Travel · Review · Updated 17 October 2026
Southwest Rapid Rewards Points reviewBuy, gift or transfer Rapid Rewards points to close the gap on a Southwest award flight
Good
Brent score, out of 5
Buying Rapid Rewards points is quick, simple and useful when you are a few thousand points short of a specific award flight. At the usual price of about 3 US cents per point it costs roughly double what the points are typically worth when redeemed, so outside a 45-50% sale it rarely makes sense to buy in bulk. Treat it as a top-up tool, not an investment.
Price
About 3 US cents per point; sales have cut it to 1.5 cents
Free option
Paid only
Best for
Southwest flyers a few thousand points short of an award booking
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Best for
- Southwest flyers a few thousand points short of an award booking
- Families pooling points for a planned domestic trip during a 50% sale
- People who want to gift points to a relative's Rapid Rewards account
- Travelers who value flexibility because Southwest returns points on cancellations
Skip it if
- Anyone chasing A-List status or the Companion Pass
- Speculative buyers with no trip in mind
- Travelers who could earn the same points from a Chase or Bilt card transfer
You found the perfect Southwest flight, opened your Rapid Rewards account, and you are 4,000 points short. The fare is climbing, and waiting a month to earn the rest is not an option.
Southwest sells points directly through its partner Points.com for exactly this situation. You can buy points for your own account, buy them as a gift for someone else, or transfer points between members. The question is not whether you can buy them, but whether you should.
This review explains how the offer works, what it costs at normal prices and during sales, and how to work out in a minute whether a purchase saves you money compared with paying cash.
What is Southwest Rapid Rewards Points?
Rapid Rewards is Southwest Airlines' loyalty program, and the buy-points offer lets members purchase points with a credit card. Southwest's own terms set a 2,000-point initial minimum, a combined daily maximum of 60,000 points across purchases and gifts, and blocks of 500 points (1,000 during promotions). The transaction is handled by Points.com, charged in US dollars, and points can take up to 72 hours to post. You can redeem them for Southwest flights like any other Rapid Rewards points, but they never count toward elite status or the Companion Pass.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Buy for yourself, gift to another member or transfer to another member in one place
- Low entry point: 2,000-point minimum, in blocks of 500 (1,000 during promotions)
- Up to 60,000 points per day and no annual cap
- Frequent sales of 35-50% off; several ran in 2025 and 2026
- Rapid Rewards points do not expire while the account stays open
- Points from a cancelled award go back into your account
What could be better
- At about 3 cents per point, the standard price is well above typical redemption values of 1.1-1.5 cents
- Purchased, gifted and transferred points do not count toward A-List, A-List Preferred or Companion Pass
- All purchases are non-refundable and non-reversible
- The charge is processed by Points.com, so it does not earn travel or airline bonus categories on most credit cards
Overall
Good
- Features3.9
- Ease of use4.5
- Value3.2
- Support3.6
Key features of Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Buy, gift or transfer
The same storefront covers buying points for yourself, buying them for another member, and moving points between two members. For a gift you only need the recipient's name and Rapid Rewards number.
Flexible amounts
Purchases start at 2,000 points and go up in blocks of 500 off-promotion or 1,000 during a sale. The daily ceiling is 60,000 points combined, and there is no annual limit.
Regular sales
Southwest runs targeted promotions of 35%, 45% or 50% off, often several times a year. At 50% off the price drops to 1.5 cents per point, which makes 60,000 points cost US$900.
Points that do not expire
Rapid Rewards points do not expire, so a purchase made during a sale can wait for a future trip. They are lost only if the account is closed.
Cancellation-friendly awards
If you cancel an award flight at least 10 minutes before departure, Southwest returns the points. That lowers the risk of buying points for a trip that might change.
Donations
You can also donate points to charity in blocks of 500, with a 500-point minimum and a 60,000-point daily maximum.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Points pricing
Checked 2026-10. Prices can change; confirm on Southwest Airlines (sold through Points.com)’s site.
Standard price
About US$0.03 per point
one-time purchase, plus applicable taxes and fees
- 2,000 points: about US$60
- 10,000 points: about US$300
- Price reported by AwardWallet and One Mile at a Time
45% off sale
About US$0.0165 per point
targeted promotion, one-time purchase
- Discount usually starts at 5,000 points per transaction
- 60,000 points: about US$990
- Offer varies by account
50% off sale
About US$0.015 per point
targeted promotion, one-time purchase
- Discount threshold has been 3,000-7,000 points depending on the promotion
- 60,000 points: US$900
- Best publicly reported price
Watch out: Southwest does not publish a fixed price on its terms page, sale discounts are targeted and change by account, and international buyers are charged in US dollars, so check the price shown after you log in.
See current Southwest Rapid Rewards Points pricing →What people use Southwest Rapid Rewards Points for
Topping up for a specific award
A traveler needs 18,000 points for a flight and has 14,500. Buying 3,500 points at about US$105 can beat paying a US$250 cash fare, so the math works for a small top-up.
Stocking up during a 50% sale for a family trip
A family planning a holiday buys points at 1.5 cents during a sale. If their chosen flights redeem at around 1.3-1.5 cents per point, the purchase roughly breaks even and locks in flexibility, since points return on cancellation.
Gifting points to a student or relative
A parent buys points for a child's Rapid Rewards account so they can book their own flight home. The points arrive in the recipient's account once the transaction completes.
How to get started with Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
- 1
Find your award flight on southwest.com and note how many points it costs
- 2
Compare the cash fare with the point cost: cash price minus about US$5.60 in taxes, divided by points needed
- 3
If that value is higher than the per-point price you are offered, buy only the shortfall
- 4
Log in through the buy-points link to see your targeted price, then buy, gift or transfer
- 5
Allow up to 72 hours for points to post before booking
Southwest Rapid Rewards Points alternatives
| Product | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Points 3.8 | Southwest flyers a few thousand points short of an award booking |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer | Choose a Chase transfer if you already hold Ultimate Rewards points, since they move 1:1 to Rapid Rewards at no purchase cost. |
| United MileagePlus points purchase3.8 | Choose United if you need a long-haul or premium-cabin partner award rather than a domestic Southwest flight. |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards points purchase4.0 | Choose Alaska if you fly the West Coast and want access to oneworld partner awards. |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Points: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy Southwest points?+
The standard price is about 3 US cents per point, according to AwardWallet and One Mile at a Time. During sales Southwest has offered 35%, 45% and 50% discounts, bringing the price down to as little as 1.5 cents per point.
How many Southwest points can I buy?+
Southwest allows up to 60,000 points per day, combined across purchases and gifts, with a 2,000-point minimum. There is no annual cap.
Do purchased points count toward the Companion Pass?+
No. Southwest states that purchased, gifted, transferred and donated points do not count toward A-List, A-List Preferred or Companion Pass qualification. They can only be redeemed.
How much are Southwest points worth?+
Published analyses put Southwest points at around 1.1 to 1.5 cents each, with AwardWallet reporting an average of about 1.3 cents. At the standard 3-cent price you pay roughly double that, so buying mainly makes sense during a deep sale or to cover a small shortfall.
Can I get a refund on purchased Southwest points?+
No. Southwest says point purchases are non-refundable and non-reversible. Confirm the award flight you want before you buy.
How long do purchased Southwest points take to post?+
Southwest asks you to allow up to 72 hours. AwardWallet says users usually see the points almost immediately.
Final verdict
Is Southwest Rapid Rewards Points worth it?
If you are a few thousand points short of a Southwest flight and the cash fare is high, buying the shortfall is often the cheapest way to lock in the seat. Run the quick value check above, log in to see your targeted price (it may be on sale), and buy only what you need.
Check your points priceAffiliate link · we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Reviewed by
Amjid Ali, Founder and editor
Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.
Last updated 17 October 2026 · How we review
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Points 3.8
About 3 US cents per point; sales have cut it to 1.5 cents