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Our pick for a Southwest credit card: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Companion Pass
through 2/28/2022 when you meet requirements
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With no blackout dates on flight redemptions, redeeming your Rapid Rewards points on Southwest travel is one of the most valuable ways to use your reward earnings. And if you earn a Southwest Companion Certificate, you can effectively double the value of your points when you travel with a partner. Here are a few examples of where these points can take you, along with a few other useful ways to use those points.
Here are a few samples illustrating the points needed to book flights through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. These fares fluctuate throughout the year based on travel trends and when you book your flight. Especially notable are the “Wanna Get Away Fare” class tickets, which are a big value opportunity if you don’t mind their nonrefundable nature.
| Flight route | Business Select Fare | Anytime Fare | Wanna Get Away Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC to Los Angeles | 48,897 points | 46,323 points | 18,360 points |
| DC to the Bahamas | 48,897 points | 46,323 points | 18,360 points |
| DC to Cancun | 44,148 points | 41,964 points | 21,606 points |
Data obtained December 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Southwest points are worth between 0.5 and 1.7 cents per point, according to our valuation at the time of writing. The exact value depends on what you redeem them for.
No, provided you maintain an active account by earning or redeeming points at least once every two years.
There are many ways you can redeem Rapid Rewards, but flights are the best choice for maximizing your points’ value. We did the math to break down how much a single point is worth depending on which fare you redeem it on.
| Fare | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Wanna Get Away fares | 1.6 cents per point |
| Anytime fares | 1.1 cents per point |
| Business Select fares | 0.9 cents per point |
| International fares | 0.8 cents per point |
Data obtained December 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
You’ll find some of the best bang for your buck when redeeming your Rapid Rewards points for additional travel through Southwest Airlines. Their Wanna Get Away fares in particular offer a great value, with each point equaling about 1.6 cents on average.
You’ll get no cash refund on these flights, but Southwest will redeposit the points into your account if you paid entirely with points. These flights go fast, so you’ll want to act quickly if you see them.
Anytime fares are a close runner-up, providing 1.1 cents per point on average. Anytime fares run more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares, though they do allow for full refunds.
In terms of points value, Business Select fares offer about 0.9 cent per point, placing it third behind Southwest’s other fares. Unfortunately, these fares are higher priced compared to the others, meaning you’ll need to review your options carefully to use your points effectively.
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most coveted companion certificates on the market and for good reason: once you’ve earned it, you can use it for the remainder of the year and the entire following calendar year. By comparison, other airlines’ companion certificates typically last for just one flight.
This pass allows you to bring another passenger on your booked flights for just the cost of tax and fees. When we look at this through the lens of redeeming points, a companion pass essentially doubles the value of your Southwest points, which is a thunderous value play. And you can use this pass for an entire year at the least! The requirements to earn a Companion Pass are steep but well worth the effort if you and a partner travel often with Southwest.
If you’re a Southwest credit cardholder, you can redeem your Rapid Rewards points on more than just travel through a program called “More Rewards.” This program includes standard redemption options such as merchandise and gift cards through partnered retailers, as well as hotel bookings or international flights. However, Southwest has paused the More Rewards program as of December 2020, citing COVID-19-related challenges.
It’s a bummer to lose out on redemption options, but it’s not a huge loss: most of the redemption options through this program were worth far lower on average than the value gained on redemption for a flight.
| Redemption option | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Gift cards | 0.7 cents per point |
| Car rentals | 0.7 cents per point |
| Merchandise | 0.6 cents per point |
| Hotel | 0.2 cents per point |
| Experiences | Variable |
Data obtained December 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Unfortunately, Southwest Airlines isn’t part of an airline alliance. This means you can only redeem your Southwest points on flights with Southwest Airlines, unlike some other airline loyalty programs.
Rapid Rewards program members can earn Southwest points by booking flights through Southwest or making purchases with an eligible credit card or through the Southwest shopping portal. Credit cards are your best bet for quickly earning points and can play a big part in helping you earn a Companion Pass. You can check out our full earning guide for more earning tips and information.
Booking a certain number of flights in a calendar year or earning a certain number of tier qualifying points can qualify you for Southwest’s A-List and A-List Preferred status. Being an A-List member earns you a percentage bonus on your Rapid Reward points earnings.
| Tier | Flights required | Percentage bonus |
|---|---|---|
| A-List |
| 25% bonus points |
| A-List Preferred |
| 100% bonus points |
Southwest Airlines cobranded cards earn Rapid Rewards points directly on your purchases, while also offering unique card perks such as Companion Pass access and annual bonus points on your cardmember anniversary.
If you want to build your Rapid Rewards points without committing to a Southwest Airlines card, Chase allows you to transfer its Ultimate Rewards points from premium cards to Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. In fact, depending on your spending and travel habits, you might find it easier to build Rapid Rewards points using a Chase card.
If you often fly Southwest Airlines, the Rapid Rewards program is a straightforward way to earn points toward airfare, hotels and more, especially if you’re an A-List member or in a higher tier.
With a cobranded card or a premium Chase card, you stand to earn even more rewards on your purchases. Review your options to find the Rapid Rewards card that best fits your spending and travel needs.
How do I claim Rapid Rewards points?
Log in to your Southwest Airlines account to manage your points.
Can I get Rapid Rewards for past flights?
Yes. You can request credit for past travel up to 12 months after your flight.
Is buying Southwest points worth it?
It depends. While you can buy Rapid Rewards points for about 3 cents each, the average value of each point is 1.6 cents when redeemed, according to the Rapid Rewards site.
Do Southwest points reset?
Yes. Your Rapid Rewards points expire after 24 months of no activity on your account.
Pictures: Getty Images
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