How do I use my Rapid Rewards points Southwest?

How to use Rapid Rewards? points
  1. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on the Southwest.com? homepage. If you don't have a Rapid Rewards account, create one here.
  2. Enter your flight information and view fares in points.
  3. Select your flight and review the price and schedule.
  4. You're ready to check out!




Using your Southwest Rapid Rewards points in 2026 is a straightforward process handled entirely through the Southwest website or mobile app. When searching for a flight, you must toggle the "Payment" or "Display" option from "Dollars" to "Points". The "cost" in points is directly tied to the cash price of the ticket, meaning there are no blackout dates; if a seat is available for purchase, it is available for points. Once you select your flight, you proceed to checkout where your points will be deducted. It is important to remember that even on a "free" points flight, you are still responsible for paying mandatory government taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 per one-way domestic trip. Beyond flights, you can also use your points for gift cards, merchandise, and hotel stays through the "More Rewards" portal. A unique feature in 2026 is the "Cash + Points" option, which allows you to apply a minimum of 1,000 points to a cash booking to lower the price, giving you a way to use up a small point balance that isn't quite enough for a full flight.

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1,000 Southwest points are worth around $13.3 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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25,000 Southwest points are worth around $332.5 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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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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35,000 Southwest points are worth around $465.5 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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With each of the Southwest credit cards below, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

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Southwest points' value varies from 1.3 cents to 1.5 cents. In most cases, you get better value when redeeming your points for short flights and affordable fares instead of longer flights or more expensive fares. How Much Are Southwest Points Worth?

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Southwest Rapid Rapid Rewards Priority benefits The Southwest Priority card offers the following benefits: Anniversary bonus: Each year on your card-opening anniversary, you'll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $112, based on TPG's valuations.

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100,000 Southwest points are worth around $1,330 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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Southwest points are worth roughly 1.3 cents each towards the cost of a Southwest flight. So the 75,000-point bonus that each of the cards below offers is worth roughly $975 towards airfare on Southwest. The welcome bonus along can get you a hefty amount of “free” travel on Southwest.

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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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