How you can redeem Southwest rewards points quickly

Southwest Airlines is known for its generous change and cancellation policies, free checked baggage, and unique boarding process. However, The reward is quick to the southwest is another attractive feature for frequent travelers.

A notable advantage is that the program has no cutoff date for redemption activities. Furthermore, it offers something amazing Benefits of the Companion Passallows you to bring a companion on paid and award flights for just the cost of taxes and fees.

If you’re new to Southwest or want to learn more about how to use points at Southwest, this guide will cover everything you need to know about redeeming Quick Rewards points. Luckily, the process is relatively simple, but there are a few specialties you should keep in mind.

You can also redeem your Southwest points for gift cards, merchandise, hotels, experiences, and Express Rewards Events, but Southwest flights almost always offer the best bang for your hard-earned points be yours.

Related: Southwest increases EarlyBird check-in fees, upgrades boarding

Redeem points on Southwest flights

Redeeming instant reward points on Southwest flights is simple. The number of points needed for a ticket is proportional to the cash ticket price — so the higher the premium seat cost, the more points you’ll have to redeem. Southwest promises no blackout dates for any redemptions, so you can use your Express Rewards points to book any Southwest Airlines sale ticket. If the flight has an empty seat, you can book with points (but be prepared to pay).

TPG prices Southwest locations at 1.3 cents each and it’s easy to always get that value whether you book domestic or international flights. (This value used to be a bit higher, before Southwest reduces instant rewards points value by 4%).

The booking process is very simple. Visit Southwest’s website and enter your flight search parameters. Be sure to check the “Points” button at the top right to see results for award flights.

The results page will then display all available flights using points. If you want, you can filter by things like price, duration and departure time. Select the account you want, sign in to your account (if you’re not already signed in), and follow the onscreen steps to complete the redemption.

You can book any class of fare using Rapid Rewards points, but we recommend using Wanna Get Away fares. That’s because your redemption value tends to be lower because of the limited benefits when you book a more expensive fare. For example, Business Select fares include priority boarding and security, free premium drinks on flights longer than 276 miles, and more flexible same-day changes—relatively small perks to consider. Significant score increase.

If you have a Chase travel card, you have options Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for Southwest flights through Chase Travel℠ portal. Because flights booked through the portal show up as revenue tickets, you’ll still earn Instant Rewards points on flights booked with points this way.

For example, if you have Reserve Chase Sapphire®, you can pay for your ticket with Ultimate Rewards points worth 1.5 cents each, allowing you to fly for free while still earning Fast Rewards points. But keep in mind that flight prices on the portal may be higher, so always compare prices with the Southwest site before booking.

Free change and cancellation of award tickets

Another thing that makes Rapid Rewards points so popular is Southwest’s flexibility. Changes and cancellation policy.

You can change any Southwest flight for free and are only responsible for paying the difference between your original flight and your new flight. If the cost of the award flight you booked drops, you can rebook your trip at a lower price and you’ll be refunded the difference in points.

If your plans change and you can’t take your award flight, you can cancel for free. Your points will be refunded to your account without penalty (including on Wanna Get Away fares). You can even choose to have paid taxes reverted back to the credit card you used to make the booking.

One thing to remember: You cannot miss the flight and get your points back. You must cancel at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure time, which is still pretty lenient.

Related: How to re-price Southwest airline tickets when ticket prices decrease

The Companion Pass doubles the value of your Southwest points

One way to maximize the value of your Instant Rewards points is to earn them Southwest Companion Card. With this perk, you can choose a companion to fly with you on all Southwest flights while your pass is valid. The person traveling with you will only need to pay taxes and fees on their ticket, regardless of whether you use cash or points for your ticket. As long as the flight has space for your companion, you can use your pass. This essentially doubles the value of your Quick Rewards points when traveling with a designated companion.

ARRIVE earn Companion Cards, you must accumulate 135,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights on Southwest within a calendar year. Once achieved, you will have a Companion Pass for the remainder of the current year and the entire following year.

Qualifying points for the Companion Pass can be earned by flying Southwest paid flights, spending with a Southwest credit card, shopping through the Southwest shopping portal, and using Southwest partnerships. Remember that flights are booked using Southwest’s new system Cash + Points This option will not earn qualifying points for the Companion Pass but will count towards qualifying flights for the Companion Pass. Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy (more on that later) also don’t count toward the Companion Card.

Here’s a look at some Current Southwest card incentives:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Southwest Premier Rapid Rewards® credit card: Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Preferred Credit Card: Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• The flagship Southwest® Rapid Rewards® business credit card: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

With these generous welcome offers, earning a Companion Pass becomes relatively easy. By meeting the minimum spending requirement for Performance business card, you can earn at least 85,000 points, leaving only 50,000 points left to pass. You can achieve this by spending more on your new card, flying with Southwest, earning points through a partner, or a combination of these methods.

Information about the Southwestern Rapid Premier Awards has been independently collected 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 a Southwest companion ticket

Southwest Express Rewards FAQ

Have questions about Southwest Rapid Rewards? Let’s solve them.

How do I join Southwest Express Rewards?

You can join the Southwest Express Rewards program for free on Southwest website. Just click the “Create account” link at the top of the page.

Next, fill in the requested information and click the yellow “Create Account” button at the bottom of the screen. Your account will be created immediately and you can start earning and redeeming Fast Rewards points.

When do Southwest Rewards points quickly expire?

The reward is quick to the southwest Points do not expire as long as your account is open.

Can I transfer points to Southwest?

You can transfer Chase the ultimate bonus score to Southwest Express Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 10,000 Chase points equals 10,000 Express Rewards points. These transfers are usually processed immediately. While this is a solid transfer rate, keep in mind that TPG values ​​Chase points at 2.05 cents each (compared to 1.3 cents for Express Rewards points), so you could lose some value in this process.

Furthermore, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points into Southwest Express Rewards at a 3:1 transfer ratio. You’ll receive 5,000 Express Rewards points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, so 60,000 Marriott points are worth 25,000 Southwest points. This transfer rate isn’t ideal, but it’s a good option if you’re short on points to redeem at Southwest.

Related: What it really feels like to fly on a Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii

Bottom line

Southwest Rapid Rewards points are a great choice for travelers looking for flexibility in booking flights within the extensive domestic network. With the added benefit of free changes and cancellations, along with the provision of two free checked bags per passenger, Southwest is a favorite choice for many travelers. Southwest points are easy to redeem for flights, and the ability to transfer points from partners or book on the Chase travel portal adds flexibility. What’s more, the Companion Pass lets you double the value of your points when traveling with friends or family members.