Overview
Southwest has long been known as the “people’s carrier”. With no first class, no assigned seat, and famously, no hidden fees. This has changed recently, and we don’t yet know if it’ll be a good thing in the long run. Whether you loved Southwest or not before the changes, one thing is certain: it’s still worth checking out its loyalty program.
Why? Partly because to be a solid points and miles traveler, you should be familiar with as many programs as possible. But it’s also because the program still holds a lot of value, even with the changes.
While other airlines hide behind award charts and blackout dates, Southwest sticks to transparency: if there’s a seat for sale, you can book it with points. However, the program has also changed in recent years. Dynamic pricing, new fare structures, and even the loss of “two bags fly free” for some travelers mean it’s not quite as straightforward as it once was. Still, for domestic travelers, those who fly a few times a year, Rapid Rewards remains one of the best ways to earn free flights and one of the easiest programs to actually use.
The Bottom Line:
Rapid Rewards is one of the simplest and most reliable loyalty programs in the U.S. Points are easy to earn, don’t expire, and can be redeemed for any available flight without restrictions. Add in the coveted and hyper-valuable Companion Pass, and it becomes one of the most rewarding programs for couples, families, or anyone who travels frequently within North America.
Things are different now, but while dynamic pricing has chipped away value, the program’s flexibility and transparency still make it a top choice for practical travelers who want guaranteed value.
Southwest Rapid Rewards: The High-Level Overview
Rapid Rewards is Southwest’s version of a frequent-flyer program. Every time you fly, book with a partner, or use a Southwest-branded credit card, you earn points that can be used toward future flights.
Southwest distinguishes itself from other airlines with a few notable quirks, including the ability to book any seat on any flight and having no blackout dates. That reliability alone makes it a strong program. While it now has a dynamic pricing system, the value of its points remains steadier than others, too. Which, again, is a good thing.
The star attraction, however, is the Companion Pass. It’s arguably the best perk in domestic air travel. It takes some hefty earnings to grab it, but it will let a chosen companion fly with you on any flight you book for just the cost of the taxes and fees. It’s an epic benefit if you can attain it, especially considering it lasts through till the end of the following year.
We’ll get into each of these in more detail in this article.
How to Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
As with most programs, Southwest Rapid Rewards offers multiple ways to earn points. How you do it will depend on your lifestyle, spending habits, and other factors. Here are all the ways you can rack up the points.
Flights
The simplest and most traditional way to earn points is to fly with Southwest. How much you earn per dollar will depend on the type of booking you make. Southwest has different types of fare and, as you can imagine, the more expensive options earn more points. Here are the different types of fare you can choose.
Wanna Get Away: 6 points per dollar
Wanna Get Away Plus: 8 points per dollar
Anytime: 10 points per dollar
Business Select: 12 points per dollar.
These numbers multiply with your A-List or A-List Preferred elite status bonuses, which can add 25%–100% more points per flight. We’ll cover A-List status further on in the article.
Credit cards
Arguably, the most approachable way to earn points is to open a co-branded Southwest credit card. Opening one of these gifts allows you to earn huge introductory bonuses that you couldn’t earn by only flying a few times a year. These also allow you to earn on daily spending, which is a huge win.
Not to mention, these cards all have elevated earning on spending, anniversary points bonuses, give you headstarts towards a Companion Pass, and can even give you automatic elite status.
Right now, Southwest has 4 co-branded credit cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers
Southwest is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, meaning you can move points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® directly into Rapid Rewards. Transfers are instant and let you top off balances for specific redemptions. This is perfect for those who don’t want to put all their eggs in a Southwest-shaped basket.
Other partners
Hotels: Earn points with Marriott, Best Western, and Rocketmiles.
Car Rentals: Hertz, Avis, and Budget offer bonus points for Southwest members.
Shopping and Dining: Use the Rapid Rewards Shopping and Rapid Rewards Dining portals for everyday purchases.
Business Travel: Companies enrolled in Rapid Rewards Business earn additional points on employee travel.
Southwest Elite Status
Like most loyalty programs, Rapid Rewards offers elite tiers that reward frequent flyers with bonus points and perks. The higher you go, the more perks you’ll wind up with to make the most of your travel days. Unlike other programs, Southwest’s tiers are pretty simple, capping things at just two levels. A-List and A-List preferred. Separate but no less valuable is the Companion Pass that’s been mentioned multiple times.
Here’s everything you’ll get from each.
A-list
25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 tier-qualifying points per year.
25% bonus points on flights.
Priority boarding (Group A).
Same-day standby benefits.
A-List Preferred
50 qualifying flights or 70,000 tier-qualifying points per year.
100% bonus points on flights.
Free in-flight Wi-Fi.
Priority check-in, security, and standby.
Companion Pass
Not a “status tier” in the traditional sense, but by far the most valuable perk. Once earned, it remains valid through the next full calendar year. Combine that with a credit card sign-up bonus, and you’ve essentially doubled your flight redemptions. Remember, it allows you to travel with a friend for no more than the taxes and fees attached to the flight. That applies to reward and cash flights.
- Best for: Frequent Southwest Fliers
- Annual Fee: $229
- APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card
50,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the popular airline’s premium card offering and represents a solid piece of value for those who fly with the carrier at least once or twice a year. While premium, in this case, doesn’t stretch to the same lounge-based perks as some of its competitors, the card offers four upgraded boardings a year (Benefit expires on 12/31/25), and a generous annual points bonus, making it well worth the fee.
Reward details
4x points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
2x points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
1X points on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cardholders enjoy four upgraded boardings a year when available.
The $75 travel credit is for any Southwest expense, including ticket cots and not just incidentals (Benefit expires on 12/31/25).
The 7,500 annual bonus points are worth around $100 towards travel on Southwest.
25% discount on in-flight purchases when paying with the card
The intro bonus can be used when collecting points for the Companion Pass benefit.
Elite status can be earned with day-to-day spending, and not just flights.
Cons
The $229 annual fee can be steep if the card isn’t used to its full value.
No lounge access included
Southwest points cannot be transferred or used with any airline partners.
Terms Apply
How to Redeem Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest doesn’t use a traditional award chart, so rates are going to fluctuate depending on a number of factors. Thankfully, it’s less volatile than other dynamic systems, so you can generally expect to get between 1.3 and 1,8 cents per point in any given scenario. On the whole, cheap fares require fewer points, and expensive fares require more. In the past, it was much more stable, but it’s still not bad.
To redeem:
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on southwest.com.
Search for flights as usual.
Check the “Points” box to view fares in points.
Select your flight and pay only the required taxes and fees (usually around $5.60 per direction in the U.S.).
There are no blackout dates, and you can cancel or change points bookings freely; your points and taxes are refunded instantly.
You can also redeem for hotels, gift cards, and experiences, but generally, we advise against doing that as you’ll get far below the best value for your points.
Sweet Spots and Redemption Tips
Because of how Southwest operates, Sweet Spots in the typical sense aren’t the easiest thing to find. There isn’t any spectacular outweighed value, and the new, less stable system makes it hard to rely on it in the way that used to be possible.
With that said, there are ways you can make things a little better. Sales are always a good idea, so make sure to scan for solid deals when you see them announced. Re-pricing flights is also a good idea. In other words, check the rate of your flight closer to the date to see if it’s changed. If it’s lower, you can cancel, rebook, and get refunded for the difference.
Obviously, if you have the Companion Pass, you’re effectively doubling the value of your points, so don’t underestimate that if it’s within reach for you. Last but not least, target short-haul domestic flights. These generally have the best yield on your points.
The greatest “sweet spot”, if we want to call it that, of Southwest is the flexibility. With every seat available for redemption, it can give you an option when there are literally no others with different airlines. That’s valuable in itself.
The Point
Southwest has changed a lot recently, but despite that, it still stands apart from other airlines in the industry thanks to its unique perks like the Companion Pass, the lack of blackout dates, and the ability to book every seat on any plane. It might not be a program to focus all your attention on, but it’s definitely worth having a hoard of points for those moments when all other programs fail.
The best advice? Open a co-branded card, grab the bonus, and see if you can hit the Companion Pass threshold. That’s a solid haul.
Southwest Rapid Rewards stands apart from the industry’s complex web of rules and blackout dates. It rewards regular travelers in an honest, no-nonsense way, and even casual flyers can earn free trips without fuss.
With the Companion Pass, generous card options, and flexible redemption rules, the program remains one of the smartest and most accessible loyalty ecosystems in U.S. travel. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer or a weekly commuter, a stash of Rapid Rewards points is never a bad thing to have.
- Best for: Beginner Southwest Points
- Annual Fee: $99
- APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 2X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
50,000 bonus points
Offer Details:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the popular airline’s entry-level card and offers solid value for those who fly with the carrier at least once a year. It comes with a few easy-to-use perks like 3,000 Southwest points every year after your first cardmember anniversary and two EarlyBird check-ins per year (ends December 31st, 2025). It’s a good option for those who want to earn Southwest points on an ongoing basis and not have to pay a high annual fee.
Reward details
2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
1X points on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
The 3,000 annual bonus points are worth around $40 towards travel on Southwest.
25% discount on Southwest in-flight purchases when paying with the card
The intro bonus can be used for collecting points for the Companion Pass benefits
Elite status can be earned with day-to-day spending, and not just flights.
Cons
Southwest points cannot be transferred or used with any airline partners.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
