The Southwest Rapid Rewards loyalty program may not have the same elite perks you’ll find with other airlines, but it still offers good value. Two notable advantages are the program’s lack of blackout dates for award redemptions and the incredible Companion Pass benefit, allowing you to bring a companion on paid and award flights for just the cost of taxes and fees.
If you are new to Southwest Airlines or want to learn more about its loyalty program, this guide will cover everything you need to know about redeeming your Rapid Rewards points — as well as how the program may change in light of Southwest’s recent changes and credit card overhaul.
Redeem points on Southwest flights
You can redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, hotels, experiences and Rapid Rewards Access Events, but redeeming points on Southwest flights almost always provides the best return on your hard-earned rewards.
Redeem Rapid Rewards points directly with Southwest
Southwest promises no blackout dates on any redemptions, so you can use your Rapid Rewards points to book any Southwest Airlines ticket for sale. Even if the flight has only one open seat left, you should be able to book it with points (but be prepared to pay up).
The booking process is simple. Head to Southwest’s website, enter your flight search parameters and check the “Points” option at the top right. If desired, you can filter by details like price, duration and departure time. Select the one you want, log in to your account (if you haven’t already) and follow the on-screen steps to complete your redemption.
Redeeming Rapid Rewards points on Southwest flights has changed a little since the program implemented its “variable” award rates. Historically, the price in points was proportionate to the price in miles, but this is no longer the case. Now, the value you can get from your points varies depending on your specific flight and travel dates.
This means you can potentially stretch your points further than before, but it may require more effort to find high-value redemptions.
Here’s an example. You could fly from Los Angeles to Honolulu on a Tuesday in September starting at 7,500 Rapid Rewards points one-way, plus $5.60 in taxes and fees.
The same basic economy ticket costs $109, giving you a value of 1.38 cents per point. That’s slightly above our August 2025 valuation of 1.35 cents apiece for Southwest points.
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On the other hand, the same flight on a more in-demand date — a Saturday in January — starts at $292 in cash or 25,500 plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. This provides a significantly lower value of 1.12 cents per point.
This is something to consider if you’re looking to maximize the value of your Southwest points.
From what we’ve seen so far, your redemption value tends to decrease as you move up the fare ladder. However, if the benefits of the more expensive fare classes add a lot of value for you, it could make sense to book them with points. For example, top-tier Choice Extra fares include two free checked bags and your choice of any seat at booking — including Southwest’s new extra-legroom seats, slated to debut in January 2026.
Redeem Chase points through the Chase Travel portal
If you hold a Chase travel card, you have the option to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Southwest flights through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Because flights booked through the portal show up as revenue tickets, you’ll still earn Rapid Rewards points on flights booked with points this way.
With Chase’s new Points Boost system, holders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) can redeem points for up to 1.75 cents each (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details). You can potentially get an even better rate of up to 2 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details).
Be aware that flight prices may be higher through Chase Travel, so always compare prices to Southwest’s site before booking.
Other credit card issuers offer similar travel portals, but for now, Southwest flights are only available on Chase Travel.
Related: Your guide to Chase Points Boost
Free award ticket changes and cancellations (for now)
One thing that has historically made Rapid Rewards points so popular is Southwest’s flexible change and cancellation policies. If the cost of an award flight you’ve booked goes down, you can easily rebook your trip at the lower rate, and you’ll be refunded the points difference.
If your plans change and you cannot make an award flight, you can cancel for free. Your points will be refunded to your account without penalty (even on Basic fares), as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. You can even opt for the taxes paid to go back to the credit card you used to book the reservation.
Unlike other fare classes, basic economy tickets are not eligible for free same-day changes, nor can basic economy travelers request complimentary same-day standby.
Related: How to reprice a Southwest flight when the fare decreases
The Companion Pass doubles the value of your Southwest points
One way to maximize the value of your Rapid Rewards points is by earning the Southwest Companion Pass. With this valuable perk, you can choose a companion to fly with you on all your Southwest flights while your pass is valid. Your companion will only need to pay the taxes and fees for their ticket, regardless of whether you used cash or points for your ticket.
This essentially doubles the value of your Rapid Rewards points when traveling with your designated companion.
After Southwest stripped away many of its longtime policies, like free bags and open seating, flyers are wondering if the Companion Pass will be next on the chopping block. For now, you can still earn the Companion Pass by either earning 135,000 qualifying points or completing 100 qualifying one-way flights on Southwest within a calendar year. Once achieved, you will have the Companion Pass for the remainder of the current year and the entire following year.
Companion Pass-qualifying points can be earned by flying paid Southwest flights (including those paid for with Cash + Points), spending and welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards, shopping and dining through the Rapid Rewards portals, and utilizing Southwest’s partnerships.
Right now, you can get almost three-quarters of the way toward a Companion Pass with the welcome bonus on any of Southwest’s three consumer cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees), the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) are all offering 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first five months from account opening.
You can also fast-track your way to a Companion Pass with the welcome bonuses on Southwest’s two business cards:
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass
Southwest Rapid Rewards FAQ
Have questions about Southwest Rapid Rewards? Let’s address them.
How do I join Southwest Rapid Rewards?
You can join the Southwest Rapid Rewards program for free on Southwest’s website. Just click the “Create account” link at the top of the page.
Next, fill out the requested information and click the yellow “Create account” button at the bottom of the screen. Your account will be opened immediately, and you can start earning and redeeming Rapid Rewards points.
When do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points don’t expire as long as your account is open. However, Southwest has announced that flight credits issued on or after May 28, 2025, will expire in 12 months for Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares — and in just six months for the new Basic fare class.
Can I transfer points to Southwest?
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 10,000 Chase points equal 10,000 Rapid Rewards points. These transfers generally process instantly.
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 3:1 transfer ratio. You’ll get 5,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, so 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points will net you 25,000 Rapid Rewards points. This transfer ratio isn’t ideal, but it’s a good option to have if you’re short on points for a Southwest redemption.
Note that points transferred to your Rapid Rewards account don’t count toward earning the Companion Pass.
Related: How (and when) to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest
Bottom line
Southwest Rapid Rewards points have long been an excellent choice for travelers seeking flexibility in booking flights within a wide domestic network, and they could become even more valuable as Southwest branches out into partnerships with Icelandair and possibly China Airlines. However, with many less desirable changes at Southwest on the horizon, it remains to be seen if this beloved loyalty program will maintain its value.