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Guide to Southwest Rapid Rewards program
Strong credit card earnings make for a generous reward program.
Whether you’re out on business or family trips, Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards program offers great value for a wide variety of travelers.
How much are Southwest points worth?
Southwest points are worth about 1.7 cents per point on average according to our valuation at the time of writing. The exact value depends on what you redeem them for.
Do Southwest points expire?
No, provided you maintain an active account by earning or redeeming points at least once every two years.
How do you earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Your two primary methods of earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points are by booking flights with Southwest and using a credit card that earns or transfers points to your Rapid Rewards account.
You can also earn points shopping or traveling with a Southwest partner.
Consider applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card if you want a headstart on point earnings. Chase is currently offering a promotional signup bonus of 40,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, and another 35,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months.
Learn more about earning and redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points
To learn more about how you can quickly earn Southwest points, check out our full earning guide. Once you’ve built your miles, compare your redemption options to find out which offers the best value for your points.
Our pick for a Southwest credit card
Compare Southwest Airlines credit cards
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.
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Loyalty program elite levels
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.
Upgrading your status
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 | 250 one-way qualifying flights OR 70,000 TQP |
Data obtained March 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Companion Pass
Though not a status level, flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 110,000 TQPs will earn you a Companion Pass.
Choose one person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees when you purchase or redeem points for a flight for the remainder of the year you earned the Companion Pass, and the following full calendar year.
Elite member benefits
A-List or A-List Preferred members get several new benefits on their Rapid Rewards account.
Bonus mile rates
| A-List | A-List Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Point earning bonus | 25% earning bonus | 100% earning bonus |
Data obtained March 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Flight benefits
A-List Preferred members get access to free inflight Wi-Fi.
Airport benefits
A-List and A-List preferred members have access to a few perks to help make the boarding process more enjoyable.
Priority boarding, priority check-in and free same-day standby can all make your trip a little easier. A-List Preferred members also get access to a dedicated phone line connected to customer service. For more information on Southwest Airlines priority boarding, check out our full guide.
Other cards that can earn Southwest Airlines points
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.
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Bottom line
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. Choose the credit card that best fits your travel and spending styles for the best value.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
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