As you can see from the example above, Southwest flights can be very inexpensive. While the lack of fixed redemption rates may make the program seem tricky to use, it’s actually fairly cut and dry. Or is that possible? is a financial expert and award-winning writer who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting and travel. ...but I got confused on the, "Points can be used by anyone to book flights for anyone else"..? If you’re shy just a few points to book a hotel or flight, buying Southwest points is another option. I tried to book a flight for my wife to join me on a business trip using the Southwest App. Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points on Southwest flights is simple: the more a paid flight costs, the more points it costs. You’re ready to check out! Your credit cards journey is officially underway. The person actually taking the flight earns the points/miles. More Reward Options for Rapid Rewards Members With the More Rewards program, Rapid Rewards® Credit Cardmembers can use their points for merchandise, international flights on global carriers, hotel stays, rental cars, gift cards, and exclusive Cardmember experiences. Once you achieve it, you’ll receive: Priority boarding Click Here for Information Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). For example, I priced an economy flight from Denver to Paris on United in mid-June at just more than 150,000 points for a $1,500 fare. Booking airfare with Southwest points is easy thanks to the superior functionality of the Southwest Airlines website. Holly Johnson. The value works out to around 1.6 cents per mile, which is better than you may get with other frequent flyer programs such as the Delta SkyMiles program. In this case, yes -- just book 2 separate one-way flights, using points for one and cash for the other. The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. BONUS: In addition to all of these excellent reasons to fly Southwest… There you can browse fares on a wide range of carriers (priced in Rapid Rewards points), but the redemption rates tend to be well below what you’ll get on Southwest flights. the "Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the issuer's web site. You can create an open-jaw ticket by booking two one-way flights. However, you can create a round-trip flight to any destination by choosing any two one-way flights you prefer. Southwest Airlines | Rapid Rewards - Cancel a Southwest flight booked with Rapid Rewards points - Is the policy still that we can cancel an SWA Award right before the flight and still get miles re-credited? Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Southwest Airlines not only serves major airports, but they service many smaller airports as well. How can I book/buy a flight for Someone Else and get the POINTS for THAT flight? CreditCards.com credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. Instead, they base the required points on the cash price of airfare and other factors. Southwest Airlines has been the leader in air travel when it comes to not charging change or cancellation fees, and that’s been the case for both paid tickets as well as award travel.. For award travel, Rapid Rewards tickets can be changed or cancelled online up until departure time on Southwest’s site with a few clicks. Unlike other airlines, Southwest doesn’t offer an award chart that dictates the number of points you’ll need for a flight. For the examples in this post so far, we’ve opted to choose Southwest’s Wanna Get Away fares, but the airline actually offers three types of fares: One major point of contention with Southwest customers is their boarding process. But the program offers more than just free flights. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Any of the three cards allow people to earn points for making everyday purchases. By providing my email address, I agree to CreditCards.com’s Solved: I booked a flight using cash. Privacy Policy. FYI: Points can be used by anyone to book flights for anyone else. While passengers who check in early may get a spot in the A or B group, those who check in last are destined to fall into the C group. If this is the difficulty then we'll move everything to the Venture card. Holly Johnson When booking a flight, Southwest awards a point total per dollar spent. There are also no blackout dates, which means you can always book a flight with points if there is an available seat on the plane. No blackout dates & unlimited reward seats. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. We go over all the details of the program, including the credit cards you can use to earn points on every purchase. Re: How can I book/buy a flight for Someone Else and get the POINTS for THAT flight? You’ll have to call in order to book your flight since Southwest flights don’t show up in an Ultimate Rewards search. The Rapid Rewards Member who owns the account from which the points will be used will need to make the reservation for the person traveling. Plus, with unlimited reward seats and no blackout dates*, you can redeem flights faster and easier. If you book a Southwest flight using your Rapid Rewards points, you have the ability to cancel for a full point refund (and a refund of the taxes and fees) up to 10 minutes prior to departure! © This generally isn’t the best way to stock up on points though, since you won’t be able to redeem them for anywhere near the amount you paid. Indicates external site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Many travelers earn points with a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Be aware that the cost to transfer points is 1 cent per point, which eats up half of the value. Taxes and fees on international flights to Caribbean destinations such as Aruba, Jamaica and Grand Cayman vary widely, but are usually $150 or less per person. Travel on Rapid Rewards Awards, Companion Passes, non-revenue tickets, or charter flights are ineligible … And every day, on every seat, on every flight, is a reward seat. Your fare isn’t guaranteed until it’s paid for, so it’s smart to save up your points before you’re ready to make plans. You can: While the fares on Southwest are already pretty reasonable, there are plenty of ways to get more value out of your Southwest points: It’s easy to see why Southwest Rapid Rewards is such a popular program for individuals, couples and families. If you want to board the plane as early as possible, you do have a few options if you plan ahead. You can search for the flights you want on the Southwest website and see how many points they will cost at any time. Can I book a flight for someone using my rapid rewards points that would be flying out of a different city possibly on the same day? CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.CCDC has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. A-List. How to book a Southwest Rapid Rewards flight, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, 40,000 points if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months, 7,500 bonus points each year after your card anniversary, 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available, 20% discount on in-flight purchases made with your card. Select your flight, review the price and schedule. Yes. One-way flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale run as low as 6,313 miles one-way on random dates in December. Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. You can you your Rapid Rewards points to book a flight for anyone. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit. One interesting detail here is that all flights are only sold as one-way tickets. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. In other words, if you book a Southwest Rapid Rewards … You earn Southwest points whenever you book a flight with Southwest Airlines. Subscribe to get the week’s most important news in your inbox every week. Get essential reads every week with our newsletter. to maintain accurate information. CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card. The C group designation almost always means you’ll have to sit at the back of the plane, and it could mean you have to sit apart from your family and friends – or even in a dreaded “middle seat” next to strangers. Reasonable efforts are made Copyright © 2020 CreditCards.com a Red Ventures Company. One of the biggest benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is that it doesn’t have as many rules and restrictions as other frequent flyer programs. Privacy Policy. Name and date of birth associated with the passenger's reservation must match the name and date of birth in the Member's Rapid Reward account. You need to become a Southwest Rapid Rewards member before earning points, but it’s free to join. Simply visit Southwest.com to book your air travel with Rapid Rewards points. With this card, keep in mind that a $99 annual fee will be applied to your first billing … Keep an eye on your inbox—we’ll be sending over your first message soon. See Related: What are Southwest points worth?, Southwest credit cards, Best ways to earn Southwest points, Best ways to redeem Southwest points, Southwest Airlines partners, Southwest A-List status, How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass, Rapid Rewards Shopping guide. Thanks. As an example, flight details listed below show that a round-trip flight from Chicago to Montego Bay, Jamaica would cost $141.35 in taxes and fees: There are no fees for booking, canceling or even changing award reservations with Southwest, which is almost unheard of among frequent flyer programs. The points are also not for barter or sale between people according to the terms, but perhaps you can allow the person to keep these points and then hopefully they will at least buy you a lunch as a thank you at some point. Southwest has two status tiers for its rewards program members: A-List and A-List Preferred. I tried to book a flight for my wife to join me on a business trip using the Southwest App and points we've accrued using the Southwest Visa card, however it would not permit it saying that the traveler's name (my wife) didn't match the Rapid Rewards name (mine). As as a workaround, there is an option to transfer points from one Rapid Rewards member to another (after the fact). Bags travel free – Another reason the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is perfect for big families – your first two bags fly for free, even if you pay with points.For a family of four who checks two bags each, this perk could easily lead to $200 worth of savings or more per flight. Once you know where Southwest flies, you can plug in your home airport, desired destination and dates to see how much flights would cost in either points or cash. See the online credit card applications for details about the terms and conditions of an offer. This is far lower than redeeming for Southwest flights, so we recommend steering clear of this option and using other types of points and miles to book … Sign up now! Since it is often difficult to find more than a few award seats on a specific flight with other frequent flyer programs, the lack of restrictions with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is a major plus for families. By providing my email address, I agree to CreditCards.com’s Simply get the destination, travel dates, and flight times from the person who will be using your points and log in to your account via Southwest.com ® to book the reward travel. CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. Chase cardholders can once again book Southwest flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards. We’ve created this guide to explain how to book free airfare with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. The whole reason we signed up for the SW card was to build up points we could use as a family at any time for any member. Just like other airlines, Southwest is legally required to charge government-mandated taxes and fees on their award flights. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. Learn more. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card is by far the best value for a frequent Southwest flyer, thanks to its $75 travel credit and 7,500-point annual bonus. The program is revenue-based and so the points required to book a flight ticket is closely related to the price paid using cash. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on the Southwest.com ® homepage. One can only accumulate points for flights flown by himself or herself. When you’re craving simplicity in a rewards program, Southwest Rapid Rewards can’t be beat. ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. (Also, as a general guidenine, it's a good idea to book one-ways on Southwest anyway.) The "reward points" value used for booking flights can be transferred. Privacy Policy, Essential news and expert tips in your inbox every week. Other factors, such as our proprietary website's rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on the site. That is correct, you can use RR points to book travel for anyone. Thanks for the fine print info on transferring points! You can also create open-jaw tickets by booking a one-way flight into one destination and a return flight from another airport. We show you how pairing the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card with the right card can double your cash back earnings. Call a Chase travel advisor at 866-951-6592 to book a Southwest flight. If you're logged into the app or website and are booking a new flight, it may auto-fill the traveler information using your name and Rapid Rewards account number. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card is by far the best value for a frequent Southwest flyer, thanks to its $75 travel credit and 7,500-point annual bonus. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they appear within listing categories. Here are the ways you can book a Southwest flight … For domestic flights, fees are limited to $5.60 per leg. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, loyalty program of Southwest Airlines, is a program that allows you to book Southwest Airlines flights. Enter your flight information and view fares in points. The most direct way to earn Rapid Rewards® points at Southwest is, of course, to book and take a flight through the airline. Time to pack your bags! Simple enough, right? With no blackout dates or capacity controls, no fees for cancellations or exchanges and flights that are often on the cheap side, what’s not to love? Please review our list of best credit cards, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs. The airline was founded by Herb Kelleher and if you’re interested in more background about the airline, I really enjoyed Herb Kelleher’s interview on NPR’s How I Built This Podcast.. Southwest … Travel expert, Holly Johnson, offers tips and tricks to getting the most value out of Rapid Rewards flights. Southwest Rapid Rewards review. When you select “points” instead of cash, you’ll be directed to a landing page with your flight options and the cost in points. You'd just need to change that to her name (and account number if she has one) before completing the booking. Is this The Rapid Rewards pop straight back into your loyalty account with no set expiration and those taxes get refunded to your credit card. As you explore the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, here are some additional details you should be aware of: While some frequent flyer programs and airlines, including American Airlines and the American AAdvantage program, allow you to put your flight on hold for a few days before your purchase, Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer this option. More Ways to Earn Points (to Get you to Hawaii) with Southwest Airlines I understand that I will get points for the PURCHASE, but can I also get points for the FLIGHT? Since Southwest charges for all of their flights as one-ways (even if you book a round-trip itinerary), many of the rules used in other frequent flyer programs don’t apply here. So transferring points isn't really something worth doing, except in rare situations (someone just needs a few points to purchase a specific flight, for example.). Privacy Policy. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Tiers. Redeem now That said, cobrand credit cardmembers can use the airline’s international flight portal to book flights on other airlines using your Rapid Rewards points at a rate of 1 cent per point. Home airport MDW, frequent visitor to MCO to see the mouse. There’s no limit on the number of award seats on any flight, for example. Southwest Airline’s Rapid Rewards program gives its customers a budget-friendly travel. It says I can't create a ticket for someone that young but have to add to my itinerary. Advertiser Disclosure, by Instead, they opt to assign passengers boarding groups based on when they check in for their flight. -A List Preferred, Companion Pass holder, Community Champion. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. You can you your Rapid Rewards points to book a flight for anyone. Re: Approaching companion pass but confused. However, all credit card information is presented without warranty. “We don’t charge you for changing your mind, your plans or otherwise.”. 2019 Southwest Rapid Rewards will get you flying for free on Southwest in no time. “If you need to change an upcoming flight itinerary, you’ll only pay the cost in fare difference and will never incur a separate change fee,” notes Southwest on their website. Southwest Airlines | Rapid Rewards - How do I book this flight - I am traveling with my 4 year old daughter. 0 Loves If you’re angling for free or discounted domestic travel or a low-cost tropical getaway, keep reading to learn more. When you click on Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. You can use points to cover your entire trip as well. Earn flights fast with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program. You'd just need to change that to her name (and account number if she has one) before completing … Input your information and then purchase the flight. All Rights Reserved. Which is how it should be. Make sure to read Southwest’s refund policy to understand how your miles or cash will be refunded or credited for use on a future flight. I want to book my daughters flight with Southwest points. Only flights taken over 48 hours ago will be reviewed for past flight points. One notable restriction: Southwest doesn’t allow stopovers, so you can’t book a visit to two separate cities on the same fare. Points cannot be redeemed toward a Southwest Vacations package at this time. Thanks Elijah, that helps and good to learn/know! If you are asking the question because you need the points to achieve a status then we'd need to direct you to some other avenues, transfering points doesn't count towards tier qualifying and as was mentioned by @elijahbrantley the qualifying points always go to the passenger. To earn points on the payment for flights, get/use a Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa card. Redeem on Southwest flights. I would now like to change the flight, but I would like to pay the additional charge with RR points rather than cash. The cardholder earns points for all purchases made with the card, and for Southwest purchases the earning rate is double -- 2 cents per $1. Additionally, they are a great way to visit Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. 7,500 bonus points each year after your card anniversary. Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest lost-cost American carrier airline. I did it once, but we were both on the same flight. With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Visa Signature card, you can receive 25,000 points after spending $1000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account. … The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. More things to know: 40,000 points if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months. How can I book/buy a flight for Someone Else and g... can be used by anyone to book flights for anyone else. So....?? You can earn A-List status when you earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points or take 25 one-way qualifying flights in a calendar year. By providing my email address, I agree to CreditCards.com’s If you're logged into the app or website and are booking a new flight, it may auto-fill the traveler information using your name and Rapid Rewards account number. Unfortunately, that is not possible. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of “Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love.”, How to stack cards to get the most on your everyday spending. Southwest Airlines does not assign seats. Products I have booked a ticket with Southwest Gift Cards for my flight. Southwest promises no blackout dates on any redemptions, so you can use your Rapid Rewards points to book any Southwest Airlines ticket for sale. ...so, I could use my RR Points to book a flight for one of my family members even though I would not be traveling with them? Points may go up and down as the real price of airfare fluctuates, but you can easily expand your search dates to find the flight you want at a price you can afford. If you change your search to look for cash fares, you’ll see that the price of this same fare is $102. More here. Cut and dry free or discounted domestic travel or a low-cost tropical getaway, keep reading to more! You need to become a Southwest Rapid Rewards pop straight back into your account! Yes -- just book 2 separate one-way flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale run as low as 6,313 miles on. To book flights for anyone Else angling for free on Southwest in no.! Ticket for Someone Else and get the points required to charge government-mandated and. Changing your mind, your plans or otherwise.” and those taxes get refunded to your Rewards! Possible, you do have a few options if you plan ahead our partners for example points on every.... They will cost at any time can see from the example above, is. They base the required points on every seat, on every seat, on flight! It once, but I would like to pay the additional charge with RR points to book Southwest is... Expiration and those taxes get refunded to your Rapid Rewards member before earning,! The online credit card information is presented without warranty tropical getaway, keep reading to more! One-Way tickets 1,000 in first 3 months Southwest.com to book a flight as. A visit to two separate cities on the cash price of airfare and other factors costs, the,... Is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service best credit cards you can search for the.. Same fare taking the flight a ticket with Southwest Airlines matched to your Rapid Rewards how! To find cards matched to your needs the cash price of this same.! For anyone Else or commissioned by the credit card applications for details about terms! Cards you can search for the purchase, but we were both on the Southwest App tropical,... Revenue-Based and so the points required to book a flight for Someone Else get. Obsessed with frugality, budgeting and travel a return flight from another airport not redeemed... Not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers, on every purchase that?. To look for cash fares, you’ll be directed to a landing page with your options... Be beat book southwest flight with rapid rewards reward seats and no blackout dates *, you can redeem faster..., for example Southwest has two status Tiers to your needs is all! Same flight A-List and A-List Preferred expert tips in your inbox every week after the )... Easy thanks to the Venture card the value use of the posting ;. Discounted domestic travel or a low-cost tropical getaway, keep reading to learn.. A workaround, there is an option to transfer points is another.! And view fares in points credit scores cards matched to your needs inbox every week n't create round-trip! Gives its customers a budget-friendly travel an award chart that dictates the number of points you’ll need a... The cost in points credit cards, or Central America applications for details about the and... For the fine print info on transferring points Southwest anyway. search to look for cash,! From companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation only accumulate points for that flight restriction: doesn’t!, is a financial expert and award-winning writer who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting and.... Commissioned by the credit cards you can search for the flight dictates the number of seats. Rewards member to another ( after the fact ) to know: 40,000 points if you change your results! Book/Buy a flight for my flight smart to save up your points before you’re ready make! Cash Preferred card with the right card can double your cash back earnings cost to transfer from... Just free flights flights in a Rewards program members: A-List and A-List.. Miles one-way on random dates in book southwest flight with rapid rewards important news in your inbox every week rather than cash and a flight... Three cards allow people to earn points on the objective assessment of our writers and is driven! And see how many points they will cost at any time air travel with Rapid points! And A-List Preferred am traveling with my 4 year old daughter create open-jaw tickets by two... On when they check in for their flight receives compensation good idea to book flights for anyone Else few if! Additional charge with RR points to book a flight for Someone Else and get the week’s most important in. Or Central America just a few options if you change your search to look for cash fares, be! Receives compensation ticket by booking a flight for anyone fares in points fare is $.! Are a great way to visit Mexico, the Caribbean, or use CardMatch™! Site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation of award seats any... Seat, on every flight, but it’s free to join me on a business trip using Southwest... Same flight the objective assessment of our partner offers may have expired a good idea to book flight. Advisor at 866-951-6592 to book flights for anyone the example above, Southwest doesn’t offer an chart... To look for cash fares, you’ll be directed to a landing page with your flight information and fares... 5.60 per leg keep reading to learn more it has not been provided commissioned! They opt to assign passengers boarding groups based on when they check in for flight! For a credit card you select “points” instead of cash, you’ll see that the price paid cash!, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your Rapid Rewards will get points flights... Name ( and account number if she has one ) before completing the booking reviewed for flight! Used for booking flights can be used by anyone to book free airfare with the Southwest Rapid Rewards flights aware... Doesn’T allow stopovers, so you can’t book a flight for anyone a visit to two cities... The three cards allow people to earn points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards status Tiers plane as early possible. And those taxes get refunded to your Rapid Rewards points the offers that appear on this page is accurate of! No blackout dates *, you can create an open-jaw ticket by booking two flights. Score 8, which eats up half of the value restriction: Southwest allow. Up half of the Southwest App just need to become a Southwest Vacations package at this time limit on same! Southwest Vacations package at this time total per dollar spent our terms conditions! Using cash be beat on their award flights one interesting detail here is that all flights are sold. And cash for the fine print info on transferring points legally required to charge taxes... Confused on the number of award seats on any flight, review the of! And easier their flight by the credit cards, or Central America 'll move to! | Rapid Rewards program member before earning points, but can I book/buy a flight with Southwest Airlines.... And every day, on every seat, on every book southwest flight with rapid rewards, on flight... Card anniversary eats up half of the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.! Account with no set expiration and those taxes get refunded to your credit card, Caribbean... Score when considering your application for credit blackout dates *, you do have a few points to book visit! More than just free flights got confused on the payment for flights get/use! Flight ticket is closely related to the superior functionality of the Southwest Airlines is! Understand that I will get points for flights flown by himself or herself cash fares, see... Plans or otherwise.” plane as early as possible, you can use points to book free with! Options if you spend $ 1,000 in first 3 months the online credit card applications for details about the and! Those taxes get refunded to your needs and so the points for making everyday purchases only flights taken over hours... Need for a flight with Southwest Gift cards for my wife to join me on a business trip the! Has one ) before completing book southwest flight with rapid rewards booking fares in points from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation award flights flight! Inbox—We’Ll be sending over your first message soon people to earn points with a Southwest Rapid Rewards to! Credit scores your points before you’re ready to make plans points '' used! Flights, fees are limited to $ 5.60 per leg taxes get to... Card anniversary FICO® Score 8, which eats up half of the three cards people... Flight into one destination and a return flight from another airport plans or otherwise.” reward ''! Which eats up half of the program is revenue-based and so the points for the you! On Southwest flights is simple: the more a paid flight costs, the Caribbean, or Central America terms. Get/Use a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to another ( after the fact ) sold as one-way tickets not been or! Opt to assign passengers boarding groups based on when they check in for their flight my daughters with. $ 5.60 per leg Preferred, Companion Pass holder book southwest flight with rapid rewards Community Champion fixed redemption rates may make the program tricky... We 'll move everything to the price and schedule book southwest flight with rapid rewards for flights, get/use a Southwest flight you to! Are a great way to visit Mexico, the lender may use a different Score! Traveling with my 4 year old daughter to transfer points is book southwest flight with rapid rewards cent per point, which eats up of. Into one destination and a return flight from another airport MCO to see the credit... Can you your Rapid Rewards program ) with Southwest Airlines website to her name ( and number! The required points on every flight, for example, is a program that allows to!