{"id":136429,"date":"2026-04-23T20:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T20:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=136429"},"modified":"2026-04-24T12:54:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:54:58","slug":"chase-travel-southwest-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/chase-travel-southwest-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Chase Points for Southwest Flights: Transfer to Rapid Rewards vs. Booking Through Chase Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Southwest flights are now bookable through the Chase Travel\u2120 portal<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 giving Ultimate Rewards users a way to redeem points for one of the most popular domestic airlines.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean it's a good option.<\/p>\n

Depending on the flight, your card, and how you redeem, you could get better value by transferring points to Southwest instead \u2014 or by booking through the portal. Add in differences in flexibility, pricing, and earning potential, and the \u201cright\u201d choice isn\u2019t always obvious.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to decide when to book Southwest flights through Chase Travel \u2014 and when you\u2019re better off booking another way.<\/p>\n

Two Ways To Use Chase Points for Southwest Flights<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since Southwest is a Chase transfer partner<\/a>, you can convert Ultimate Rewards points into Southwest Rapid Rewards<\/a> at a 1:1 ratio. These transfers are usually instant<\/a>, which makes it easy to book flights directly with Southwest using points.<\/p>\n

But Chase also offers another way to redeem points for Southwest flights: booking through the Chase Travel portal<\/a>. In many cases, transferring points provides better value, but there are some scenarios where using the portal is worth considering. And we'll show you when that is.<\/p>\n

\"Overhead
Credit: David Syphers\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Related: Can You Book Low-Cost Carriers With Amex, Capital One, Chase, or Citi Points?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

When Booking Southwest Flights Through Chase Travel Makes Sense<\/span><\/h2>\n

One major advantage of booking Southwest flights through Chase Travel is that the ticket counts as a revenue fare, so you\u2019ll earn Rapid Rewards points when you fly. Members earn Rapid Rewards points based on the fare type purchased and any elite status held, with higher fares and status levels earning more points per dollar.<\/p>\n

For Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> (Rates & Fees<\/a>) cardholders, using the portal can also provide value. Points are redeemable at up to 2 cents each, which in some cases beats the value you'll otherwise unlock by transferring points. Ordinarily, AwardWallet users redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for 1.52\u00a2 apiece<\/a>, though this value can fluctuate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But to showcase an example, let's look at this Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver (DEN) flight. If you book directly through Southwest, the Choice fare costs 16,500 Rapid Rewards points plus $5.60 \u2014 or $197 if you book it wholly with cash.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a unimpressive redemption rate of about 1.16 cents per point \u2014 which may be less than what a Sapphire Reserveholder could get by booking through the portal. These redemption values have become more dynamic, as Southwest is now requiring more points per dollar<\/a> for higher-demand flights.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest
Screenshot of Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Depending on the flight, booking with Chase could still provide a reasonable value. Chase replaced a fixed redemption value on certain cards with Points Boost<\/a> in 2025. What that means is that Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> cardholders can now get up to 2 cents per point on boosted flights. Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (Rates & Fees<\/a>) and Ink Business Preferred\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/a> members can get up to 1.5 cents apiece on economy flights in the travel portal.<\/p>\n

\"Chase<\/div><\/div>
Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div>
Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div>
Apply Now<\/a><\/div>
Annual Fee<\/strong>

$95Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>

Credit Score<\/strong>

Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div>