2026 Update: Southwest renamed all fare classes in January 2026, which changed point earn rates by name (not by value). Free Wi-Fi launched for all Rapid Rewards members in 2026 via a T-Mobile sign-up, free before you fly. Companion Pass threshold is currently 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. EarlyBird Check-In is discontinued.Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of the most straightforward airline loyalty programs in the US: no blackout dates, no award charts, and points that mirror cash fares. But the program changed in 2026 alongside Southwest’s biggest overhaul in 50 years. This guide covers the exact earn rates by fare, how much points are actually worth, the Companion Pass threshold, and the fastest ways to build a balance in 2026.
How Do Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Work?
Southwest Rapid Rewards uses a revenue-based model. Points are tied directly to the ticket’s cash price, not to a fixed award chart. When fares go up, the points cost goes up by the same proportion. When fares go on sale, the points cost drops too.
This means there are no sweet spots to exploit, as in traditional airline programs, and no complicated rules about routing or partner redemptions. Book a Southwest flight with points exactly the same way you would with cash: search on southwest.com, toggle to points view, and book.
- No blackout dates any seat available for cash is available for points
- No, the award chart points cost does not scale directly with the cash fare.
- Points do not expire as long as your account has qualifying activity in any 24-month rolling period.
- Taxes and government fees still apply on award bookings, typically $5.60 per one-way US domestic flight.
- Free Wi-Fi is included for all Rapid Rewards members on every Southwest flight (launched 2026, T-Mobile partnership).
Southwest Rapid Rewards Point Earn Rates by Fare Type 2026
Each Southwest fare earns a different number of points per dollar spent on the base fare. Here are the exact rates:
| Fare (2026 name) | Old fare name | Points earned per $1 spent | On a $200 base fare you earn |
| Basic | Wanna Get Away | 2 points per $1 | 400 points |
| Choice | Wanna Get Away Plus | 6 points per $1 | 1,200 points |
| Choice Preferred | Anytime | 10 points per $1 | 2,000 points |
| Choice Extra | Business Select | 14 points per $1 | 2,800 points |
Basic fare note: Basic fare earns only 2 points per $1 the lowest earn rate Southwest offers. If you are actively trying to reach Companion Pass status, flying on Basic fare is the slowest path. Choice Extra earns 7x more points per dollar on the same flight.
How Much Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Worth in 2026?
Southwest points are worth approximately 1.3 to 1.5 cents each when redeemed for flights. This is consistent with the 2025 values and has not materially changed in 2026.
| Points balance | Approximate value toward Southwest flights | Based on |
| 1,000 points | $13 to $15 | 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point average |
| 5,000 points | $65 to $75 | Typical short-haul domestic one-way |
| 10,000 points | $130 to $150 | Most common domestic one-way range |
| 25,000 points | $325 to $375 | Midrange domestic round trip |
| 50,000 points | $650 to $750 | Long-haul domestic round trip or 2 shorter trips |
| 135,000 points | $1,755 to $2,025 | Companion Pass qualifying threshold |
Points are worth the most when redeemed during fare sales. When Southwest runs a sale, the cash price drops and so does the points cost for the same seat. Set a fare alert on southwest.com and check Tuesday mornings when new sales typically drop.
Southwest Companion Pass 2026: What It Is & How to Earn It
The Southwest Companion Pass is the most valuable benefit in the program and arguably the best travel perk in US aviation. Once earned, your designated companion flies with you on every Southwest flight for free paying only taxes and fees (typically $5.60 per one-way domestic flight). This applies to both paid cash tickets and award redemptions.
Companion Pass Threshold in 2026
You must earn 135,000 qualifying Companion Pass points in a single calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Once you hit the threshold, the pass is valid for the rest of that calendar year plus the entire following calendar year.
Timing tip: The best time to start earning toward Companion Pass is January 1. If you hit 135,000 qualifying points in January or February using credit card welcome bonuses, your Companion Pass is valid for nearly two full years. Starting in October means less than 15 months of use.
What Counts as Qualifying Points
- Points earned flying Southwest flights (all fare types).
- Points from Southwest co-branded credit card welcome bonuses; this is the fastest path.
- Points from everyday credit card spending on Southwest Rapid Rewards cards.
- Points from Southwest hotel, car rental, and vacation package partners.
- Points from the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal and dining program.
What Does NOT Count
- Transferred points from another Rapid Rewards member.
- Points purchased directly from Southwest.
- Points from non-Southwest credit card spending (Amex, Chase, etc. transferred to Southwest).
Fastest Way to Earn Companion Pass in 2026
The fastest path is through Southwest credit card welcome bonuses:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card: welcome bonus typically 50,000 to 85,000 qualifying points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card: welcome bonus typically 50,000 to 85,000 qualifying points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card: welcome bonus typically 50,000 to 85,000 qualifying points
- Southwest Performance Business card: welcome bonus up to 80,000 qualifying points
If you open two Southwest cards and earn both welcome bonuses in the same calendar year, you can reach the 135,000 threshold almost entirely from sign-up bonuses without flying. Add your regular card spending, and you are over the threshold before your first flight.
2026 Star Alliance note: Southwest is integrating into the Lufthansa Group and is expected to join Star Alliance. When that happens, Rapid Rewards points are expected to become partially transferable to Star Alliance partner programs. No confirmed timeline yet; Watch southwest.com for announcements.
All the Ways to Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points in 2026
1. Flying Southwest
Every eligible Southwest flight earns points at the rates shown above. Taxes, fees, and ancillary purchases (bags, seat upgrades) do not earn points; only the base fare counts.
2. Southwest Credit Cards
| Card | Annual fee | Points per $1 on SW purchases | Key benefit |
| Rapid Rewards Plus | $69 | 2x on Southwest, 1x elsewhere | Entry-level card, good for Companion Pass strategy |
| Rapid Rewards Premier | $99 | 3x on Southwest, 2x on hotels/car rentals | 6,000 anniversary bonus points |
| Rapid Rewards Priority | $149 | 3x on Southwest, 2x on hotels/car rentals | 7,500 anniversary points + $75 SW travel credit |
| Performance Business | $199 | 4x on Southwest, 3x on hotels/rentals | 9,000 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings/year |
3. Hotel Partners
- Book hotels through the Rapid Rewards hotel portal at southwest.com for points per dollar spent.
- Marriott Bonvoy: transfer Marriott points to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points = 1 SW point).
- Best Western, Choice Hotels, and others also participate in the Rapid Rewards partner program.
4. Car Rentals
- Book through the Rapid Rewards car rental portal for points on each rental.
- Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Alamo are all Rapid Rewards partners.
5. Shopping Portal
- Access the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal at rapidrewardsshopping.southwest.com.
- Earn 1 to 20+ points per dollar at hundreds of US retailers including Target, Nike, and Apple.
- Use the portal before any eligible online purchase; the extra points cost nothing.
6. Dining Program
- Register your Rapid Rewards number at Southwest’s dining partners.
- Earn points automatically when you pay with a registered card at participating restaurants.
How to Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points for Flights
- Go to southwest.com and search for your flight as normal.
- Toggle the currency selector from Dollars to Points.
- All available flights show the points cost instead of the cash price.
- Select your flight and proceed to checkout.
- Points are deducted from your account. You pay taxes and fees separately (typically $5.60 per one-way domestic segment).
If you cancel an award booking, the points are returned to your account immediately, with no fee unlike. most airline programs, which charge award reissuance fees. This makes Southwest points extremely flexible for travellers who book in advance and sometimes need to change plans.
Should You Pay Cash or Use Points on Southwest?
Use this quick calculation every time:
- Find the cash price of your flight on southwest.com
- Divide by the points cost for the same flight.
- If the result is 1.3 cents or more per point, using points is a good deal.
- If the result is below 1.0 cent per point, pay cash and save points for a better redemption.
Example: a $150 flight costs 10,500 points. $150 / 10,500 = 1.43 cents per point. That is above the 1.3-cent average for using points.
Example 2: a $79 flight costs 7,200 points. $79 / 7,200 = 1.10 cents per point. Below average pay cash and save points.
Best redemption timing: Southwest releases sale fares on Tuesday mornings. The same seat that costs 12,000 points on Wednesday might cost 6,500 points after a Tuesday sale drops. Check the points price every Tuesday on routes you plan to book.
Southwest Rapid Rewards vs Other US Airline Programs in 2026
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards | Delta SkyMiles | United MileagePlus | AA AAdvantage |
| Points/miles expire? | No (24-month activity rule) | No | No | 18 months inactivity |
| Blackout dates on awards? | None | None (some fees vary) | None | None |
| Award chart? | No — dynamic pricing | Mostly dynamic | Mostly dynamic | Partial — saver awards |
| Companion benefit? | Yes — Companion Pass (best in US) | No | No | No |
| Transfer from credit card points? | Chase Ultimate Rewards only | Amex, Citi, Chase | Chase, Citi, Amex | Citi, Barclays, Amex |
| Free Wi-Fi for members? | Yes — all flights (2026) | No | No | No |
| Best for | Domestic leisure, families, Companion Pass strategy | Premium international, Delta loyalists | Star Alliance international | Oneworld international |
Need help maximising Rapid Rewards? Call Flying Getaway at our phone. We help you find the lowest points cost on your Southwest routes, identify the best card combination for the Companion Pass, and book award flights across all Southwest destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Southwest Rapid Rewards points work?
Southwest Rapid Rewards is a revenue-based loyalty program. Points are earned per dollar spent on the base fare and redeemed for flights at a value of approximately 1.3 to 1.5 cents each. There are no blackout dates and no award chart; any seat available for cash is available for points at a proportional cost. Points do not expire after 24 months of account activity.
How many points do you earn per dollar on Southwest?
It depends on your fare. Basic earns 2 points per $1. Choice earns 6 points per $1. Choice Preferred earns 10 points per $1. Choice Extra earns 14 points per $1. Only the base fare earns points; taxes, fees, and add-ons do not. Call us at our phone to book the best flight deals with southwest.
How much are 10,000 Southwest points worth?
Approximately $130 to $150 toward Southwest flights, based on an average value of 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point. The exact value varies by route and travel date. Points are worth more during fare sales when the cash price drops but your points balance stays the same.
How many points do you need for a free Southwest flight?
It varies by route and date since Southwest uses dynamic pricing. Short domestic one-way flights can cost as few as 3,000 to 5,000 points during sales. A typical domestic one-way runs 8,000 to 15,000 points. Long-haul or peak-date flights can cost 20,000 to 30,000+ points. Toggle the currency to Points on southwest.com to see exact costs for your specific route and date.
How do you earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2026?
Earn 135,000 qualifying Companion Pass points in a single calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Qualifying points include flights, Southwest credit card welcome bonuses, everyday card spending, and partner purchases. The fastest path is to open two Southwest credit cards and earn both welcome bonuses in the same calendar year. The pass is valid for the rest of the qualifying year plus the full following year.
Do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?
No, as long as your account has qualifying activity within any 24-month rolling period. Qualifying activity includes earning or redeeming points in any way. If your account has no activity for 24 consecutive months, points are forfeited. Making one small purchase through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal resets the clock.
Can you transfer Southwest points to another person?
Yes, Southwest allows point transfers between Rapid Rewards members. The fee is $10 per 1,000 points transferred (minimum 1,000 points). Transfers are generally poor value it is usually better to book a flight directly on behalf of another traveller using your own points than to pay $10 per thousand to transfer them first.
Is Southwest Rapid Rewards worth it in 2026?
Yes, particularly for domestic US leisure travellers and anyone pursuing the Companion Pass. The program is straightforward, has no blackout dates, and offers the most valuable airline companion benefit in the US. The 2026 addition of free Wi-Fi for all members adds another reason to keep your Rapid Rewards account active. The main limitation is Southwest’s domestic-focused network for international travel, Delta, United, or American loyalty programs give more flexibility.
Patrick Walker is the travel brain behind Flying Getaway. With a knack for spotting flight deals and a passion for exploring new skies, he helps travelers fly smarter and save more with every trip.
