The Southwest Speedy Rewards loyalty program might not have the identical elite perks you may discover with different airways, nevertheless it nonetheless presents good worth. Two notable benefits are this system’s lack of blackout dates for award redemptions and the unbelievable Companion Move profit, permitting you to deliver a companion on paid and award flights for simply the price of taxes and charges.
If you’re new to Southwest Airways or wish to be taught extra about its loyalty program, this information will cowl all the pieces it’s essential to learn about redeeming your Speedy Rewards factors — in addition to how this system might change in gentle of Southwest’s latest adjustments and bank card overhaul.
Redeem factors on Southwest flights
You’ll be able to redeem factors for reward playing cards, merchandise, motels, experiences and Speedy Rewards Entry Occasions, however redeeming factors on Southwest flights nearly all the time offers the perfect return in your hard-earned rewards.
Redeem Speedy Rewards factors instantly with Southwest
Southwest guarantees no blackout dates on any redemptions, so you should utilize your Speedy Rewards factors to guide any Southwest Airways ticket on the market. Even when the flight has just one open seat left, it is best to be capable to guide it with factors (however be ready to pay up).
The reserving course of is straightforward. Head to Southwest’s web site, enter your flight search parameters and verify the “Factors” possibility on the prime proper. If desired, you may filter by particulars like value, length and departure time. Choose the one you need, log in to your account (if you have not already) and comply with the on-screen steps to finish your redemption.
Redeeming Speedy Rewards factors on Southwest flights has modified somewhat for the reason that program carried out its “variable” award charges. Traditionally, the value in factors was proportionate to the value in miles, however that is now not the case. Now, the worth you will get out of your factors varies relying in your particular flight and journey dates.
This implies you may doubtlessly stretch your factors additional than earlier than, however it might require extra effort to search out high-value redemptions.
This is an instance. You would fly from Los Angeles to Honolulu on a Tuesday in September beginning at 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors one-way, plus $5.60 in taxes and charges.
The identical primary economic system ticket prices $109, supplying you with a price of 1.38 cents per level. That is barely above our August 2025 valuation of 1.35 cents apiece for Southwest factors.
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Alternatively, the identical flight on a extra in-demand date — a Saturday in January — begins at $292 in money or 25,500 plus $5.60 in taxes and charges. This offers a considerably decrease worth of 1.12 cents per level.
That is one thing to contemplate in the event you’re trying to maximize the worth of your Southwest factors.
From what we have seen to date, your redemption worth tends to lower as you progress up the fare ladder. Nevertheless, if the advantages of the dearer fare lessons add a variety of worth for you, it might make sense to guide them with factors. For instance, top-tier Selection Further fares embrace two free checked luggage and your selection of any seat at reserving — together with Southwest’s new extra-legroom seats, slated to debut in January 2026.
Redeem Chase factors by means of the Chase Journey portal
In case you maintain a Chase journey card, you’ve the choice to redeem Chase Final Rewards factors for Southwest flights by means of the Chase Journey℠ portal. As a result of flights booked by means of the portal present up as income tickets, you may nonetheless earn Speedy Rewards factors on flights booked with factors this manner.
With Chase’s new Factors Increase system, holders of the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) can redeem factors for as much as 1.75 cents every (relying on the particular redemption; see your rewards program settlement for full particulars). You’ll be able to doubtlessly get a good higher price of as much as 2 cents per level with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) (relying on the particular redemption; see your rewards program settlement for full particulars).
Bear in mind that flight costs could also be larger by means of Chase Journey, so all the time examine costs to Southwest’s website earlier than reserving.
Different bank card issuers provide related journey portals, however for now, Southwest flights are solely accessible on Chase Journey.
Associated: Your information to Chase Factors Increase
Free award ticket adjustments and cancellations (for now)
One factor that has traditionally made Speedy Rewards factors so well-liked is Southwest’s versatile change and cancellation insurance policies. If the price of an award flight you have booked goes down, you may simply rebook your journey on the decrease price, and you will be refunded the factors distinction.
In case your plans change and you can not make an award flight, you may cancel without cost. Your factors will likely be refunded to your account with out penalty (even on Fundamental fares), so long as you cancel a minimum of 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time. You’ll be able to even go for the taxes paid to return to the bank card you used to guide the reservation.
In contrast to different fare lessons, primary economic system tickets aren’t eligible without cost same-day adjustments, nor can primary economic system vacationers request complimentary same-day standby.
Associated: How you can reprice a Southwest flight when the fare decreases
The Companion Move doubles the worth of your Southwest factors
One strategy to maximize the worth of your Speedy Rewards factors is by incomes the Southwest Companion Move. With this useful perk, you may select a companion to fly with you on all of your Southwest flights whereas your go is legitimate. Your companion will solely have to pay the taxes and charges for his or her ticket, no matter whether or not you used money or factors in your ticket.
This primarily doubles the worth of your Speedy Rewards factors when touring together with your designated companion.
After Southwest stripped away lots of its longtime insurance policies, like free luggage and open seating, flyers are questioning if the Companion Move will likely be subsequent on the chopping block. For now, you may nonetheless earn the Companion Move by both incomes 135,000 qualifying factors or finishing 100 qualifying one-way flights on Southwest inside a calendar 12 months. As soon as achieved, you should have the Companion Move for the rest of the present 12 months and your complete following 12 months.
Companion Move-qualifying factors might be earned by flying paid Southwest flights (together with these paid for with Money + Factors), spending and welcome bonuses on Southwest bank cards, purchasing and eating by means of the Speedy Rewards portals, and using Southwest’s partnerships.
Proper now, you will get nearly three-quarters of the way in which towards a Companion Move with the welcome bonus on any of Southwest’s three client playing cards. The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card (see charges and charges), the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card and the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and charges) are all providing 100,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months from account opening.
It’s also possible to fast-track your strategy to a Companion Move with the welcome bonuses on Southwest’s two enterprise playing cards:
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: 15 classes from 15 years of getting the Southwest Companion Move
Southwest Speedy Rewards FAQ
Have questions on Southwest Speedy Rewards? Let’s tackle them.
How do I be a part of Southwest Speedy Rewards?
You’ll be able to be a part of the Southwest Speedy Rewards program without cost on Southwest’s web site. Simply click on the “Create account” hyperlink on the prime of the web page.
Subsequent, fill out the requested info and click on the yellow “Create account” button on the backside of the display. Your account will likely be opened instantly, and you can begin incomes and redeeming Speedy Rewards factors.
When do Southwest Speedy Rewards factors expire?
Southwest Speedy Rewards factors do not expire so long as your account is open. Nevertheless, Southwest has introduced that flight credit issued on or after Might 28, 2025, will expire in 12 months for Selection, Selection Most popular and Selection Further fares — and in simply six months for the brand new Fundamental fare class.
Can I switch factors to Southwest?
You’ll be able to switch Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, that means 10,000 Chase factors equal 10,000 Speedy Rewards factors. These transfers usually course of immediately.
It’s also possible to switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards at a 3:1 switch ratio. You will get 5,000 bonus Speedy Rewards factors for each 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors transferred, so 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors will web you 25,000 Speedy Rewards factors. This switch ratio is not perfect, nevertheless it’s a great choice to have in the event you’re brief on factors for a Southwest redemption.
Be aware that factors transferred to your Speedy Rewards account do not depend towards incomes the Companion Move.
Associated: How (and when) to switch Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest
Backside line
Southwest Speedy Rewards factors have lengthy been a wonderful selection for vacationers looking for flexibility in reserving flights inside a large home community, they usually might develop into much more useful as Southwest branches out into partnerships with Icelandair and probably China Airways. Nevertheless, with many much less fascinating adjustments at Southwest on the horizon, it stays to be seen if this beloved loyalty program will keep its worth.
