Ever wondered if those Southwest Rapid Rewards points gathering dust in your account are actually worth something significant? Or perhaps you're just starting your journey into the world of travel hacking and Southwest is on your radar. Well, you've come to the right place! Understanding the true value of your points is the first crucial step in maximizing your travel savings. Let's dive deep into how much Southwest Airlines points are really worth and how you can make the most of them.
Step 1: Discovering the Core Value of Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
So, you've got Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Fantastic! But what does that really mean in terms of dollars and cents?
The Dynamic Pricing Model
Unlike some other airline loyalty programs that have fixed redemption charts, Southwest uses a dynamic pricing model. This means the number of points required for a flight is directly tied to the cash price of that flight. If the cash fare goes up, so do the points needed. If it goes down, your points become more valuable for that specific flight.
What's the Average Value?
Based on recent analyses (as of July 2025), Southwest Rapid Rewards points generally hold a value of around 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point. This is a solid valuation in the airline loyalty landscape, often outperforming programs like Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.
Example: If a point is worth 1.3 cents, then 10,000 Southwest points would be worth approximately $130 (10,000 points * $0.013/point).
Another Example: 50,000 points could translate to around $650 in flight value.
It's important to remember that this is an average. You might find "sweet spots" where your points yield a higher value, especially with:
Close-in bookings: Flights booked closer to departure sometimes offer better point redemption values.
Fare sales: During promotions, you might see a significant point discount on certain routes.
Step 2: Earning Your Way to Free Flights
Now that you know the value, how do you accumulate these valuable points? Southwest makes it relatively straightforward with a variety of earning opportunities.
Sub-heading: Flying with Southwest
This is the most direct way to earn points. The number of points you earn per dollar spent on flights depends on the fare type you choose and your Rapid Rewards tier status.
Basic (Wanna Get Away): Generally, 6 points per dollar. (Note: As of May 28, 2025, Basic fares will incur bag fees for the second checked bag.)
Wanna Get Away Plus: Typically earns 8 points per dollar.
Anytime: You'll usually earn 10 points per dollar.
Business Select: This premium fare earns the most, often at 12 points per dollar.
For example: A $200 Business Select fare could earn you 2,400 points (200 * 12).
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Credit Cards (The Fastest Way!)
This is often the quickest path to a substantial point balance. Southwest partners with Chase for co-branded credit cards. These cards offer:
Generous Sign-up Bonuses: These can range from 50,000 to 100,000+ points after meeting initial spending requirements, providing a massive jumpstart to your points balance.
Category Bonuses: Earn extra points on Southwest purchases, and often on everyday spending like local transit, rideshares, internet, cable, and phone services.
Anniversary Bonuses: Many cards offer a chunk of points each year you renew, further boosting your balance.
Companion Pass Qualifying Points: Points earned from credit card spending often count towards the coveted Companion Pass (more on this later!).
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Partners
Southwest has a wide network of partners where you can earn points for your everyday activities.
Hotel Stays: Book hotels through Southwest's hotel partners or transfer points from hotel loyalty programs (like Marriott Bonvoy, though the transfer ratio might not always be optimal).
Car Rentals: Earn points when you rent cars through eligible partners.
Rapid Rewards Shopping: Shop online through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal and earn bonus points per dollar spent at hundreds of retailers.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards and earn points by dining at participating restaurants.
Other Partners: Look out for various other partners in categories like home, lifestyle, and specialty services.
Sub-heading: Buying, Gifting, or Transferring Points
While generally not the best value, you do have the option to:
Purchase points: Useful if you're just short of a redemption.
Gift points: Share points with another Rapid Rewards Member.
Transfer points: Transfer points to another Rapid Rewards Member (fees often apply).
Step 3: Redeeming Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
You've earned those points, now it's time for the fun part: using them!
Sub-heading: Redeeming for Flights (The Best Value!)
This is almost always where you'll get the most bang for your buck.
Log In: Go to Southwest.com and log into your Rapid Rewards account.
Search for Flights: On the flight search bar, select "Points" instead of "Dollars."
Browse and Select: You'll see the point cost for various flights. Since it's dynamic, play around with dates and times to find the best point values.
Book Your Flight: Once you find a flight that works for you, proceed with the booking. You'll still need to pay for the government taxes and fees (typically $5.60 each way for domestic flights).
Sub-heading: Cash + Points Bookings
Southwest offers a "Cash + Points" option, allowing you to combine points and a cash payment for a flight. This can be useful if you don't have enough points for the entire fare. Note: You'll only earn points on the cash portion of the base fare.
Sub-heading: Other Redemption Options (Use with Caution)
While available, these typically offer a lower redemption value compared to flights:
Hotels: Redeem points for hotel stays.
Car Rentals: Use points for car rentals.
Gift Cards & Merchandise: Exchange points for gift cards or merchandise.
Generally, you'll get significantly less than 1.3-1.4 cents per point for these options, so it's advised to stick to flight redemptions if possible.
Step 4: Maximizing Your Point Value and Understanding Key Program Features
To truly get the most out of your Southwest Rapid Rewards points, it's essential to understand a few key aspects of the program.
Sub-heading: The Legendary Companion Pass
This is arguably the best value proposition in the entire airline loyalty world. The Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) on any Southwest flight you book, whether it's a paid fare or a points redemption.
How to Qualify:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year.
Key Insight: Points earned from Southwest co-branded credit card sign-up bonuses and spending count towards the 135,000 qualifying points, making credit cards the easiest way to earn the Companion Pass. Many cardmembers also receive a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each calendar year.
Benefit Duration: Once earned, the Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the entire following calendar year. This means strategic timing of earning can give you almost two full years of Companion Pass benefits!
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Tier Status (A-List and A-List Preferred)
While not directly about point value, tier status enhances your overall Southwest experience and can indirectly make your points more valuable by improving your travel experience.
A-List: Earned by flying 20 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year. Benefits include:
Priority boarding (A1-A15)
25% earning bonus on flights
Same-day standby
Priority Lane and Express Lane access
A-List Preferred: Earned by flying 40 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 TQPs in a calendar year. Benefits include:
All A-List benefits
100% earning bonus on flights (doubles your points!)
Free in-flight WiFi
TQPs can be earned from revenue flights and from spending on eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent).
Sub-heading: Do Southwest Points Expire?
This is excellent news for point hoarders! Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This means you don't have to worry about losing your hard-earned points due to inactivity.
Step 5: Strategies for Maximizing Your Southwest Points
Now that you're well-versed in the mechanics, let's talk strategy!
Sub-heading: The Credit Card Bonus Play
Timing is Everything for Companion Pass: If you're aiming for the Companion Pass, consider applying for a Southwest credit card late in the year (e.g., October-December). If you meet the spending for the bonus early the following year, the points count towards that new calendar year's qualification, giving you almost two full years of Companion Pass.
Diversify Your Credit Card Strategy: While Southwest cards are great, consider also having a Chase Ultimate Rewards card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve). You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, providing flexibility and another avenue to boost your Rapid Rewards balance, especially if you need a specific number of points for a flight or to reach Companion Pass.
Sub-heading: Be Flexible with Travel Dates
Because of dynamic pricing, being flexible with your travel dates and times can significantly reduce the number of points required for a flight. Use Southwest's Low Fare Calendar feature to spot the cheapest point redemptions.
Sub-heading: Watch for Fare Sales
Southwest frequently runs fare sales. When these happen, the cash price drops, and so does the point price. This is an ideal time to book or rebook flights, as you can often get an even higher value per point. If you've already booked a flight and the price drops, you can rebook and get the difference back in points (if you paid with points) or a flight credit (if you paid with cash).
Sub-heading: Only Redeem for Flights (Mostly!)
As reiterated, redeeming points for flights offers the best value. Resist the temptation to use them for hotels, car rentals, or merchandise unless you have an excess of points and no immediate flight plans.
Conclusion
Understanding "how much are points on Southwest Airlines" is more than just a number; it's about unlocking a world of affordable travel. With an average value of 1.3-1.4 cents per point, a dynamic pricing model that rewards savvy searching, and the unparalleled benefit of the Companion Pass, Southwest Rapid Rewards stands out as a highly rewarding loyalty program. By strategically earning points, especially through co-branded credit cards, and being smart about your redemptions, you can transform your travel dreams into reality with Southwest.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to Calculate the Dollar Value of My Southwest Points?
To calculate the approximate dollar value of your Southwest points, simply multiply the number of points you have by the average value per point (e.g., 0.013 for 1.3 cents). For example, 10,000 points * $0.013 = $130.
How to Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Quickly?
The fastest way to earn a large sum of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is by signing up for a Southwest co-branded credit card and earning its welcome bonus. Strategic spending on these cards and through Rapid Rewards partners also helps.
How to Redeem Southwest Points for the Best Value?
The best way to redeem Southwest points for the highest value is almost always for Southwest flights. Look for flights during fare sales or consider being flexible with your travel dates to find lower point redemption options.
How to Get the Southwest Companion Pass?
To get the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to either fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points within a single calendar year. Earning points through Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses and spending is generally the easiest route.
How to Prevent Southwest Points from Expiring?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire, so you don't need to worry about activity to keep them active.
How to Use Cash + Points on Southwest Airlines?
When booking a flight on Southwest.com, select the "Cash + Points" option on the payment screen. You can then choose to combine a portion of your points with a cash payment.
How to Determine How Many Points a Flight Will Cost?
The number of points a flight will cost is directly tied to its cash price due to Southwest's dynamic pricing. You can search for flights on Southwest.com and toggle to the "Points" view to see the exact cost in points for your desired itinerary.
How to Transfer Southwest Points to Another Person?
You can transfer Southwest points to another Rapid Rewards Member through the Southwest website, though a fee typically applies for point transfers.
How to Earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for A-List Status?
You can earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) by flying on revenue flights with Southwest or by spending on eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (you'll earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent).
How to Use Southwest Points for International Flights?
You can use Southwest Rapid Rewards points to book international flights operated by Southwest Airlines to their eligible international destinations (primarily in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean) in the same way you would book a domestic flight with points on Southwest.com.
