Ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities? Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program is renowned for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a favorite among frequent flyers. Unlike many other airline loyalty programs, Rapid Rewards operates on a unique "revenue-based" model, meaning the number of points you earn and redeem is directly tied to the cash price of the fare. This means no blackout dates and the ability to use your points for any available seat.
Let's dive deep into how this fantastic program works, step by step, so you can start maximizing your travel rewards!
Understanding Southwest Rapid Rewards: Your Path to Free Flights
Southwest Rapid Rewards is more than just a points program; it's a gateway to convenient and affordable travel. With its straightforward approach, you'll find it easy to earn points and, more importantly, redeem them for the flights you actually want, when you want them.
Step 1: Enroll in Rapid Rewards - Your First Class Ticket to Savings!
Have you ever wondered how people seem to fly for free or for incredibly low prices? Well, this is where it all begins! The very first and most crucial step is to join the Rapid Rewards program. It's absolutely free and takes just a few minutes. Without an account, you can't accumulate points, and thus, you can't enjoy the fantastic benefits.
How to Enroll:
Visit the Southwest Airlines website: Head over to Southwest.com.
Look for "Rapid Rewards": You'll typically find a prominent link or tab for "Rapid Rewards" on the homepage.
Click "Enroll" or "Sign Up": Follow the prompts to create your account. You'll need to provide some basic personal information.
Receive your Rapid Rewards number: Once enrolled, you'll be assigned a unique Rapid Rewards account number. Keep this handy!
Pro-Tip: Keep an eye out for enrollment bonuses! Southwest occasionally offers bonus points for new members, so joining at the right time can give your points balance a healthy head start.
Step 2: Earning Rapid Rewards Points - Making Every Purchase Count
Now that you're a proud Rapid Rewards member, it's time to start accumulating those valuable points! Southwest offers a variety of ways to earn, both in the air and on the ground.
Sub-heading 2.1: Flying with Southwest - Your Primary Earning Machine
The most direct way to earn Rapid Rewards points is by flying on Southwest Airlines. The number of points you earn per dollar spent on a flight depends on the fare type you choose. This is a key differentiator for Southwest's program.
Wanna Get Away: This is generally the lowest fare category and earns 6 points per dollar spent on base airfare. While it's the least flexible, it's a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Wanna Get Away Plus: A step up from Wanna Get Away, offering more flexibility like transferable flight credits. You'll earn 8 points per dollar on base airfare with this fare type.
Anytime: These fares offer more flexibility, including full refundability and access to priority lanes. You'll earn 10 points per dollar on base airfare.
Business Select: The most premium fare, offering benefits like A1-A15 boarding, complimentary premium drinks, and full refundability. This fare earns the highest, with 12 points per dollar on base airfare.
Important Note on Earning: The points are earned on the base fare of your ticket, not on taxes and fees. Also, remember to always enter your Rapid Rewards number when booking your flights to ensure your points are credited!
Sub-heading 2.2: Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards - Your Fastest Path to Points
For many, co-branded credit cards are the absolute quickest way to rack up Rapid Rewards points. Chase issues several Southwest Airlines credit cards, each with different benefits and earning structures.
Sign-up Bonuses: These are often the most lucrative way to earn a large chunk of points quickly. Meeting the minimum spending requirement for a new card can instantly put thousands of points into your account.
Category Spending: Southwest credit cards typically offer bonus points on Southwest purchases, and often on other categories like local transit, commuting, internet, cable, and phone services.
Everyday Spending: You'll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, turning your daily spending into future travel.
Anniversary Bonuses: Many Southwest credit cards offer a bonus number of points each year on your card anniversary, providing a consistent boost to your balance.
Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost: Some cards offer a boost towards the highly coveted Companion Pass, which we'll discuss later.
Consider This: If you're serious about maximizing Southwest rewards, a co-branded credit card is almost a necessity. Do your research to find the card that best suits your spending habits and travel goals.
Sub-heading 2.3: Rapid Rewards Partners - Expanding Your Earning Horizon
Southwest has a robust network of partners where you can earn points for everyday activities.
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Shop online at hundreds of popular retailers through this portal and earn bonus points per dollar spent. It's an easy way to double-dip on earnings!
Rapid Rewards Dining Program: Link your credit cards and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
Hotel Partners: Book stays with partner hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy and Hyatt and earn Rapid Rewards points.
Car Rental Partners: Rent a car with Avis, Budget, or other partners to earn points.
Other Partners: Look for opportunities with other partners, including energy providers (in select states) and survey platforms like e-Rewards and Rewards For Opinions.
Step 3: Understanding Point Value & Redemption - Your Points, Your Way
One of the most attractive aspects of Rapid Rewards is its redemption flexibility. There are no blackout dates on Southwest flights, meaning if a seat is available for purchase with cash, it's available for purchase with points.
Sub-heading 3.1: Redeeming for Southwest Flights - The Sweet Spot
This is where your Rapid Rewards points truly shine. The value of your points is generally tied to the cash price of the ticket.
Dynamic Pricing: The number of points required for a flight will fluctuate with the cash price. Cheaper fares require fewer points, and more expensive fares require more points. This means you can often find great deals if you're flexible with your travel dates.
How to Redeem:
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
When searching for flights, toggle the currency option from "Dollars" to "Points."
Select your desired flight. You'll see the point cost, plus the applicable taxes and fees (typically $5.60 per one-way flight within the U.S.).
Complete the booking. You can pay the taxes and fees with a credit card, Southwest LUV Vouchers, or flight credits.
Insider Tip: Look for "Wanna Get Away" fares when redeeming points, as these generally offer the best point value. The higher fare types like Business Select will cost significantly more points for the same route.
Sub-heading 3.2: Other Redemption Options - More Than Just Flights
While flights offer the best value, Southwest also provides other ways to use your points, particularly for Rapid Rewards credit cardholders.
More Rewards Portal: Credit cardholders can access the More Rewards portal to redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, and car rentals. However, the value here is typically lower than redeeming for flights.
Cash + Points: As of January 1, 2025, Southwest allows you to combine points and other eligible forms of payment to purchase flights. The cash portion of these bookings will earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points, or Companion Pass qualifying points.
Pay Yourself Back (for Chase Credit Cardholders): Some Southwest credit cards allow you to redeem points for a statement credit against eligible purchases, effectively letting you "pay yourself back" for certain expenses.
Step 4: Achieving Elite Status: A-List & A-List Preferred - Elevate Your Travel
Beyond earning and redeeming points, the Rapid Rewards program offers elite status tiers that come with some fantastic perks for frequent travelers.
Sub-heading 4.1: A-List Status - Priority and Perks
To achieve A-List status, you need to either:
Fly 20 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year OR
Earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
TQPs are earned on Southwest flights (based on fare type) and through spending on eligible Southwest credit cards.
A-List Benefits Include:
Priority Boarding: You and everyone on your reservation get an earlier boarding position (A1-A15 if available). This is a huge benefit on Southwest, where boarding is based on check-in time.
25% Earning Bonus: Earn 25% more Rapid Rewards points on every qualifying flight.
Priority Lane and Express Lane Access: Speed through check-in and security.
Dedicated A-List Member Phone Line: Get quicker access to customer service.
Free Same-Day Standby: If you need to change your flight on the day of travel, you can stand by for an earlier flight without a fee (taxes and fees may apply).
First checked bag free: For flights booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025, A-List members receive their first checked bag free.
Sub-heading 4.2: A-List Preferred Status - The Ultimate Southwest Experience
A-List Preferred is the highest tier of elite status with Southwest. To qualify, you need to either:
Fly 40 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year OR
Earn 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
A-List Preferred Benefits Include (all A-List benefits PLUS):
100% Earning Bonus: Double the points earned on every qualifying flight!
Two Free Checked Bags: A-List Preferred members receive their first and second checked bags for free (for flights booked and ticketed and/or changed on or after May 28, 2025).
Free Inflight Internet: Stay connected during your flight at no charge.
Up to Two Complimentary Premium Drinks: Enjoy a couple of free beverages on flights over 250 miles.
Dedicated A-List Preferred Member Phone Line: Even faster service.
Step 5: The Coveted Companion Pass - Fly with a Friend for (Almost) Free!
The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably the most valuable perk in the entire Rapid Rewards program. It allows you to designate one person to fly with you for free (you just pay taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 per one-way flight within the U.S.) on every single flight you take, whether you pay with cash or points. This benefit is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year.
How to Earn the Companion Pass: You must achieve one of the following in a single calendar year:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights OR
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points.
Understanding Companion Pass Qualifying Points: These points are different from regular Rapid Rewards points. They include:
Points earned from Southwest revenue flights.
Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards (including sign-up bonuses and everyday spending).
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners.
Crucial Strategy for Companion Pass: The most common and often fastest way to earn the Companion Pass is through a strategic combination of Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card sign-up bonuses. By opening one personal and, if eligible, one business Southwest credit card, you can often earn enough bonus points to hit the 135,000-point threshold without flying extensively.
Designating Your Companion: Once you qualify, you can designate your companion online through your Rapid Rewards account. You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year.
Booking with Your Companion Pass:
Book your flight (either with cash or points).
After your flight is confirmed, go to "My Trips" in your Rapid Rewards account.
Find your upcoming flight and click the "Add Companion" link.
Follow the instructions to add your designated companion. You will only pay the taxes and fees for their ticket.
Think about the Savings! If you travel frequently with a partner, family member, or friend, the Companion Pass can literally save you thousands of dollars in airfare. It's a game-changer for couples and families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions about the Southwest Rapid Rewards program:
How to check my Rapid Rewards points balance?
You can easily check your Rapid Rewards point balance by logging into your account on Southwest.com or through the Southwest mobile app. Your current balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to make sure I earn points on my Southwest flight?
Always ensure your Rapid Rewards account number is entered when booking your flight. If you forgot, you can often add it to your reservation before travel or even request credit for past flights within a certain timeframe.
How to use my points to book a flight for someone else?
Yes, you can absolutely use your Rapid Rewards points to book a flight for anyone, not just yourself. Simply log in to your account, select the "Points" option for payment, and proceed to book the flight for your desired passenger(s).
How to know the value of my Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
The value of Southwest points is generally tied to the cash price of the fare, typically ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 cents per point, with "Wanna Get Away" fares often yielding the highest value. To determine the exact value, divide the cash price of a ticket by the number of points required for that same ticket.
How to combine Rapid Rewards points with another member?
Unfortunately, Southwest Rapid Rewards does not allow members to pool or combine points directly. Each member earns and redeems points individually. However, you can use your points to book flights for other people.
How to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for A-List status?
TQPs are earned primarily by purchasing Southwest revenue flights (the higher the fare type, the more TQPs you earn per dollar) and by spending on eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (e.g., 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent on certain cards).
How to maximize my Companion Pass for nearly two years?
To maximize your Companion Pass, aim to earn it early in a calendar year (e.g., January or February). This way, you'll have the pass for the remainder of that year and the entire following calendar year.
How to change my designated Companion Pass companion?
You can change your designated Companion Pass companion up to three times per calendar year by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or by calling Southwest Customer Service.
How to redeem Rapid Rewards points for gift cards or merchandise?
If you are a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholder, you can redeem points for gift cards and merchandise through the "More Rewards" portal, accessible from your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
How to get a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card?
You can apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card directly through Chase's website. Be sure to compare the different card options to find one that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals, paying close attention to any sign-up bonuses.
