Southwest Rapid Rewards: What To Know
If you fly Southwest Airlines even a few times a year, joining the Southwest Rapid Rewards Program, which is a loyalty program helping you earn points toward future trips, enjoy exclusive member benefits, and potentially save hundreds of dollars on travel. But how does the program work, and is it actually worth joining?
This guide explains everything you need to know, from earning and redeeming points to elite status and the popular Companion Pass.
Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Worth It: Benefits Listed
Yes, for many travelers it is!
Joining Southwest Rapid Rewards is a smart choice as the airline’s free loyalty program lets members earn points on eligible flights and partner purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
One of the program’s biggest advantages is that Rapid Rewards points never expire, giving you the flexibility to save them for future trips. Frequent travelers can also qualify for A-List or A-List Preferred status to enjoy benefits. Plus, the highly valued Companion Pass allows an eligible companion to fly with you by paying only applicable taxes and fees.
So if you’re a frequent or an occasional traveler, Southwest Rapid Rewards is a simple and rewarding way to get more value from every trip.
- Free to join with no membership fee.
- Earn and redeem points on flights, hotels, gift cards, and more
- Points never expire, giving you greater flexibility.
- Companion Pass eligibility for added travel savings
- A-List and A-List Preferred benefits
- Exclusive member promotions and partner rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Login or Signup
Signing up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards membership is completely free and takes a few minutes. You can do this easily by filling out a short enrollment form on the Southwest official page with your basic details.
Step-by-step Instructions
- Go to the enrollment page and navigate directly to the official Southwest Rapid Rewards Login page.
- Enter your personal details.
- Create credentials and accept the terms.
- Upon submission, you’ll immediately receive a Rapid Rewards Account Number. Save it for flight bookings and to earn points.
How to Earn Southwest Points?
The fastest way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points is by taking advantage of welcome offers on co-branded credit cards, transferring bank points, and flying frequently.
Fly To Earn
Whether you’re flying frequently or making everyday purchases, Southwest offers several ways to earn Rapid Rewards points. The table below highlights the most common method for earning points faster, helping you choose the perfect seat bundle.
| Type | Rapid Rewards Points (Per $ Spent) | Perks |
| Basic | 2 | Assigned Standard Seat |
| Choice | 6 | Transferable flight credits, Standard seat choice, Free same-day stand-by & same-day confirmed flight changes |
| Choice Preferred | 10 | Priority & Express Lane check-in & security screening, group 3-5 boarding, Preferred seat choice |
| Choice Extra | 14 | 2 free checked bags, group 1-2 boarding, complimentary premium drink of choice, Extra Legroom seat choice |
Elite (Tiered) Status
Members who travel frequently with Southwest can earn elite status by meeting the airline’s qualifying requirements. Elite members receive added benefits such as bonus points, priority boarding and other travel privileges.
| A-List | A-List Preferred |
| 20 one-way qualifying flights | 40 one-way qualifying flights |
| 25% bonus on points earned from paid flights | 100% bonus on points earned from paid flights |
| 35,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) per year | 70,000 (TQPs) per year |
| 1 free checked bag | 2 free checked bags |
| Priority & Express Lane boarding group 5, same-day standby | Priority & Express Lane boarding group 2, 2 free premium drinks |
| Preferred or Standard Seat Choice, Upgrade to extra legroom before 48 hours of departure | Extra Legroom at no cost |
Transferring Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest has been building an impressive list of international partners that offer benefits for loyal members, including the ability to transfer your Rapid Rewards points to another member. Transferring points costs $10 per 1,000 points, with a 2,000-point minimum and a 60,000-point daily maximum. You can also earn points via Southwest partners through the following:
- Hotels
- Car Rentals
- Shopping & Dining
- Taking surveys
- Home & Energy Partners
- Enrolling in travel medical insurance in Emergency Assistance Plus
Buying Rapid Rewards Points
Buying Rapid Rewards Points is generally not worth it because the cost is significantly higher than the value you receive when redeeming them. Standard Southwest points cost around 2.75 to 3.0 cents per point to buy, but when you redeem them, they’re worth only 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card
Chase issues Southwest credit cards, including 4 consumer and business options with annual fees ranging from $99 to $299. It allows you to earn Rapid Rewards Points, gain perks like free checked bags, and accelerate progress towards the Companion Pass. The following table compares all credit cards so you can decide which suits you best.
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit card |
| Annual Fee: $229 | Annual Fee: $99 | Annual Fee: $149 | Annual Fee: $299 |
| Standard or Preferred seat selection, upgrade to extra legroom available before 48 hours of departure | Standard seat selection before 48 hours of departure | Upgrade to extra legroom is available before 48 hours of departure | Standard or Preferred seat selection, upgrade to extra legroom available before 48 hours of departure |
| 1 free checked bag | 1 free checked bag | 1 free checked bag | 1 free checked bag |
| 7500 anniversary bonus points every year | 3000 anniversary bonus points every year | 6000 anniversary bonus points every year | 9000 anniversary bonus points every year |
| 25% back on in-flight purchases | 25% back on in-flight purchases | 15% flight discount promo code each year | |
| 2500 TQPs towards A-List status for every $5000 you spend | 2000 TQPs towards A-List status for every $5000 you spend | 2500 TQPs towards A-List status for every $5000 you spend | |
| 3x points on Southwest purchases | 4x points on Southwest purchases | ||
| 2x points on gas stations and restaurants | 2x points on gas stations, restaurants, hotel accommodations, and local transit | ||
| 1x points on all other purchases | 1x points on all other purchases | ||
| Boarding group: 5 | Boarding group: 5 |
Quirks
Southwest Rapid Rewards stands out for its high flexibility and family-friendly perks, most notably no blackout dates, unlimited reward seats, and the coveted companion pass. However, the program features distinct quirks:
Companion Pass
You can earn Companion pass qualifying points through flying 100 one-way qualifying flights and earning 135,000 companion points or through the Rapid Rewards credit card. You can select available assigned seats for your companion free of airline charges (excluding taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one-way).
Infant Fee
Children under 2 years of age and at least 14 days old may fly free of charge, including both domestic and international flights (you may need to pay taxes and charges for some international flights).
Note: When booking a flight, use Southwest’s low-fare calendar to find dates with the lowest fares, which may have more restrictive terms and fewer perks.
Conclusion
Southwest Rapid Rewards is a simple, flexible loyalty program that rewards travelers for flying with Southwest Airlines and its partners. Whether you’re looking to save on future flights, work towards elite status, or earn the valuable Companion Pass, joining the program is free and can help you get more value from every trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can sign up for Southwest Rapid Rewards by filling out an enrollment form on the official Southwest Rapid Rewards Login page.
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards Points never expire. They remain active indefinitely as long as your account stays open, though any points will be permanently forfeited if you choose to close your account.
Yes. You can use a combination of Rapid Rewards Points and dollars on eligible fares.
The points get redeposited in your Rapid Rewards account, and any taxes and fees are refunded or converted to flight credit, depending on the fare type.
You can earn the Elite Status (A-List or A-List Preferred) or the Companion Pass by flying a set number of flights or earning a required amount of TQPs.