how to use southwest points to fly

1. Start on Southwest’s home page. To book a Southwest flight using your Southwest points, it’s easiest to start at the Low Fare Calendar.
2. Enter your search criteria. Enter your departure city, destination and the month you will be traveling, along with the total number of passengers.
3. Review dates and total points needed. You’ll get a list of the lowest prices in points on each day of the month for both outbound and return flights.
4. Select your flights. The next page will list flight options on that date along with the cost in points each way. ...
5. Continue to checkout or save flight. From there, you’ll see the total cost of the flight. ...
6. Complete your purchase. To purchase the flight, select the “Continue” button. Then, fill in the passenger information and pay the mandatory government security fee.

Full Answer

What is the best way to use southwest points?

To sign up for the Southwest Dining Program:

• Go to Rapid Rewards Dining
• Click “Add A Card” on the right side and add any credit card you use at restaurants. ...
• Search for restaurants near you by using the search engine at the top of the page
• Simply eat at participating restaurants and use the registered credit card when you pay.

What can you do with southwest points?

• 3x points spent on Southwest purchases.
• 2x points spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
• Two Early Bird Check-Ins each year.
• 25% back on in-flight purchases.
• 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $10,000 you spend up to 15,000 TQPs per year.

Should I buy southwest points?

You’ll earn 6 Rapid Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare, rather than the 10 or 12 Rapid Rewards points you can earn on other Southwest fares. However, the earning potential of just four or six extra points per dollar is pretty nominal, so we wouldn't recommend choosing a higher fare to earn more points.

How many points does it take to fly southwest?

To redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for a Wanna Get Away ticket, you will need approximately 70 points per $1 of airfare. When paying cash for a Wanna Get Away ticket, you will earn 6 points...

How many points do you need on Southwest Airlines to get a free flight?

The number of points you need for a free flight on Southwest Airlines can be anywhere between 6,600 and 58,000 for a one-way economy class ticket in high season.29-Oct-2020

How many points do you need for a flight on Southwest?

To redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for a Wanna Get Away ticket, you will need approximately 70 points per $1 of airfare. When paying cash for a Wanna Get Away ticket, you will earn 6 points per $1 of airfare. Anytime tickets are mid-level price tickets that you can buy at any time.11-Jul-2018

How much is 50000 Southwest points worth?

How much are 50,000 Southwest points worth? According to NerdWallet's analysis, 50,000 Southwest points are worth about $700.

How much is 7500 Southwest points worth?

One of the most valuable perks of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is an annual 7,500-point anniversary bonus. Southwest points have an average redemption value of around 1.5 cents each, so that means this anniversary bonus alone provides $112.50 in value.3 days ago

Do my Southwest points expire?

No, your Rapid Rewards points do not expire. However, if you choose to close your account, the points in your account will be terminated. When do the points I earn after each qualifying activity post to my account? It takes up to 72 hours after completion of your flight for points to post to your account.

Can I use Southwest points for vacation packages?

No, you can not use Rapid Rewards points to book a Southwest Vacations package. You can, however, earn Rapid Rewards points on the flight portion of your vacation package.26-Jul-2021

Can I cash out my Southwest points?

Instead of trying to find available dates to redeem your miles for your next flight, you can redeem your miles for cash today! You can fly when you want, buy a ticket on your own, and have money left over from the sale! Plus you'll even earn flight miles because you'll be flying on a paid flight!

How many Southwest points equals $100?

Earn When You FlyFare TypeBusiness Select®Wanna Get Away?®Points earned per dollar per qualifying flight*12Pts Per Dollar* X $220 Sample Base Fare6Pts Per Dollar* X $100 Sample Base FarePoints Earned=2,640 Points Earned=600 Points Earned

Is buying Southwest points worth it?

The bottom line While these points can be used to book travel, they do not count toward earning the Companion Pass or A-List elite status. Buying Southwest points can be significantly more expensive than the value of those points. Because of that, there are only a handful of situations where it makes sense to buy them.24-Sept-2021

What are 3000 Southwest points worth?

The rate for buying just 2,000 points is punitive at 3 cents per point — more than twice the value of Southwest points. And purchases of either 3,000 or 4,000 points cost 1.88 cents each with the discount.08-Oct-2020

How do I use my $75 Southwest annual travel credit?

This credit is applied automatically to your credit card statement after making a Southwest Airlines purchase (excluding upgraded boardings and in-flight purchases). This is not an "incidental" credit, like those offered by some other products — you can use this $75 annual credit for airfare purchases.11-Feb-2022

How much is 2000 Southwest points?

This is because, for redemptions, Southwest points generally are worth about 1.5-1.7 cents per point....How Much Does It Cost to Buy Southwest Points?Number of Purchased Southwest PointsCost per point2,000-4,500 Rapid Rewards points3 cents per point5,000-60,000 Rapid Rewards points2.75 cents per point26-Apr-2021

How many points per dollar does it cost to redeem for a ticket?

The number of points needed for a reward flight depends on the fare. Just like fares, reward pricing can vary based on destination, time, day of tr...

How can I calculate the number of points I will need to redeem for my ticket?

The number of points needed for a reward flight depends on the fare. Just like fares, reward pricing can vary based on destination, time, day of tr...

Are there any fares that I can't purchase using points?

Special fares, such as infant, child, military, and government fares are not eligible to be purchased with points. Other travel not eligible for re...

Can I use my points on redemptions other than Southwest flights?

The More Rewards program allows Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers to redeem their points for merchandise, international flights operated by other ai...

Can I use points to pay for other Southwest charges? (e.g., pets, extra bag, unaccompanied minors, s...

No. Points cannot be redeemed for Southwest amenities.

How do I make a reservation using my Rapid Rewards points?

You can make a reservation for reward travel using points at Southwest.com. All reward travel is subject to taxes, fees, and other government or ai...

Do blackout dates apply to reward travel using points?

There are no blackout dates for travel booked with Rapid Rewards points.

Can I book travel with points for other Passengers (not me)?

Yes. The Rapid Rewards Member who owns the account from which the points will be used will need to make the reservation for the person traveling. S...

Can I reserve a reward flight with points through a Customer Representative without purchasing it?

Yes. You can call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) to reserve a reward flight for 24 hours prior to purchasing. If you do not redeem using your poi...

Can I use my points to book through a travel agent or global distribution system?

No. Points can only be booked for travel through Southwest.com, the Southwest mobile app, or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

How to book Southwest flight with points?

To book a Southwest flight using your Southwest points, it’s easiest to start at the Low Fare Calendar. Log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and then click the “Low Fare Calendar.”.

What happens if you cancel a Southwest flight?

If you cancel your flight, you’ll receive a Southwest credit if you paid in cash and booked a Wanna Get Away fare. If you booked with Southwest points, the points will immediately be credited back to your account.

How much do Southwest points cost?

Southwest points value is generally around 1.5 cents each toward Southwest flights.

How to find points on a flight?

Then choose “Points” at the top right and click the “Search” button.

Does Southwest have a frequent flyer program?

Bottom line. Southwest has a great frequent-flyer program that not only allows you to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass but also is incredibly flexible with no blackout dates or change/cancellation fees. In no time at all, you can be flying free using easy-to- earn Southwest points.

Can you use Southwest points for Hawaii?

Let’s start with the basics of how to use Southwest points for nearly free travel. You can redeem Southwest points for flights to Hawaii, which is a great low-cost option for getting to the Aloha State. (Photo courtesy of Southwest.)

Does Southwest charge for change fees?

Southwest also does not charge change fees, so you can cancel or change your flight without penalty if you find a cheaper option during a Southwest sale. You will have to pay the difference for any increase in fare if you change your flight to a more expensive ticket.

What brands does Southwest offer?

You’ll usually find big, nationwide brands like Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Staples, PetSmart and Macy’s on the list.

How long are Wanna Get Away credits reusable?

All tickets are eligible for two free checked bags and no change fee, and credits are reusable for up to 12 months after issuance if a flyer needs to cancel their ticket.

Is Southwest Rapid Rewards good?

Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of the best frequent flyer programs out there for no-fri lls travelers who prefer simplicity. That’s largely due to the fact that its points are a delightfully low-maintenance currency.

Can you use Rapid Rewards points on Southwest?

Southwest isn't part of an airline alliance and doesn’t have any formal airline partnerships, so most people can only use Rapid Reward s points to fly Southwest.

Can you donate Southwest points?

Can you donate Southwest points? Yes — Southwest allows you to give your points to one of about a half-dozen charity organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Student Conservation Association.

Why is Southwest Rapid Rewards so good?

And earning Southwest points is a good choice because they don’t have blackout dates on award flights and the price of an award flight is tied to the cash price, so cheaper tickets cost fewer points. ...

How much does it cost to bring a companion on Southwest?

On domestic flights that means it only costs ~$11 to bring along your friend, spouse, or family member.

Why is Southwest a good airline?

Southwest is a favorite airline of many because of its customer-friendly policies. And even though they don’t have a traditional award chart like other airlines, there are still plenty of ways to get great value from the best ways to use Southwest points.

How much are Southwest points worth?

You’ll typically find that Southwest points value are worth about 1.5 cents on average toward Southwest airfare. But there are some ways to use your Southwest points that are better than others.

When is Southwest companion pass valid?

The Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the calendar year you earn it in and the entire next calendar year. So if you earn a Companion Pass in April of 2020, it will be valid until December 31, 2021. Don’t forget about Chase’s 5/24 rule, as it does impact the Southwest cards.

Which islands does Southwest Airlines have blackouts?

Hawaii (Honolulu, Lihue, Hilo, Kahului, and Kona) Jamaica. Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel and Los Cabos) Puerto Rico. Turks and Caicos Islands. This is great if you don’t have a flexible schedule because Southwest doesn’t have blackout dates.

Does Southwest fly to Europe?

Just because Southwest doesn’t fly to Europe, Asia, or South America doesn’t mean Southwest points can’t save you money in getting to those destinations. We often see sub-$400 round-trip fare deals to Europe — but it’s often the case that those flights are only from major airports.

What is Rapid Rewards travel essentials?

The Travel Essentials section lets you shop for travel-related products using your Rapid Rewards points. After selecting Travel on the More Rewards main menu, you can select Travel Essentials from the drop-down menu.

What is the seasonal section of Rapid Rewards?

The Seasonal section lets you shop for more products using your Rapid Rewards points, though they really don’t have anything to do with being seasonal. After selecting Travel on the More Rewards main menu, you can select Seasonal from the drop-down menu.

How much does a $150 gift card cost?

So a $150 ticket would generally cost between 8,800-10,000 points. These $25 gift cards cost 4,050 points, which is only a 0.6 cents per point value — that’s less than half the value you would get using your points to purchase a flight! Generally, using your points to purchase gift cards is not a good deal!

Where is the Get More tab on Rapid Rewards?

At the far right of the main menu, you will notice a tab called Get More. Click Travel Better in the drop-down menu to access even more items that you can purchase using Rapid Rewards points. Here you can shop categories like Pets, Coffee, and Sunglasses.

Can you use Rapid Rewards points on Hawaii flights?

Your Rapid Rewards points can be used to purchase non-Southwest international and Hawaii flights through the More Rewards portal. Go to the More Rewards portal and select Travel on the top menu bar, then Airfare from the drop-down menu.

Where is Katie from?

Katie is an Ohio native who caught the travel bug after spending a semester in college in Nottingham, England. In addition to exploring England, she visited Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands during that time and loved every minute of it (everything except the hostel in Scotland – that’s an experience she doesn’t intend on repeating!) In 2015, Katie discovered the world of points and miles, and since then she’s earned countless points and has an embarrassingly large number of credit cards in her wallet (which she needs a spreadsheet to keep track of!)

Can you use Rapid Rewards points for travel insurance?

While that’s an entirely separate discussion, it’s good to know that if you choose to purchase travel insurance, you can use your Rapid Rewards points to do so. After selecting Travel on the More Rewards main menu, you can select Travel Insurance from the drop-down menu.

How much is Southwest Rapid Rewards?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (annual fee: $199): Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. You'll also earn a 9,000-point bonus each year on your card anniversary.

How much is the Ink Business Credit Card?

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (annual fee: $95): Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

How do I get Southwest points?

There are many ways to earn Southwest points, including by flying on Southwest, spending money with Southwest’s shopping and dining partners or by spending money on a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.

How to earn points on Southwest?

To start earning points, sign up for a Rapid Rewards Dining account and add a debit or credit card to your profile. Even if you don’t have a Southwest co-branded credit card, you could use the card you have now.

How many points can you earn with Rocketmiles?

You can also earn Rapid Rewards points by booking hotels with Rocketmiles. This booking site allows you to earn up to 10,000 points per night depending on the hotel. Typically, the pricier the hotel, the more points you can earn for your stay.

How much is Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Chase Sapphire Reserve® (annual fee: $550 ): Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Can you use Rapid Rewards on Southwest Experiences?

Southwest Experiences lets you earn Rapid Rewards points when booking tours, sightseeing activities and travel adventures through PlacePass. If you’ve got a vacation coming up and are looking for sightseeing ideas, see if Southwest Experiences is offering any activities at your destination. If you often buy tickets or excursions, this can be a good way to collect some extra Southwest points.

What is Southwest Companion Pass?

One of the best deals in all of travel is the Southwest Companion Pass. It allows you to take along a companion for free (plus applicable taxes and fees) on an unlimited number of Southwest flights for the length of the pass.

How many times can you change companions?

While you can change companions up to three times in a single year , you won’t be able to change your companion until you’ve completed all travel with your current companion. If you have two trips close together with different companions, things can get a bit tricky.

How long does it take to change companions on Southwest?

There is no way to change a companion online. The fine print on Southwest’s site says that it may take up to 21 business days for processing.

When will Southwest Rapid Rewards pass be available in 2022?

Once you earn the full amount of points needed, you’ll then have the pass through Dec. 31, 2022 (since this is the traditional method of earning the pass). Similar math can be applied by combing with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

Can you add companion pass to flight?

A Companion Pass fare can only be added if there is a seat available for sale.

Can you book a flight with a companion pass?

The next step in using your Companion Pass is to book flight reservations as you normally would for everyone in your traveling party except the companion. This means that if you have a family of four where mom holds a Companion Pass and dad is the companion, you should book tickets for mom and the two kids first.

Can you call Southwest to designate a companion?

You must have your companion’s full name (as it appears on his or her ID), birth date, email address and Rapid Rewards account number. You can also call Southwest to designate your companion. But it’s easy to make the initial selection online, so there’s no reason to pick up the phone for this step.

How many destinations does Southwest Airlines serve?

However, one limitation is that the airline only serves around 100 destinations — far fewer than Delta, United or American — and most of those are within the US. To its credit, Southwest has been adding more international destinations in recent years, including Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica and expanded service to Mexico.

Can Rapid Rewards fly overseas?

There is one option, but it’s not great.

Can you transfer Southwest points to other airlines?

While you can’t transfer points to other airlines, Southwest does allow you to redeem directly for international flights to just about anywhere you want to go. Tucked away in the More Rewards section of the Rapid Rewards catalog, you’ll find a dropdown menu for Other Travel, and the first item listed is International Flights.

Does Southwest fly internationally?

Southwest doesn’t fly to many international destinations, but Rapid Rewards points can still help you travel abroad. Loyalty programs come in a lot of different shapes and sizes, and each program has its strengths (and weaknesses). Rapid Rewards is a good option for domestic economy travel, especially when fares are low.