Do you dream of soaring through the skies on a Southwest Airlines flight, perhaps to a sun-drenched beach or a bustling city, all while redeeming your hard-earned American Express Membership Rewards points? You've come to the right place! While American Express doesn't have a direct transfer partnership with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, there's a clever workaround that can get you on that "Wanna Get Away" flight. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you maximize your points and embark on your next adventure with ease.
Let's dive in, shall we?
Understanding the Landscape: Amex, Marriott, and Southwest
Before we get to the step-by-step process, it's crucial to understand why this redemption isn't as straightforward as transferring points to, say, Delta or Air Canada.
American Express Membership Rewards: This is a highly flexible points currency. Amex partners with a wide array of airlines and hotels, allowing you to transfer your points to their respective loyalty programs.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: Southwest has its own loyalty program, Rapid Rewards. Unlike many other airlines, Southwest's redemption value is tied to the cash price of the ticket. Points don't expire.
Marriott Bonvoy: This is the key to our strategy! Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel loyalty program, is a transfer partner of both American Express Membership Rewards and Southwest Rapid Rewards. This creates the bridge we need.
The fundamental idea is to transfer your Amex points to Marriott Bonvoy, and then from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards. It's a two-step transfer process, but it's absolutely achievable!
Step 1: Confirm Your American Express Membership Rewards Balance and Eligibility
Are you ready to unlock your travel dreams? First things first, let's make sure you have enough points and the right Amex card.
Sub-heading: Checking Your Amex Points
Log In to Your American Express Account: Head over to the American Express website and log in with your credentials.
Navigate to Membership Rewards: Once logged in, look for the "Membership Rewards" section. This is usually prominently displayed on your account dashboard or under a "Rewards" or "Benefits" tab.
Verify Your Point Balance: Take note of your current Membership Rewards points balance. You'll need a sufficient amount for your desired Southwest flight. Keep in mind that points transfer in increments, often 1,000 points.
Sub-heading: Eligible American Express Cards
Not all American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points. Make sure you hold a card that participates in the Membership Rewards program, such as:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Green Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express® Business Gold Card
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Business Green Rewards Card from American
Express
Co-branded cards (like Delta SkyMiles Amex cards) earn airline-specific miles, not Membership Rewards points.
Step 2: Create or Link Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
This is the crucial intermediary step! If you don't have a Marriott Bonvoy account, you'll need to create one.
Sub-heading: Creating a New Marriott Bonvoy Account
Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Website: Go to Marriott's official website and look for the "Join Now" or "Enroll" option for the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Follow Registration Prompts: Provide the required information, such as your name, address, email, and create a password.
Confirm Your Account: You'll likely receive an email to verify your account. Click on the verification link to activate your Marriott Bonvoy membership.
Sub-heading: Linking Your Amex and Marriott Bonvoy Accounts
Back to American Express: Once your Marriott Bonvoy account is active (or if you already had one), return to your American Express Membership Rewards account.
Initiate a Transfer: Look for an option like "Transfer Points," "Airline & Hotel Partners," or "Explore Rewards."
Select Marriott Bonvoy: From the list of transfer partners, choose "Marriott Bonvoy."
Link Accounts: You will be prompted to link your Marriott Bonvoy account to your American Express Membership Rewards account. This typically involves entering your Marriott Bonvoy account number and confirming your details. It's vital that the name on your Amex account matches the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Step 3: Transfer American Express Points to Marriott Bonvoy
Now comes the actual transfer! Be mindful of transfer ratios and processing times.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Transfer Ratio
The standard transfer ratio from American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy is 1:1. This means 1,000 Amex points will become 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Occasionally, American Express might offer transfer bonuses to Marriott Bonvoy. Keep an eye out for these promotions, as they can significantly increase the value of your transfer!
Sub-heading: Initiating the Transfer
Enter Transfer Amount: On the Amex transfer page for Marriott Bonvoy, specify the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember, transfers are usually in increments of 1,000 points.
Review and Confirm: Double-check the amount and confirm the transfer.
Processing Time: Transfers from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy are generally not instant. They can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, and sometimes even up to a few business days, to reflect in your Marriott Bonvoy account. Patience is key here!
Step 4: Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
This is the final leg of your point transfer journey!
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Page
Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Once your Amex points have successfully posted to your Marriott Bonvoy account, log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on their website.
Find Transfer Options: Look for a section related to "Redeem Points," "Transfer Points," or "Earn & Redeem."
Select Southwest Rapid Rewards: From the list of airline transfer partners, choose "Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards."
Sub-heading: Understanding the Marriott to Southwest Transfer Ratio and Bonus
This is where the magic (and potential for value) happens!
The standard transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards is 3:1. This means 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points will become 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Crucial Bonus: Marriott Bonvoy offers a significant bonus when you transfer points in increments of 60,000. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'll receive an additional 5,000 Rapid Rewards points. This means 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points will yield 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (20,000 from the 3:1 ratio + 5,000 bonus). This makes the effective ratio much more favorable (60,000 Marriott points / 25,000 Southwest points = 2.4:1). Always aim for these 60,000-point increments if possible to maximize your value!
Sub-heading: Initiating the Transfer and Anticipating Timelines
Enter Transfer Amount (Strategically!): Input the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. Prioritize transfers in 60,000-point increments to get the bonus!
Confirm Details: Double-check your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number and the transfer amount.
Processing Time: Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards typically take up to 48 hours to 72 hours. In some cases, it might be faster, but plan accordingly.
Step 5: Book Your Southwest Airlines Flight with Rapid Rewards Points
Congratulations! Your points are now in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.
Sub-heading: Searching for Flights
Log In to Your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Account: Head to Southwest.com and log in to your Rapid Rewards account.
Search for Flights: Enter your desired origin, destination, and travel dates.
Select "Points": When searching, make sure to select the "Points" option for your currency.
Sub-heading: Choosing Your Flight and Completing the Booking
Review Options: Southwest will display available flights and their corresponding point costs. Remember, the points required for a flight are directly related to the cash price of the ticket. Lower cash fares generally mean fewer points.
Select Your Flight: Choose the flight that best suits your travel plans.
Add Passenger Information: Enter all necessary passenger details.
Review and Confirm: Carefully review your flight details and the total points required.
Book Your Flight: Complete the booking process. You will receive a confirmation email from Southwest Airlines.
Sub-heading: Understanding Southwest's "Transfarency"
Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is known for its "Transfarency," which means:
No blackout dates: If a seat is available for purchase with cash, it's available for purchase with points.
Points value ties to cash price: This can be a benefit if cash fares are low, but less so if they're high.
Free checked bags: Southwest is famous for its two free checked bags policy, which applies to award tickets too!
No change fees: You can change or cancel your Southwest award flight without incurring a fee, though fare differences may apply.
Important Considerations and Tips
Plan Ahead: The two-step transfer process can take several days. If you have a specific flight in mind, start the transfer process well in advance of your desired departure date.
Check for Transfer Bonuses: Always be on the lookout for American Express transfer bonuses to Marriott Bonvoy, or even rare Marriott Bonvoy bonuses to airline partners. These can significantly enhance the value of your points.
Compare Value: Before transferring, always compare the cost of a Southwest flight in points (after considering the transfer ratios) to what you could get by using your Amex points for other redemptions (e.g., direct transfers to other airlines, booking through Amex Travel, or even cash back).
Excise Tax Offset Fee: When transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to U.S.-based airline programs (like Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and indirectly, Southwest via Marriott), American Express charges a small excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99. This fee applies to the initial Amex to Marriott transfer.
Marriott Bonvoy Point Expiration: While Southwest Rapid Rewards points don't expire, Marriott Bonvoy points do expire after 24 months of inactivity. Make sure to have qualifying activity in your Marriott Bonvoy account if you're holding points there for an extended period.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Express Membership Rewards point balance?
You can easily check your American Express Membership Rewards point balance by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" section, usually found on your dashboard or under a "Rewards" tab.
How to create a Marriott Bonvoy account?
To create a Marriott Bonvoy account, visit the official Marriott website, look for the "Join Now" or "Enroll" option for the Marriott Bonvoy program, and follow the registration prompts to provide your personal details.
How to link my American Express account to Marriott Bonvoy?
You can link your American Express account to Marriott Bonvoy by logging into your American Express Membership Rewards account, selecting "Transfer Points" or "Airline & Hotel Partners," choosing Marriott Bonvoy, and then entering your Marriott Bonvoy account number when prompted.
How to transfer American Express points to Marriott Bonvoy?
To transfer Amex points to Marriott Bonvoy, log into your Amex Membership Rewards account, select Marriott Bonvoy as a transfer partner, enter the desired number of points (in 1,000-point increments), and confirm the transfer.
How to find the transfer ratio from Amex to Marriott Bonvoy?
The standard transfer ratio from Amex to Marriott Bonvoy is 1:1, meaning 1,000 Amex points equal 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This ratio is typically displayed on the Amex transfer page for Marriott.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
After your Amex points have posted to Marriott Bonvoy, log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, find the "Transfer Points" option, select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards as the partner, and enter the desired transfer amount.
How to find the transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
The standard transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards is 3:1. However, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you receive an extra 5,000 Rapid Rewards points, making the effective ratio better.
How to book a Southwest Airlines flight with Rapid Rewards points?
Log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, search for flights, ensuring you select "Points" as the currency, choose your desired flight, and complete the booking process.
How to avoid fees when transferring Amex points for Southwest flights?
While Amex charges a small excise tax offset fee (up to $99) for transfers to U.S.-based airlines (which applies to the initial transfer to Marriott), Southwest Rapid Rewards does not have direct transfer fees for booking flights with points, and there are no change or cancellation fees on award tickets.
How to maximize the value of my Amex points for Southwest flights?
To maximize value, aim to transfer American Express points to Marriott Bonvoy during a transfer bonus promotion (if available), and then transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards in increments of 60,000 to receive the 5,000 point bonus. Always compare the point cost to the cash fare to ensure a good redemption value.
