Rapid Rewards is the mileage/points program of Southwest Airlines. Points are accumulated mainly on flight purchases and associated credit card spending. When it comes to spending points, the main use is for Southwest Airlines flights.

Using points for Southwest Airlines flights

This is generally the best value, and most common use of Southwest Rapid Rewards points. You can book any Southwest Airlines flight using points. The pricing in points uses a dynamic pricing system – in common with most other US airlines these days. This means that the amount of points needed is related to the cash price and can change regularly. Note that points can only be used for Southwest Airlines - unlike many other airline loyalty programs, there are no partnerships with other airlines.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

There is no fixed ratio used to determine points value, but you should get a value of around 1.5 cents per point. You have to pay some taxes in cash. With US domestic flights, you only pay the security surcharge (currently $5.60). With international flights, other government taxes will be added.

Searching for flights is straightforward. This is all built into the main Southwest Airlines flight search system – you just toggle between cash prices and points. There is no option to part-pay with points, as offered by some points programs. You can book any of the fare options using points – including Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select.

Image: Southwest Airlines

Pay attention to the benefits offered by the different fares, though. All fares booked using points are refundable right up to 10 minutes before flight departure (after this deadline, points will be forfeited). This includes the lowest Wanna Get Away fares, so there is much less incentive to upgrade to the higher Anytime or Business Select fares.

Take advantage of the Southwest Companion Pass

There are no other ways to redeem points for inflight extras or partner flights with Rapid Rewards. But there is a way to double the value of points using a Companion Pass. This is a popular offering from Southwest Airlines, and one of the best offers in the loyalty market.

Photo: Southwest Airlines

The Companion Pass allows a named companion to get a free ticket (just with paid taxes) when you buy any ticket for cash or for points.

You earn a Companion Pass based on flight activity, or total Qualifying Points earned (these are the same as those used to calculate elite status). The two options for earning it are:

• Fly 100 Southwest Airlines flights (each segment counts as a flight).
• Earn 135,000 Qualifying Points. These include all points earned from flights, certain credit card spending, and through hotel and car hire partners. Note that this level was increased in January 2023 - previously, it was 125,000 points. Credit card holders, however, now receive a 10,000-point annual bonus.

Photo: VDB Photos/Shutterstock

Other ways to spend points

The Rapid Rewards program is not a good option for anyone not regularly flying Southwest Airlines. As such, most people will use points for flights. Other options are limited to co-branded credit card holders. They have access to a portal known as “More Rewards” which allows points to be used for car rentals, gift cards and selected merchandise. The value here is often significantly lower than for flight tickets, however.

Image: Southwest Airlines

Do you use Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards? Feel free to discuss how you collect and use points in the comments. What value do you normally expect to get?