{"id":204053,"date":"2025-04-01T20:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T20:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=204053\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:12:16","slug":"flights-to-tokyo-april-fools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/flights-to-tokyo-april-fools\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Launches Flights to Tokyo for Just 7,500 Points \u2014 With a Catch"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a bold move blending aggressive expansion and creative routing, Southwest has announced its first-ever service to Tokyo \u2014 with award prices starting at just 7,500 Rapid Rewards points.<\/p>\n

The catch? You\u2019ll need to make six stops along the way.<\/p>\n

According to a Southwest spokesperson, the new Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) route is \u201cdesigned to maximize both customer value and aircraft utilization,\u201d with stops including: Houston (HOU), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Honolulu (HNL), and Guam (GUM):<\/p>\n

\"Faked<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to our new variable award pricing<\/a>, you can score this globe-trotting itinerary for as low as 7,500 points,\u201d the rep said. \u201cOf course, actual pricing may vary based on demand, weather, and the current whims of our new corporate overlords.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can't stomach that many stops? You can book a more direct routing (Dallas to Seattle to Anchorage to Haneda) for a whopping 37,500 points \u2014 assuming you\u2019re okay with a 12-hour layover in Anchorage and the occasional refueling stop in the Aleutian Islands.<\/p>\n

Due to crew scheduling, travelers must disembark and collect their bags at each stop. After rechecking bags, travelers will reboard. That means seating will reset on every segment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe this gives each customer a fresh chance to play the middle seat lottery,\u201d the airline said.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Southwest is calling the new program Global Hopscotch\u2122<\/strong>, and executives say it may roll out to other international destinations in the future. Early testing is underway for:<\/p>\n