Your Guide to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Simplicity, value, and the best perk in travel: the Companion Pass.
How to Earn Rapid Rewards Points
Earning Rapid Rewards points is very straightforward, with Chase Ultimate Rewards being the key to quickly building up your balance.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Credit Card Transfers | Chase Ultimate Rewards is the exclusive transfer partner for Southwest. This makes it incredibly easy to top up your account for a specific flight. |
| Southwest Co-branded Cards | The various Chase co-branded personal and business cards are the key to earning the Companion Pass, as their sign-up bonuses count towards the requirement. |
| Flying Southwest | Earn points based on the price of your ticket. The more expensive 'Business Select' fares earn more points per dollar. |
| Shopping & Dining Portals | Earn points through the Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining programs. These also count towards the Companion Pass! |
How to Use Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest's program is refreshingly simple. The number of points you need for a flight is directly tied to its cash price, so you always know you're getting a fair deal.
- No Blackout Dates: If there's an open seat on a flight, you can book it with points. Period.
- Predictable Value: Each point is generally worth about 1.2 to 1.4 cents when used for a 'Wanna Get Away' fare.
- Bags Fly Free®: This is a huge money-saver. Every passenger gets two free checked bags on every flight, even if you paid with points.
- No Change Fees: Need to change or cancel your flight? No problem. You'll get all your points back with no penalty, as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure.
The Ultimate Perk: The Companion Pass
This is, without a doubt, the best deal in U.S. domestic travel. The Companion Pass lets you choose one person to fly with you for FREE (you just pay taxes) on every single Southwest flight you take. It doesn't matter if you paid for your ticket with cash or points—your companion flies with you.
How to Earn the Companion Pass
To earn it, you need to collect 135,000 qualifying points in a single calendar year. The best part? The massive sign-up bonuses from Southwest's Chase credit cards COUNT towards this requirement. Once you earn it, the pass is valid for the rest of that year AND the entire next calendar year.
Partners & Rules
Southwest isn't part of a major airline alliance and has very few partners. The program's value is in its own network and simplicity.
- International Destinations: Southwest flies to many destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, and you can use your points for these flights just like you would for a domestic trip.
- The Rule is No Rules: Southwest is a point-to-point airline. There are no complex routing rules or stopovers to worry about. You just book each flight you want to take.