Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Review: Big Value on a Budget

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Since it’s free to join and relatively fast to earn enough points for a free flight, anyone who flies Southwest Airlines should sign up for the Rapid Rewards program. You don’t need any of their credit cards to earn miles, but you can earn them faster if you do.

With affordable fares, two free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees, Southwest Airlines is still one of the cheapest airlines to fly in the U.S. But with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, cheap isn't a bad thing.

The program's rewards currency, Rapid Rewards points, are among the most valuable airline rewards you can get, and you can score roundtrip flights for as little as 4,210 points. But the airline's domestic focus makes it a better fit for people who do most of their travel within the U.S., the Caribbean and Central America.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

Unlike many airline rewards programs, Southwest calls its currency points instead of miles. The rewards program has no blackout dates or award restrictions, so you don't have to worry about finding the right flight for your next trip. Also, Rapid Rewards points never expire, so you can take your time to build up your rewards balance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Low fares and few fees
• No blackout dates
• The Southwest Companion Pass® is unmatched
• Points don't expire

Cons

• International flights are limited
• No first-class cabin
• Business Select and Anytime fares are usually unaffordable

No Blackout Dates

This is one less thing to worry about when booking flights or redeeming points. You can decide when you want to fly, without being held to a certain schedule.

Points Don’t Expire

Your points will remain intact unless you terminate your account. You must also have flight-earning or partner-earning points once every 24 months to remain active. There are several ways you can earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points, which we'll cover in this review.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Tiers

Southwest has two status tiers for its rewards program members: A-List and A-List Preferred.

A-List

You can earn A-List status when you earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points or take 25 one-way qualifying flights in a calendar year. Once you achieve it, you'll receive:

• Priority boarding
• 25% more points on qualifying flights
• Same-day standby
• Priority check-in and security lane access
• Dedicated A-List member phone line

A-List Preferred

A-List Preferred status requires 70,000 tier-qualifying points or 50 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. For those who qualify, you'll get:

• Priority boarding
• 100% more points on qualifying flights
• Same-day standby
• Priority check-in and security lane access
• Dedicated A-List Preferred member phone line
• Free in-flight WiFi

For both status tiers, tier-qualifying points include points earned on flights you pay for with cash, as well as points you earn with one of the airline's co-branded credit cards.

How Much Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Worth?

Most airline miles have a dynamic pricing structure, which means that the value of your rewards can vary based on several different factors. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are similar, but their value is tied more directly to the cash price of the fare than other airlines.

This means that if there's a fare sale, you'll see drops in how much a flight costs with both cash and points. According to our points and miles valuation guide, Rapid Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece on average, which is more than what many other popular airlines offer, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

The best way to redeem your Southwest points is for award flights with the airline. You can maximize your points by taking advantage of Southwest Click ‘N Save fare deals. Sign up to get emails from the airline whenever tickets go on sale.

The only drawback is that you need enough points to cover the full cost of the flight — some other airlines allow you to purchase tickets with a mix of rewards and cash.

Other ways to redeem your points include:

• Gift cards from popular brands
• Merchandise
• International flights
• Hotel stays
• Rental cars
• Experiences (must have a Southwest credit card)

One thing to note with international flights is that Southwest Airlines only services flights within the U.S. and to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. If you want to book a flight to somewhere else, you can use your points to book with one of the airline’s partners, but you typically won’t get as much value as you would booking directly with Southwest.

Rapid Rewards Point Redemption Tips

Your points will go further when booking Business Select flight over Wanna Get Away flights, though.

When it comes time to redeem your points, do some quick math to ensure you're getting a great deal. For example, if you see a Wanna Get Away flight for $75 or 7,500 points, then you're only redeeming your points for one cent per mile — not the best deal.

How to Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

The primary way you can earn Rapid Rewards points is to fly with the airline. You'll earn 12 points per dollar on Business Select tickets, 10 points per dollar on Anytime tickets and 6 points per dollar on Wanna Get Away tickets. Other ways to earn points with the airline include:

• Using a Southwest Airlines credit card
• Booking travel with one of the airline's partners, which include hotels, rental cars and ground transportation
• Shopping online through Rapid Rewards shopping portal
• Dining at participating restaurants with Rapid Rewards Dining
• Taking surveys
• Spending with the airline's home, lifestyle and specialty partners

Southwest Credit Cards That Earn Rapid Rewards Points

Not only are Southwest credit cards co-branded with Chase, it's among the card issuers' multiple travel transfer partners. Points earned from Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred can be transferred directly to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account to pay for flights.

However, if you're a Southwest loyalist who enjoys benefits like upgraded boardings, discounts on in-flight services and other airline perks, then opening one of Southwest's consumer or business credit cards to earn Rapid Rewards points for everyday spending may be a compelling value for you.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$69
• Sign Up Bonus 50,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base)

This is a great starter card for infrequent domestic travelers who want to earn rewards toward discounted Southwest flights without a huge annual fee. You won't get a ton of perks compared to other Southwest cards, and this card does charge foreign transaction fees so probably isn’t best for international travelers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

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• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$99
• Sign Up Bonus 50,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base)

This middle-of-the-pack Southwest card is a good option for occasional travelers. In exchange for a moderate annual fee, you'll enjoy strong travel perks on top of 6,000 bonus points every anniversary. Another nice perk is this card charges no foreign transaction fees, unlike the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$149
• Sign Up Bonus 50,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base)

If you’re looking for a Southwest credit card stacked with travel rewards and perks, this is it. Although it has the highest annual fee of Southwest consumer cards, you could easily offset the fee if you travel Southwest frequently.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$99
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Dollar Equivalent: $840 (60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base)

This entry-level business card is a great choice for those looking for a low-annual-fee business card with competitive rewards. To help offset the $99 annual fee, you'll earn 3x points per dollar on Southwest purchases, get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and have access to 25% back on inflight purchases annually.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$199
• Sign Up Bonus 80,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,120 (80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base)

As Southwest's top business card, small business owners who travel Southwest frequently or have employees who travel will benefit the most from the card's premium perks. From in-flight Wi-Fi credits to elite status boost opportunities, the perks far outweigh the high annual fee.

Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass® is one of the best benefits you can receive from a frequent flyer program. If you have it, you can choose one person to fly with you almost for free — you will have to pay taxes and fees, which typically cost just $5.60 each way. You can change your companion up to three times per calendar year, so you don't have to worry if you don't have a consistent travel companion.

To qualify, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. Once you earn it, you'll have the pass through the end of the next calendar year.

Bottom Line

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards program worth it? It depends on your travel needs. If you already prefer to fly Southwest or hope to fly with it more frequently, the Rapid Rewards Program is definitely worth joining. It's free to sign up and you can start earning points right away.

However, if you really want to get the most out of Southwest Rapid Rewards, you'll want to aim to earn the highest tier of the program — Companion Pass. Once you can bring a partner or friend on your flight for free, the savings really start adding up.