Do Southwest flight points expire?

No, Southwest Rapid Rewards Points do not expire as long as your account remains open. Per the Southwest terms and conditions page: ?Points do not expire. Should a Member close its account, the points in the account will be terminated.?



As of 2026, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points do not expire. This policy was officially implemented in 2019, removing the previous requirement that members had to have "earning activity" every 24 months to keep their balance active. This makes Rapid Rewards one of the most consumer-friendly loyalty programs in the aviation industry, as travelers can save their points for years without the fear of losing them due to inactivity. Whether you earn points through flights, the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, or through various retail and hotel partners, those points remain in your account until you choose to redeem them for a flight, a gift card, or other available options. It is important to note, however, that while points do not expire, the account itself could technically be closed by the airline in extreme cases of fraud or if the airline significantly changes its terms of service. For the vast majority of users, the "no expiration" rule provides incredible flexibility for long-term travel planning and goal-setting for "Companion Pass" status or international partner flights.

People Also Ask

As a result, 50,000 Southwest points are typically worth between $500 and $750 in award flights within the United States or one of the airline's international destinations.

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What are flight credits? A flight credit is a credit from either a canceled flight or a downgrade in fare that can be used to buy a future flight. Will my flight credit expire? Flight credits don't expire.

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Do the points I earn expire? No, your Rapid Rewards points do not expire. However, if you choose to close your account, the points in your account will be terminated.

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*FLIGHT CREDIT TERMS Flight credits unexpired on, or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date (12/31/2040) until systems are updated. A flight credit with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, has expired in accordance with its existing expiration date.

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Southwest started sending emails with the subject line, “A message from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan” offering passengers who had canceled flights 25,000 points each. This email only went out to the passengers who actually booked the flights but it included codes for everyone on their reservation.

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Southwest credit cards Using a co-branded credit card is one of the fastest ways to earn Rapid Rewards points quickly, since the cards often have generous welcome offers. Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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A Member has the ability to transfer points to another Member or a preselected charity chosen by Southwest with an active Rapid Rewards account. Costs to transfer points to another Member must be paid for with a credit card, and transfers can be made through Southwest.com.

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You can make a reservation for reward travel using points at Southwest.com® by selecting points as your payment option. Can I book travel with points for Passengers other than myself? Yes. If you're the Rapid Rewards Member and will be using your points, you'll need to make the reservation for the person traveling.

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If you want to know how many Southwest points you need for a free flight, the answer is that it depends on the cash cost of your flight. The lower the cash cost, the fewer points will be required and conversely, the higher the cash cost of the flight, the more Southwest points you'll need.

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No, buying Southwest points is not worth it. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth an average of 1.33 cents each, while buying them costs around 3 cents per point, which means you would not be getting a good deal.

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How much are 10,000 Southwest points worth? 10,000 Southwest points are worth about $150.

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No, your Rapid Rewards points do not expire. However, if you choose to close your account, the points in your account will be terminated.

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75,000 Southwest points are worth roughly $997.5 when redeemed for airfare. While Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points are most valuable when redeemed for Travel, they're also redeemable for gift cards, hotel stays, merchandise, and more.

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A Business Select® fare earns 12 points per dollar on qualifying flights, while Anytime, Wanna Get Away Plus®, and Wanna Get Away® fares earn 10, eight, and six points per dollar, respectively. NOTE: A-List and A-List Preferred Members earn a 25% and 100% bonus, respectively.

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You can use your points for more than just flights. With More Rewards, Rapid Rewards Members can use their points for merchandise, hotel stays, gift cards, and more. Plus, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers can redeem their points for exclusive Cardmember experiences.

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Here's the catch. Air Miles themselves do not expire. But, if your account “expires” by being “dormant” (or inactive) for 24 consecutive months, then the points on it will disappear. An account is considered inactive if there are no points transactions within that period.

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