Southwest Rapid Rewards
Estimated value: 1.4¢ per points
Southwest Rapid Rewards is Southwest Airlines' loyalty program. Unlike traditional airline programs, Southwest uses a revenue-based system where points are worth a fixed value tied to the fare price. Key strengths: - No change fees, no cancellation fees (points redeposited instantly) - No blackout dates for award flights - Companion Pass: Bring someone free on every flight for up to 2 years - Two free checked bags on every ticket (even award flights) - Points don't expire with account activity - Revenue-based redemptions mean simple, predictable value - Wanna Get Away fares offer best value per point
Credit card programs that can transfer points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Which cards help most with Southwest Rapid Rewards elite progress, and how they fit into a status-focused strategy
Southwest strategy: All cards help you earn the valuable Companion Pass (fly with someone for free for 1-2 years). Need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to earn it. Each card gives you 10,000 CP qualifying points annually. Best strategy: Get 2 personal cards in same calendar year to stack signup bonuses (100k-120k points) toward Companion Pass. Priority card offers best value with 4x earning, $75 credit, and upgraded boardings. Stack personal + business cards since they have separate 24-month bonus restrictions.
Southwest Priority
Chase
Best for frequent Southwest flyers - 4x Southwest earning, $75 travel credit, 4 upgraded boardings, and highest anniversary bonus (7,500 points)
Bonus note: 50k points + helps toward Companion Pass with 10k CP qualifying points annually
Sequence note: Subject to Chase 5/24 - get this card early in your Chase journey
Southwest Premier
Chase
Solid mid-tier option - 3x Southwest earning, 6k anniversary bonus, and helps toward A-List status
Bonus note: 50k points worth ~$700
Sequence note: Subject to Chase 5/24
Southwest Plus
Chase
Entry-level card - lowest annual fee at $99 with free checked bags and 2x Southwest earning
Bonus note: 50k points for low annual fee
Sequence note: Subject to Chase 5/24
Southwest Business strategy: Performance Business card offers INCREDIBLE value - 120k signup bonus alone puts you near Companion Pass threshold (need 135k total). With 10k CP qualifying points from card annually + 120k signup + spend bonuses, you can earn Companion Pass with just this one card. This is the easiest path to Companion Pass ever offered. Premier Business is solid alternative with lower spend requirement. Business card bonuses are separate from personal cards - you can get both within 24 months.
Southwest Performance Business
Chase
BEST VALUE: 120k signup bonus can earn Companion Pass with single card! 4x Southwest, WiFi credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, upgraded boardings
Bonus note: 120k points (worth ~$1,680) - Massive bonus can earn Companion Pass by itself with just $10k spend
Sequence note: Subject to Chase 5/24, requires business. Limited time offer (ends 10/22/25)
Southwest Premier Business
Chase
Lower spend requirement - 60k signup for $3k spend, 3x Southwest, 6k anniversary bonus
Bonus note: 60k points worth ~$840
Sequence note: Subject to Chase 5/24, requires business
Plus card earns 3,000 anniversary points annually and covers everyday Southwest flying; Premier adds 6,000 bonus points and tier qualifying points to accelerate Companion Pass progress.
Southwest strategy: Priority for best benefits. Optionally add Premier to hit 135,000 points for Companion Pass.
Southwest Priority
Chase
3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on Rapid Rewards partners/local transit/internet/cable/phone, 1x on everything else. 7,500 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings, $75 travel credit. $229 annual fee.
Bonus note: 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Southwest Premier
Chase
Optional: 2x on Southwest and Rapid Rewards partners. Get two cards for Companion Pass (spend $70k+ combined in year). $149 annual fee.
Bonus note: 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Sequence note: Get both Priority + Premier for Companion Pass qualification
Co-Branded Credit Cards
Southwest Plus
Chase
80,000 points bonus
85,000 pts
Southwest Premier
Chase
85,000 points bonus
Southwest Premier Business
Chase
60,000 points bonus · ~$840 value
Southwest Priority
Chase
90,000 points bonus
85,000 pts
Southwest Performance Business
Chase
80,000 points bonus · ~$1120 value
120,000 pts
Past transfer bonuses — useful for spotting seasonal patterns
Chase Ultimate Rewards
May 15, 2026 – Jun 5, 2026
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Oct 1, 2020 – Oct 31, 2020
1.4¢
per points (baseline)
Inbound transfers: - Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1:1 - Marriott Bonvoy: 3:1 (60K → 25K with bonus) Outbound transfers: - Rapid Rewards points cannot transfer to other programs Strategy tips: - Chase UR to Southwest is useful for topping off for Companion Pass qualification - Companion Pass is the ultimate Southwest goal (earned at 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year) - Credit card signup bonuses count toward Companion Pass qualification - Transfer from Chase when you need points for a specific booking
Redemption strategy: Revenue-based pricing: - Points are worth ~1.3-1.7 cpp on Wanna Get Away fares - Wanna Get Away Plus: Slightly higher price but transferable - Anytime fares: Worst value per point (avoid redeeming at this level) - Business Select: Poor points value but nice for upgrades Best value: - Book Wanna Get Away fares with points (best cpp) - Off-peak travel and midweek flights = lower point prices - Southwest sales apply to point redemptions too - Points + cash: Not offered; it's all points or all cash Companion Pass stacking: - Once you have Companion Pass, your companion flies free - This effectively doubles the value of every point spent - With CP, even mediocre cpp becomes great because 2 people fly for the price of 1 Cancellation flexibility: - Points return instantly if you cancel - Book speculatively and cancel if prices drop - No penalty for rebooking at a lower price Avoid: - Anytime or Business Select fares with points (terrible value) - Transferring to Southwest from Marriott (3:1 ratio is poor) - Holding large balances without using them (earn and burn)
Card stacking strategy: Premium cards: - Southwest Priority: 3x Southwest, 2x local transit/internet/phone, 1x everything else; 4 upgraded boardings/yr, $75 SW credit - Southwest Premier: 3x Southwest, 2x dining/streaming, 1x everything else; 2 EarlyBird check-in credits - Southwest Plus: 2x Southwest, 1x everything else; anniversary 3,000 pts Business: - Southwest Performance Business: 4x Southwest, 3x Southwest purchases, 2x Rapid Rewards hotel/car; upgrade boardings - Southwest Premier Business: 3x Southwest, 2x dining/hotels/car rentals, 1x everything else Key tips: - Companion Pass strategy: Get 2 Southwest personal cards in late Q4 for large signup bonuses counting toward next year's CP - All card spending earns toward Companion Pass qualifying points - Priority card's $75 credit + 7,500 anniversary pts make the $149 AF worth it - Stack Southwest card for SW purchases + Chase Sapphire for other spending