find a list of participating restaurants, bars, and clubs in your area or travel destination.
How to ensure I earn points when shopping through Rapid Rewards Shopping?
Always start your online shopping journey at rapidrewardsshopping.southwest.com. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account, search for the retailer, and click the provided link to be redirected to the merchant's website before making your purchase.
How to know if my Southwest Rapid Rewards points will expire?
Good news! Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your Rapid Rewards account remains open and in good standing.
How to get a bonus for signing up for a Southwest credit card?
To get a bonus, you typically need to apply for a Southwest co-branded credit card and meet a specific spending requirement within a certain timeframe (e.g., spend $1,000 in the first three months). The bonus points are then awarded to your Rapid Rewards account.
How to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for A-List status?
TQPs can be earned by flying on revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines or by spending on eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (you'll typically earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 in purchases annually, though this can vary by card).
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