How does Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards work?

Southwest Airlines is the only 'low-cost' carrier in the US known for its low prices, no cancellation fees and free checked baggage. In 2018, the Dallas airline was transporting more than 163 million passengers – more than the individual airline tallies of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. They are among the largest passenger firms in the world.

Today, the carrier operates to 101 destinations, with a specialist fleet of Boeing 737s in the U.S., Mexican, Central and Caribbean. In cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Denver, and Dallas, the airline works extensively. You can contact the Southwest Airlines Reservations if you need any assistance for your flight reservations, or any help concerning your flight.

What are Southwest Rapid Rewards?

You can receive points for every dollar invested on Southwest flights and with the hotel, car and shopping partners of the airline by being a member of Southwest Rapid Rewards. You can gain extra points on Southwest airlines and partnership buying and for making regular payments if you have one of Chase Visa's Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. You are free, on every Southwest flight or foreign partner, to take your Rapid Loyalty Points to pay for goods, gift cards stay at the airport, car rental and air travel costs. You will also use points to offset the expense of activities like wine samples, cruises and spa packages if you are a credit cardholder in the Southwest.

 

How to earn rapid reward points

Rapid Rewards functions on a points basis. You can gain points by flying with Southwest, shopping or eating with friends, or by payment through the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Southwest is also a Chase Ultimate Rewards transferring partner. As of October 2019, Southwest points no longer expire.

Through flight tickets:

 

• Wanna Get Away fares:

The cheapest fares are known as "Wanna Get Away." These fares have no additional benefits and earn 6 Rapid Rewards points for every $1 spent in base airfare.

 

• Anytime fares:

Anytime fares are a slightly more flexible than Wanna Get Away fares since cancelled trips can be refunded to the original form of payment or used toward a later flight for up to 12 months. Flyers can earn 10 Rapid Rewards points for every $1 spent on base airfare.

 

• Business select fare:

For flyers who wish for the Southwest "luxury" experience, Business Select fares are the most expensive but also provide the most benefits. Business Select customers also earn the most Rapid Rewards, earning 12 points per $1 spent on base airfare.

 

Through partners:

• Hotels:

In certain hotel chains, you can receive Rapid reward points. In most hotels, one point is won for every $1, but you can earn more based on where you are lodging.

 

• Shopping and Dining:

Earn Rapid Rewards Shopping points at over 800 stores. Y ou can win up to 3 points per $1 spent in participating restaurants and collect bonus points for posting restaurant reviews. 

 

• Gas at Marathon gas stations:

For each gallon of Marathons gasoline you buy, Rapid Rewards Participants will gain 1 point, plus bonus points for select in-store transactions and other achievements through the MakeItCount program. 

 

• Transportation:

Car rentals and ground transportation can earn you more Rapid Rewards points. You can earn up to 600 points per rental when you book a car through Southwest's rental car partners.  

 

Through Credit cards:

• The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card can earn up to 2x on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases, and an additional 3,000-point bonus every card anniversary
• The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card can earn up to 2x on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases, and an additional 6,000-point bonus every card anniversary
• The Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card can earn up to 2x on Southwest purchases, and an extra 6,000-point bonus every card anniversary

 

How to redeem Rapid Rewards Points

• Booking flight tickets

To book Southwest tickets, go to Southwest website booking tools, enter your travel details and select the option of displaying the ticket in points instead of a dollars. If a fare class is sold out on a specific flight, the results will be shown. 

 

• Hotels:

Since the Rapid Reward Points can not be transferred to hotel partners, you can use them through the southwest travel portal to book a hotel award night. Place of the hotel, proximity to attractions, quality and chosen dates will affect the cost in points. 

 

• Rental cars:

The points can also be used while booking rental cars. The travel platform helps travellers to book and pay a Rapid Rewards balance on a rental vehicle. The cost in points varies depending on the location and cash costs of cars. 

 

In this program, there is a lot of benefit to those travelling with the Southwest regularly. To gain more information and for any queries regarding the Southwest Rapid Rewards points, you can visit the southwest airlines reservations official site.