Everything You Need to Know About Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

Reward points are one of the perks of being a frequent flyer of a particular airline. You can earn them by taking advantage of complimentary flights, upgrades, baggage allowances, and other travel-related expenses. You can enjoy the flight with utmost comfort and earn more reward points while flying. Southwest Airlines has Rapid Rewards points that allow passengers to earn points by flying or spending with Southwest Airlines' partners. After reading all these, you might wonder how to earn the points, how to use the points, and what advantages you can have with Southwest Rapid Reward points; all these queries will be solved by walking through this post. 

What are Southwest Rapid Rewards Points? 

Southwest Rapid Rewards Points are the outcome of the Southwest Loyalty Program. A member of the Southwest loyalty program is eligible to acquire Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. You can redeem these rapid points for merchandise, rental cars, flight bookings, and more. Additionally,  Southwest also offers Rapid Rewards points for spending on their partners. But to earn the points while spending the money on its partner, you must use a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card. 

How Much Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Worth?   

Southwest Rapid Rewards Points are based on tier, flight length, peak season, origin and destination, arrival point, and more. On average, Southwest Rapid Rewards are worth 1.3 and 1.5 cents each. To earn these points for Southwest flights, the PTS per dollar needs to be multiplied by the base fare of the flight. Therefore, you must calculate the Southwest Rapid Reward Points if the accumulated points qualify for booking the flight, or you must go for a combination of Cash + Points. 

How can I become a member of Southwest Airlines' loyalty program?  

Southwest Airlines' loyalty program is amazing for passengers who want to experience unique facilities while travelling, renting cars, eating meals, and more. For those who are interested in enrolling themselves for the Southwest Airlines loyalty Program, the steps have been listed in the following lines: 

• Go to the official page of Southwest Airlines. 
• You will see different options; please pick the "Rapid Rewards" section. 
• The "Sign-Up" icon is written beneath the "Program" section; click on it. 
• A new window will flash on the screen where you have to fill out all your details. 
• Agree to the terms & conditions and select the option "Create account." 
• You are requested to proceed with the direction that is visible on the display. 
• Soon, you will become a member of the Southwest Loyalty Program. 

How can I earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points?  

Obtaining Southwest Rapid Rewards points is quite stress-free for passengers. Popular ways to accumulate Southwest Rapid Rewards Points are mentioned here: 

• Earn with Southwest Airlines flights   
• Earn with Southwest Airlines' partners 

Earn with Southwest Airlines flights     

Southwest Airlines allows passengers to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points with utmost ease. A prominent way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points is to purchase a flight. Southwest Rapid Rewards Points are earned based on the money you spend on flights. Furthermore, the type of fare, the payment process, and the tier status play a pivotal role in determining the total Southwest Rapid Rewards Points earned. Suppose the base fare of the flight is 100 USD, then here are the Southwest Rapid Rewards Points you might achieve:  

Base tier

• Business Select: 14 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 1,400 PTS earned. 
• Anytime: 10 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 1,000 PTS  earned. 
• Wanna Get Away plus: 6 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 600 PTS. 
• Wanna Get Away: 2 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 200 PTS earned. 

A-List tier

• Business Select: 17.5 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 1,750 PTS earned. 
• Anytime: 12.5 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 1,250 PTS earned. 
• Wanna Get Away plus:  7.5 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 750 PTS earned. 
• Wanna Get Away:  2.5 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 250 PTS earned. 

A-List Preferred tier

• Business Select: 28 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 2800 PTS earned. 
• Anytime: 20 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 2000 PTS earned. 
• Wanna Get Away plus: 12 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 1200 PTS earned. 
• Wanna Get Away: 4 PTS per dollar x 100 USD = 400 PTS earned. 

Earn with Southwest Airlines' partners   

Southwest Airlines works in association with different partners, where members of Southwest's loyalty program can earn points. On dining, shopping, lifestyle, and more, you have the chance to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. If you are willing to know more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Points earning with Southwest Airlines' partner, then carefully read the points mentioned in the following lines: 

• Hotel: At Southwest Hotels, MGM Rewards, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, you are eligible to book the hotels. By booking these hotels, you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. At the time of hotel check-in, you have to share your Southwest Rapid Rewards Points with the hotel staff when you arrive. The staff will check the reward points and deduct the points equivalent to the hotel fare. You can enjoy the time here with your loved ones without spending cash.   
• Car Rentals: Car Rental Companies such as Alamo, Hertz, Dollar Car Rental, Budget, National Car Rental, Thrifty Car Rental, and Payless Car Rental permit Southwest's loyalty program members to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points by renting cars. The members can obtain 600 points by renting the vehicles. You have to contact the concerned car rental company's customer service if you want to ask about past rental points. 
• Flights: Passengers can earn Southwest Rapid Reward Points for Icelandair flights that involve a segment with Southwest Airlines. The flight must be booked through Icelandair or any travel agency. You must add your Southwest Rapid Rewards number to your flight by accessing the Southwest mobile app, Southwest's customer service team, Southwest's site, or the travel agency concerned. Only then can you acquire the points.  
• Home and lifestyle: By choosing NRG Home as your electric supplier, you can earn Southwest Rapid Reward Points. This applies if you are living in MD, NJ, PA, IL, and MA. Moreover, you can also acquire Southwest Rapid Rewards Points with the support of the Reliant Secure 24 plan. After signing up, you get 15,000 Rapid Reward Points as an enrollment bonus. Alongside, for the next 2 years, you are qualified to get 500 additional points per month. 
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Cards: To attain Southwest Rapid Rewards Points, you must have a Rapid Rewards Plus Card, Rapid Rewards Priority Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card, or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card. For each penny spent on Rapid Rewards hotels, car rentals, streaming devices, local transit, and more, you will score Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. 
• Speciality: Reward for Opinions, Emergency Assistance Plus, and e-Rewards are the platforms where you can earn Southwest Rapid Reward Points. You can participate in the market research surveys to earn points. These surveys can be selected according to your interests. 15 USD e-reward currency equals 600 Rapid Reward points, while 100 USD e-reward currency is equivalent to 2,400 Rapid Reward points. 

Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points  

Once you have enough Southwest Rapid Rewards Points in your account, you are eligible to redeem them according to your preferences. The redeeming process is simple and handy for the passengers so that they can focus on their travel journey. Here are the major sections where you can redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points: 

• Flight booking: Southwest permits its passengers to redeem the points for reserving a flight. To reserve a Southwest Airlines flight, you must log into your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account. You have to provide the flight credentials and hit the search icon. Plenty of flights will pop up on the display; you are requested to select one. The flight fare's equivalent in Southwest Rapid Rewards points will be deducted from your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. 
• Merchandise: If you have a list of requirements for merchandise shopping, you can use your Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. Electronics, golf balls, and home products are the options for redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. This way, you can utilise your reward points without using cash. 
• Gift Cards: People love to pamper their favourite person or close ones. A fantastic way to do this is to give them gift cards. If you are thinking of gifting a card to your loved ones and you have Southwest Rapid Rewards points, then you are fortunate, as you can redeem the points to purchase the gift card. You can redeem the points for the famous brands such as Kohl’s, Best Buy, Lowe's, and Panera's gift cards. 
• Explore various events: If you are interested in events such as destination getaways, wine testing, and more, you can participate in them. However, you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards card member to redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points and enjoy access to these events. 
• A wide range of hotels: Southwest's loyalty program members have the authority to book hotels using the Southwest Rapid Rewards points. This will increase the whole feel of the trip. You will get the chance to decide a hotel from more than 70,000 hotels that are present all across the world. These hotels include small to lavish hotels, which are equipped with top-notch services. 
• Unique experience: By applying Southwest Rapid Rewards points, you can take advantage of spa packages. In addition, you can also go for biking, rock climbing, hiking, and river rafting by managing your Southwest Rapid Rewards points. For jeep tours, cruises, horse riding, and kayaking, you can use these points to make the journey memorable. 

Benefits of an A-List member 

To become an A-List member, you must take 20 flights or earn 35,000 PTS points on Southwest Airlines per calendar year. The perks of A-List members are here:  

• Early boarding ensures that you can board a Southwest Airlines flight without any hassle. After check-in, all the A-List members can sit on their flight immediately. 
• If you have questions about your flight or flight-related issues, a dedicated A-List phone line will instantly connect you with Southwest Airlines' customer service.  
• You are entitled to acquire bonus points on every qualifying Southwest flight, up to a 25% earnings bonus you can achieve on the flights. 
• A separate lane is offered to the A-List members so they can easily go through the check-in counter without being in the long queue. Moreover, the A-List members can speed up the process at the airport security checkpoints for a seamless trip. 
• Passengers can get the same base fare flight if they want a same-day change/standby, but it depends on the seat's availability. This is exclusive for the A-List members. You can ease the same-day change/standby process by listing yourself on the Southwest app or website, or communicating with the Southwest customer service gate agent.

Benefits of A-List Preferred member  

Passengers with 70,000 PTS points have the privilege of being an A-List Preferred member per calendar year. Moreover, passengers who have completed 40 flights per calendar year are also eligible: 

• If you are an A-List Preferred member, exploring the in-flight internet on Southwest will be free. You can share an email or scroll through different information as you require. 
• If you are travelling on a flight over 250 miles, then you can enjoy two complimentary premium drinks after you board the plane. 
• You can skip the long line of check-in and acquire the opportunity to get on the aircraft first with your fellow A-List preferred members. 
• On each flight you fly with Southwest, you can earn 100% bonus points. But this benefit is acceptable for flights that qualify for bonus points. 
• For airport security checkpoints and check-in counters, you will enjoy a fast process. 

Benefits of the Companion Pass  

For a companion pass, you must have at least 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a year. The benefits of the Companion Pass are given below: 

• Southwest Airlines allows passengers to take a friend or family member with them.  
• The airlines do not impose the flight fare on the passengers. Moreover, passengers do not have to pay any taxes and fees, at 5.60 USD one-way.  
• Members of the Companion Pass can change their selected companions. Southwest Airlines accepts this up to three times yearly.  

How can I use the Companion Pass on Southwest Airlines?  

To use the companion pass on Southwest, you can call the phone number 1-800-435-9792. The Southwest agent will support you in acquiring the companion's seat. However, in the further lines, you can learn the online process to use the Companion Pass: 

• You have to go to www.southwest.com. 
• You have to log in to the Southwest Airlines account to access it.  
• You have to select the option "Choose Your Companion". 
• The airlines will require the companion's information. 
• Details that appear on the screen, you must follow them. 
• After a while, you can book the flight for your companion on Southwest Airlines. 

1. Rapid Rewards Consumer Credit Cards   

Rapid Reward Plus Card 

• Regarding hotel and car rental partner reservations, you can have 2 points per USD. 
• Southwest Airlines will give you the opportunity to check in two hours early. This must be used within one year.  
• If you spend on local transit and commute through the Plus card, you can acquire 2 points per USD. 
• If you are buying in-flight amenities on Southwest, then you can get 25% back on the purchase. 
•  3,000 points will be credited to you as anniversary points. 

Rapid Rewards Priority Card 

• Southwest Airlines provides a $ 75 annual travel credit that will elevate the overall experience of the journey.  
• If you are purchasing directly with Southwest Airlines, then you will be aware of 3x points on every dollar that you spend. 
• Every anniversary year of your card membership, 7,500 points will be gifted to you by Southwest Airlines. 
• As per the Southwest, you can cherish the chance of four upgraded boarding passes annually. However, this is only appropriate if the seats are unoccupied on a Southwest Airlines flight.  
• You will receive 1,500 tier points for every 5,000 USD spent on Southwest Airlines. 

2. Rapid Rewards Business Credit Cards  

Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card 

• This card allows you to acquire 2 points for every USD. These points are eligible for spending on ridesharing and local transit. 
• For expenses done on things other than the above-mentioned things, you will obtain one point per USD. 
• Per year, you can enjoy two priority check-ins with Southwest Airlines. 
• On foreign transactions, there are no fees for using this card.  
• You are qualified to obtain 25% back on all your Southwest in-flight purchases. 

Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card 

• Depending on the seat availability, you can get 4 upgraded seats on Southwest Airlines. 
• By utilising this business card, you can gather 2 points for one USD if spent on local transit and ridesharing. 
• For each penny spent on the internet, phone services, cable, and social media, you can get 2 points. 
• You can enjoy up to 365 in-flight internet credits on Southwest Airlines annually.  
• To transfer the points, you can get a 500 USD fee credit in your account. 

FAQs

Q1.  Am I eligible to reserve a Southwest Airlines flight using cash and points? 

To pay Southwest Airlines flight charges, you must choose "Dollars" in the flight booking form. Beneath the "Passenger & Payment Info" page, you must look for "Cash + Points" and other forms of payment. Later, Southwest Airlines' flight will be reserved by accessing cash and Southwest Rapid Rewards Points.  

2. Is there an option to acquire Southwest Rapid Rewards points by utilising Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards? 

The authority of Southwest Airlines grants permission to the passengers with the Rapid Rewards Priority Card, Rapid Rewards Plus Card, Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card, or Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card to attain Southwest Rapid Rewards points. 

3. Can I buy Southwest Rapid Rewards Points? 

Southwest Airlines permits passengers to buy Southwest Rapid Rewards points. The airlines put the points on sale. Keep an eye on Southwest's page and grab the deals if they are a perfect fit for you. 

4. Am I eligible to transfer my Southwest Rapid Rewards Points to a different Rapid Rewards member? 

Southwest Airlines gives permission to its passengers to transfer the Southwest Rapid Rewards points to another Rapid Rewards member smoothly. Moreover, you are requested to open your Southwest Airlines account, and you can share your points. 

5. Can I donate my Southwest Rapid Rewards to a community partner? 

You have the right to donate your Southwest Rapid Rewards to a community partner. To do so, navigate through the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account. Here, you must select the "Rapid Rewards Point Centre" icon followed by "Donate Points." Soon, the points will be donated. 

Conclusion 

Southwest Rapid Rewards Points elevate the overall flight experience of the passengers. You can easily earn the points and make great use of them. From flight booking to purchasing the merchandise, you can get the chance to earn more Southwest Rapid Reward Points by spending more. The airlines not only allow the passengers to earn points, but they can also be redeemed. This act of the airlines attracts passengers and establishes a strong bond with them. If you have more queries, you can directly talk with Southwest Airlines customer service.