{"id":52095,"date":"2025-07-19T12:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T12:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=52095"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:19:07","slug":"southwest-rapid-rewards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Rapid Rewards Guide: How the 2025 Changes Are Reshaping the Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Southwest Rapid Rewards long stood out as one of the most consumer-friendly airline loyalty programs in the U.S. Policies like no change or cancellation fees, two free checked bags, and the legendary <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/how-to-earn-southwest-companion-pass\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Companion Pass<\/a> helped Southwest build a reputation as a fan favorite &#8212; especially among families and casual travelers. But starting in early 2025, the Southwest that many travelers knew and loved has changed forever.<\/p>\n<p>In recent months, the airline has quietly <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-slashes-earning-rates\/\" rel=\"noopener\">slashed earning rates on its most-popular fares<\/a>, rolled out <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/variable-award-pricing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">variable award pricing<\/a>, and most notably, started <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-baggage-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">charging for checked bags<\/a> \u2014 all while introducing basic fares and shortened expiration windows for travel credits. These moves mark a stark pivot for a brand once built on transparency and value.<\/p>\n<p>So what does that mean for Rapid Rewards? Is it still a program to engage with? And how do you utilize Raid Rewards points to their full potential? This guide explores every aspect of the Rapid Rewards program as it stands today.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_Overview\">Southwest Rapid Rewards Overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_To_Sign_Up_for_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards\">How To Sign Up for Southwest Rapid Rewards<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Track_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_in_AwardWallet\">Track Southwest Rapid Rewards in AwardWallet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Best_Ways_To_Earn_Rapid_Rewards_Points\">Best Ways To Earn Rapid Rewards Points<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_credit_cards\">Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Transfer_points_from_Chase_Ultimate_Rewards_Bilt_Rewards_or_hotel_partners\">Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, or hotel partners<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Earn_points_flying_Southwest\">Earn points flying Southwest<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_promos\">Southwest promos<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Hotels\">Southwest Hotels<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_hotel_partners\">Southwest hotel partners<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Rapid_Rewards_rental_car_partners\">Rapid Rewards rental car partners<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Rapid_Rewards_Shopping_Portal\">Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Rapid_Rewards_Dining\">Rapid Rewards Dining<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Shopping_dining_lifestyle_partners\">Shopping, dining & lifestyle partners<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Purchase_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Purchase Southwest Rapid Rewards points<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_you_transfer_points_between_members\">Can you transfer points between members?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_To_Use_Southwest_Points\">How To Use Southwest Points<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Value_of_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Redeem_points_for_Southwest_flights\">Redeem points for Southwest flights.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_More_Rewards\">Southwest More Rewards<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Fees_Rules_Restrictions\">Southwest Fees, Rules & Restrictions<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Changescancellations\">Changes\/cancellations<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Other_booking_fees_rules\">Other booking fees & rules<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Routing_rules\">Routing rules<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Award_sweet_spots\">Award sweet spots<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_Fabled_Southwest_Companion_Pass\">The Fabled Southwest Companion Pass<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Elite_Status\">Southwest Elite Status<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_FAQ\">Southwest Rapid Rewards FAQ<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Is_it_free_to_join_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards\">Is it free to join Southwest Rapid Rewards?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_do_I_find_my_Rapid_Rewards_member_number\">How do I find my Rapid Rewards member number?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_buy_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Can I buy Southwest Rapid Rewards points?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Do_Rapid_Rewards_points_expire\">Do Rapid Rewards points expire?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_do_I_earn_a_Southwest_Companion_Pass\">How do I earn a Southwest Companion Pass?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_you_transfer_points_to_another_Rapid_Rewards_member\">Can you transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_Overview\">Southwest Rapid Rewards Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Established in 1967, Southwest Airlines is a big name in the U.S. travel market. <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In 2024, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier flew more than 140 million passengers to 117 destinations in 11 countries, making it one of the world's largest low-cost carriers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Southwest is unique on several counts. For starters, it historically hasn't partnered or codeshared with any other carriers. But even that's changing. In 2025, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/airlines\/southwest-icelandair-partnership\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest partnered with Icelandair<\/a>, making it the first such partnership in Southwest's history. Southwest has since announced a partnership with China Airlines and has teased more airline partnerships coming in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>The Southwest boarding process also sets it apart \u2014 but not for much longer. Rather than assigning passengers a seat, Southwest assigns them a boarding position. Passengers then line up in order (at least they are supposed to) and take any available seat once onboard the Boeing 737. And it's <em>always<\/em> a Boeing 737; Southwest only operates one aircraft type.<\/p>\n<p><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/253\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-39878 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/southwest-rapid-rewards-e1571098971739.png\" alt=\"a Southwest plane in flight; the airline's loyalty program is Rapid Rewards\" width=\"600\" height=\"253\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/southwest-rapid-rewards-e1571098971739.png 830w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/southwest-rapid-rewards-e1571098971739-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/southwest-rapid-rewards-e1571098971739-768x324.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-assigned-seats\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's contentious boarding process is changing<\/a>, with assigned seats and extra legroom options coming in 2026. In a year of many changes, this might be the most drastic change at Southwest yet.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, you didn't have to worry about being nickel-and-dimed with Southwest. Even the cheapest &#8220;Wanna Get Away&#8221; fares included two free checked bags per flyer. <strong>But as of May 28, 2025, all that has changed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Under <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-baggage-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's new bag policy<\/a>, you'll now pay $35 for your first bag, and $45 for your second, on all but the most expensive Southwest fares. Only passengers flying on a Business Select fare or with top-tier A-List Preferred status get two free checked bags. Those with A-List status or who hold a Southwest co-branded credit card get one.<\/p>\n<p>Even the Southwest frequent flyer program was unique. Southwest used a fixed-but-fair redemption model where the number of points required for an award redemption was directly tied to the fare price. But with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/variable-award-pricing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest launching variable award pricing in late March 2025,<\/a> that's no longer the case.<\/p>\n<p>The best part of Southwest Rapid Rewards is arguably its fabled <a href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/how-to-earn-southwest-companion-pass\/\">Southwest Companion Pass<\/a>, which has remained relatively unchanged (at least for now). This perk can save you thousands of dollars per year if you regularly travel with a companion.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"How_to_Track_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_in_AwardWallet\"><span id=\"How_To_Sign_Up_for_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards\">How To Sign Up for Southwest Rapid Rewards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before you can earn or redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points, you'll need to sign up for Rapid Rewards. The easiest way to do so is to head to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/account\/enroll\/enroll-member?clk=HELP-CENTER\" rel=\"noopener\">southwest.com\/enroll<\/a>. You'll need to provide personal information to create a Southwest account, including your first name, last name, date of birth, gender, address, phone number, and email address. You'll also create a username and set your password. If desired, you can opt in to receive Southwest news and promotions.<\/p>\n<p>Signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards is completely free. Besides enrolling online, you can download the Southwest Airlines mobile app and use it to enroll in Rapid Rewards. You can use either to enroll your kids as well.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Track_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_in_AwardWallet\">Track Southwest Rapid Rewards in AwardWallet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>We encourage everyone to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/register?ref=235\" rel=\"noopener\">sign up for an AwardWallet account<\/a> to track their miles and points balances all in one place. However, Southwest doesn't allow AwardWallet to track your points balance and travel reservations directly. It's unfortunate, but that doesn't mean you're totally out of luck. You still can use AwardWallet in conjunction with Southwest Rapid Rewards \u2014 it just involves forwarding some emails.<\/p>\n<p>To use AwardWallet to track your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, follow these steps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Link your email address to AwardWallet.<\/strong>\u00a0If you <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/features\/connect-your-mailbox-to-awardwallet\/\" rel=\"noopener\">connect your email to AwardWallet<\/a>, we will automatically parse the information from your Southwest emails and update your balance and trips in AwardWallet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forward all Southwest emails to your assigned AwardWallet email address (YourAwardWalletUsername@AwardWallet.com).<\/strong> You can do this either by configuring your mailbox to do it automatically. Or, more simply, by changing the email in your Rapid Rewards account to your AwardWallet email. Don't worry, AwardWallet will automatically forward everything received to the email address you have on file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200232\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/382\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200232 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.54.59\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines Edit Email\" width=\"750\" height=\"382\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.54.59\u202fPM.png 1494w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.54.59\u202fPM-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.54.59\u202fPM-1024x521.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.54.59\u202fPM-768x391.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Opt in to receive Rapid Rewards statements. <\/strong>This ensures that you (and AwardWallet) receive regular updates on the status of your Rapid Rewards account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"598\/318\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200233 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.57.10\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest Email subscriptions\" width=\"598\" height=\"318\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.57.10\u202fPM.png 598w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.57.10\u202fPM-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/features\/track-delta-united-southwest-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Track Delta, Southwest, United Accounts in AwardWallet<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Best_Ways_to_Earn_Rapid_Rewards_Points\"><span id=\"Best_Ways_To_Earn_Rapid_Rewards_Points\">Best Ways To Earn Rapid Rewards Points<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The most straightforward way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points is to fly with Southwest Airlines. However, there are several other ways to earn points, including co-branded Southwest credit cards, transferring flexible points to Rapid Rewards, and spending with any of several partner programs. We cover each of these below.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_Personal_Credit_Cards\"><span id=\"Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_credit_cards\">Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The easiest, and arguably best, way to earn Rapid Rewards points is with a <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\">Southwest credit card<\/a>. Southwest offers three personal credit cards and two business credit cards. All five cards are issued by Chase and offer varying levels of perks and benefits. Their annual fees for the personal cards range from $99 to $229.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-chase\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card' data-ccid=\"520080\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$99<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=eeebb8c9437236c44d9162bd1222ba2b&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPremierCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Premier Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Premier Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 55,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$149<\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048122\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestAirlinesRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$229<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005153&type=3&u1=8179383abf9f1977e2bef5a4b57795b2&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>The two business cards have annual fees of $149 and $299. One excellent perk offered by the Southwest Performance Business Card is its Wi-Fi credits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-2 compare-p-chase\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPremierBusinessCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Premier Business Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Premier Business Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Premier Business Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048107\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestAirlinesRapidRewardsPremierBusinessCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$149<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048107\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005152&type=3&u1=8d0c1e17ebcac4f4284d88c46fa80178&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>3X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPerformanceBusinessCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048165\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSouthwestPerformanceBusinessCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$299<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005149&type=3&u1=0c7f309360077142bb96a7d074175f07&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on rideshare<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>With these signup bonuses, it's easy to build a substantial balance of Rapid Rewards points. <strong>Plus, points earned via Southwest credit cards count towards the beloved Companion Pass.<\/strong> Between a signup bonus and a regular amount of spending, you can unlock flying two for the price of one in no time at all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related:\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Choose the Right Southwest Airlines Credit Card<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Transfer_Points_From_Chase_Ultimate_Rewards_or_Marriott_Bonvoy\"><span id=\"Transfer_points_from_Chase_Ultimate_Rewards_Bilt_Rewards_or_hotel_partners\">Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, or hotel partners<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In addition to co-branded cards, Southwest partners with two potentially worthwhile transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and a few hotel partners &#8212; including Marriott Bonvoy. That means you can earn points with Chase or Bilt and transfer them to Southwest when you're ready to redeem points for your next trip.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transfer-times\"><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-head tt-from\">From<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-to\">To<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-ratio\">Transfer Ratio<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-mintransfer\">Min.Transfer<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-avg\">Average Time<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/chase-transfer-partners\/?cid=transfer-times-transfer&mid=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chase (Ultimate Rewards)<\/a><\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">1,000:1,250<div class=\"tt-bonus\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/southwest-transfer-bonus\/\">30% transfer bonus through June 5, 2026.<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">-<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-immediate\">Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/marriott-bonvoy\/marriott-transfer-partners\/?cid=transfer-times-transfer&mid=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">3:1<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">3,000<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-days\">1 day - 2 days<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-transfer-partners\/?cid=transfer-times-transfer&mid=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Rewards<\/a><\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">1,000:1,000<div class=\"tt-bonus\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/bilt-rewards\/transfer-bilt-points-southwest\/\">Transfer partner added April 24, 2025<\/a>.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">2,000<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-unknown\">Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div>Diners Club (Club Rewards)<\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">1,500:1,200<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">-<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-unknown\">Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Given Marriott's less-than-stellar transfer ratio and processing time, your best bet is to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/transfer-chase-points-to-southwest\/\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer Ultimate Rewards to Southwest<\/a>&#8230;maybe. Given the recent changes to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, you may not get the same value out of your Chase points with Southwest as you could by simply booking through the Chase Travel portal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/transfer-chase-points-to-southwest\/\" rel=\"noopener\">When Should You Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don't write off the partnership! Holding a combination of Chase cards is even better for earning Rapid Rewards points over the long term than holding Southwest cards. Cards like the <a data-ccid=\"3006090\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseFreedomUnlimited\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Chase Freedom Unlimited<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>  (<a data-ccid=\"3006090\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1993744.10005134&type=3&subid=0391f25f90bffae5f5475ad6c30100601&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) typically earn points at a far superior rate on everyday spending. When <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/how-to-combine-chase-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">paired with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card<\/a>, you can transfer the points needed for your flight.<\/p>\n<p>The downside when transferring points to Southwest is that they <strong>don't<\/strong> count toward the Companion Pass. Keep that in mind if earning one is a priority for you.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest also partners with a few other transfer partners with ratios not worth considering unless you're desperate to top off your account:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transfer-times\"><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-head tt-from\">From<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-to\">To<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-ratio\">Transfer Ratio<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-mintransfer\">Min.Transfer<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-avg\">Average Time<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div>Best Western (Rewards)<\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">5,000:1,200<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">-<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-unknown\">Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div>Choice Hotels (Choice Privileges)<\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">1,000:300<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">6,000<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-unknown\">Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div>Hyatt (World of Hyatt)<\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div>Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">1,250:600<div class=\"tt-bonus\">Bonus for transferring 50,000+ points<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">5,000<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-unknown\">Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"Flying_Southwest\"><span id=\"Earn_points_flying_Southwest\">Earn points flying Southwest<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you fly a Southwest itinerary booked with cash (or via the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/chase-travel-portal\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Chase Travel\u2120 Portal<\/a>), you can credit the flight to your Rapid Rewards account to earn redeemable and A-List qualifying points. The number of points earned depends on the price of the ticket, your elite status, and the type of fare booked.<\/p>\n<p>The four fare classes from cheapest to most expensive are Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select. Here are the Rapid Rewards-earning rates for each <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-slashes-earning-rates\/\" rel=\"noopener\">after the recent changes<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-247\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-247 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Southwest Point Earnings<br \/>\nby Fare Class<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Rapid Rewards Member<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">A-List<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">A-List Preferred<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Basic<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">2 points per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2.5 pts per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">4 pts per dollar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Choice<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">6 points per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">7.5 pts per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">12 pts per dollar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Choice Preferred<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">10 points per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">12.5 pts per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">20 pts per dollar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Choice Extra<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">14 points per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">17.5 pts per dollar<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">28 pts per dollar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Likewise, the higher your status, the more points you earn per dollar spent. That means that the highest earning rate goes to A-List Preferred members booking Business Select fares. For example, a $300 Business Select fare would net an A-List Preferred member 8,400 Rapid Rewards points.<\/p>\n<p>Other than the point-earning rate, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/air\/fare-information.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">differences between the fares<\/a> include increased ticket flexibility, boarding priority, included checked bags, and free drink vouchers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_211890\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/266\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-211890 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-01-at-6.55.42\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"southwest new fare inclusions\" width=\"900\" height=\"266\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-01-at-6.55.42\u202fAM.png 1252w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-01-at-6.55.42\u202fAM-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-01-at-6.55.42\u202fAM-1024x303.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-01-at-6.55.42\u202fAM-768x227.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Promos\"><span id=\"Southwest_promos\">Southwest promos<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Southwest does a great job of engaging Rapid Rewards members with regular promotional offerings. These make it even easier for frequent flyers to earn enough points for their next redemption. Historically, Southwest promotions have included a wide range of ways to earn points and status. Examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/credit-card-promotions\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bonus Southwest Points on credit card spending<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/credit-cards\/chase-cardholder-promotions\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bonus Southwest Points in select categories<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/chase-cardholder-elite-status-promotion\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Double Companion Pass Qualifying points in select categories<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It's not uncommon for the airline to offer multiple promos at the same time.\u00a0If you want to stay up to date with Southwest promos, check out our regularly updated post covering <a href=\"\/news\/loyalty-program-promotions\/\">reward program promotions<\/a>. We gather every promotion in one place, allowing you to filter by reward program. You can also use the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/features\/awardwallet-promo-tracking-tool\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AwardWallet promotion tracker<\/a> to get notified of offers from programs you're interested in.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Hotels\"><span id=\"Southwest_Hotels\">Southwest Hotels<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Did you know that Southwest has its own hotel booking portal? Powered by Booking.com, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-hotels\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Hotels<\/a> allows Rapid Rewards members to earn bonus points for booking a room via the portal. You can book hotels all over the world, not just in destinations served by Southwest Airlines.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200236\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/470\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200236 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines hotel search\" width=\"750\" height=\"470\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM.png 1658w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM-1024x641.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-12.59.47\u202fPM-1536x962.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Some properties offer more points than others. Moreover, Southwest typically gives you the option to pay a small premium for more bonus points when selecting your room. You'll always earn at least one point per dollar spent.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200237\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/292\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200237 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest bonus points on hotel booking\" width=\"600\" height=\"292\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM.png 2222w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-1024x498.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-768x373.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-1536x747.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-2048x995.png 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.00.56\u202fPM-823x400.png 823w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>With this example, $40 extra can get you 2,000 more Rapid Rewards points<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>The best part? Points earned through Southwest Hotels <strong>count towards Companion Pass qualification<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Hotel_Partners\"><span id=\"Southwest_hotel_partners\">Southwest hotel partners<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In addition to its own hotel portal, Southwest also maintains working partnerships with six other hotel loyalty programs. Each hotel partner has a unique points-earning and transfer rate:<\/p>\n<p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-248\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-248 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Hotel Partner<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Earn Points<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Transfer Points<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hyatt<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">600 RR points per stay<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5,000 Hyatt points -&gt; 2,400 RR points<br \/>\nor<br \/>\n50,000 Hyatt points -&gt; 30,000 RR points<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Best Western<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Varies<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5,000 Best Western Rewards -&gt; 1,200 RR points<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Radisson<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">10:1 ratio (100,000 Radisson points = 10,000 RR points)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Choice Hotels<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6,000 Choice points -&gt; 1,800 RR points<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Marriott<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">600 RR points per stay<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">3:1 ratio, plus a 5,000 point bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">MGM Resorts<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">600 RR points per stay<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p><img data-aspectratio=\"740\/370\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.02.16\u202fPM\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-200240 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.02.16\u202fPM.png\"  width=\"740\" height=\"370\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.02.16\u202fPM.png 740w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.02.16\u202fPM-300x150.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, none of these earning or transfer rates are incredibly lucrative. Unlike points earned from the Southwest Hotels portal, points transferred or earned from hotel partners <strong>do not<\/strong> count toward Companion Pass qualification. Therefore, unless you have zero interest in points with certain hotel brands, you're better off earning hotel points and transferring to Southwest only as a last resort.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Rapid_Rewards_Rental_Car_Partners\"><span id=\"Rapid_Rewards_rental_car_partners\">Rapid Rewards rental car partners<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/rapid-rewards\/partners\/rental-cars\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's car rental partners<\/a> function much like its hotel partners. As of this writing, Southwest members can earn <strong>600 Rapid Rewards points per qualifying rental<\/strong> with any of these partners. With that said, each partner has unique terms and conditions, including frequent-flyer surcharges and consecutive rental policies. Make sure you check these out before you make a reservation.<\/p>\n<p><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/346\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-53513 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-15-at-12.07.19-AM.png\" alt=\"Southwest car rental partners\" width=\"750\" height=\"346\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-15-at-12.07.19-AM.png 698w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-15-at-12.07.19-AM-300x138.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Rapid_Rewards_Shopping_Portal\"><span id=\"Rapid_Rewards_Shopping_Portal\">Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you're building up your Rapid Rewards point balance, you need to know about the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/rapidrewardsshopping.southwest.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal<\/a>. It operates like most major <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/shopping\/beginners-guide-to-shopping-portals\/\" rel=\"noopener\">online shopping portals<\/a>. You can search for online retailers (there are over 1,100 on the portal), click through the shopping portal link, and make a qualifying purchase to earn bonus points.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the store, you can earn anywhere between 1 and 20 points per dollar spent. Plus, certain stores offer special bonuses for meeting specific criteria, including bonuses as high as 20,800 points!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200242\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/168\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200242 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest Shopping Portal Screenshots\" width=\"900\" height=\"168\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM.png 2624w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM-300x56.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM-1024x191.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM-768x143.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM-1536x287.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.04.06\u202fPM-2048x382.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>If you have used other shopping portals, the layout and functionality will feel familiar. In fact, many of the airlines offer similar (or identical) bonuses, leaving you to choose which currency you want to collect. Not sure which rewards program offers the best deal? Double-check shopping portal rates with an aggregator like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashbackmonitor.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cashbackmonitor.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Points earned via the Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal <strong>count<\/strong> <strong>toward Companion Pass qualification<\/strong>. It's also worth noting that the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/airlines\/shopping-portal-bonuses\/\" rel=\"noopener\">regularly offers bonuses<\/a> for certain spending activities.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Rapid_Rewards_Dining\"><span id=\"Rapid_Rewards_Dining\">Rapid Rewards Dining<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Southwest's <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/shopping\/dining-rewards-programs\/#Southwest_Airlines\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards Dining program<\/a> is very simple yet effective. <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">First,\u00a0<\/span><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rapidrewardsdining.com\/Join\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">register your Rapid Rewards account<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and choose to opt in to receive email offers (it's not mandatory but is a good idea).<\/span> If you do opt in, you can earn three points per dollar spent at participating restaurants. If you don't opt in, you'll earn one point for every two dollars spent. Occasionally, Rapid Rewards Dining will offer bonus points to new members.<\/p>\n<p>To find a participating restaurant, you can filter by location or search by name. You never know \u2014 your family's favorite spot might participate! Plus, points earned via Rapid Rewards dining <strong>count toward Companion Pass qualification<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The best part of a dining program is that it's another means of\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/shopping\/how-to-stack-rewards-promotions\/\" rel=\"noopener\">stacking your point earnings<\/a>. For example, if you earn three points per dollar with Rapid Rewards Dining, you can stack that with points earned using a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-credit-card-for-dining\/\" rel=\"noopener\">great credit card for restaurant purchases<\/a>. Conversely, you could use a Southwest card like the <a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestAirlinesRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Southwest Priority Card<\/a> to double up your Southwest earnings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/shopping\/dining-rewards-programs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Beginners Guide to Using Dining Programs for Easy Points and Miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Shopping_Dining_and_Lifestyle_Partners\"><span id=\"Shopping_dining_lifestyle_partners\">Shopping, dining & lifestyle partners<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you need some flowers, wine, or a new energy service provider, you may be able to earn bonus points with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/rapidrewards\/partners\/shop-and-dine\/index.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's shopping, dining, and lifestyle partners<\/a>. Essentially, these are the partnerships that don't fit neatly into another category. They include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/rapidrewards\/partners\/shop-and-dine\/1800Flowers.html\" rel=\"noopener\">1-800Flowers.com<\/a>:<\/strong> Flower delivery<\/li>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/rapidrewards\/partners\/shop-and-dine\/laithwaiteswine.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Laithwaites<\/a>:<\/strong> Wine delivery specialists<\/li>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/rapidrewards\/partners\/shop-and-dine\/harryanddavid.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Harry & David<\/a>:<\/strong> Hand-crafted delights and gourmet gifts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are niche ways to earn points, yet they are still worth considering if you happen to be in the market. Just make sure to read the terms carefully to decide if the value proposition is adequate.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, points earned with any of these partners <strong>do count<\/strong> towards Companion Pass qualification.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_51533\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/481\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-51533 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"a Southwest plane in flight\" width=\"600\" height=\"481\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-1024x820.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-1536x1231.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-2048x1641.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Southwest-plane-featured-nick-morales-unsplash-e1597473126683-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Nick Morales\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"Purchase_Southwest_Points\"><span id=\"Purchase_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Purchase Southwest Rapid Rewards points<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If all else fails and you need points now, you can always <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BuySouthwestRapidRewards\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">buy Southwest points<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Without a promotion, Southwest sells Rapid Rewards points at the mediocre-to-terrible rate of 3\u00a2 each. That's nearly double <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/point-mile-values\/Southwest\" rel=\"noopener\">the 1.52\u00a2 per point that AwardWallet users get<\/a> during an average redemption. Without a promotion, buying Southwest points should be your very last resort.<\/p>\n<p>With a promotion, though, the value proposition can improve drastically. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/buy-southwest-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest buy points promotions<\/a> can occasionally bring the price down to the neighborhood of 1.5\u00a2 per point. While that's not a terrible purchase rate, it's still certainly not ideal. You'll occasionally find a redemption where you can get more value for your points than the cost of buying them. However, make sure you consider the fact that you're giving up earning Rapid Rewards points when flying if you purchase points to redeem for award travel.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the only time it might make sense to buy Southwest Rapid Rewards points is if you're in a pinch and need a few more points to make a valuable redemption.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_you_transfer_points_between_members\"><span id=\"Can_you_transfer_points_between_members\">Can you transfer points between members?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The short answer is: yes, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/account\/rapidrewards\/points\/transfer-points\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer points<\/a>, though it'll cost you. Southwest charges a transfer fee of <strong>1\u00a2 per point <\/strong>&#8212; which all but wipes out the value. Additionally, you have to transfer points in increments of 1,000. Due to the cost, it's rarely worth transferring points between members.<\/p>\n<p>If you're looking to book travel for someone else, there's an easy solution: Just book their ticket using your Rapid Rewards balance. Southwest allows you to book travel for anyone using your points. In the booking process, simply put the name and Rapid Rewards number of the person for whom you're booking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/which-programs-allow-free-points-sharing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Which Rewards Programs Let You Pool Points and Miles With Others for Free?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"How_to_Use_Southwest_Points\"><span id=\"How_To_Use_Southwest_Points\">How To Use Southwest Points<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Points_Value\"><span id=\"Value_of_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Similar to what <a href=\"\/airlines\/delta-skymiles\/best-ways-to-use-delta-miles\/\">Delta<\/a> and <a href=\"\/airlines\/united-mileageplus\/\">United<\/a> have rolled out over the past several years, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/variable-award-pricing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest recently adopted variable award pricing<\/a>. As the cash price of tickets fluctuates up and down, so do award prices.<\/p>\n<p>Note that Southwest redemptions are no longer tied to the base fare. In the past, Southwest used to peg the value of Southwest points directly to the base fare of a flight. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-devaluation-2024\/\" rel=\"noopener\">After a 2024 devaluation<\/a>, members generally needed to redeem 86 points per $1 of base fare.<\/p>\n<p>However, that's gone. Now, Southwest prices awards however it wants to. In initial testing, we found <strong>redemption rates varying between 1.15\u00a2 and 1.72\u00a2 per point<\/strong>. But this is just a snapshot of what was available at the time. Without the redemption peg, Southwest redemptions no longer offer predictable value.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that one of the valuable parts of booking Southwest before May 28, 2025 was the inclusion of two free checked bags per flyer. For families, Southwest points presented real value. A family without a co-branded credit card or status could still save on fees when traveling to their destination. With all the recent changes, families should compare all fare inclusions across all airline options before redeeming points or miles.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Redeem_Southwest_Points\"><span id=\"Redeem_points_for_Southwest_flights\">Redeem points for Southwest flights.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The best way to use Rapid Rewards points is for Southwest flights. Head to southwest.com or use the Southwest mobile app to search for award flight prices.<\/p>\n<p>Let's walk through an example award search. At Southwest.com, I've keyed in Burbank (BUR) as my origin and Indianapolis (IND) as my destination. I've selected points as my currency.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_204729\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/244\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-204729 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-homepage-search-BUR-IND-1.png\" alt=\"Southwest homepage award search BUR to IND\" width=\"750\" height=\"244\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-homepage-search-BUR-IND-1.png 1188w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-homepage-search-BUR-IND-1-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-homepage-search-BUR-IND-1-1024x333.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-homepage-search-BUR-IND-1-768x250.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Now, you'll see prices displayed in points only. You can easily compare award costs against cash prices using the toggle at the top. Since Southwest makes all seats bookable with points, if you find a flight available with cash, you can book it with Rapid Rewards points. The bookable flight schedule typically extends six to seven months in advance.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_204730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/784\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-204730 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-BUR-IND-example-date-award-prices.png\" alt=\"Southwest award search results from BUR to IND on October 16, 2025\" width=\"750\" height=\"784\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-BUR-IND-example-date-award-prices.png 972w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-BUR-IND-example-date-award-prices-287x300.png 287w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-BUR-IND-example-date-award-prices-768x803.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Generally speaking, more expensive cash fares correlate to more expensive award fares. But the redemption rate you'll now get can vary. On this example day, redemption rates vary between <strong>1.13\u00a2 and 1.20\u00a2 per point<\/strong> \u2014 which are awful redemption rates compared to the prior <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-points-value\/\" rel=\"noopener\">value of Southwest points<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Once you find a flight you want to book, select the fare type, then click &#8220;Continue.&#8221; Next, you'll enter all required passenger information and pay the taxes and fees to complete the booking.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Southwest_Airlines_Partners\"><span id=\"Southwest_More_Rewards\">Southwest More Rewards<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The final way to redeem points is through <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/rapidrewards\/redeem-more-rewards\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's &#8220;More Rewards&#8221; program<\/a>. This functions as both an online mall and a booking portal. Exclusive events and deals are only available to those with Rapid Rewards credit cards. You'll get less than 1\u00a2 per point in value for any of the options.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.1.awardhq.com\/24468SWANCMSWARRNCM\" rel=\"noopener\">Gift Cards<\/a>: <\/strong>Through Southwest More Rewards, you can redeem points for a variety of gift cards. This is a poor use of points, as you get just over 0.5\u00a2 each. Rapid Rewards cardholders get 0.67\u00a2 per point in value.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.1.awardhq.com\/24468SWANCMSWARRNCM\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Merchandise<\/strong><\/a><strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>Another option for Rapid Rewards members without credit cards, you can redeem points for a variety of merchandise. Merchandise generally nets you around 0.5\u00a2 per point for non-credit cardholders, increasing slightly for cardholders.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hotels:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Use Southwest points to book a large variety of hotels. This is not the same as the Southwest Hotels portal. In a few sample searches, the average value I found was 0.7\u00a2 per point.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Experiential Rewards:<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Use Southwest points for cruises, spa packages, rafting, hiking, and more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Access events: <\/strong>The value is extremely subjective, depending on how interested you are in the event. These are open only to Southwest credit cardholders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I'd only consider these redemption options if you have so many Southwest points you literally don't know what else to use them for, as you're losing 50%\u201370% of their value.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Southwest_Fees_Rules_Restrictions\">Southwest Fees, Rules & Restrictions<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Southwest has historically provided the best <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/award-ticket-change-and-cancellation-policies\/\" rel=\"noopener\">change and cancellation rules<\/a> of any domestic airline here in the U.S. The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/html\/air\/fare-information.html\" rel=\"noopener\">terms and conditions<\/a> were straightforward to understand, and the policies were generous compared to other carriers. However, there have been some negative changes lately.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Changescancellations\">Changes\/cancellations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Southwest doesn't charge change or cancellation fees on any ticket. If you're changing your flight, you'll simply pay the fare difference (if there is one) in points or cash.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest's new Basic fares cannot be changed, unless you're upgrading to a higher fare class. However, all Southwest tickets can still be canceled for free, including Basic tickets, for a full points refund or flight credit. These flight credits <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-adds-basic-fares-bag-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">now expire in as little as six months<\/a> for Basic and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets and 12 months for Business Select and Anytime.<\/p>\n<p>All changes and cancellations must happen at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you no-show, you'll forfeit your points on Basic or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets. With Business Select or Anytime fares, you'll get a future flight credit, not a refund.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Other_booking_fees_rules\">Other booking fees & rules<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here's what else you should know when booking Southwest award tickets:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Booking fees:<\/strong> Southwest doesn't charge a fee to book directly with the airline. More specifically, this means that Southwest won't charge a fee for making a reservation over the phone or for booking close-in.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Out-of-pocket costs on award tickets: <\/strong>For the vast majority of domestic award tickets, the only out-of-pocket cost is the $5.60 domestic tax required by law. However, if traveling internationally, the out-of-pocket cost can be much higher, thanks to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/avoid-surcharges-award-flights\/\" rel=\"noopener\">government- and airport-imposed taxes and fees<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Booking for other people: <\/strong>Booking travel for others is fine with Southwest. Whether it's a cash fare or an award booking, simply enter the correct information for whom the passenger is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"Routing_Rules\"><span id=\"Routing_rules\">Routing rules<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Routing rules for Southwest award bookings are about as straightforward as they come. Namely, they're the same as the rules governing cash bookings.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_200245\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/441\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-200245 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines destinations map\" width=\"750\" height=\"441\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM.png 2218w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM-1024x602.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM-1536x903.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-03-01-at-1.06.23\u202fPM-2048x1204.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>To search for possible routings, the best place to go is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/route-map\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest's dedicated Route Map tool<\/a>. If a route shows up, you know it's bookable with cash or points. Just keep in mind that Southwest just started offering overnight itineraries. It also doesn't permit some flights with very short or very long layovers. If the itinerary you're contemplating would require a short layover, there's a good chance it's not possible.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Award_Sweet_Spots\"><span id=\"Award_sweet_spots\">Award sweet spots<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The definition of &#8220;sweet spot&#8221; has changed with Southwest, given its variable award pricing and historically &#8220;fixed rate&#8221; redemptions. That is, there aren't any specific routes or zones where Rapid Rewards bookings deliver decisively better value than other award programs. However, there are several different areas where Southwest outperforms the competition:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Positioning flights: <\/strong>The outstanding reliability of award availability makes Southwest the perfect airline for positioning for another, longer award booking from another program if you can't find availability from your home airport. Keep in mind you'll have <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-baggage-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">bag fees<\/a> on cheaper fares as of <strong>May 28, 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cheap domestic fares: <\/strong>Depending on your departure airport, Southwest routinely offers competitive fares. This is especially true during fare promotions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flights to Hawaii \/ Caribbean: <\/strong>Over the last few years, Southwest has continued to expand its route network. Now, you have the option to use your Rapid Rewards points for flights to Hawaii or several Caribbean destinations. As these routes have launched, Southwest has continually challenged other major airlines' dominance by undercutting fares. This translates into some incredibly good deals for folks booking travel to these spots, especially for inter-island flights in Hawaii.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Two-for-one flights with the Companion Pass:<\/strong> No other airline offers a benefit like this. A couple that regularly travels together could save thousands of dollars per year by maximizing this benefit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back-up flights: <\/strong>In a world of ever-changing plans, Southwest's free cancellations make it a powerful tool for covering your back. If you're unsure when you need to travel, you can simply book a flight with points and cancel for free if you don't need it. Note a recent negative change: Southwest credits now expire <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-adds-basic-fares-bag-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">six months after cancellation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/last-second-southwest-award-saved-the-day\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How a Last-Second Southwest Award Saved the Day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Get_Buy_1_Get_1_Free_flights_for_up_to_two_years_with_the_Southwest_Companion_Pass\"><span id=\"The_Fabled_Southwest_Companion_Pass\">The Fabled Southwest Companion Pass<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For many award travel enthusiasts, Southwest offers the best deal out there: the\u00a0Companion Pass. It is the holy grail of domestic air travel. You essentially get 2-for-1 travel as much as you want! It can save you thousands of dollars per year. We have a full guide to the <a href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-companion-pass\/\">Southwest Companion Pass<\/a>, so we'll cover only the essentials here.<\/p>\n<p>In a nutshell, the Southwest Companion Pass allows Rapid Rewards members who earn it to <strong>add a designated companion to <em>any<\/em> booked itinerary for just the taxes and fees.<\/strong> This applies to all itineraries \u2014 whether you're paying with cash or points. You can bring a companion along for just the taxes and fees.<\/p>\n<p>To earn a Companion Pass, you need to accumulate 135,000 qualifying points in a single year or fly 100 segments. Earning that many points might sound like a tall order, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is with a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/how-to-earn-southwest-companion-pass\/\" rel=\"noopener\">proper strategy to earn the Southwest Companion Pass<\/a>. Remember, some points you earn through partners will qualify toward the Companion Pass. Also, Rapid Rewards credit cardholders receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points every year.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the Southwest card signup bonuses available when you apply, at times it's even possible to earn this coveted status with just one credit card signup bonus!<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4048165\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPerformanceBusinessCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSouthwestPerformanceBusinessCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005149&type=3&u1=0c7f309360077142bb96a7d074175f07&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$299<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The latest card to join the Southwest lineup of rewards cards, the Southwest Performance Business Card offers the highest Rapid Rewards signup bonus, earns more points than its Southwest counterparts, receives a massive 9,000-point anniversary bonus, plus offers plenty of perks and benefits for Southwest fans. One of the best co-brand business cards on the market.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/li><li>9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.<\/li><li>Earn 4X pts on Southwest&#xAE; purchases.<\/li><li>Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants<\/li><li>Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel<\/li><li>Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.<\/li><li>First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.<\/li><li>Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.<\/li><li>Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on rideshare<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/SWPerformanceBiz\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-25e9a7549b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Elite_Status\"><span id=\"Southwest_Elite_Status\">Southwest Elite Status<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Compared to other airline frequent flyer programs, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/a-list-elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest elite status<\/a> is rather weak. There are only two tiers of elite status that loyalty members can earn:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/rapidrewards\/tiers-more-alist\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>A-List<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Earned after 25 one-way qualifying flights <strong>OR<\/strong> 35,000 tier qualifying points<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/rapidrewards\/tiers-more-alist-preferred\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A-List Preferred<\/a>: <\/strong>Earned after 50 one-way qualifying flights <strong>OR<\/strong> 70,000 tier qualifying points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We list out the benefits for each tier of Southwest elite status in the table below.<\/p>\n<p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-250\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-250 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">&nbsp;<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">A-List<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">A-List Preferred<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Primary Benefits<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><li>Select a preferred seat at booking or extra legroom seat, if available, 48 hours before departure (for flights after January 27, 2026).<br \/>\n<li>Upgrade for free to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure (for flights after January 27, 2026).<br \/>\n<li>One free checked bag<br \/>\n<li>Priority boarding<br \/>\n<li>Priority check-in counter and express security screening (where available)<br \/>\n<li>25% points earning bonus<br \/>\n<li>Dedicated A-List phone line<br \/>\n<li>Same-day standby (Basic fares included)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><li>Select an Extra Legroom or Preferred seat at booking (for flights after January 27, 2026).<br \/>\n<li> Two free checked bags<br \/>\n<li>Priority boarding<br \/>\n<li>Priority check-in counter and express security screening (where available)<br \/>\n<li>100% points earning bonus<br \/>\n<li>Dedicated A-List Preferred phone line<br \/>\n<li>Same-day standby (Basic fares included)<br \/>\n<li>Free inflight Wi-Fi<br \/>\n<li>Up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p>The sweet spot is A-List, as it offers significantly improved benefits over zero status and only minimally less than A-List Preferred. Sadly, same-day confirmed changes on Basic fares are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/same-day-change-policy\/\" rel=\"noopener\">no longer a benefit<\/a>. You'll need to purchase a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare to enjoy the confirmed flight change benefit now. Free same-day standby is still available for all fare classes.<\/p>\n<p>There's one new perk of having Southwest status, though: Free checked bags. A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags on each and every flight for themselves and up to eight other passengers flying on the same reservation, while A-List status holders get one.<\/p>\n<p>It's also worth mentioning that certain co-branded credit cardholders can spend their way toward Southwest A-List elite status. Loyalty members who hold the <strong>Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Premier Credit Card<\/strong> earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent annually, and 2,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent with the <a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestAirlinesRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4048122\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/SouthwestAirlinesRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005153&type=3&u1=8179383abf9f1977e2bef5a4b57795b2&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$229<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card is packed with features for Southwest fans. The card offers 4X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points at gas stations and restaurants, and 1X points on all other purchases. Cardholders receive 7,500 anniversary points each year, 25% back on inflight purchases, and a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually. Additional features are no foreign transaction fees, comprehensive travel and purchase protections, contactless payment, and instant access to the card when added to a digital wallet. Through 12\/31\/2025, cardholders also receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit and 4 Upgraded Boardings per year.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/li><li>7,500 anniversary points each year.<\/li><li>Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines&#xAE; purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.<\/li><li>Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants<\/li><li>First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.<\/li><li>Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.<\/li><li>Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.<\/li><li>No foreign transaction fees.<\/li><li>Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/SWPriority\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-25e9a7549b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Pros_and_Cons_of_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards\"><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Southwest Rapid Rewards used to be the gold standard for simplicity and traveler-friendly policies. But 2025 has brought a wave of changes \u2014 from lower earning rates and unpredictable award pricing to the introduction of bag fees and basic fares. These significantly reduce the transparency and value that once defined the program.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Rapid Rewards isn\u2019t without bright spots. The Companion Pass remains one of the most valuable perks in the airline industry, and features like free cancellations (for now) and no blackout dates still hold appeal, especially for travelers who prioritize flexibility.<\/p>\n<p>But moving forward, members will need to be far more strategic. If you\u2019re loyal to Southwest, it\u2019s more important than ever to track program changes, compare redemptions carefully, and think twice before assuming you\u2019re getting a good deal. Because unfortunately, that\u2019s no longer guaranteed.<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-wrap wp-faq-schema-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span id=\"Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_FAQ\">Southwest Rapid Rewards FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"Is_it_free_to_join_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards\">Is it free to join Southwest Rapid Rewards?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes! Southwest Rapid Rewards is free to join for anyone and everyone. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"How_do_I_find_my_Rapid_Rewards_member_number\">How do I find my Rapid Rewards member number?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Log into your Rapid Rewards account with your username and password and select \"My Account.\" Your Rapid Rewards member number will be displayed directly under your name. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"Can_I_buy_Southwest_Rapid_Rewards_points\">Can I buy Southwest Rapid Rewards points?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rapid Rewards members are allowed to buy up to 60,000 Rapid Rewards points per day. However, just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should. See <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/buy-southwest-points\/\" target=\"new\">this post<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"Do_Rapid_Rewards_points_expire\">Do Rapid Rewards points expire?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For now, <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/do-southwest-points-expire\/\" target=\"new\">Rapid Rewards points never expire<\/a> as long as your account remains open. However, you'll lose your Southwest points if you choose to close your Rapid Rewards account. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"How_do_I_earn_a_Southwest_Companion_Pass\">How do I earn a Southwest Companion Pass?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/how-to-earn-southwest-companion-pass\/\" target=\"new\">earn a Southwest Companion Pass<\/a>, you must accumulate 135,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points in a single calendar year. Keep in mind that many other types of points (including credit card sign-up bonuses) count towards qualification. Check out our full guide to using the <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-companion-pass\/\" target=\"new\">Southwest Companion Pass<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span id=\"Can_you_transfer_points_to_another_Rapid_Rewards_member\">Can you transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member?<\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, you can transfer points \u2014 at a cost. Southwest charges a transfer fee of 1\u00a2 per point, which wipes out most of their value.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Southwest\u2019s loyalty program has long been a fan favorite thanks to perks like the Companion Pass, no change fees, and two free checked bags. But major changes in 2025 \u2014 including lower earning rates, variable award pricing, and adding bag fees \u2014 have reshaped the program. Here\u2019s what still works, what\u2019s changing, and how to maximize your Rapid Rewards points going forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":45091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12068],"tags":[12626,12757],"coauthors":[36394,36469],"class_list":["post-52095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-award-programs","tag-program-guides","tag-southwest-rapid-rewards"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52095"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":251678,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52095\/revisions\/251678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52095"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=52095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}