Southwest Airlines is understood for its beneficiant insurance policies on ticket modifications and cancellations, complimentary checked luggage and distinctive boarding course of. Nevertheless, Southwest Rapid Rewards is one more attractive characteristic for frequent vacationers.
One notable benefit is this system’s lack of blackout dates for award redemptions. Furthermore, it gives an unimaginable Companion Pass benefit, permitting you to carry a companion on paid and award flights for simply the price of taxes and costs.
If you’re new to Southwest or need to study extra about utilizing factors on Southwest, this information will take you thru what that you must find out about redeeming your Fast Rewards factors. Luckily, it’s comparatively easy, however there are a number of peculiarities you need to be conscious of.
You may as well redeem your Southwest factors for reward playing cards, merchandise, resorts, experiences and Fast Rewards Occasions, however Southwest flights virtually at all times present the very best return in your hard-earned factors.
Redeem factors on Southwest flights
Redeeming Southwest Fast Rewards factors on Southwest flights is easy. This system pegs the variety of factors required to the price of paid airfares. The extra a paid seat prices, the extra factors it’s essential to redeem. Southwest guarantees no blackout dates on any redemptions, so you should utilize your Fast Rewards factors to e-book any Southwest Airways ticket on the market. If the flight has one open seat, you must be capable of e-book it with factors (however be ready to pay up).
TPG values Southwest points at 1.4 cents every, and it is simple to constantly get that worth whether or not you are reserving home or worldwide flights. Sadly, Southwest has shared plans to devalue Rapid Rewards points by 4% on Jan. 1, 2024, so now could be the time to e-book award journey.
The reserving course of is easy. Fireplace up southwest.com and enter your flight search parameters. Make sure to verify the “Factors” button on the high proper to see the outcomes for award flights.
The outcomes web page will then show the entire obtainable flights utilizing factors. Choose the one you need, log in to your account (if you have not already) and observe the on-screen steps to finish your award.
You may as well reserve Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Enterprise Choose fares utilizing Fast Rewards factors, however your redemption worth tends to be decrease for restricted advantages. Enterprise Choose fares, for instance, embody precedence boarding and safety, a free premium drink on flights over 176 miles and extra versatile same-day modifications. Consequently, we suggest sticking to redeeming for Wanna Get Away fares every time potential.
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You may as well redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Southwest flights on the Chase portal.
Free award ticket modifications and cancellations
One other factor that makes Fast Rewards factors so common is Southwest’s versatile change and cancellation policies.
You’ll be able to change your Southwest flights free of charge and are solely chargeable for paying the distinction between your unique and new flights. If the price of an award flight you’ve got booked goes down, you’ll be able to rebook your journey on the decrease charge, and you will obtain a refund (within the type of journey credit score for Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares).
In case your plans change and you can’t make a flight, you’ll be able to cancel your flight free of charge. Your factors will likely be refunded to your account with out penalty (even on Wanna Get Away fares). You’ll be able to even go for the taxes paid to return to the bank card you used to e-book the reservation.
There’s one factor to recollect: You’ll be able to’t no-show for the flight and get your factors again. It’s essential to cancel not less than 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure, which continues to be fairly lenient.
Associated: How to re-price a Southwest flight when the fare decreases
The Companion Cross doubles the worth of your Southwest factors
One of many methods to maximise the worth of your Fast Rewards factors is by incomes the Southwest Companion Pass. With this perk, you’ll be able to select a companion to fly with you on all of your Southwest flights whereas your go is legitimate. Your companion will solely have to pay the taxes and costs for his or her ticket, no matter whether or not you used money or factors in your ticket. So long as the flight has obtainable seats, you should utilize your go. This primarily doubles the worth of your Fast Rewards flights when touring along with your designated companion.
To earn the Companion Pass, it’s essential to earn both 135,000 qualifying factors or full 100 qualifying flights on Southwest inside a calendar yr. As soon as achieved, you should have the Companion Cross for the rest of the present yr and the whole following yr.
Qualifying factors for the Companion Cross might be earned by flying paid Southwest flights, spending on a Southwest bank card, procuring by the Southwest procuring portal and using Southwest’s partnerships. Nevertheless, factors transfers from Chase Final Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy don’t rely towards the Companion Cross.
You’ll be able to earn 75,000 bonus factors with any of the Chase Southwest private playing cards and 80,000 bonus factors with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card.
This is a take a look at among the current Southwest card offers:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Supply ends Dec. 11.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card: 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Supply ends Dec. 11.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Supply ends Dec. 11.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: 60,000 factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card: 80,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
With these beneficiant welcome gives, incomes the Companion Cross turns into comparatively simple. By assembly the minimal spending requirement on the Performance Business Card, you’ll be able to earn not less than 85,000 factors, leaving you with solely 50,000 factors to earn the go. You’ll be able to obtain this by spending extra in your new card, flying with Southwest, incomes factors by companions or combining these strategies.
Associated: 15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass
Southwest Fast Rewards FAQ
Have questions on Southwest Fast Rewards? Let’s tackle them.
How do I be a part of Southwest Fast Rewards?
You’ll be able to be a part of the Southwest Fast Rewards program free of charge on Southwest’s website. Have a look at the highest of the web page and click on the “Create account” hyperlink.
Now, fill out the requested info and click on the yellow “Create account” button on the backside of the display. Your account will likely be created instantly, and you’ll earn and redeem Fast Rewards factors.
When do Southwest Fast Rewards factors expire?
Southwest Fast Rewards points don’t expire as long as your account is open.
Can I switch factors to Southwest?
You’ll be able to switch Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 1:1 switch ratio. Which means that 10,000 Chase factors are equal to 10,000 Southwest Fast Rewards factors. These transfers typically course of immediately.
For instance, you could need to e-book Southwest flights by Chase you probably have the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You’ll be able to redeem Final Rewards factors from this card at 1.5 cents per level by the Chase travel portal and nonetheless earn Fast Rewards factors in your flight. And now, Southwest flights appear directly on the Chase travel portal.
Additional, you’ll be able to switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 3:1 switch ratio. 5 thousand bonus Fast Rewards are awarded for each 60,000 Marriott factors transferred, so 60,000 Marriott factors are price 25,000 Southwest factors.
Associated: What it’s really like flying Southwest Airlines all the way to Hawaii
Backside line
Southwest Fast Rewards factors are a superb alternative in case you are a traveler looking for flexibility in reserving flights inside a large home community. With the additional benefit of fee-free modifications and cancellations, together with the inclusion of two free checked luggage for each passenger, Southwest is a most well-liked choice for a lot of vacationers. Furthermore, the Companion Cross lets you double the worth of your factors when touring with a good friend or member of the family.
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