Do you have a stack of Chase Ultimate Rewards points just waiting to be unleashed for an incredible travel adventure? And is Southwest Airlines on your radar for its friendly service, free checked bags, and no change fees? Then you've come to the right place! Transferring your Chase points to Southwest Rapid Rewards is a fantastic way to unlock some serious travel value.
Let's dive in and transform those points into flights!
The Ultimate Guide: How to Transfer Chase Points to Southwest Airlines
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards is a popular and often rewarding strategy for maximizing your travel. It's a fairly straightforward process, but knowing the steps ensures a smooth experience.
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| How To Transfer Chase Points To Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are Your Chase Points Transferable? Let's Find Out!
Before we go any further, the first thing we need to confirm is that your Chase credit card earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points. Not all Chase cards do!
Do you have one of these cards?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you answered yes to any of the above, then congratulations! Your points are ready to be transferred to Southwest and other valuable travel partners. These cards allow you to transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 Chase points become 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
What if you have a Chase Freedom® or Chase Freedom Flex℠ card? While these cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, they are typically cashback-focused and don't directly allow transfers to travel partners. However, there's a neat trick! If you also hold a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred card, you can combine the points from your Freedom card with your transferable points account. This effectively makes your Freedom points transferable too! It's like having a secret superpower for your points.
Step 2: Set Up Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account
If you don't already have one, your next crucial step is to create a Southwest Rapid Rewards account. This is the loyalty program where your transferred Chase points will land. It's completely free and only takes a few minutes.
How to create your Rapid Rewards account:
Visit the Southwest Airlines website: Go to Southwest.com.
Look for "Rapid Rewards": You'll usually find a prominent link or section for their loyalty program.
Click "Enroll" or "Sign Up": Follow the prompts to enter your personal information, including your name, address, phone number, and email. Make sure this information matches the details on your Chase account to avoid any transfer hiccups.
Create your login credentials: Choose a username and a strong password.
Confirm your account: You might receive an email to verify your address.
Note your Rapid Rewards number: Once your account is created, you'll be assigned a unique Rapid Rewards account number. Keep this handy, as you'll need it for the transfer.
Pro Tip: Even if you don't plan on getting a Southwest credit card, joining Rapid Rewards is essential for point transfers.
Reminder: Save this article to read offline later.
Step 3: Navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal
Now for the main event! It's time to access your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
Log in to your Chase account: Go to Chase.com and log in with your username and password.
Find your Ultimate Rewards dashboard: Once logged in, look for a section related to "Ultimate Rewards" or "Rewards." This might be a direct link on your account summary page or under a "Travel" or "Rewards" tab.
Access the "Transfer points to partners" section: Within the Ultimate Rewards portal, you'll typically see a menu option for "Earn/Use" or "Travel." Under this, you'll find "Transfer to Travel Partners" or something similar. Click on it.
Step 4: Select Southwest Airlines as Your Transfer Partner
You'll now see a list of Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners.
Locate "Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards": Scroll through the list until you find Southwest.
Click "Transfer Points": Select Southwest to initiate the transfer process.
Step 5: Enter Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Number and Transfer Amount
This is where you tell Chase where and how many points to send.
Input your Rapid Rewards account number: Carefully enter the Southwest Rapid Rewards account number you obtained in Step 2. Double-check this number for accuracy! An incorrect number could delay or even lose your points.
Confirm the name on the account: Ensure the name on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account exactly matches the name on your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
Determine the number of points to transfer: You'll typically need to transfer points in increments of 1,000. Enter the desired amount.
Important Note: Transferring points is generally irreversible. So, be certain you want to transfer the specified amount before proceeding.
Step 6: Review and Confirm Your Transfer
You're almost there! Before the points take flight, you'll have a chance to review all the details.
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.
Verify all information: Check your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number and the number of points you're transferring one last time.
Read the terms and conditions: It's always a good idea to quickly review any terms and conditions related to the transfer.
Click "Submit" or "Confirm": Once you're confident everything is correct, hit the button to finalize the transfer.
Step 7: Wait for Your Points to Appear and Book Your Flight!
The transfer time from Chase to Southwest is generally very quick, often instantaneous or within a few hours. However, Chase states it can take up to 72 hours, so it's always wise to factor that in, especially if you're looking to book a time-sensitive flight.
Monitor your Southwest Rapid Rewards account: Log in to your Southwest account periodically to see when the points arrive.
Book your flight: Once the points are in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you can use them to book flights directly on Southwest.com or through their mobile app. When searching for flights, you'll have the option to view prices in points instead of dollars.
Key Benefit: Southwest has no blackout dates when redeeming points, and you can use them for any available seat on any flight. This provides incredible flexibility!
Maximizing Your Transfer Value
The Companion Pass: This is the holy grail of Southwest travel. If you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, a designated companion can fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on any flight you book, whether paid for with cash or points. This effectively doubles the value of your Rapid Rewards points! Earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year (which can include transferred Chase points, though dedicated Southwest credit card spend and welcome bonuses are often key) will get you this amazing perk.
Dynamic Pricing Awareness: Southwest's award pricing is tied to the cash price of the ticket. This means the value of your points can fluctuate. Generally, you'll get around 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point, but it can vary. Look for Wanna Get Away fares for the best point redemption values.
Transfer Bonuses: Keep an eye out for occasional transfer bonuses from Chase to Southwest. While not super frequent, these promotions can offer an extra percentage of points when you transfer, making your points go even further!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Chase Ultimate Rewards point balance?
You can easily check your Chase Ultimate Rewards point balance by logging into your Chase online banking account. The points balance is typically displayed prominently on your account summary page or within the "Ultimate Rewards" portal.
How to find my Southwest Rapid Rewards account number?
QuickTip: Let each idea sink in before moving on.
Your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number can be found by logging into your account on Southwest.com. It's usually displayed on your "My Account" or "Rapid Rewards Snapshot" page.
How to ensure a smooth point transfer from Chase to Southwest?
To ensure a smooth transfer, always double-check that the name on your Chase Ultimate Rewards account precisely matches the name on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, and verify the Rapid Rewards account number before confirming the transfer.
How to know if there are any transfer bonuses from Chase to Southwest?
Chase occasionally offers transfer bonuses to its travel partners, including Southwest. You'll typically see these promotions advertised within the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or via email from Chase. It's worth checking before you transfer a large sum of points.
How to use Southwest points once they are transferred?
Once your points are transferred to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you can use them to book flights directly on Southwest.com. Simply select the "Points" option when searching for flights instead of "Dollars" and choose your desired itinerary.
How to tell the value of my Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are generally valued at approximately 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point, but this can vary depending on the cash price of the ticket you're trying to book. Lower-priced "Wanna Get Away" fares usually offer a better cents-per-point value.
Tip: Read slowly to catch the finer details.
How to avoid transfer fees when moving Chase points to Southwest?
There are typically no fees charged by Chase for transferring Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards. This is one of the major benefits of using Chase's transfer partners.
How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass with transferred Chase points?
While transferred Chase points count towards the 135,000 qualifying points needed for the Southwest Companion Pass, it's important to note that points earned from a Southwest co-branded credit card's welcome bonus or spending are generally the easiest way to achieve this. Transferred points supplement your balance but often aren't the sole path.
How to cancel a flight booked with Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Southwest is known for its flexibility! You can cancel a flight booked with Rapid Rewards points without penalty. The points will be redeposited into your Rapid Rewards account, and any taxes and fees paid will be refunded.
How to get the most value out of my Chase points for Southwest travel?
The absolute best way to maximize the value of your Chase points for Southwest travel is to first qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass. This allows a companion to fly with you for free (plus taxes/fees) on every flight, essentially doubling the value of all your redeemed points.
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