Are you dreaming of your next Southwest adventure but find yourself a few points shy of that "Wanna Get Away" fare? Or perhaps you're looking to bridge a gap for a specific redemption? Whatever your reason, buying miles on Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program is a possibility, but it's crucial to understand the costs and whether it's truly worth it.
Let's dive into a comprehensive guide on how much it costs to buy miles on Southwest Airlines, complete with step-by-step instructions and important considerations.
The Cost of Convenience: Understanding Southwest Rapid Rewards Point Purchases
Southwest Airlines, renowned for its "Transfarency" and no-frills approach, has a relatively straightforward Rapid Rewards program. Unlike some airlines with complex award charts, Southwest's points are generally tied to the cash value of the flight. This dynamic pricing means the number of points required for a flight fluctuates with the cash price.
When it comes to buying points, Southwest typically sells them at a fixed rate, which can vary, but generally hovers around 2.5 to 3 cents per point. However, always be on the lookout for promotions, as these can significantly reduce the per-point cost.
Important Note: The value you get when redeeming Southwest points for flights usually falls between 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point. This means that buying points at the standard rate is almost always more expensive than the value you'll get back. This is a critical factor to consider before making a purchase.
QuickTip: Look for patterns as you read.
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| How Much Does It Cost To Buy Miles On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Sure Buying is Your Best Option? Let's Find Out!
Before you even think about hitting that "buy" button, let's figure out if purchasing miles is actually the smart move for your travel goals.
How many points do you currently have? Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Knowing your current balance is the first step in determining the deficit.
What flight are you trying to book? Find the specific flight you want and note down its cash price and the corresponding points required.
Calculate the "gap": Subtract your current points from the points needed for your desired flight. This is the exact number of points you'd need to buy.
Consider other earning methods first! Have you explored all other avenues for earning Rapid Rewards points?
Southwest Credit Cards: If you're a frequent Southwest flyer, a Rapid Rewards credit card can offer substantial sign-up bonuses and ongoing earning opportunities.
Transferring from Partners: Do you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points? These can often be transferred to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, and this is frequently a much better value than buying points directly.
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Planning any online purchases? Check the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal to see if you can earn bonus points on your everyday spending.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit card and earn points by dining at participating restaurants.
Partner Activities: Consider hotel stays, car rentals, or other partners that offer Rapid Rewards points.
If, after considering all these options, you're still short and the urgency of your travel dictates a point purchase, then proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Navigating the Southwest Website to Buy Points
This is where you'll directly interact with Southwest's platform to make your purchase.
Head to Southwest.com: Open your web browser and go to the official Southwest Airlines website.
Log In to Your Rapid Rewards Account: Look for the "Login" button, usually in the top right corner, and enter your Rapid Rewards number or username and password. This is essential, as points are tied to your specific account.
Locate the "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" Section: Once logged in, navigate to the Rapid Rewards section. You'll typically find an option like "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" or something similar within your account dashboard.
Tip: Sometimes, you can also initiate a point purchase during the booking process if you don't have enough points for a flight.
Choose "Buy Points": Select the option to buy points for yourself. You may also see options to gift points to another Rapid Rewards member or transfer points (though transferring generally incurs a fee and is usually not recommended).
QuickTip: Slow down if the pace feels too fast.
Step 3: Understanding the Pricing and Promotions
This is the most critical step for evaluating the cost.
Review the Standard Pricing: Southwest will display the current price for buying points. This is typically presented in blocks (e.g., 2,000 points for $X, 5,000 points for $Y).
Pay close attention to the per-point cost. Divide the total cost by the number of points to get the exact cost per point. For example, if 2,000 points cost $60, then each point is costing you $0.03 (or 3 cents).
Look for Promotions (Crucial!): This is where you can potentially save a significant amount of money. Southwest frequently runs promotions offering bonuses or discounts on purchased points.
These promotions can range from a 25% bonus to a 50% discount. A 50% discount, for example, could bring the cost per point down to a more palatable range, potentially making the purchase more justifiable.
Check the promotion details carefully:
Expiration Date: When does the promotion end? Don't miss out!
Minimum Purchase: Is there a minimum number of points you need to buy to qualify for the discount/bonus?
Targeted Offers: Sometimes promotions are targeted, meaning only certain Rapid Rewards members receive them.
Calculate Your Final Cost: Based on the standard pricing or any applicable promotions, determine the total cost for the exact number of points you need.
Step 4: Completing Your Purchase
Once you've decided to proceed, the final steps are straightforward.
Enter the Desired Number of Points: Input the specific quantity of points you wish to purchase. The system will automatically calculate the total cost.
Remember the daily maximum: Southwest generally has a daily purchase limit, often around 60,000 points for both personal and gift purchases.
Provide Payment Information: Enter your credit card details.
Be aware: Point purchases are typically processed by Points.com, a third-party vendor. This means the transaction will likely not code as an airline purchase on your credit card, so you won't earn bonus points if your card offers them for travel. Use a credit card that gives you a good return on everyday spending.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details – the number of points, the total cost, and your payment information – before confirming the purchase.
Points Credited: Your purchased points should be credited to your Rapid Rewards account almost instantly or within a few hours.
Step 5: Redeeming Your Newly Acquired Points
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
With your replenished Rapid Rewards balance, you're now ready to book your flight.
Search for Your Flight Again: Go back to the flight search on Southwest.com and input your desired travel dates and destinations.
Select "Points" for Payment: When presented with payment options, choose to pay with Rapid Rewards points.
Confirm Your Booking: Proceed with the booking, and if you have enough points, the system will allow you to complete the reservation.
Note: While the base fare is covered by points, you will still be responsible for paying the U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee ($5.60 per one-way flight) in cash or credit card.
10 Related FAQ Questions (Starting with 'How to')
Here are some frequently asked questions about buying Southwest Airlines miles:
How to check the current value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points? The value of Southwest points is dynamic, but generally hovers around 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point. You can calculate this by taking the cash price of a flight and dividing it by the number of points required for the same flight.
How to find promotions for buying Southwest points? Southwest often announces promotions directly on its "Rapid Rewards Promotions" or "Loyalty Offers and Deals" page on Southwest.com. Keep an eye on travel blogs and forums as well, as they often report on these deals.
How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest? Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, navigate to the "Transfer to Travel Partners" section, select Southwest Rapid Rewards, and follow the prompts to link your accounts and initiate the transfer. Transfers are typically instant and at a 1:1 ratio.
QuickTip: Repetition reinforces learning.
How to know if buying Southwest points is a good deal? Compare the cost per point (total purchase price divided by points bought) to the value you'd get from redeeming those points (cash price of flight divided by points needed). If the purchase cost per point is significantly higher than the redemption value, it's generally not a good deal unless you have an immediate and critical need.
How to avoid buying Southwest points at a high cost? Plan ahead, earn points through Southwest credit cards or partners, and only consider buying points when there's a substantial discount or bonus promotion that brings the per-point cost closer to or below the typical redemption value.
How to use "Cash + Points" on Southwest? Southwest allows a "Cash + Points" option, letting you combine a partial cash payment with your Rapid Rewards points. This option usually appears during the checkout process when booking a flight.
How to get Southwest Companion Pass without buying points? The Southwest Companion Pass is earned by accumulating 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year. This is most effectively achieved through welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards and earning points through flights and partner activities, rather than buying points directly.
How to gift Southwest points to someone else? On the "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" page, select the "Gift Points" option. You'll need the recipient's Rapid Rewards account number and name to complete the transaction.
How to confirm that my purchased Southwest points have been credited? After purchase, log in to your Rapid Rewards account and check your points balance. Purchased points usually appear within a few hours, though it can sometimes take up to 72 hours.
How to cancel a Southwest flight booked with points and get my points back? Southwest has a generous cancellation policy for award flights. As long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure, your Rapid Rewards points will be redeposited into your account, and any associated taxes and fees will be refunded to your original form of payment.
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