What are Rapid Rewards points?

Southwest’s loyalty program is called Rapid Rewards. The points you earn and redeem are Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

What are Southwest Rapid Rewards points worth?

The value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is more or less fixed. You’ll typically get ~1.3 cents per point in value.

What credit cards can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points?

There are multiple branded Southwest credit cards: Southwest Premier card Southwest Plus card Southwest Priority card Southwest Premier Business card Southwest Performance Business card You can also transfer points earned from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest.

Can Southwest Rapid Rewards points be transferred?

Southwest Rapid Rewards points cannot be transferred to other airlines. They can, however, be redeemed for hotel stays and car rentals, but this is not a great use of points.

When do Southwest Rapid Rewards points post in your account?

Rapid Rewards points should post to your account within 3 to 7 days.

Are Southwest flights booked with Rapid Rewards points refundable?

Yes. Southwest considers all flights paid for with Rapid Rewards points fully refundable when canceled prior to departure.

Can I get Southwest Rapid Rewards points for past flights?

Yes. Find the Manage section of your account and select Request Past Points. Enter the flight confirmation number and submit. In 3 to 5 days you should see the past flight appear in your account’s trip history and receive the missing points.

When do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?

Southwest Rapid Rewards points don’t expire as long as an account is open.

22 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Southwest Rapid Rewards Points [2024]

Updated: August 23, 2024, 9:01am CDT

Edited by:

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Program
Earn Rapid Rewards Points With Credit Cards
Earn Rapid Rewards Points by Shopping and Dining Out
Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Through Travel
Specialty Earnings Opportunities for Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Other Ways To Accumulate Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest low-cost carrier, but it does not have any airline partners. This means the points you earn for its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program are only redeemable on Southwest flights.

So, how fast can you earn tons of Rapid Rewards points? Ultimately, that’s up to you and the strategies you employ. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to earn tons of Southwest Rapid Reward points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

To earn points, you need a Rapid Rewards account. Once that is set up, you’ll be ready to earn points from credit card sign-up bonuses, everyday spending, shopping portals, and more.

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program is a stand-alone frequent flyer program. Unlike loyalty programs such as American Express Membership Rewards, a Rapid Rewards membership does not require an affiliated credit card to start earning points.

It’s that simple. While you do not earn any points for registering for an account, you’ll need to create an account to start earning points. Southwest will offer bonus points through email promotions, so make sure you’re signed up for Southwest emails, too.

Earn Rapid Rewards Points With Credit Cards

Using credit cards is by far the fastest way to earn Rapid Rewards, and you can earn tons of points with a simple strategy.

1. Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards (Recommended)

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is the only bank partner of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. While you might expect a co-branded Southwest credit card to be the best way to earn Rapid Rewards, you would be mistaken!

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely valuable because you can transfer them to many different Chase transfer partners. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Southwest Airlines, so any points you earn on Ultimate Rewards cards can turn into Southwest Rapid Rewards points almost instantly. This is a much better strategy than just collecting Southwest Rapid Rewards points; you’ll greatly increase your redemption options but can also redeem for Southwest flights as needed.

Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards often come with amazing sign-up bonuses that can earn you tons of transferable points that can be used to book travel with Southwest.

And don’t forget, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much easier to earn than Southwest Rapid Rewards points are when using one of Southwest’s credit cards.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(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 OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 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, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

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 out there.

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

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business Owner? Read our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

Bottom Line: We highly recommend 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 come with huge sign-up bonuses — and you have so many more redemption options with all of Chase’s transfer partners.

2. Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

Southwest Airlines has partnered with Chase to offer Southwest-branded credit cards.

You can only have 1 Southwest consumer card at the same time. This rule does not apply to the Southwest business cards.

NEW OFFER

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

U.P. Rating

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.

Welcome OfferEarn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$400 + 40,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$880

Annual Fee

$149

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. When you peel back the curtain, it is easy to see why.

Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.

Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases
2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases

Cons

$149 annual fee
Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest^® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
$75 Southwest^® travel credit each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

NEW OFFER

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

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 OfferEarn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$400 + 40,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$880

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares

Cons

$99 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
6,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest^® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In^® each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

NEW OFFER

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(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 OfferEarn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$400 + 40,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$880

Annual Fee

$69

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 local transit and commuting, including rideshares
2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming

Cons

$69 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest^® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In^® each year.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Southwest frequent flyers will love the upgraded boarding positions, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and bonus points on each cardmember anniversary.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card

Southwest frequent flyers will love the upgraded boarding positions, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and bonus points on each cardmember anniversary.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,040

Annual Fee

$199

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card is a phenomenal option for business owners who are Southwest frequent flyers. It helps you earn more points on all of your business expenses, offers upgraded boarding certificates and Wi-Fi credits, and helps you reach higher levels of Southwest elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

4x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
3x points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
2x points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services

Cons

$199 annual fee
Doesn’t earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
Earn 4X pts on Southwest^® purchases.
Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards^® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 2X points on rideshare.
Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Business owners who fly Southwest often can earn extra points for all of their spending and add employee cards at no additional cost.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card

Business owners who fly Southwest often can earn extra points for all of their spending and add employee cards at no additional cost.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$780

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Southwest ® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card is designed for business owners who regularly fly with Southwest and want a card that helps them earn more points while providing benefits such as 25% back on inflight purchases and EarlyBird Check-In certificates.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting purchases, including ride-share, passenger trains, buses, taxis, tolls, and parking lots and garages

Cons

$99 annual fee
Doesn’t earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines^® purchases.
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards^® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 2X points on rideshare.
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
2 EarlyBird Check-In^® each year.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Bonus Categories on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards — A Comparison

Here’s a look at the bonus categories offered on the Southwest-branded credit cards:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Category	Applicable Credit Cards	Points Earned
Southwest Purchases (including flights, in-flight purchases, and gift cards)	Southwest Plus card	2x
	Southwest Premier card	3x
	Southwest Priority card	3x
	Southwest Premier Business card	3x
	Southwest Performance Business card	4x
Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners	Southwest Plus card	2x
	Southwest Premier card	2x
	Southwest Priority card	2x
	Southwest Premier Business card	2x
	Southwest Performance Business card	3x
Local transit and commuting (rideshare, trains, buses, taxis, tolls, parking lots, garages)	All Southwest-branded cards	2x
Internet, cable, and phone	Southwest Priority card	2x
	Southwest Premier card	2x
	Southwest Plus card	2x
	Southwest Performance Business card	3x
Select streaming services	Southwest Priority card	2x
	Southwest Premier card	2x
	Southwest Plus card	2x
Social media and search engine advertising	Southwest Performance Business card	2x

3. Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card Cardmember Anniversary Bonus

Each of Southwest’s credit cards offers an annual cardmember anniversary points bonus. The number of points you’ll earn depends on the type of Southwest credit card you hold. The points are earned after each cardmember anniversary date:

Southwest Plus Card: 3,000 points
Southwest Premier Card: 6,000 points
Southwest Priority Card: 7,500 points
Southwest Premier Business Card: 6,000 points
Southwest Performance Business Card: 9,000 points

Do note that these bonus points aren’t free — when your cardmember anniversary rolls around, you’ll need to pay the card’s annual fee. With that in mind, do the math to see if the bonus points are worth it.

4. Chase Credit Card Referral Bonuses

Chase Southwest Refer A Friend Bonus — You can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points by referring your friends to Southwest credit cards. Image Credit: Chase

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 you will often see the personal Chase Southwest credit cards and even some of the cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

5. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer them to Southwest at a transfer rate of 3:1. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive a bonus of an extra 5,000 Rapid Rewards points.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
60,000 points + 1 Free Night Award

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$770

Annual Fee

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
5 Elite Night Credits each year

Cons

Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees:

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome OfferEarn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
125,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$875

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

$95 annual fee
Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees:

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome OfferEarn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
85,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$595

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

$250 annual fee (rates & fees)
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card^® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
$250 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
95,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Earn Rapid Rewards Points by Shopping and Dining Out

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

6. Earn With the Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal

Credit cards aside, there are a lot of other ways to earn points on everyday purchases through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.

To ensure you earn the bonuses for your purchases:

Go to Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping.
Sign up or sign in to your Rapid Rewards account.
Search for and select a product or store’s bonus points offer.A new browser window should open and look similar to this:

Rapid Rewards shopping portal — Be sure to click through from the shopping portal to your store of choice. Image Credit: Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping

Shop as you normally would through the store’s website.

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.

Keep in mind that your purchase can be made with any credit card. However, if you use your Southwest credit card, you will be earning 1 point per dollar for your purchase in addition to the bonus points offered through the shopping portal. This is a great way to rack up points!

7. Earn With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining Program

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 eat out at restaurants all over the U.S.

Membership is free; you simply register for an account, add any credit card, and start eating to earn. To sign up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining program:

Go to Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining and create an account.
Go to your account on the upper right side and click Manage Account>Linked Cards. Then add any credit card you like (try to use one that earns bonus points on dining).
Search for restaurants near you by using the search engine at the top of the page.
Simply eat at participating restaurants and use the registered credit card when you pay.

Usually, you will earn 3 points per dollar at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs after opting into Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining email notifications. You’ll also earn 10 points for every review you complete after each dining experience.

Check out the Bonuses section of the site to find promotions that will earn you even more points. For new members, there are often several options for earning bonus points such as:

Sign Up Bonus – Earn 1,000 bonus points for signing up, dining ($25 or more) at a participating restaurant within 30 days, and submitting a review for the restaurant.
First Step Bonus – When you reach 1,500 points, you’ll be given an additional 500 points just because.
Thank You Bonus – After you’ve earned the First Step Bonus, every time you earn another 1,000 points you’ll be rewarded an additional 300 points.

Bottom Line: Shopping online through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping and dining out at participating Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining restaurants will help you earn tons of additional points.

8. Earn With 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
Home Chef – Earn 1,200 points per box (up to 5 boxes), plus get 10% off your first order
Laithwaites – Earn 2,000 points with your introductory wine club case; earn 1,000 points on each future club case

Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Through Travel

Finally, we arrive at the tried and true method of earning Rapid Rewards points: flying on Southwest Airlines.

9. Airfare and Airline Purchases

Luckily, with Southwest-branded credit cards, you earn bonus points for every dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines. This includes all flights, inflight purchases, and Southwest gift cards purchased through Southwest Airlines.

However, you don’t need one of these cards to start earning on your travel purchases. Your Rapid Rewards membership will start earning you points on any Southwest flight you purchase regardless of the card you use to pay.

Since Southwest Airlines is an independent carrier, you can only earn Rapid Rewards points on Southwest flights.

Being limited to Southwest for earning points on airfare may seem like a major disadvantage, but you can earn a lot of Rapid Rewards points each time you fly with Southwest.

Hot Tip: Don’t think you are only stuck with “boring” domestic destinations either. Southwest flies to many international destinations, too (including some that might surprise you).

The points you will earn on Southwest flights are much more than many other airlines tend to offer. If you love flying Southwest, then this is wonderful news!

Of course, the number of points you earn will depend on the class ticket you purchase.

Wanna Get Away: 6x fare
Wanna Get Away Plus: 8x fare
Anytime: 10x fare
Business Select: 12x fare

Points earned also depend on your status or tier as a Rapid Rewards member.

Tiers are reached in a variety of ways, including flying on Southwest flights. Aside from the base or general member tier, the achievable tiers are A-List and A-List Preferred.

If you’re able to reach either of these tiers, you will have the chance to earn more points on each flight than a general member.

Along with other perks like priority boarding, you’ll receive bonus points with each tier:

A-List: 25% bonus Rapid Rewards points
A-List Preferred: 100% bonus Rapid Rewards points

This might seem like a lot to calculate, but it’s a pretty simple calculation. First, determine your base fare (without taxes and fees) and fare class.

Once you have the info, you simply multiply these numbers. Then add additional points if you have A-List or A-List Preferred status.

For example, if your base fare is $250, you would earn 1,500 points if it was a Wanna Get Away ticket (6x points). If you had A-List status, that flight would earn 1,875 points and if you had A-List Preferred status, it would earn 3,000 points.

Bottom Line: A-List Preferred members in Business Select seats will earn the most points on Southwest flights.

10. Car Rentals and Other Transportation

Need to rent a car? You can earn bonus points on your rentals by booking through Southwest.

Here’s how many points you can earn on your car rentals:

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Rental Company	Bonus Points per Rental
Alamo	600 points per rental
Avis	600 (1 to 2 day rentals), 1,200 (3 to 6 day rentals), 2,400 (7+ day rentals)
Budget	600 (1 to 2 day rentals), 1,200 (3 to 7 day rentals), 2,400 (8+ day rentals)
Dollar	600 (1 to 2 day rentals), 1,200 (3+ day rentals)
Hertz	600 (1 to 2 day rentals), 1,200 (3 to 6 day rentals), 2,400 (7+ day rentals)
National	600 points per rental
Payless	1,200 points per rental
Thrifty	600 (1 to 2 day rentals), 1,200 (3+ day rentals)

11. Book Hotels With Southwest Hotels

Southwest Hotels gives you options to earn Rapid Rewards points for hotel bookings. The site often runs specials offering anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 extra points per stay, making it a good alternative to booking hotels through Expedia, Orbitz, and other booking companies.

In the absence of a promotion, you’ll earn an extra 1 point per $1 spent on hotels booked through Southwest Hotels.

12. Book Hotels Through Rocketmiles

Southwest Rocketmiles — You can earn bonus points when you book a hotel through Rocketmiles. Image Credit: Rocketmiles

Rocketmiles is another way to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards on hotel bookings. With Rocketmiles you can earn up to 10,000 Rapid Rewards points per night on hotel stays. While most stays probably won’t earn quite that much, it’s still a good way to earn extra Rapid Rewards points.

13. Earn Points With Hotel Partners

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

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Hotel Partner	Earn Points
Best Western	600 points per stay
Hyatt	600 points per stay
Marriott Bonvoy	600 points per stay
MGM Resorts	600 points per stay
Radisson Rewards Americas	20 points per $1 spent

Not all of a hotel partner’s brands may be included. Please click each partner’s link for more details.

14. Transfer Points From Hotel Partners

You can transfer hotel points you earn through hotel co-branded credit cards and loyalty programs, but it is a terrible use of points. If you are in a pinch and really need Rapid Rewards points, it might be a good move. Otherwise, use hotel points for hotel award stays to get much more value out of them.

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Hotel Partner	Point Transfer Ratio (Partner:Southwest)
Best Western	5,000:1,200
Choice Hotels	6,000:1,800
Hyatt	5,000:2,400 (for every 50,000 points you transfer, you’ll get a 12,500-point bonus; 50,000:30,000)
Marriott Bonvoy	3:1 (for every 60,000 points you transfer, you’ll get a 5,000-point bonus; 60,000:25,000)
Radisson Rewards Americas	10:1

15. Book Vacation Packages

Southwest offers some great vacation package deals, and you’ll earn Rapid Rewards points when you book them through Southwest Vacations.

The points earned on each vacation vary depending on the package you choose and your status as a Rapid Rewards member.

Specialty Earnings Opportunities for Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

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

16. Home Services Purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards has partnered with a few energy companies that will earn you bonus points for enrolling and remaining with them. These partnering companies offer special bonuses for Southwest Rapid Rewards members:

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Company	Product/Service	Bonus Points
NRG	Enroll for at least 2 months and earn on the supply portion of your bill (only IL, MA, MD, NJ, or PA)	Sign-up: 10,000 points after 2 months as an NRG customer
		Earning: 2 points on each $1 billed
Reliant	Sign up and then continue to earn each month for 24 months (only TX)	Sign-up: 15,000 points
		Earning: 500 each month (for up to 24 months)

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.

17. Buy Gas for Your Car

Southwest Rapid Rewards and Marathon gas stations have teamed up to reward Marathon MakeItCount members with Rapid Rewards points at the pump.

To take earn Rapid Rewards points when filling up your car, simply sign up for a MakeItCount rewards account and link your Rapid Rewards account on Marathon’s website. Then, you’ll earn 1 Rapid Rewards point per gallon and bonus points on in-store purchases.

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.

With that in mind, Southwest has partnered with e-Rewards and Rewards for Opinions.

There is no public registration directly with e-Rewards. Instead, you’ll need to be invited through Southwest Rapid Rewards to participate. However, anyone can sign up for Rewards for Opinions.

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Company	Per Survey Currency or Points	Bonus Rapid Rewards Points
e-Rewards	$0.10 to $25	Varies
Rewards for Opinions	Varies	500 points when completing your first survey in 3 months

With e-Rewards, the currency becomes points after filling out surveys. The e-Rewards currency you receive upon completing a survey can be transferred into Rapid Rewards points in set increments.

Here is the breakdown of e-Rewards earnings:

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

You can transfer e-Rewards currency for as low as $15. This means 1 survey worth $15 could immediately translate into 300 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’ll earn 1,200 Rapid Rewards points when you join and 1,200 points each year that you renew your membership.

20. Transfer Points From Diners Club

You’re in luck if you’re a Diners Club International member. Southwest and Diners Club have partnered so you can easily convert your Diners Club rewards into Rapid Rewards points.

The transfer rate is not great at 5:4. This means for every 5 Diners Club Points, you’ll only receive 4 Rapid Rewards points.

Ultimately, you’re losing 20% of your points, so this should only be done if you really need a few points to complete a booking.

Other Ways To Accumulate Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

21. Refer a Friend to the Rapid Rewards Program

Once in a while, Southwest will send emails to targeted Rapid Rewards members. These lucky members have the opportunity to earn 500 bonus points for every friend (up to 4) who joins the Rapid Rewards program.

New members who join from the referral will receive 250 points as a welcome bonus!

Since these are targeted offers, you may or may not be chosen to refer your friends. However, by signing up for a Rapid Rewards account, you’re eligible to receive the promotion.

Once you have signed up for a Rapid Rewards account, watch your inbox for the invitation to participate!

22. Buy Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

While buying Southwest Rapid Rewards points is generally a poor value proposition, occasionally 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 if at all possible.

Hot Tip: Got a stack of Rapid Rewards points but no travel on the horizon? Check out these unique ways to use Southwest Airlines points that don’t involve flying.

Final Thoughts

There are so many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points!

In addition to Southwest-branded credit cards, several cards earn Ultimate Rewards points and Marriott Bonvoy points that can be transferred to Southwest.

There are also 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.

For even more ideas on earning Southwest Airlines points, check out our other article dedicated to the ways you can earn without even flying!

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.