Southwest
IndependentWN

Southwest

Rapid Rewards

0active bonuses
1bank program transfer here

Transfer points to Southwest - all bank programs

Bank ProgramPoints CurrencyBase RatioTransfer TimeActive Bonus
Chase
Chase		Ultimate Rewards1:1
Instant
-

Ratios and bonus availability update in real time. Always verify before transferring - transfers are irreversible.

Current Southwest transfer bonuses

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About Rapid Rewards

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is the loyalty program for Southwest Airlines, the US's largest low-cost carrier by domestic passengers and a dominant force in the US leisure and short-haul business travel market. Rapid Rewards points are valued at a fixed 1.5¢ against Southwest's own fares - a transparent, predictable redemption rate without award charts, blackout dates, or availability restrictions. Chase Ultimate Rewards is the only US transferable currency that transfers to Rapid Rewards (at 1:1, instant), making it an exclusively Chase-ecosystem program.

The program's signature benefit is the Companion Pass - arguably the single most valuable benefit available from any US loyalty program. When a Southwest cardholder earns 135,000 Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year (through flights, credit card spending, and other earning), they unlock the Companion Pass: a named companion flies free (plus taxes) on every Southwest flight for the remainder of that year and the full following year. For travelers with a consistent travel partner - a spouse, significant other, or business partner - this effectively doubles the value of every Southwest redemption for up to two years.

Southwest operates a point-to-point network rather than a hub-and-spoke model, with flights connecting over 100 US cities including secondary airports that legacy carriers don't serve with comparable frequency (e.g., Baltimore, Providence, Oakland, Midway Chicago, Fort Lauderdale). Southwest's no-change, no-cancellation-fee policy and two free checked bags make it particularly popular for budget-conscious US domestic travelers. For Chase cardholders who prioritize domestic US flexibility and the Companion Pass, Rapid Rewards is the most efficient use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points for domestic travel.

TransferPoints tracks transfer bonuses in real time across all major programs. Transfer ratios, active bonuses, and program rules on this page are verified against official bank and airline sources and update automatically. Visit the official Rapid Rewards website

1:1
Transfer ratio
1.5¢ / mile
TPG valuation
Independent
Alliance
1.4–1.6¢
Business class value

Why transfer points to Rapid Rewards?

Companion Pass - Your Travel Partner Flies Free for Up to 2 Years

The Southwest Companion Pass lets a named companion fly on every Southwest flight you book for free (+ taxes), once you've earned 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. For couples, families, or frequent business travelers, this effectively doubles the value of every Rapid Rewards redemption. Earned mid-year, the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of that year plus the entire following year. The most common strategy is to apply for two Southwest co-branded Chase cards simultaneously and earn both welcome bonuses - often 75,000+ combined - providing a head start toward the 135k threshold.

Fixed 1.5¢ Per Point - Simple, Predictable Value

Southwest Rapid Rewards points redeem at a consistent 1.5¢ against Southwest's cash fares - no award charts, no availability restrictions, no blackout dates. If Southwest sells a seat for cash, you can book it with points at the equivalent fixed ratio. This simplicity makes Rapid Rewards one of the most user-friendly redemption programs in US travel: book any Southwest flight, pay with points, always get ~1.5¢ per point. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Rapid Rewards instantly, enabling same-day bookings without waiting periods.

100+ US Domestic Airports - Depth No Legacy Carrier Matches

Southwest's point-to-point network covers 100+ US airports including secondary markets underserved by major carriers: Baltimore (BWI), Providence (PVD), Oakland (OAK), Manchester (MHT), Midway Chicago (MDW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and others. For travelers based near a Southwest-friendly airport, the airline's dense frequency and no-change-fee policy makes it a practical everyday carrier. Rapid Rewards points provide access to this entire network at a fixed rate, making last-minute domestic travel planning straightforward and low-risk.

Instant Chase Transfers - Same-Day Booking Capability

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Rapid Rewards instantly - within seconds of initiating the transfer. This enables same-day flights, last-minute vacation planning, and responsive booking for price-sensitive leisure travelers who wait for fare sales. Southwest frequently runs promotional sales where fare prices drop - instant Chase transfers mean you can capitalize on these sales with points the moment they appear. For Chase Sapphire holders who travel domestically, the instant Rapid Rewards pathway is among the most operationally seamless programs available.

How to transfer points to Rapid Rewards

Follow these four steps every time. The golden rule: find available award space before transferring - transfers are irreversible.

  1. 1

    Find the award first

    Search for award availability on Rapid Rewards's website before moving a single point. Note the flight number, date, cabin, and exact miles required. Award space can disappear at any moment - and transfers are irreversible.

  2. 2

    Check for an active transfer bonus

    Scroll up to the Current Bonuses table. If a bonus is live (e.g. +20%), you get 20% more miles for free - 10,000 points transferred becomes 12,000 miles. Timing your transfer to an active bonus is one of the easiest ways to stretch your balance without spending more.

  3. 3

    Execute the transfer from your bank

    Chase

    Instant

    Log in at chase.com → Ultimate Rewards → Earn/Use → Transfer to Travel Partners → select the airline → enter your membership number → confirm. Requires Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, or Ink Business Premier.

  4. 4

    Book the award immediately

    As soon as the miles post to your account, book the award. Don't wait - partner award availability can evaporate within hours. Have your loyalty membership number, passport details, and preferred payment method for taxes ready before you start the booking process.

Rapid Rewards award chart - highlights

Chart type: Fixed revenue-based (points = cash fare × ~1.5¢ per point)

Rapid Rewards uses revenue-based pricing. Points value tracks Southwest's cash fares at approximately 1.5¢ per point - consistently, with no blackout dates. Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select fare types are bookable with points. The Companion Pass (135k pts/year threshold) is a separate program benefit.

RouteEconomy (RT)Business (RT)First (RT)Notes
Short-haul domestic (< 500 mi, one-way)3,500–8,000--Baltimore–NY, Oakland–LA, MHT–MDW, etc.
Medium-haul domestic (500–1500 mi, OW)8,000–20,000--Chicago–Denver, NYC–Dallas, Seattle–LA, etc.
Transcontinental (OW)15,000–28,000--BWI–LAX, MDW–OAK, etc.
US to Caribbean (OW)10,000–20,000--Fort Lauderdale/Orlando to Cancún, Jamaica, Bahamas
US to Latin America (OW)15,000–30,000--Cancún, Los Cabos, Costa Rica, Belize
US Domestic with Companion Pass (OW)0 (companion)--Companion flies free + taxes when Pass active

All pricing tracks cash fares at ~1.5¢/point. No blackout dates. No award chart tiers - any available seat can be booked with points. Chase transfers to Rapid Rewards 1:1 instantly. Only Chase transfers to Southwest; no Amex, Capital One, Citi, or Bilt.

How much are Rapid Rewards miles worth?

The value of a Rapid Rewards mile varies significantly depending on redemption type. Economy redemptions typically deliver near the base valuation; business and first class awards - especially on partner airlines - can return 3–10× more per mile than the average.

1.4–1.6¢
Economy
1.4–1.6¢
Business Class

Worked example

A $180 Baltimore-to-Fort Lauderdale flight costs ~12,000 Rapid Rewards points ($180 ÷ 0.015). With Companion Pass active: same flight for 2 people = 12,000 points + ~$11 in taxes for the companion = effectively 0.75¢ per person. Companion Pass doubles the per-person value.

Valuations per TPG April 2026 (1.5¢ average). Actual value varies by specific route, date, and cabin availability.

Best credit cards for earning Rapid Rewards miles

Southwest rarely has a compelling US co-branded card. The most effective strategy is earning transferable points from a premium bank card and converting them when you are ready to book.

Chase

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

60,000-point welcome bonus at 1:1 instant to Rapid Rewards + 3× on dining, travel, and streaming. Best single Chase card for Rapid Rewards accumulation. Combine with Southwest co-branded cards to pursue Companion Pass threshold.

View Chase program

Rapid Rewards vs other Independent programs

Rapid Rewards competes with JetBlue TrueBlue and Delta SkyMiles for US domestic and Caribbean leisure travel from Chase Ultimate Rewards. All three use revenue-based pricing; they differ on network breadth, bank access, and premium cabin availability.

FeatureRapid RewardsJetBlue TrueBlueDelta SkyMiles
US Transfer PartnersChase only (1:1, instant)Chase, Citi, Bilt (1:1 instant) + Amex (1:0.8)Amex only (1:1, instant)
Points Value~1.5¢/point - fixed rate vs cash fares~1.4¢/point - fixed rate vs cash faresDynamic - varies by route and date
Companion PassFree companion for up to 2 years (135k pts/year)No companion benefitNo comparable companion benefit
Change/Cancel PolicyFree on all fares - industry bestFree for Mosaic; fees for standardFree for most award tickets
Premium/Business CabinNo lie-flat domestic or international cabinMint lie-flat business (transatlantic + transcontinental)Delta One lie-flat (broad international network)
Points ExpiryNever expire (active account)12 mo inactivity (standard) / never (Mosaic)Never expire

Bottom line

Use Southwest Rapid Rewards when you're a Chase cardholder targeting US domestic or Caribbean leisure travel, especially if you can pursue the Companion Pass - which is unmatched in US loyalty programs and effectively doubles redemption value for any traveler with a consistent companion. Use JetBlue TrueBlue for transatlantic Mint business class, Caribbean from Northeast US markets, and when you hold Citi or Bilt alongside Chase for broader transfer access. Use Delta SkyMiles specifically for domestic routes where Southwest doesn't operate (Delta has 280+ cities vs Southwest's 100+), though Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic are almost always better for accessing Delta One business class internationally.

Rapid Rewards - program details

Program NameRapid Rewards
AllianceNone (independent domestic US carrier)
IATA CodeWN
Award Pricing ModelFixed revenue-based - ~1.5¢ per point vs cash fare
Points ExpiryNever expire as long as account is open and active
US Transfer PartnersChase Ultimate Rewards only (1:1, instant)
Note: Amex/Cap One/Citi/BiltNone of these transfer to Rapid Rewards
Companion Pass Threshold135,000 Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year
Companion Pass DurationRest of earning year + full following calendar year
Change/Cancel PolicyFree changes and cancellations on all fares (industry-leading)
Checked BagsFirst two checked bags free for all passengers
Business Select FareEarliest boarding + bonus points + free premium drink
Network100+ US airports + select Caribbean and Latin America
No Middle Seat PolicyOpen seating - no assigned seats; board by group/position
Status TiersA-List (25 qualifying one-way flights/yr), A-List Preferred (50)

Frequently asked questions about Rapid Rewards

Which credit cards transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Chase Ultimate Rewards is the only US transferable currency that transfers to Southwest Rapid Rewards - at a 1:1 ratio with instant processing. American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt do not transfer to Southwest. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are the best general-purpose cards for Southwest accumulation via Chase. Southwest also offers its own co-branded Chase cards (Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Premier, Priority) that earn Rapid Rewards points directly and count toward the 135,000-point Companion Pass threshold.
What is the Southwest Companion Pass and how do I earn it?
The Southwest Companion Pass is earned when you accumulate 135,000 Rapid Rewards points within a single calendar year - from any combination of flights, credit card spending (on Southwest co-branded Chase cards), Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers, and partner activity. Once earned, a named companion flies free (plus taxes) on every Southwest flight you book for the remainder of that calendar year and the full following calendar year. The most common strategy is to apply for two Southwest co-branded Chase cards simultaneously, earn both welcome bonuses (typically 40,000–75,000 points each), and supplement with spending to reach 135k.
Is 1.5¢ per point good for Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Yes - 1.5¢ per point is a solid fixed rate for a domestic US program. It's slightly better than JetBlue's ~1.4¢/point and comparable to United's domestic award pricing in good conditions. The key advantage is consistency: every Southwest seat available for cash is bookable at the same 1.5¢/point rate - no saver/standard tiers, no capacity restrictions. For budget-conscious domestic travelers, the predictability is more valuable than the absolute rate. The Companion Pass, when active, effectively doubles the per-person value to ~3¢/point - the best per-point efficiency of any US program.
Do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. There is no inactivity requirement - points remain valid indefinitely, even if you don't fly Southwest or earn points for years. This is one of the most forgiving expiry policies among US airlines, on par with Delta SkyMiles and British Airways Avios (active account). For casual Southwest travelers who earn points slowly, this policy ensures accumulated points are never at risk of disappearing before you're ready to use them.
How does Southwest open seating work for award travel?
Southwest uses open seating - passengers are assigned a boarding group and position (A, B, or C, numbered 1–60) and choose their own seat on the plane. There are no pre-assigned seats and no seat selection fees. Business Select fare passengers (the most expensive fare type) board first, followed by Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, then Economy Wanna Get Away. For award travelers, the boarding position you receive depends on when you check in (exactly 24 hours before departure). A-List status passengers board in Group A regardless of fare. Early Bird Check-In ($15–$25) automatically checks you in 36 hours before departure.
Can I use Rapid Rewards points for Caribbean or Mexico travel?
Yes. Southwest operates flights from US cities (primarily Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Houston, Baltimore, Chicago) to destinations in Mexico (Cancún, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Montego Bay), the Caribbean (Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Belize, Costa Rica), and Central America. Points redeem at the standard ~1.5¢/point rate against Southwest's cash fares for these routes. For Northeast US travelers, Southwest's Fort Lauderdale hub is the primary connection point to Caribbean destinations, served by frequent nonstop and one-stop options.
Is Southwest good for business travelers?
Conditionally yes. Southwest's no-change, no-cancellation-fee policy is a major benefit for unpredictable business travel schedules - you can book early at low fares, change or cancel if plans shift, and rebook without fees. The two free checked bags eliminate common business travel friction. A-List status (earned at 25 qualifying one-way flights/year) provides priority boarding and a 25% bonus on base points earning. However, Southwest's open seating, secondary airport focus (Midway vs O'Hare, Oakland vs SFO), and absence of lie-flat business class make it less suitable for long-haul corporate travel compared to full-service carriers.
How does Southwest compare to JetBlue for US leisure travel?
Southwest and JetBlue are the two dominant US low-cost carriers for leisure domestic and Caribbean travel; they have different strengths. Southwest: broader US domestic network (100+ cities), better change/cancel flexibility (free on all fares), Companion Pass benefit (no equivalent at JetBlue), Chase-only transfer. JetBlue: assigned seating, Mint transatlantic business class (no Southwest equivalent), 4 US bank transfer partners vs Southwest's 1, Caribbean network from Northeast US markets. For pure domestic flexibility, Southwest is superior. For transatlantic travel, Caribbean from the Northeast, or holding multiple bank currencies, JetBlue is more versatile.