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Our pick for earning Southwest points: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
40,000-point
Signup bonus after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
Weekly tips sent straight to your inbox
Southwest has made several adjustments to the Rapid Rewards program in response to travel difficulties brought on by COVID-19. A few of the biggest changes include:
Other changes include extensions to travel fund expiration dates and the option to covert said funds into Rapid Rewards points. You can check out all of the requirements and details of these updates at the Southwest COVID-19 resources page.
| Points are worth | 1.5 cents |
| Transfer partners | N/A |
| Earn points by | Eligible credit card spending, Southwest flights, Book at partner hotels, Eligible car rentals, Dine at eligible restaurants, Shopping at partner stores, Marathon gas stations |
| Redeem points on | Southwest flights, Gift cards, Merchandise, Hotel stays, Car rentals |
The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is Southwest Airlines’ loyalty program. By booking flights and earning points, you can redeem your earnings on flights, gift cards and more. Like other airline loyalty programs, you can also earn some additional travel perks if you progress through the program’s status levels.
There are many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. For most members, the biggest sources of points will come from flying with Southwest Airlines and spending with eligible credit cards. However, there are other options, including dining with dining partners or shopping at partnered retailers. For a full breakdown of your options and earning strategies, check out our full Southwest Rapid Rewards earning guide.
No, so long as you maintain an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account. You can keep your account active by earning or redeeming points at least once every two years. Credit card purchases that earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points count toward this activity.
Southwest’s cobranded credit cards not only improve your regular point earnings, but help you build tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status. Earning a status improves your baseline Rapid Rewards point rate, making a cobranded card a great choice if Southwest is your preferred airline.
Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them by logging in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. If you want to know which redemption options give you the best value for your points through a Southwest award chart, check out our Southwest redemption guide.
Rapid Rewards members can earn two status levels: A-List and A-List Preferred. Earning either offers a great earning bonus on your points, along with a few handy travel perks.
To earn an A-List or A-List Preferred status, you’ll need to meet certain requirements on flights or tier qualifying points (TQP).
| Status | Requirements |
|---|---|
| A-List | 25 one-way qualifying flights OR 35,000 TQP |
| A-List Preferred | 50 one-way qualifying flights OR 70,000 TQP |
Data obtained October 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Though not a status level, flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 125,000 TQPs will earn you a Companion Pass.
Companion Passes are a popular and sought after benefit in loyalty programs as they allow you to choose one person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. The Southwest Rapid Rewards companion pass is especially valuable compared to other airlines, as it includes all flights purchased for the remainder of the year you earned the Companion Pass, and the following full calendar year.
A-List or A-List Preferred members get several new benefits on their Rapid Rewards account.
| A-List | A-List Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Point earning bonus | 25% earning bonus | 100% earning bonus |
| Free inflight Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Priority boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Priority check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Same-day standby | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated customer service phone line | Yes | Yes |
Data obtained October 2020. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards series allow you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to your Rapid Rewards account at a 1:1 ratio. Since they’re not specifically designed for travel, these cards can open up your earning options.
With a good selection of credit cards for earning points and solid redemption options, Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program can fit the needs of everyone from die-hard Southwest fliers to those who just want to cash in on a great flight opportunity. But the Southwest Companion Pass is the real end-game and well worth the effort if you often fly Southwest. Choose the credit card that best fits your travel and spending styles to start earning.
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