How to Earn & Use Southwest Points

Learn how to earn Southwest points faster, effective redemption options, and elevate your trip while making the most of your Rapid Rewards points.

The value of Southwest points can vary based on factors like fare prices and redemption options, typically ranging from 1 to 1.5 cents per point.

Embark on incredible adventures with the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, allowing you to fly with a companion for free!

Earning Southwest points by flying with the airline is straightforward and directly tied to your fare type and flight cost, excluding taxes. Points earned vary based on the fare class:

• Wanna Get Away fares : Earn 6X points per $1 spent.
• Wanna Get Away Plus fares : Earn 8X points per $1 spent.
• Anytime fares : Earn 10X points per $1 spent.
• Business Select fares : Earn 12X points per $1 spent.

As per the flight’s base fare, a $100 base fare for a Wanna Get Away ticket would yield 600 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

A similar calculation applies for other fare classes, with higher fares earning more points.

Southwest Airlines allows its Rapid Rewards members to earn points not only through flights but also through its various transfer partners. With these partners, members can boost their Southwest Airlines points balance to redeem for free flights, upgrades, and more.

Southwest partners with utility providers like NRG Home and Reliant Energy, enabling Rapid Rewards members in select states like Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to earn points by paying their utility bills.

After two months as an active NRG Home customer, you’ll receive an enrollment bonus of 10,000 points and two points for every dollar spent on the supply portion of your energy bill. 

With Reliant, members in Texas earn 15,000 enrollment bonus points at signup, along with an additional 500 points each month for the next 24 months – totaling 27,000 Rapid Rewards Points.

Participating in surveys through Rewards for Opinions and e-Rewards is another avenue to earn points, with the opportunity to receive bonus points after completing a survey. 

Through the e-Rewards Opinion Panel, you get e-Rewards Currency, redeemable for Rapid Rewards Points in various increments ranging from $15 (300 Rapid Rewards Points) to $100 (2,400 Rapid Rewards Points).

Moreover, joining Emergency Assistance Plus offers 1,500 Rapid Rewards bonus points for active members annually. Utilizing Southwest partnerships, you can earn points effortlessly across diverse spending categories.

Members can easily earn Southwest Airlines points by booking hotel stays either through Southwest Hotels or Rocketmiles.com, particularly beneficial when looking for boutique hotels without loyalty programs.

Both platforms offer Rapid Rewards points on every reservation, where the Southwest Hotel portal lets you earn 1 point per $1 spent, and you can potentially earn up to 10,000 points per night, depending on the hotel.

Wondering how to earn Southwest points with hotels. You can access the Southwest Hotel Portal on the Southwest Airlines website to browse and book accommodations at various partner hotels and resorts.

The portal may also include special offers or promotions for travelers looking to plan their trips.

• Rapid Rewards Members who are also Best Western Rewards members enjoy the flexibility to redeem 5,000 Best Western Rewards points for 1,200 Rapid Rewards points.  
• Similarly, Choice Privileges members have the option to redeem 6,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,800 Rapid Rewards points.

Make sure to compare rates while booking hotels through Rocketmiles.com to ensure the best value and point accumulation for your hotel stays, optimizing Southwest’s hotel partnerships for rewarding travel experiences.

Sometimes rates might differ from other travel agencies due to points premiums.

To earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points rapidly, consider applying for a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card. These co-branded cards, issued by Chase, offer generous welcome bonuses that can instantly boost your point balance.

You can pick the best card that aligns with your spending habits and preferences, from the three personal credit cards and two business credit cards designed for business owners and entrepreneurs – each with its unique perks and rewards.

Using co-branded Southwest cards for everyday purchases is your answer on how to earn Southwest points quickly!

Furthermore, Chase’s refer-a-friend promotion allows you to earn additional points by referring friends to apply for Southwest credit cards.

This is also an excellent strategy to accumulate points, helping you to qualify for the coveted Companion Pass, which allows a companion to fly with you for just taxes and fees.

Having elite status with Southwest Airlines offers more than just priority boarding, as it significantly enhances your points-earning potential. Moving up towards Southwest’s elite tiers provides added value for frequent flyers.

A-List members enjoy a 25% bonus on points earned, while A-List Preferred elites receive an impressive 100% bonus on their Southwest points.

This bonus is applied on top of the base points earned per dollar spent, resulting in more Rapid Rewards points with each flight.

For instance, with Wanna Get Away fares, A-List Preferred members can earn 12 points per $1 when the base price is just 6 points per $1.

For a premium Business Select fare with a base of 12 points per $1, A-List Preferred status offers 24 points per $1, and A-List members get 15 Rapid Rewards points per $1.

With a Southwest elite status, you can also enjoy various enhanced travel benefits, such as free in-flight wi-fi, priority check-in, and stand-by privileges.

It maximizes your point accumulation, providing even more value for your loyalty and ensuring a rewarding travel experience.

Earning Southwest points through Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Dining program is a fantastic way for food enthusiasts to accumulate points simply by dining out. 

Just sign up for a Rapid Rewards Dining account and link your credit cards to earn points automatically when you visit participating cafes, bars, restaurants, and clubs.

Make sure to opt for email notifications to boost your earnings to 3 points per dollar spent, as not doing so lets you earn only 1 point per $2. 

The program also offers various bonus opportunities throughout the year, such as new member bonuses, meeting spending thresholds, and writing reviews for eligible restaurants.

Another excellent way to earn Southwest points quickly is through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Transferring Chase points to Southwest Airlines is a smart strategy to boost your points balance. 

You can transfer points from Chase to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio, helping you accumulate Southwest points instantly to use for flights, upgrades, gift cards, or other rewards.

To initiate the transfer, you need a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points and allows transfers to travel partners, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards Program. These include:

• card_name
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• card_name

Simply, login to your Chase account, navigate to the Ultimate Rewards page, click on ‘Transfer Points to Partners,’ select ‘Southwest,’ and enter your Rapid Rewards number to link your accounts.

Points are transferred in increments of 1,000, making it convenient to top up your Southwest Rapid Rewards balance for future redemptions.

Joining the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is free and pretty simple! Sign up today to earn points when you fly with Southwest Airlines or spend with their partner network.

You enjoy unlimited rewards seats, no blackout dates on rewards, and points that never expire with Rapid Rewards.

Already a member? Log in to access exclusive offers that enhance your Southwest experience and elevate your rewards.

Make the most of your membership by taking advantage of special promotions and benefits available exclusively to Rapid Rewards members. 

Popularly known as the Southwest Frequent Flyer Program, it offers unique ways to earn and redeem Southwest points with flexibility while maximizing the value of your membership. Join now to unlock a world of travel rewards with Southwest!

Explore the latest Rapid Rewards promotions to accelerate your Southwest points and unlock exciting rewards! 

Take advantage of exclusive flight deals and partner promotions that offer additional points for your next trip.

Register for special promotions like the 30% bonus toward Companion Pass eligibility. 

Stay informed about the latest promotions and member-exclusive deals by opting in to receive email notifications, ensuring you never miss out on valuable opportunities to earn extra points or enjoy enhanced benefits as a Southwest member.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program allows you to accumulate points by renting cars through Southwest’s car rental partners.

When planning a road trip or traveling for business, explore the opportunities to earn Southwest points with partners like Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, etc.

Check out the earning rates for each partner and enjoy additional discounts when booking through Southwest’s portal.

Ensure to use any relevant discount codes during reservation to maximize your benefits.

Here’s a breakdown of the Rapid Rewards points you can earn with each car rental partner:

Remember to review your rental agreement to make sure your Rapid Rewards number is added to receive your Southwest points.

Planning a vacation with friends or family? You can even earn Rapid Rewards points by booking vacation packages through Southwest Vacations.

The package includes not only flights, but also accommodations, rental cars, and exciting activities. 

Southwest Vacation Packages helps you maximize your rewards by combining your travel essentials, allowing you to earn points while enjoying a stress-free and seamless travel experience. 

The number of Southwest points you earn depends on the package’s cost and ongoing promotions.

Points earned are typically calculated as base points per dollar spent, with additional bonus points available through promotional offers. 

Using a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card for payment can further increase your points.

Unlock the potential to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points for your next getaway with Southwest’s all-inclusive vacation packages!

While some hotel programs allow you to convert points to airline miles, the transfer ratios are often unfavorable.

However, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio, with an added bonus.

For every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred, you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 Rapid Rewards points.

For instance, transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points to Rapid Rewards yields 20,000 Rapid Rewards points + an extra 5,000 bonus points, totaling 25,000 Southwest points.

This conversion may not be the most efficient use of points unless you need Southwest points or have no immediate plans to use Marriott points for hotel stays.

Popular choices for Marriott Bonvoy credit card include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Members can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points effortlessly by shopping through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Online Shopping Portal.

It allows you to conveniently earn bonus points on purchases you would make anyway at popular retailers. 

How to earn Southwest points while shopping? Log in to the Southwest Shopping Portal and browse through the list of participating stores and their respective earn rates.

Then, select the store where you want to shop and click on the store’s link to proceed with your purchase. Your points will be posted to your account, once your transaction is complete.

• 1-800-Flowers : Earn 1,000 points for each order of $29.99 or more (Promo Code RR22)
• Harry & David : Earn 1,000 points for each order of $29.99 or more (Promo Code SW44)
• Home Chef : Earn 1,200 points per box (up to 5 boxes), plus get 10% off your first order
• Laithwaites : Earn 2,000 points on your first wine club case and 1,000 points on the next cases

To elevate your shopping experience, consider installing the Southwest add-on to your browser.

This tool notifies you of the earn rate at participating merchants directly, eliminating the need to visit the shopping portal each time you shop online.

Keep an eye out for special promotions on the Rapid Rewards Shopping website.

There are often bonus points for reaching specified spending thresholds, making it even more rewarding to shop through the portal.

Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points for booking Southwest flights is simple and offers excellent value.

Unlike other airlines, Southwest’s redemption rate aligns with the cash price of the fare – the more expensive the fare, the more points required for booking.

Southwest flights are categorized into four fare types—Business Select, Anytime, Wanna Get Away Plus, and Wanna Get Away—each redeemable with points.

All tickets include two free checked bags, no change fees, and reusable credits for canceled flights.

How to use Southwest points for flights? Simply, log in to your Rapid Rewards account on the Southwest website and ensure you select the ‘Points’ option for your search. Input your flight details including dates, destination, and number of passengers, and look for flight availability.

Take advantage of the Low Fare calendar if your dates are flexible. Choose your desired flight and enter the required details.

For flights booked with points, you’ll only pay the government taxes and fees, typically around $5.60. Add your Known Traveler Number for expedited security. 

Note that certain ticket types like senior, infant, child, military, and government fares cannot be purchased with points.

While Southwest Airlines doesn’t participate in traditional airline mileage transfer programs, it offers alternative redemption options through its transfer partners, including hotels and rental car companies. 

Southwest cardholders can use the Southwest More Rewards Program to redeem points for international flights with select partner airlines like Air France, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. 

However, it’s not ideal to transfer points to other airlines directly, as Southwest flights ensure maximum value and simplicity in redemption.

Members can even redeem their Southwest Rapid Rewards points for hotels and rental cars through the Southwest Rapid Rewards portal.

This offers flexibility but varies in redemption value compared to cash rates. 

Simply, choose Hotel Stay or Rental Car from the drop-down menu under Travel.

For hotel bookings, enter your destination, travel dates, number of rooms, and guests, then click search, and select your desired property. 

To reserve a rental car, provide pick-up/drop-off details, including times and dates, and specify preferences like car type.

It allows travelers to use their points not only for flights but also for accommodations and transportation.

The redemption value varies depending on factors like- location, time of booking, and availability.

Note that cancellations or changes to Southwest hotel bookings may incur a $35 fee. The price for the hotel stays and car rentals will be displayed in rapid Rewards points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders have the exclusive opportunity to use their Southwest points for special events and experiences through the Rapid Rewards Access Events program.

You can choose from a curated list of events ranging from wine tastings to destination getaways.

These events are limited in availability, making them highly sought-after for Southwest enthusiasts.

If you manage to secure tickets to an event that interests you like a concert, using your Rapid Rewards points can be a unique and rewarding way to redeem your points beyond flights.

Unlock unforgettable adventures and unique experiences using your Southwest points through the More Rewards portal.

Dive into a world of exciting activities, from relaxing spa packages to thrilling outdoor adventures like rafting, hiking, biking, kayaking, and rock climbing. 

Embark on a scenic cruise or explore new landscapes with jeep tours and horseback riding.

These travel experiences are a gateway to memorable journeys tailored to your interests and preferences.

To explore these options, visit the More Rewards portal and navigate to Shop All, then Experiences.

You will find a selection of travel experiences that offer a refreshing way to use your Southwest Rapid Rewards points beyond traditional redemptions

Wondering, how to use my Southwest Points other than travel. You can also redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points for a variety of gift cards and merchandise through the More Rewards portal. 

Treat yourself or others with popular brands like Kohl’s, Panera, Lowe’s, and Best Buy by redeeming your Southwest points for gift cards.

If you prefer merchandise, explore a wide range of categories, including electronics, fashion, health & beauty products, home goods, kids’ toys, sports items, and more.

To start shopping, go to the More Rewards portal and select ‘Shop All’ from the top menu bar.

Explore the items to pick what you can purchase using your points and add them to your cart. Each item is priced in Rapid Rewards points instead of dollars.

During checkout, you can decide how many points to apply towards your order, with the option to pay up to 25% of the item’s cost with a credit card.

Keep in mind that redemptions for gift cards and merchandise typically offer lower value compared to flight bookings.

You can redeem your Southwest points for charity by donating them to select organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Student Conservation Association.

Just visit Southwest’s donation page and follow the instructions to donate. It brings a sense of goodwill while you contribute to making a positive impact.