Traveling is amazing, isn't it? The thrill of exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and creating unforgettable memories. And what makes it even better? When you can do it for less! If you've been collecting points from credit cards or hotel stays, you're sitting on a goldmine of potential free flights. Specifically, if you're looking to fly with Southwest Airlines, knowing how to transfer your hard-earned points can unlock incredible value.
Let's dive into the world of points transfers and get you closer to your next Southwest adventure!
How to Transfer Points to Southwest Airlines: A Comprehensive Guide
Transferring points to Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program is primarily done through specific credit card rewards programs and a few hotel loyalty programs. Southwest's Rapid Rewards program operates on a revenue-based system, meaning the value of your points is tied directly to the cash price of the ticket. This makes it a very straightforward and often rewarding program to use.
Step 1: Do You Have the Right Points? Identifying Transferable Currencies
Before you get excited about booking that dream vacation, the very first thing we need to confirm is whether your existing points can even be transferred to Southwest. Not all points are created equal!
Chase Ultimate Rewards: This is by far the most popular and advantageous way to transfer points to Southwest. If you hold a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Business Preferred), you're in luck! Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points become 1,000 Rapid Rewards points. This is an excellent redemption value.
Marriott Bonvoy Points: You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards. The standard transfer ratio is 3:1, meaning 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points equal 1,000 Rapid Rewards points. However, Marriott offers a bonus: for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll receive an additional 5,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points. So, transferring 60,000 Marriott points gets you 20,000 Rapid Rewards points plus 5,000 bonus points, totaling 25,000 Rapid Rewards points. While not as strong as Chase's 1:1, it can still be useful if you have a large Marriott Bonvoy balance.
Other Hotel Programs (Less Favorable Ratios): Some other hotel programs also allow transfers to Southwest, but the ratios are generally much less favorable and often not recommended unless you have no other option or a very specific need. These might include:
Choice Privileges: Typically 6,000 Choice points = 1,800 Rapid Rewards points (6:1.8 ratio).
Best Western Rewards: Typically 5,000 Best Western points = 1,200 Rapid Rewards points (5:1.2 ratio).
Radisson Rewards: Typically 10,000 Radisson points = 1,000 Rapid Rewards points (10:1 ratio).
World of Hyatt: While generally a highly valued program for hotel redemptions, their transfer ratio to airlines, including Southwest, is typically less appealing (e.g., 5,000 Hyatt points = 2,400 Southwest points).
Key takeaway: If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards, prioritize those for Southwest transfers due to the 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy can be decent, especially with the 5,000 bonus, but other hotel transfers are generally suboptimal.
Step 2: Ready to Fly? Setting Up Your Accounts
Before you can initiate any transfer, you need to ensure you have active accounts with both the points-issuing program (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy) and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards.
Sub-heading: Joining Southwest Rapid Rewards
If you haven't already, sign up for a free Southwest Rapid Rewards account. It's quick and easy:
Visit the official Southwest Airlines website.
Look for "Rapid Rewards" or "Enroll" and follow the prompts. You'll need to provide some basic personal information.
Once enrolled, you'll receive a Rapid Rewards account number. Keep this number handy, as you'll need it for the transfer process.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your Points Portal
Ensure you can log in to your credit card or hotel loyalty program's online portal where your points are managed. This is where you'll initiate the transfer.
Step 3: The Magic Moment! Initiating the Transfer
This is where your points transform into flight currency! The exact steps will vary slightly depending on the program you're transferring from.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards (Recommended!)
Log In to Your Chase Account: Go to the Chase website and log in with your credentials.
Navigate to Ultimate Rewards: Once logged in, find the "Ultimate Rewards" section, usually located near your credit card accounts. Click on it.
Find "Transfer to Travel Partners": Within the Ultimate Rewards portal, look for an option like "Transfer points to partners" or "Earn/Use." This is typically under a "Travel" or "Redeem" tab.
Select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: You'll see a list of airline and hotel transfer partners. Find "Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards" and select it.
Enter Transfer Details:
You'll be prompted to enter the Rapid Rewards account number of the person receiving the points. Crucially, the name on the Chase Ultimate Rewards account and the Southwest Rapid Rewards account must match exactly. If you're transferring points from your Chase account to someone else's Rapid Rewards account, Chase typically won't allow this directly. However, Chase allows you to combine Ultimate Rewards points with other Chase cardholders in your household, and then that person can transfer them to their Rapid Rewards account.
Enter the amount of points you wish to transfer. Chase Ultimate Rewards points generally transfer in increments of 1,000.
Confirm and Submit: Review all the details carefully, especially the Rapid Rewards account number and the number of points. Confirm the transfer.
Transfer Time: Transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards are typically instantaneous or take only a few minutes. This is a huge advantage, as you can often book a flight almost immediately after transferring.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Marriott Bonvoy
Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Visit the Marriott Bonvoy website and log in.
Navigate to "Use Points" or "Redeem": Look for an option related to redeeming or using your points.
Find "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Miles": Within the redemption options, you'll find a section for transferring points to airline loyalty programs.
Select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: Choose Southwest from the list of airline partners.
Enter Transfer Details:
Provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number.
Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you want to transfer. Remember the 3:1 ratio and the 5,000 bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. You'll want to transfer in multiples of 3,000 for efficiency, and definitely aim for 60,000 point increments if you're transferring a large sum to maximize the bonus.
Confirm and Submit: Double-check all information before finalizing the transfer.
Transfer Time: Marriott Bonvoy transfers to airlines can take a bit longer than Chase. Expect anywhere from a few business days to a week or more for the points to appear in your Rapid Rewards account. Plan accordingly if you have a time-sensitive booking in mind.
Step 4: Ready for Takeoff! Using Your Rapid Rewards Points
Once the points have landed in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you're ready to book your flight!
Log In to Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account: Go to Southwest.com and log in.
Search for Flights: On the flight search bar, enter your departure city, destination, and travel dates.
Select "Points" for Payment: This is crucial! Instead of selecting "Dollars," make sure you choose the "Points" option to view the fares in Rapid Rewards points.
Choose Your Flight: Browse the available flights and fares. Southwest's pricing is dynamic, meaning the number of points required for a flight will fluctuate with the cash price of the ticket. Lower cash fares will require fewer points.
Complete Booking: Select your desired flight, confirm passenger details, and proceed to checkout. The system will automatically use your Rapid Rewards points. If you don't have enough points for the entire fare, Southwest now offers "Cash + Points" where you can pay the difference with cash.
Pro-Tip: Southwest also offers the highly coveted Companion Pass. If you earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year (which includes points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards, but generally not points transferred from hotel partners like Marriott), you can designate a companion to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) on both paid and award flights for the remainder of the year in which it's earned and the entire following calendar year. This can literally double the value of your Rapid Rewards points!
Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards point balance?
Log in to your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your point balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
You can earn more Rapid Rewards points by flying with Southwest Airlines, using Southwest co-branded credit cards (issued by Chase), making purchases through the Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining portals, and by transferring points from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
How to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points for international flights?
Southwest Airlines primarily operates within the United States and to a few international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. You can use your Rapid Rewards points for these international flights just as you would for domestic flights, by selecting "Points" when searching.
How to transfer Southwest Rapid Rewards points to another person?
Southwest allows you to transfer points directly to another Rapid Rewards member, but there is typically a fee associated with this. It's generally not recommended due to the high cost unless absolutely necessary.
How to get the best value when transferring points to Southwest?
The best value comes from transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, target fare sales on Southwest to maximize your point redemption value, as the points required are tied to the cash price.
How to know if my credit card points can be transferred to Southwest?
Check your credit card's rewards program details. Look for "transfer partners" or "airline/hotel partners." If Southwest Rapid Rewards is listed, you can transfer. Chase Ultimate Rewards is the primary credit card program that partners with Southwest.
How to avoid fees when transferring points to Southwest?
Transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards are typically free of transfer fees. However, directly transferring Rapid Rewards points to another member does incur a fee.
How to transfer points from Amex to Southwest?
American Express Membership Rewards do not directly transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards. You would need to transfer Amex points to a partner like Marriott Bonvoy, and then from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest, which involves multiple steps and often a less favorable conversion rate. This is generally not advisable.
How to deal with slow point transfers to Southwest?
If your points transfer is taking longer than expected, first check the typical transfer times for the specific loyalty program you used (e.g., Marriott can be slower than Chase). If it's outside the stated timeframe, contact the customer service of the program you initiated the transfer from.
How to know if a Southwest flight is a good point redemption value?
Since Southwest's points are revenue-based, you can quickly calculate their value. Divide the cash price of the ticket (minus taxes and fees, as these are typically paid in cash even with points) by the number of points required. A common valuation for Southwest Rapid Rewards points is around 1.3-1.4 cents per point. If your redemption yields a value close to or above this, it's generally a good deal.
