Find Award Flights with Southwest Rapid Rewards

What is Rapid Rewards?

Rapid Rewards is the loyalty program of Southwest Airlines, designed to reward frequent flyers with points that can be redeemed for flights and other benefits. Known for its straightforward earning and redemption structure, Rapid Rewards allows members to accumulate points based on the fare purchased and use them for various rewards, including flights, hotel stays, and more.

What's new with Rapid Rewards in 2026?

• Assigned Seating Now Live: Southwest completed its historic shift from open seating to assigned seating on July 25, 2024. Flights now feature Premium, Preferred, and Standard seat tiers — a fundamental change to Southwest's identity.
• Checked Baggage Fees Introduced: For tickets purchased on or after May 28, 2025, most passengers pay for checked bags. A-List Preferred and Business Select still get 2 free bags; A-List gets 1 free bag; all other customers pay per bag.
• Cash + Points Bookings: Members can now combine cash and points to book any flight. The cash portion earns Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points (for A-List/A-List Preferred status), and Companion Pass qualifying points.
• Earning Rate Adjustments (March 2025): Business Select earning rates increased; Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus rates decreased. Check the Southwest website for current rates by fare class.

How many Rapid Rewards points for a flight?

Southwest utilizes a dynamic pricing model where the number of points required for a flight correlates with the cash fare. While there isn't a fixed award chart, points generally hold a value of approximately 1.35 cents each. This means a $135 flight would require around 10,000 points.

How much are Rapid Rewards points worth?

In general, Rapid Rewards points have a relatively stable value. In most cases, 1 Rapid Rewards point is worth approximately USD 0.0135 (1.35 cents). This means that 10,000 points are worth approximately USD 135.

This value may vary slightly depending on the flight, demand, and fare type selected. However, Southwest maintains a predictable redemption policy, which makes it easier to plan travel with points.

Key features of Rapid Rewards

• Tiers and Elite Status: A-List, A-List Preferred, Companion Pass.
• What We Love: The flexibility of the Cash + Points option, allowing members to book flights even when they don't have enough points for a full redemption.
• Exclusive Perks: A-List Preferred members enjoy free inflight Wi-Fi, priority boarding, and a 100% earning bonus on flights.
• Best Redemptions: While Southwest operates a single-class cabin, the ability to redeem points for any available seat without blackout dates is a significant advantage.
• Award Release Dates: Southwest typically allows bookings up to six months in advance, with schedules released in batches throughout the year. Read our full guide here.