Traveling on Southwest Airlines is fantastic, especially with their no change fees and two free checked bags policy! But what if you could take it a step further and fly for free? That's where Southwest Rapid Rewards points come in. It's a common question, and one that can unlock incredible travel opportunities: "How many points do you need on Southwest Airlines to get a free flight?"
Let's dive in and demystify the world of Southwest Rapid Rewards, so you can start planning your next adventure without breaking the bank!
Step 1: Are You Ready to Unlock Free Flights?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of point values, let's get you engaged! Have you ever dreamed of a spontaneous weekend getaway or a long-awaited family vacation, all paid for with points? Imagine saying goodbye to airfare costs and hello to more experiences. If that sounds exciting, then you're in the right place!
The beautiful thing about Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is its simplicity. Unlike some other airline loyalty programs that have complex award charts and blackout dates, Southwest ties the number of points needed for a free flight directly to the cash price of the ticket. This means that when fares go on sale, so do the points needed for redeeming a reward flight! This transparency is a huge advantage for travelers.
Step 2: Understanding Southwest's Dynamic Pricing for Award Flights
Southwest uses a dynamic pricing model for its award flights. This means there isn't a fixed number of points for a specific route. Instead, the number of points you need is directly related to the cash price of the ticket.
Sub-heading: The Value of a Southwest Point
Generally, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are valued at approximately 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point, though this can fluctuate slightly. So, if a flight costs $130, you might need around 10,000 points (130 / 0.013 = 10,000).
Here's a breakdown of how different fare types affect point earning (and thus, redemption value):
Basic (new fare): Earns 2 points per dollar spent on base airfare.
Wanna Get Away Plus: Earns 6 points per dollar spent on base airfare.
Anytime: Earns 10 points per dollar spent on base airfare.
Business Select: Earns 14 points per dollar spent on base airfare.
This also implies that if you're looking to redeem points, cheaper cash fares (like Wanna Get Away fares) will require fewer points!
Step 3: How to Estimate Points Needed for Your Dream Flight
Since the points needed are tied to the cash price, here's your step-by-step guide to estimating:
Identify Your Desired Flight: Go to Southwest.com (or their mobile app) and search for the flight you want to take.
View Cash Price: Note down the cash price for that flight.
Toggle to "Points": On the flight selection screen, there will be an option to view the fare in "Points" instead of "Dollars." Select this option.
See the Exact Point Requirement: Southwest will then display the exact number of points required for that specific flight and fare type.
Remember: The earlier you book, and the more flexible you are with your travel dates, the better chance you have of finding flights requiring fewer points. Weekday travel and off-peak seasons generally offer the best deals.
Step 4: Supercharging Your Rapid Rewards Point Earnings
Now that you know how many points you might need, let's talk about how to get them! There are numerous ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points, some much faster than others.
Sub-heading: Flying Southwest Airlines
This is the most straightforward way. Every time you fly on a paid Southwest flight, you earn points based on the fare type and the cost of your ticket. As mentioned above, Business Select fares earn significantly more points per dollar than Basic fares.
Sub-heading: Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
This is arguably the fastest and most efficient way to earn a large sum of Southwest points. Chase offers several co-branded Southwest credit cards for both personal and business use. These cards often come with:
Large Welcome Bonuses: Many cards offer tens of thousands of bonus points after meeting a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. These bonuses alone can often be enough for multiple free flights!
Bonus Categories: Earn accelerated points on Southwest purchases, and often on other everyday spending categories like dining, local transit, internet/cable/phone services, and select streaming.
Anniversary Points: Some cards offer a bonus of points each year you renew the card.
Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs): Certain Southwest credit cards allow you to earn TQPs, which count towards achieving A-List or A-List Preferred status (more on that later!).
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal
Shop your way to free flights! Southwest has an online shopping portal where you can earn bonus points for purchases made at hundreds of popular retailers. Simply log in to your Rapid Rewards account, find your desired store on the portal, click through to the retailer's website, and make your purchase as usual. Points are automatically credited to your account.
Sub-heading: Rapid Rewards Dining Program
Link your credit cards to your Rapid Rewards Dining account. When you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your linked card, you'll earn points. Opt-in for email notifications to maximize your earnings (often 3 points per dollar spent).
Sub-heading: Transferring Points from Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you have a Chase credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®), you can transfer these points to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account at a 1:1 ratio. This offers incredible flexibility, especially if you have a large stash of Ultimate Rewards points.
Sub-heading: Hotel and Car Rental Partners
Southwest partners with various hotel chains and car rental companies. You can often earn Rapid Rewards points for stays and rentals booked through their partners. Be sure to check for any special promotions!
Sub-heading: Other Partners
From survey programs like e-Rewards to utility companies in select states, Southwest has a wide array of partners where you can earn points on everyday activities. It's worth exploring the "Earn Points" section on the Southwest website.
Step 5: Understanding the Companion Pass – The Ultimate Free Flight Hack!
While not directly about how many points you need for your free flight, the Southwest Companion Pass is so powerful that it's worth a dedicated section.
Sub-heading: What is the Companion Pass?
The Companion Pass allows you to designate one person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees, which are as low as $5.60 one-way for domestic flights) on every flight you take, whether you pay with cash or points. It's valid for the rest of the year you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year!
Sub-heading: How to Earn the Companion Pass
To qualify for the Companion Pass, you need to either:
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, OR
Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year.
The most popular way to earn the Companion Pass is through the second option, often by utilizing credit card welcome bonuses and spending. Keep in mind that points purchased, gifted, or transferred from other members generally do not count towards Companion Pass qualification, though points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards do count. Chase Southwest credit card holders also receive an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, effectively reducing the requirement to 125,000 points.
Imagine earning enough points for a free flight for yourself, and then your companion flies virtually free on every single one of those flights! It's a game-changer for couples or families.
Step 6: Maximizing Your Redemption Value
Now that you've earned those precious points, let's make sure you're getting the most out of them.
Book Early: Just like with cash fares, booking award flights in advance often yields lower point requirements.
Be Flexible: If your travel dates are flexible, you'll have a much better chance of finding flights with fewer points. Mid-week travel (Tuesdays, Wednesdays) and off-season dates are typically cheaper.
Utilize the Companion Pass: As discussed, the Companion Pass effectively doubles the value of your points because you're getting two tickets for the points cost of one (plus minimal taxes/fees).
Avoid Peak Travel: Holidays, spring break, and major events will always demand more points (and cash).
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, all starting with "How to," with their quick answers:
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards point balance?
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or through the Southwest mobile app. Your point balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to know if a Southwest flight is a good value for points?
Compare the cash price of the flight to the number of points required. Divide the cash price by the points needed to get the "cents per point" value. Aim for a value of 1.3 cents per point or higher for good redemption.
How to find flights requiring fewer points on Southwest?
Use the "Low Fare Calendar" or be flexible with your travel dates. Search for flights on different days of the week, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and consider traveling during off-peak seasons.
How to book a free flight with Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, enter your flight details, and select "Points" as your payment method when viewing fares.
How to avoid Southwest Rapid Rewards points from expiring?
Good news! Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This is a significant advantage of the program, so you don't have to worry about losing them due to inactivity.
How to earn Southwest Companion Pass qualifying points quickly?
The fastest way is often through the welcome bonuses and spending on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. Points earned from revenue flights and Rapid Rewards partners also count.
How to change my designated companion for the Companion Pass?
You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, go to your Snapshot tab, and follow the instructions to "Choose Your Companion."
How to use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal?
Visit rapidrewardsshopping.southwest.com, log in with your Rapid Rewards credentials, search for your desired retailer, and click through their link before making your purchase.
How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest?
Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, navigate to the "Transfer to Travel Partners" section, select Southwest Rapid Rewards, and enter the desired points to transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
How to get A-List or A-List Preferred status with Southwest?
A-List status requires 20 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year. A-List Preferred requires 40 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 TQPs. You can earn TQPs through flying and through spending on eligible Southwest credit cards.
