19 Best Ways To Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points [2026]

Southwest Airlines has changed a lot over the last couple of years. Once a low-cost carrier that didn’t charge for bags, Southwest now operates more like a traditional airline, complete with baggage fees and assigned seating. However, its loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, offers good value, and there are tons of ways to earn and use points within it.

Today, we’re focusing on the many ways to earn Southwest points. We’ll go over the obvious ones, like flying on Southwest and using a Southwest credit card, as well as ways that aren’t as apparent, like renting cars, going out to dinner, or booking a hotel.

Earn Points by Flying Southwest Airlines and Partners

To earn points, you first need a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account. Once that is set up, use your Rapid Rewards number on every Southwest flight you take to start earning points.

1. Earn Points by Flying on Southwest Airlines

The number of points you can earn by flying on Southwest depends on the type of ticket you purchase and your elite status level.

• Basic: 2x fare
• Choice: 6x fare
• Choice Preferred: 10x fare
• Choice Extra: 14x fare

A-List members get a 25% bonus while A-List Preferred members get a 100% bonus. So an A-List Preferred member who purchased a $400 Choice Extra ticket would earn 11,200 Southwest points.

While the Southwest Companion Pass is often considered elite status, it doesn’t include A-List or A-List Preferred status or any of the associated benefits.

2. Earn Points by Flying Southwest’s Airline Partners

Southwest Airlines has 7 airline partners as of March 2026: Icelandair, China Airlines, EVA Air, Philippine Airlines, Condor Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and All Nippon Airways. However, only 1, Icelandair, offers points-earning capabilities.

When customers book an itinerary on Icelandair’s website or a third party that includes a Southwest segment, they can earn Southwest points, tier-qualifying points, and Companion Pass-qualifying points on that segment.

Hot Tip:

Southwest expects to further integrate the Rapid Rewards program with partner airlines in the future.

Earn Southwest Points With Credit Cards and Debit Cards

Using credit cards is by far the fastest way to earn Southwest points, and there are good options. In addition to Southwest credit cards, you can use cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Bilt Points, and Marriott points.

3. Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards (Recommended)

Using cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points is one of the best ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. That’s because Chase points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio, so any points you earn on Ultimate Rewards cards can turn into Southwest Rapid Rewards points almost instantly.

Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards often come with strong welcome offers, which is the best way to get a big chunk of points fast.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.49% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owners can earn Southwest points with the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card.

Bottom Line: A strong strategy is earning Ultimate Rewards points and then transferring those to Southwest Airlines at a 1:1 ratio if you want to book Southwest award flights. The points are easy to earn, the cards have strong welcome offers, and Chase’s transfer partners offer more redemption flexibility.

4. Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

Southwest Airlines offers 5 co-branded credit cards. There are 3 consumer cards and 2 business cards. You can have only 1 Southwest consumer card at a time, but you can have a consumer and a business card, or 2 Southwest business cards at the same time.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, preferred boarding and seat selection, and money back on inflight purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, preferred boarding and seat selection, and money back on inflight purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$780

Annual Fee

$229

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Southwest Priority card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. It offers multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points and is loaded with valuable benefits for Southwest flyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points on Southwest Airlines eligible purchases
• 2x points at gas stations and restaurants
• 1x points on all other purchases

Cons

• $229 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
• First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
• Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
• Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card

Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!

Welcome Offer

Earn 55,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

55,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $715

Annual Fee

$149

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Another week, another flight. Flying weekly can get tiring, but you know that every flight gets you closer to taking some great vacations with your significant other or your favorite travel buddy.

To save money on the flights, you like to use Southwest Airlines.

So why not get the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card to help you earn extra Rapid Rewards points?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points on the first $8,000 in combined spend at grocery stores and restaurants each anniversary year
• First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation

Cons

• $149 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 55,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 6,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.
• First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
• Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

50,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$650

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on the first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 3,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
• Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
• Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Business owners can earn points with 2 different credit cards:

• Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card 
• Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card

In addition to the welcome offers you can earn on these cards, each card comes with anniversary bonus points ranging from 3,000 to 9,000 points per year. You receive the bonus on your first anniversary and each year thereafter that your card is open and in good standing.

Hot Tip:

Each Southwest credit card comes with a 10,000-point boost to Companion Pass qualifying points per year. These points count toward earning the Companion Pass, but they aren’t redeemable Rapid Rewards points.

5. Chase Credit Card Referral Bonuses

Chase regularly allows current cardmembers to refer friends and family. To sweeten the deal, it provides referral bonuses when anyone is approved after using your referral.

Not all Chase cards participate in the referral program at all times, but we often see the personal Chase Southwest credit cards and even some of the cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

6. Bilt Rewards

Southwest Airlines is also one of Bilt’s transfer partners, which means you can transfer Bilt Points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio almost immediately. Bilt Rewards Blue members must transfer a minimum of 2,000 points, while all others can make transfers starting at 1,000 points.

Bilt Rewards has 3 credit cards. Each earns points that can be transferred to Southwest Airlines.

• Bilt Blue Card (rates & fees)
• Bilt Obsidian Card (rates & fees)
• Bilt Palladium Card (rates & fees)

7. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer them to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive a bonus of an extra 5,000 Rapid Rewards points. Marriott offers multiple cards to choose from:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

This might not be the best way to use Marriott points, but it’s good to know about if you need a few more Southwest points for a redemption.

8. Earn Rapid Rewards Points With a Debit Card

If you can’t or don’t want to get a credit card, you can also earn Southwest points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Debit Card. With no credit check required, the Southwest Debit card offers a small welcome offer and allows you to earn Southwest points.

• 1 Rapid Rewards point per $1 spent on eligible Southwest Airlines purchases
• 1 Rapid Rewards point per $1 spent on qualifying dining and subscription purchases (e.g., cable, internet, phone, streaming services, utilities, and insurance premiums)
• 1 Rapid Rewards point per $2 spent on other qualifying purchases

The card earns an annual bonus of 2,500 to 7,500 points for cardholders who spend at least $5,000 annually.

There is a monthly fee of $6.99 for the Southwest Debit card, which is waived with a minimum average monthly balance of $2,500, and no ATM fees in the Cirrus network.

Southwest Shopping and Dining Partners

If you’re going to be shopping or dining out anyway, you might as well earn some extra Rapid Rewards points, too.

9. Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal

Using the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal is a fantastic way to earn extra points on your everyday online purchases.

To ensure you earn the bonuses for your purchases, sign in to the Southwest shopping portal with the same credentials you use for your Rapid Rewards account. Then click through the portal to the website of your choice and continue shopping as you normally would.

When you proceed to checkout, ensure you’re still logged in to Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping, so you receive the bonus points for your purchase.

You can pay with any card. However, if you use a Southwest credit card, a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, or a Bilt card, you can earn even more points.

10. Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining

Like several other airlines, Southwest participates in the Rewards Network dining platform. Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining makes it easy for you to earn Rapid Rewards points when you dine at restaurants all over the U.S.

There are often sign-up bonuses available, so it can make sense to wait to sign up until you have plans to visit a participating restaurant within 30 days.

Membership is free; you simply register for an account, add a credit card, and use it to pay for your meal at a participating restaurant.

You can earn up to 3 points per $1 at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs after opting into Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining email notifications and using a registered credit card. If you opt out of emails, you only earn 1 point per $2 spent.

11. Additional Southwest Shopping Partners

Southwest Airlines has a few specialty shopping partners that offer bonus Rapid Rewards points:

• 1-800-Flowers: Earn 1,000 points for each order of $29.99 or more when using the code RR22.
• Harry & David: Earn 1,000 points for each order of $29.99 or more when using the code SW44.
• Laithwaites: Earn 2,000 points with your introductory wine club case; earn 1,000 points on each future club case.

Buy Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

12. Buy Southwest Points Through Points.com

While buying Southwest Rapid Rewards points is generally a poor value, a points sale can make it worth it if you need to top off an account. However, the general rule is to avoid buying points unless you just need a few and don’t have any other ways to get points, or if there’s a great sale and you need more points for a specific redemption.

Southwest Hotel, Car Rental, and Vacation Partners

13. Southwest Hotel Partners

You can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points by staying at certain hotel chains. Just be sure to set your earning preference to Southwest in each hotel’s respective loyalty program.

You can earn Southwest points at Best Western, Hyatt, Marriott, MGM Resorts, and Radisson Rewards Americas. Rates vary but are generally around 600 Rapid Rewards points per stay. However, for stays at Radisson, you earn 20 Radisson points per $1, which convert to Southwest at a 10:1 ratio.

You can also transfer hotel points to Southwest, but generally, it’s a terrible use of points. If you urgently need Rapid Rewards points, it might be a good move. Otherwise, use hotel points for hotel award stays to get much more value.

14. SouthwestHotels.com

SouthwestHotels.com lets you earn Rapid Rewards points on hotel bookings. The amount of points you earn varies, but can be up to 20,000 points per stay, making it a good alternative to booking hotels through Expedia, Orbitz, and other online travel agencies if your goal is to earn Southwest points.

Hot Tip:

Points earned through SouthwestHotels.com are Companion Pass-qualifying points, so this could be great for anyone who wants to earn a Southwest Companion Pass.

15. Southwest Car Rental Partners

You can earn bonus points by booking rental cars through Southwest. Some car rental companies may charge a fee for opting to earn airline miles; these tend to be around $1 to $1.50 per day.

You can earn 600 Southwest points per rental booked through Southwest with the following companies:

16. Book Getaways by Southwest

You can earn 5 Rapid Rewards points per $1 on Getaways by Southwest vacation packages. These packages can include a flight and hotel, flight and car, or flight, hotel, and car. As an added benefit, flights booked through Getaways by Southwest include 2 free checked bags for each person on the reservation.

Additional Southwest Points-Earning Partners

Southwest Airlines provides a few additional ways to earn Rapid Rewards that you might not expect.

17. Home Services Purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards has partnered with a few energy companies that award you points for enrolling and remaining with them. However, these are limited to just a handful of states.

Be wary of these offers. You can definitely earn a lot of points, but those points may not outweigh the cost of the product or service. You should always consider the cost of the services, as well as the terms and conditions, before diving in simply to earn extra points.

18. Fill Out Surveys for Rapid Rewards Points

Surveys take time, and the points earned aren’t astronomical, but if you need a few more points for an award booking, taking a survey for points might make sense.

• Rewards for Opinions: Receive 500 points after signing up and completing your first survey within 3 months.
• e-Rewards: Receive 500 points after signing up and completing your first survey within 3 months. Then complete surveys to earn e-Rewards points, which can be converted to Southwest points at varying rates.

Here is the breakdown of e-Rewards earnings:

• 15 e-Rewards Currency equals 300 Rapid Rewards points
• 25 e-Rewards Currency equals 600 Rapid Rewards points
• 50 e-Rewards Currency equals 1,200 Rapid Rewards points
• 100 e-Rewards Currency equals 2,400 Rapid Rewards points

19. Use Emergency Assistance Plus

Emergency Assistance Plus provides medical and travel insurance services, including medical evacuation, medical assistance, companion assistance, and transportation home.

You can earn 1,500 Rapid Rewards points when you join and 1,500 points each year that you renew your membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 500 points if you select an add-on during enrollment or upgrade your membership.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. In addition to Southwest-branded credit cards, several cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, Bilt points, and even Marriott Bonvoy points that can be transferred to Southwest.

There are many other ways to earn Rapid Rewards points through hotel, shopping, and rental car partners. If you’re a few points short of an award flight, there are plenty of ways to earn those last few points and book your award flight.