Issuer & programme guide
Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards — 2026 guide
No award chart, no blackout dates — points are worth a fixed share of the cash fare, and the Companion Pass (135,000 points through 2026, Platinum status from 2027/year) is the single best perk in US airline loyalty.
Quick Answer
Southwest Rapid Rewards is a revenue-based program — there's no award chart, and a point is worth a consistent share of what the cash ticket costs (typically 1.2-1.5 cents per point), so there's no "sweet spot" hunting required. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards both transfer in at 1:1, but points can't be transferred back out or into any other program. The program's standout feature is the Companion Pass: fly a designated companion free (plus taxes/fees) on every Southwest flight for the rest of the year you earn it plus the entire next calendar year.
All Southwest Rapid Rewards cards (18)
Ranked by estimated welcome-bonus value (highest first). Tap any card for the full review and live offer.
What Southwest Rapid Rewards wins on
- ✓No award chart and no blackout dates — every Wanna Get Away fare has a points price, and that price moves with the cash fare rather than a fixed point total.
- ✓The Companion Pass is the best single perk in US airline loyalty: through Dec 31, 2026, 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a calendar year earns a free companion seat on every flight you take for up to two calendar years. From Jan 1, 2027 it becomes a benefit of the new Platinum tier (140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 100 flights), with three companion trips at a 95,000-TQP milestone.
- ✓A-List (35,000 points or 20 one-way flights/year, becoming Silver at 35,000 TQP / 25 flights in 2027) and A-List Preferred (70,000 points or 40 flights/year, becoming Gold at 65,000 TQP / 50 flights) both grant priority boarding and same-day standby — meaningfully reduces the "middle seat" risk Southwest is known for.
- ✓Two free checked bags for every passenger on every fare, every card tier, every day — a benefit Southwest extends to all flyers, not just elites or cardholders.
The trade-offs
- ⚠Points are one-way only: Chase UR and Bilt transfer in at 1:1, but Rapid Rewards points can never transfer back out or convert to any other program's currency.
- ⚠No premium cabin and no long-haul international network — Southwest flies domestic + nearby international (Mexico, Caribbean, Central America) only, so the ceiling on redemption value is lower than a transferable-points airline partner.
- ⚠From Jan 1, 2027 the Companion Pass excludes far more: card welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus-category points and partner earning all stop counting, leaving only flights and base card spend at 1 Tier Qualifying Point per $1.
- ⚠No lounge network and no elite upgrades to a premium cabin — Southwest has no first/business class, so "status" here means boarding position and fees, not a better seat.
Popular Southwest Rapid Rewards comparisons
The matchups our readers actually search for, ranked by query volume.
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Rapid Rewards
How do I earn the Southwest Companion Pass fastest?
Through Dec 31, 2026: 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year (or 100 qualifying one-way flights), and a large welcome bonus from a Southwest co-brand card counts — so stacking two cards' welcome offers in the same calendar year is the fastest non-flying path, provided you are approved by Dec 2, 2026. From Jan 1, 2027 that path is gone: welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points and bonus-category points earn zero Tier Qualifying Points, and the unlimited pass requires Platinum status at 140,000 TQPs (95,000 TQPs earns three companion trips).
What are Southwest Rapid Rewards points actually worth?
Because Southwest uses revenue-based pricing (no award chart), a point's value tracks the cash fare directly — most Wanna Get Away redemptions run 1.2 to 1.5 cents per point, occasionally higher during promotional point sales. This is more predictable than a dynamically-priced program like Delta SkyMiles or Marriott Bonvoy, but the ceiling on a single redemption is also lower since there's no premium-cabin or long-haul sweet spot to chase.
Does Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Yes, at 1:1, instantly. Bilt Rewards also transfers in at 1:1. These are the only two transferable-points currencies Southwest accepts — there's no Amex MR, Citi ThankYou, or Capital One Miles transfer path.
A-List vs A-List Preferred — what's the actual difference?
Both grant priority boarding (positions A1-A15 for A-List Preferred, A16-A30 for A-List) and same-day standby. A-List Preferred adds a 25% earning bonus (vs 25% for A-List — check current terms, this has changed before) and free in-flight Wi-Fi. For most flyers the jump from no status to A-List (35,000 points/20 flights) matters more day-to-day than the jump from A-List to A-List Preferred (70,000/40 flights).
Run the math for your situation
These calculators use the same data this guide runs on.
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Other ecosystems to consider
Most points-game stacks combine 2-3 of these programmes.
Chase
The transferable-points programme with the best hotel redemption — Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1 to World of Hyatt. Best for travellers under 5/24.
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United MileagePlus
The Star Alliance transfer magnet — Chase UR and Bilt both move in at 1:1, and United Club Infinite's unlimited lounge access is the richest single perk on any US airline co-brand card.
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Bilt Rewards
The only major card that earns transferable points on rent without a 3% fee. Best for renters and mortgage-payers.
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Last reviewed
2026-10-05
Data sources
Issuer pages, public award charts, TPG monthly valuations.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the directory ordering, pros/cons, and Quick Answer are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.