So, you're eyeing that dream vacation or just need a few extra points to snag a cheaper flight on Southwest Airlines, and you're wondering, “How much do points cost on Southwest Airlines?” You're in the right place! While Southwest Rapid Rewards points are incredibly valuable for their flexibility and lack of blackout dates, understanding their "cost" isn't as straightforward as a fixed price tag. It involves understanding their value when redeemed and the various ways you can acquire them.
Let's dive deep into the world of Southwest Rapid Rewards points!
Understanding Southwest Rapid Rewards Points: Value vs. Cost
Before we talk about buying points, it's crucial to grasp the difference between their cost (what you pay to acquire them) and their value (what they're worth when you redeem them for flights).
Southwest uses a revenue-based redemption system, meaning the number of points required for a flight is directly tied to the cash price of that flight. Generally, you can expect Southwest Rapid Rewards points to yield a value of around 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point when redeemed for flights. However, this can fluctuate, with some redemptions offering as little as 1.1 cents per point and others as high as 1.9 cents per point, especially during fare sales or for close-in bookings.
When you purchase points, the cost per point is almost always higher than this average redemption value. This means that buying points outright is generally not the most economical way to acquire them unless you have a very specific need or there's a significant promotion.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Acquire Southwest Rapid Rewards Points (and their associated costs)
Let's break down the different ways you can get your hands on Southwest Rapid Rewards points and what each method might "cost" you.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Point Needs (and why it matters!)
Before you even think about buying points, ask yourself: Are you just a few points shy of a redemption, or are you looking to accumulate a large sum? Your answer will heavily influence the best strategy.
Topping Off for a Specific Redemption: If you're just a few thousand points short of a flight you want to book immediately, purchasing a small amount might be a viable, albeit not ideal, solution.
Building a Large Balance: If you need a significant number of points, buying them is almost always a poor financial decision compared to other earning methods.
Step 2: Explore the Most Cost-Effective Ways to Earn Points
This is where you'll find the best "value" for your point acquisition.
Sub-heading: Credit Card Welcome Bonuses
Cost: Annual fees (if any) and responsible spending.
Value: This is by far the most lucrative way to earn a large sum of Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Southwest offers several co-branded credit cards through Chase, often with generous welcome bonuses that can range from 50,000 to 80,000+ points after meeting a minimum spending requirement.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Generally has a lower annual fee and a solid welcome bonus.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Higher annual fee but comes with additional perks like anniversary points and tier qualifying points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: The top-tier consumer card, offering even more benefits and a potentially higher annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Business Credit Cards: Options for small business owners with significant earning potential.
Example: If a card offers 50,000 points after spending $2,000 in three months, and you can comfortably meet that spend on your regular purchases, you're essentially getting 50,000 points for the cost of your everyday spending (and perhaps an annual fee).
Sub-heading: Everyday Spending with Southwest Credit Cards
Cost: The cost of your regular purchases.
Value: Consistent point accumulation.
Southwest Purchases: Earn 2x or 3x points per dollar spent directly with Southwest Airlines (depending on the card).
Select Category Spending: Many cards offer bonus points on categories like local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming (often 2x points).
All Other Purchases: Typically earn 1 point per dollar.
Tip: Always use your Southwest co-branded credit card for Southwest flights and related purchases to maximize your earnings.
Sub-heading: Transferring Points from Chase Ultimate Rewards
Cost: Opportunity cost of using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for other redemptions (e.g., other travel partners, cash back).
Value: Excellent value! If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® card, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. This is a highly flexible and valuable option, as Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most versatile transferable currencies.
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal
Cost: The cost of your online purchases.
Value: Earn bonus points for online shopping. Southwest's Rapid Rewards Shopping portal allows you to earn extra points by clicking through their portal before making purchases at hundreds of online retailers. The earning rates vary, but you can often find promotions offering several points per dollar spent.
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Dining Program
Cost: The cost of your dining expenses.
Value: Earn points for eating out. Enroll your credit cards in the Rapid Rewards Dining program and earn points automatically when you dine at participating restaurants.
Sub-heading: Hotel and Car Rental Partners
Cost: The cost of your hotel stays or car rentals.
Value: Earn points on travel outside of flights. Southwest partners with various hotel chains and car rental companies, allowing you to earn Rapid Rewards points for your bookings.
Step 3: Understanding the Direct Purchase of Southwest Points
This is where you'll see the direct "cost" of points, and it's often not pretty.
Sub-heading: Standard Purchase Rate
Cost: Southwest typically sells points at a rate of around 2.75 to 3 cents per point when there are no promotions running.
Points are usually offered in increments of 500 or 1,000.
There's a daily maximum you can purchase (often 60,000 points).
Purchased points do not count towards A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass status.
Example: If points cost 3 cents each, buying 10,000 points would cost you $300. If you redeem those 10,000 points at an average value of 1.3 cents, they're only "worth" $130. This highlights why direct purchase at standard rates is generally a poor value proposition.
Sub-heading: Promotional Purchase Rates (The "When It Might Make Sense" Scenario)
Cost: Varies, but can be as low as 1.5 cents per point during a good promotion.
Value: Still often slightly less than the average redemption value, but can be worthwhile for specific scenarios.
Southwest frequently runs promotions where you can buy points with a discount (e.g., 40% or 50% off) or a bonus (e.g., buy X points, get Y bonus points). These promotions can bring the cost down to around 1.5 cents per point.
When it might make sense to buy points during a promotion:
Topping off an account: If you're a small number of points short for a high-value redemption that you need to book immediately, and the promotional price brings the cost close to or below the value you'd get, it could be worth it.
Impending travel: If you need to book a flight very soon and don't have enough points, and a promotion is running, it might be your only option.
No other earning methods available: If you've exhausted all other ways to earn points quickly.
Important Consideration: Even with a 50% discount, paying 1.5 cents per point when the average redemption value is 1.3-1.4 cents means you're often paying more for the points than they are worth in a typical redemption. Additionally, when you buy points, you don't earn points on the purchase itself (unless using a credit card that gives bonus points on travel purchases, but even then, it's usually not enough to offset the poor value).
Step 4: The Actual Purchase Process
If you decide to buy points, here's how to do it.
Log in to your Rapid Rewards Account: Go to Southwest.com and log in to your Rapid Rewards account.
Navigate to "Buy or Transfer Points": Usually found under the "Rapid Rewards" tab or "Manage" section.
Select "Buy Points": Choose the option to purchase points for your own account or to gift them to another member.
Choose the Number of Points: Select the increment of points you wish to buy from the dropdown menu. Be aware of the minimum and maximum purchase amounts.
Enter Payment Information: Provide your credit card details. A credit card is required for all points purchases.
Review and Confirm: Double-check the total cost and the number of points you're purchasing before finalizing the transaction.
Allow Processing Time: While often instant, Southwest states that it can take up to 72 hours for purchased points to post to your account. Plan accordingly if you need them for an immediate redemption.
The Bottom Line on Buying Southwest Points
Generally, buying Southwest Rapid Rewards points outright is not a recommended strategy for accumulating points due to the high cost per point compared to their typical redemption value.
Prioritize these methods for earning Southwest points:
Southwest co-branded credit card welcome bonuses: This is your best bet for a large influx of points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers: A fantastic option if you already earn Ultimate Rewards points.
Everyday spending on Southwest credit cards.
Utilizing Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining portals.
Only consider purchasing points if you are a small number of points short for a specific, high-value redemption and there's a significant promotional discount available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to calculate the value of Southwest points?
You can estimate the value by dividing the cash price of a flight (minus taxes and fees) by the number of points required for the same flight. For example, if a flight costs $130 (excluding taxes) or 10,000 points, the value is $130 / 10,000 points = 1.3 cents per point.
How to get the most value out of Southwest points?
Aim for redemptions where the cash price is relatively high for the number of points required. Look for fare sales, book close to departure (sometimes), and consider routes where Southwest offers competitive pricing.
How to earn Southwest points quickly?
The fastest way to earn a large number of Southwest points is through the welcome bonuses of Southwest co-branded credit cards. Transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards is another very quick method if you have those points.
How to know if buying Southwest points is a good deal?
Compare the promotional cost per point (e.g., 1.5 cents) to the average redemption value you typically get (e.g., 1.3-1.4 cents). If the purchase price is higher than your expected redemption value, it's generally not a good deal.
How to transfer points to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, log in to your Chase account, go to the Ultimate Rewards portal, select "Transfer to Travel Partners," and choose Southwest Airlines. Transfers are typically 1:1 and often instant.
How to use Cash + Points on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest offers a "Cash + Points" option which allows you to combine Rapid Rewards points with other eligible forms of payment (like cash) to purchase flights. Look for this option during the booking process on Southwest.com.
How to avoid Southwest points expiration?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This is a significant benefit of the program!
How to get Companion Pass with Southwest?
The Southwest Companion Pass allows a designated person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees) on both paid and award flights. You earn it by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in one calendar year. Credit card welcome bonuses and spending are key ways to earn these qualifying points.
How to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for A-List status?
You can earn A-List status by flying 20 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year. Eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards can also earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent.
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards points balance?
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your current points balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
