No, your Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire, regardless of whether you keep or cancel your Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Southwest famously changed its policy several years ago to ensure that points stay in your account as long as the account itself remains open. When you cancel a co-branded Chase Southwest card, you lose the ability to earn points through daily spending and you lose perks like "EarlyBird Check-In" or anniversary bonus points, but the points you have already earned are yours to keep. The only way to lose your points is if you close your entire Rapid Rewards loyalty account or if you go for a significant period (typically 24 months) without any "earning" activity, though even then, Southwest is extremely lenient. To be safe, as long as you have your Rapid Rewards member number, your balance will remain intact and ready for use on any future flight, with no "blackout dates" for redemption.
No, Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire solely because you cancel your Southwest Airlines credit card. Your Rapid Rewards points are tied to your Southwest Airlines account, not your credit card account. As long as your Southwest Airlines account remains active and you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months, your points will not expire.
However, if you cancel your Southwest credit card, you will lose access to the cardholder benefits, such as anniversary points, companion pass qualification through spending, and other perks associated with the card. Be sure to consider these factors before canceling your card. If you’re concerned about keeping your Southwest Airlines account active, you can earn or redeem points through flights, hotel stays, car rentals, or other Rapid Rewards partners.