Southwest Rapid Rewards® Program Overview

Southwest Airlines runs the Rapid Rewards® program, designed around ease of use and customer-friendliness. Unlike many airline programs, Rapid Rewards:

• Has no blackout dates,

• No change or cancellation fees, and

• Points are tied to cash prices — so if you see a seat, you can book it with points.

It’s ideal for:

• Domestic travelers,

• Families,

• Budget-conscious flyers,

• Those who want flexibility > frills.

How to Earn Rapid Rewards Points

1. Flying Southwest

Points are earned based on your fare type and base fare amount (not distance):

2. Southwest Credit Cards (Chase)

These turn everyday spending into flights. Popular options:

• Plus, Premier, and Priority (personal)

• Premier and Performance Business

Typical earning:

• 2x points on Southwest purchases, local transit/rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.

• 1x on other purchases.

Most cards also offer:

• Welcome bonuses (often 50k–85k+ points)

• Anniversary bonus points

• Companion Pass® qualifying points boosts

• EarlyBird Check-In® or travel credits

3. Hotels, Rental Cars, Dining & Shopping

• Rapid Rewards Shopping portal

• Rapid Rewards Dining

• Partnerships with Marriott, Hilton, Hertz, Budget, and more

• You can even buy points (not usually great value unless topping off)

Redeeming Rapid Rewards Points

1. Flights (Best Value)

• Points prices are tied to cash fares (~1.3–1.5 cents per point value).

• No blackout dates — if you can pay cash for a seat, you can book it with points.

• You can cancel or change award flights with no penalty.

Example:

• $150 flight = ~10,000–12,000 points (depending on fees/taxes)

2. Other Redemptions

Less valuable uses (typically below 1 cent per point):

• Gift cards

• Hotels

• Rental cars

• Merchandise

• Subscription services

Rapid Rewards Elite Status

Southwest’s elite program is simple and focused on perks like boarding priority and points bonuses, not lounge access or upgrades.

TQPs are earned from:
• Southwest flights
• Some spend from **Southwest credit cards** (Premier, Priority, Performance Biz)

The Companion Pass® (Fan Favorite)

This is arguably the most valuable benefit in the airline loyalty game.

What it does:

• Lets you designate one person to fly free with you (plus taxes/fees) on both paid and award flights.

• You can use it unlimited times for the rest of the year you earn it + the entire following calendar year.

How to Earn:

• 135,000 qualifying points OR

• 100 one-way flights in a calendar year

Points can come from:

• Flights

• Credit card spending and welcome bonuses

• Rapid Rewards Shopping/Dining

• Hotel/car rental partners

Maximizing Rapid Rewards

1. Plan for the Companion Pass — this 2-for-1 flight benefit is unbeatable.

2. Stack points from credit card + flights + shopping portals.

3. Avoid non-flight redemptions — they offer poor value.

4. Book early, cancel freely — use Rapid Rewards as a “points placeholder” for trips.

5. Use travel credits from Premier/Priority cards if you’re a regular traveler.

Southwest Rapid Rewards