Overview
Pros & Cons
-
No blackout dates
-
Rapid Rewards Points can be earned on flights and hotels
-
Points can be earned for participating in market research surveys
-
Southwest's only flights outside the U.S. are to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
-
Seat restrictions may apply for award travel
-
Points and cash cannot be combined to cover flight costs
Overall
Scorecard
-
Network Coverage4.0
-
Ease of Earning Free Flight4.0
-
Award Flight Availability3.5
-
Additional Benefits3.5
-
Airline Quality4.5
-
No. of Daily Flights> 2,000
Rankings
Southwest Rapid Rewards is ranked No. 6 in the Best Airline Rewards Programs. U.S. News evaluated 9 frequent flyer programs offered by airlines based in the United States across several indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank rewards.
Southwest Rapid Rewards is ranked as:
Points
By enrolling in the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, you'll earn points for every dollar spent on Southwest flights. These points can be used to cover the cost of air travel on Southwest Airlines and international flights operated by partner carriers like Delta Air Lines and British Airways. Additional redemption options, such as hotel stays, retail items, gift cards and car rentals, are available as well. What's more, members with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, a Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card or a Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card can use accrued points to pay for spa packages, golf trips and more.
Can Earn Points On:
-
Air Travel
-
Hotel Stays
-
Credit Card
Can Use Points On:
-
Booking Flights
-
Hotel Stays
Membership Levels
The Southwest Rapid Rewards program has four membership tiers: basic membership, A-List, A-List Preferred and Companion Pass.
See details about how membership worksThe Fine Print
- Points will expire after two years if you don't earn points via flight, partner or credit card purchases.
- The number of Rapid Rewards Points needed to redeem for flights varies based on factors like destination, time, day of travel, demand and fare class.
- You cannot use your points to book tickets through a travel agent or a third-party website.
- Bonus points cannot be used to qualify for an elite tier or Companion Pass status.
You Might Also Like
Best Western Rewards ...
The Best Western Rewards program is geared toward budget-minded business and family travelers. Best Western Rewards members can earn and redeem points at 4,500 Best Western hotels in nearly 100 countries, including the United States and Canada. Members can also earn points by using Best Western partner services (which range from car rentals to flower delivery) and by making everyday purchases using a Best Western Rewards Mastercard or by converting Diners Club Rewards to Best Western Rewards points. These points can be put toward future stays at Best Western hotels. Members can also redeem points for members-only experiences (such as a walking tour of Quebec City and an aerial tour of the Grand Canyon) through the Experiences by Best Western Rewards program. And because Best Western partners with airlines like Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, members can redeem points for miles.
FRONTIER Miles ...
The FRONTIER Miles program caters to travelers who fly frequently within the United States. Frontier Airlines services major domestic airports – like those in Denver, Atlanta and Chicago – as well as smaller destinations like Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Missoula, Montana. Frontier also offers flights to various destinations throughout Mexico and Puerto Rico. The FRONTIER Miles program awards miles based on the airport-to-airport air mileage distance flown. Miles earned can be used for free flights, car rentals and magazine subscriptions. FRONTIER Miles members can also earn miles when staying at certain hotels, purchasing services through partner merchants and charging everyday expenses to the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard credit card by Barclays.
JetBlue TrueBlue ...
The JetBlue TrueBlue program best serves travelers based in East Coast cities like Boston, New York City and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, who primarily fly domestically and to the Caribbean. Members earn points for every dollar spent on JetBlue flights and JetBlue Vacations packages. You can also earn points on flights booked with seven partner airlines, as well as on hotel stays, car rentals and purchases with retail partners like Amazon and through the ShopTrue retail portal. Earn even more by making purchases with one of the JetBlue credit cards from Mastercard. You can use those points to cover the cost of future air travel on JetBlue or Hawaiian Airlines, as well as the cost of JetBlue Vacations packages.