How to Book Southwest With Points and Get More From Each Flight 

How many points will your flight cost? Is cash a better deal? You can book Southwest with points by signing in to Southwest Rapid Rewards, searching in points, choosing a fare, and paying the required taxes and fees. Check the value before spending your balance.

Use these checks before you confirm your ticket:

• Price: Compare points and cash for the same fare.
• Benefits: Check seat, bag, and change terms.
• Transfer: Confirm the price before moving Chase points.

How Do You Book Southwest With Points?

Southwest award flights are booked through Rapid Rewards. Search on Southwest’s website or app with results priced in points. Prices can change until booking is complete.

Follow these steps to book Southwest with points:

1. Sign in: Check your Rapid Rewards number and available balance.
2. Search in points: Enter airports, dates, and passenger count; select Points instead of Dollars. Compare times, connections, and prices.
3. Compare fares: Southwest fare types include Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Basic’s seat assignment and change terms differ from higher fares; check fare benefits before spending extra points.
4. Enter passenger details: You can book for someone else. Enter their name exactly as it appears on their identification; your account supplies the points.
5. Review the total: Check points, taxes and fees, names, and fare rules. Pay and save the confirmation number.

If you are short on points, consider Cash + Points before transferring or purchasing more.

How Many Points Do You Need for a Southwest Flight?

There is no fixed Southwest flight points cost for a route. Southwest says prices vary by destination, date, demand, and fare. Search Southwest points flights in both points and dollars before you redeem Rapid Rewards points.

Two checks make that comparison useful:

How Do You Calculate Rapid Rewards Value?

Rapid Rewards value is the cash cost avoided per point. Compare identical fares, subtract taxes still due on the reward ticket, and check the arithmetic with a cents per point calculator.

Use this formula and example:

• Formula: (Cash fare − taxes and fees paid on the points booking) ÷ points used × 100 = cents per point.
• Example: A hypothetical Choice fare costs $205 cash or 15,000 points plus $5.60. Your value is ($205 − $5.60) ÷ 15,000 × 100, or about 1.33 cents per point.
• Comparison: If the cash ticket includes benefits that the points fare lacks, select matching fares and recalculate.

When Should You Pay Cash Instead of Using Points?

A low cash fare can make a points redemption less attractive. Paying cash also preserves transferable Chase points for another trip. No single cents-per-point cutoff fits everyone.

Before you book Southwest with points, ask:

• Price: Would you spend fewer points by saving them for another flight and buying this fare?
• Flexibility: Does the fare include the seat choice, checked baggage, and change terms you need?
• Balance: Would using points leave you short for a trip you already plan to take?

Can You Transfer Chase Points to Southwest?

Southwest is among Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners for eligible accounts. Transferring Chase points to Southwest differs from earning points on Southwest credit cards. Check your card’s eligibility and terms.

To move Chase points to Southwest for a specific flight:

1. Find the fare: Search Southwest for the exact flight and fare you want, and note its points price.
2. Check alternatives: Review other uses for your flexible points. Explore Chase points flight options for context.
3. Transfer the needed amount: In Chase Ultimate Rewards, select Southwest Rapid Rewards, verify the linked account, and enter the transfer amount. Chase says transfers are generally made in 1,000-point increments.
4. Book after posting: Return to Southwest when the points appear and check the fare again before paying.

Chase says transfers are final and may take up to seven business days. Southwest prices can change while you wait.

Can You Use Cash + Points for a Southwest Flight?

Southwest Cash + Points combines your Rapid Rewards balance with an eligible payment method. It helps when you lack points for a full ticket, though its redemption value may differ. Check Southwest reward flight taxes and fees separately.

Use the correct checkout path and compare all three prices:

Southwest says options can start at 1,000 points. The cash portion of the base fare earns points. Cash + Points cannot cover a fare increase after a change.

How Can You Find Lower-Priced Southwest Points Flights?

Points prices vary by flight and fare. Nearby dates or different times may cost less. Compare flights you would actually take.

Try these comparisons when you book Southwest with points:

• Dates and times: Check a day earlier or later and compare departure times.
• Airports and segments: If practical, compare nearby airports and price each direction separately. Do not choose an awkward connection just for a small points saving.
• Fare benefits: Compare Basic with Choice or a higher fare based on your seat and baggage needs, not the points difference alone.
• Companion Pass: If you hold a Southwest Companion Pass, add your designated companion to a cash or points booking, subject to applicable taxes and fees. Compare the value for two travelers.

What Happens If You Change or Cancel a Southwest Points Flight?

The Southwest points cancellation policy treats points and cash charges differently. Points from a canceled reward ticket return to the account that booked it. Check your fare’s other payment and change terms.

Check these terms before you book Southwest with points:

• Cancellation timing: Cancel at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure. A no-show can cause you to lose points or funds.
• Points return: If you booked for someone else, the points return to your purchasing account, not the traveler’s account.
• Taxes, fees, and extras: Check their refund or credit rules separately. A purchased seat may become a flight credit.
• Changes: Choice and higher fares generally permit changes with any fare difference due. Basic changes require a fare upgrade; check the current Southwest fare rules before adjusting that ticket.

If the fare falls later, check the change options and resulting points difference.

Where Does Flightpoints Help With This Decision?

Check Southwest directly for Rapid Rewards flights. If you have flexible bank points, another supported airline program might offer a better trip. Flightpoints compares available awards before you transfer.

Use it alongside your Southwest search:

• Compare routes: Run an award flight search for your destination and dates, then compare eligible results with Southwest’s cash and points prices.
• Check premium cabins: Compare cabin options and seats available for your party.
• Watch alternatives: Set award availability alerts for supported routes when your dates have some flexibility.

Check Southwest prices directly on Southwest. Flightpoints’ alternative results help you decide what else your transferable points could buy; supported airline coverage may vary.

Should You Book Southwest With Points?

You should book Southwest with points when the schedule, fare benefits, and points price fit your trip. Confirm the redemption before transferring Chase points.

Use this final check before you pay:

• Confirm: Recheck the points total, cash charges, fare terms, and passenger details.
• Compare: See what your points could buy on other supported routes before moving a flexible balance.
• Act: If you want faster searches and alerts for alternative award flights, get Flightpoints Pro and compare your options before you transfer.

FAQs

Q. Do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?
A: No. Your Rapid Rewards points do not expire under Southwest’s current rules. You need not rush into a poor redemption to protect your balance. Check separately for expiration dates on flight credits, which follow different rules.

Q. Do you earn Rapid Rewards points when you fly on a points ticket?
A: No. A flight paid entirely with Rapid Rewards points does not earn flight points. With Cash + Points, you can earn on the cash portion of the base fare. Compare that earning with the additional cash you would spend.

Q. Are taxes included when you redeem points for a Southwest flight?
A: No. You must pay government and airport charges separately, starting at $5.60 for a one-way trip. International itineraries may cost more. Check the full cash amount on the payment screen before comparing your redemption with a regular fare.

Q. Can you get points back if your Southwest flight gets cheaper?
A: Yes. If you change an eligible reward reservation to a lower-priced flight or fare, the points difference returns to the original Rapid Rewards account. Check change rules and any effects on purchased seats or other extras before confirming.

Q. Do points tickets count toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass?
A: No. Flights paid entirely with Rapid Rewards points do not count toward a Companion Pass. Cash + Points bookings can count as qualifying one-way flights when flown, and the eligible cash portion can earn qualifying points under current rules.

Q. Are there blackout dates for Southwest points bookings?
A: Southwest lets you redeem points for available seats without blackout dates. That does not guarantee a low price: demand, fare type, and travel dates affect the points cost. Search your flight before making plans around an assumed rate.