The Southwest Rapid Rewards program offers numerous avenues to accrue points, enhancing your travel experiences. While flying with Southwest Airlines® is a primary method, understanding how to leverage Southwest Airlines Partners can significantly accelerate your point accumulation and unlock even greater benefits, including the coveted Companion Pass. This guide dives into the world of Southwest partners, detailing how you can earn points through various collaborations and elevate your Rapid Rewards status.
Earning Rapid Rewards Points Through Qualifying Southwest Flights
The most direct way to earn points is by flying with Southwest Airlines. Qualifying Flights are those operated by Southwest and paid for with eligible forms of payment. For flights completed before January 1, 2025, these payments include dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers®, gift cards, or flight credits, provided no portion of the fare is paid with Rapid Rewards points. For flights taken on or after January 1, 2025, Cash + Points bookings also qualify, with points earned on the cash portion of the base fare. It’s important to note that reward flights, charter flights, nonrevenue travel, and Companion Pass travel do not qualify for point earnings.
Boost Your Balance with Rapid Rewards Partners
Beyond flights, Southwest Airlines partners provide diverse opportunities to grow your Rapid Rewards balance. While the specific types of partners are broad, the most prominent and impactful partnership lies with Rapid Rewards Credit Cards issued by Chase Bank. Spending on these credit cards allows you to earn points on everyday purchases, effectively turning your daily expenses into future travel rewards. These points earned through credit card spending are also crucial for achieving Companion Pass status.
To qualify for the esteemed Companion Pass, members need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year. Companion Pass qualifying points are accumulated from revenue flights booked with Southwest, base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners (most notably credit cards), and points earned on Rapid Rewards Credit Cards. However, certain types of points do not count towards Companion Pass qualification, such as purchased points, transferred points, points converted from hotel or car loyalty programs, and bonus points from various promotions (excluding Rapid Rewards Credit Card bonus points).
Elevated Earnings for A-List Members
For frequent flyers, Southwest Rapid Rewards offers A-List and A-List Preferred status, further amplifying point earnings. A-List members receive a 25% bonus on every qualifying flight, while A-List Preferred members enjoy a substantial 100% bonus. These bonuses apply to qualifying flights – those booked through Southwest and paid with eligible methods like dollars, LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credits, excluding purchases made with Rapid Rewards points.
Rapid Rewards Credit Cards: A Key Partnership
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase Bank are a cornerstone of the partner ecosystem. Points earned through these cards typically post to your Rapid Rewards account within 30 days after your credit card statement closing date. These cards not only accelerate point accumulation through spending but also contribute significantly to Companion Pass qualification, making them invaluable for frequent Southwest flyers seeking to maximize their rewards.
Understanding Point Transactions: Purchases, Gifts, and Transfers
While purchasing, gifting, or transferring points doesn’t contribute towards Tier or Companion Pass status, these options offer flexibility within the Rapid Rewards program. Points can be bought or transferred in blocks of 500, with a minimum initial transaction of 2,000 points and a daily maximum of 60,000 points. These transactions are nonrefundable and require a credit card for completion. Allow up to 72 hours for points to be reflected in your Rapid Rewards account.
Conclusion: Partnering for Points and Premier Perks
In conclusion, while flying Southwest Airlines earns you valuable Rapid Rewards points, strategically utilizing Southwest Airlines partners, particularly Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, is key to maximizing your point earning potential and unlocking benefits like the Companion Pass and A-List status. By understanding the diverse avenues for point accrual beyond flights, you can travel smarter and experience more with Southwest Rapid Rewards.
Disclaimer: Please refer to the official Southwest Rapid Rewards program rules and regulations at Southwest.com/rrterms for the most up-to-date information and complete terms and conditions.
