Southwest Airlines once prided itself on its “transfarency” philosophy — low fares and no change fees, hidden fees or unexpected bag fees. Therefore, it was no surprise that some TPG staffers regarded Southwest as one of their top airline choices.
However, following several (mostly negative) changes, from new checked-bag fees to lower points-earning rates, the airline is “rapidly” implementing new policies, and for some, is no longer the beloved quirky standout it once was.
The silver lining: Even with the most recent program changes, Rapid Rewards points are some of the most easily redeemable loyalty rewards. Here’s how to earn, redeem and maximize Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Related: What we know about the shocking changes from Southwest — and what you should do now
Southwest Rapid Rewards program overview
Like Southwest Airlines itself, the Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program has amassed a loyal following. Despite not having a standard award chart or being part of an airline alliance, its promise of no blackout dates and the ability to earn Southwest’s famous Companion Pass make Rapid Rewards an excellent choice for couples, families and those with not-so-flexible schedules.
Southwest recently adjusted award prices to make them more “variable,” as opposed to tying the award price to the cash value. In our testing, we’ve found that depending on the date and demand of your flight, you can get as little as 1.1 cents or as much as 1.7 cents per point in value.
TPG values Rapid Rewards points at 1.4 cents per point in our July 2025 valuations, meaning 10,000 points should give you around $140 in value.
Southwest elite status
Southwest offers two elite status tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred.
Southwest A-List elite status
To qualify for A-List status, you must fly 20 qualifying one-way Southwest flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year.
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Tier qualifying points include those earned from paid flights booked with Southwest or through qualifying purchases made with Rapid Rewards partners. Members now earn tier qualifying points on the cash portion of flights booked using Southwest’s Cash + Points option.
You can also earn:
Purchased points, tier bonus points, flight bonus points, partner points, and points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment and credit card bonuses do not count toward A-List or A-List Preferred status.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With Southwest A-List status, you’ll get the following:
- One free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 25% bonus on points earned from paid flights
- Free same-day standby/changes on Wanna Get Away Plus and above fares (taxes and fees may apply)
- Priority check-in and security lane access
- Dedicated A-List member phone line
Southwest A-List Preferred elite status
A-List Preferred status requires you to fly 40 qualifying one-way Southwest flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year. You’ll receive all the benefits of A-List status, as well as:
- Two free checked bags
- 100% bonus on points earned from paid flights
- Free inflight Wi-Fi
- Two free premium drinks on select flights over 250 miles
Related: Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
There are a few ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points — and some don’t even require flying. Here are some of the ways to earn points:
Earn points by flying: You can earn Rapid Rewards points every time you fly on a paid Southwest Airlines flight. The number of points you’ll earn depends on the cost of your flight, your elite status, the type of ticket and your payment method.
Earn points with Southwest credit cards: Southwest Airlines has several cobranded credit cards issued by Chase.
At this time, you can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first five months from account opening.
Southwest also offers the following business cards:
Additionally, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
Other ways to earn Rapid Rewards points are through Rapid Rewards Dining and Shopping, booking stays through Southwest Hotels, and with other partners.
Check out our overall guide on the different ways you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
How to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points
There are several ways to redeem your points, but you’ll almost always get the most value if you use them for travel on Southwest flights. Other redemption options, like gift cards and merchandise, yield much less value.
The process for redeeming Rapid Rewards points for flights is largely the same as booking a paid flight. Head to the Southwest homepage, enter your search criteria and select the “Points” option. Click the yellow search button to see your flight options.
You’ll see award pricing to the right of each available flight. You can filter flights by the number of layovers and departure times using the buttons at the top of the page. Then, click on the ticket price of your desired flight and follow the on-screen prompts to book.
Which fare type should I choose?
You can redeem points for flights in any of the four Southwest fare types. The least expensive option, Basic, is a good value for many travelers, though restrictive. Although these tickets are nonrefundable, you’ll get a flight credit if you cancel, or if you booked with points, you’ll get your points and fees refunded. Note, you can only change a Basic fare by upgrading to at least a Wanna Get Away Plus fare.
Wanna Get Away Plus fares are slightly more flexible, with free confirmed and standby same-day flight changes (fare difference may apply). Additionally, these fares let you transfer flight credits to another person if you cancel your flight.
Anytime fares have the same benefits as Wanna Get Away Plus, including priority security and EarlyBird Check-In.
Business Select fares include A1-A15 boarding, expedited security at select airports, two free checked bags for bookings from May 28 onward, and a free alcoholic drink on board. This fare usually costs more than triple the points of a Wanna Get Away fare, so we recommend avoiding this redemption in most cases unless you really need to check two bags.
Flight credits now expire based on your fare class. (Note that flight credits issues on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire.) Basic fare credits will expire within six months (and are nontransferable and nonextendable), while Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare credits will expire within 12 months.
Southwest cardholders get their first checked bag free on each of the airline’s cards. This benefit applies to the primary cardholder and up to eight travelers flying on the same reservation. All cardholders can also select a seat in some capacity, even if they’re flying on a Basic fare.
Note that Southwest will be renaming its fare types for flights departing Jan. 27, 2026.
Can I change Southwest award tickets for free?
You can cancel Southwest award tickets for free. If you opt to change a ticket, you’re only liable for paying the new ticket’s fare difference if it’s more expensive. On the other hand, if you switch to a cheaper flight, Southwest will refund the difference in points. With this in mind, we highly recommend keeping an eye on award pricing after you book a flight — if the fare decreases, you’ll be refunded the points difference.
Canceling a Southwest award ticket is just as simple. When you cancel your ticket, the points you used to book will be refunded to your Rapid Rewards account with no cancellation fees.
Do I have to pay taxes and fees on award tickets?
You must pay certain taxes and fees when booking Southwest award tickets, starting at $5.60 one-way. If you cancel your award flight, the fee will be refunded to your payment method.
For more details, check out our guide on how to redeem your Southwest points.
Maximize your points with the Southwest Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is undoubtedly one of the most valuable perks of the Rapid Rewards program. After earning the pass, you can choose a companion to travel with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on any Southwest flight you book. You can use the Companion Pass on as many flights as you’d like, effectively doubling the value of your Rapid Rewards points.
You can earn a Companion Pass by flying 100 Southwest one-way flight segments or earning 135,000 qualifying points. Qualifying points include Rapid Rewards points earned from flying, credit card welcome bonuses, spending on credit cards, and making purchases via Rapid Rewards Dining and/or Rapid Rewards Shopping.
Related: 15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass
Unfortunately, point transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards do not count toward the Companion Pass.
You can only designate one companion at a time, but you can change your companion three times per year. You can change your companion through your Southwest account; according to the airline, allow up to 48 hours for the change to process. Remember that your companion will not earn Rapid Rewards points on their flight, but you will still earn points if you fly on a paid ticket.
Your Companion Pass will be valid for the remainder of the year in which it’s earned and the entirety of the following year.
Be sure to check out our guide for more details on how to earn (and use) a Southwest Companion Pass.
Bottom line
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are easy to earn and redeem, and the incredibly valuable Companion Pass sets Southwest apart from other airlines. Don’t miss your fast track to a Companion Pass with the right cobranded credit card.
However, the airline has recently restructured a lot of its program, which has been met with confusion, frustration and dismay by its most loyal customers. Given the speed at which these changes have been announced, more may come. Still, the program remains popular with all kinds of travelers, especially families.
Now you know how to make an informed decision about Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
