Southwest Airways as soon as prided itself on its “transfarency” philosophy — low fares and no change charges, hidden charges or sudden bag charges. Due to this fact, it was no shock that some TPG staffers regarded Southwest as one in every of their prime airline decisions.
Nevertheless, following a number of (principally damaging) modifications, from new checked-bag charges to decrease points-earning charges, the airline is “quickly” implementing new insurance policies, and for some, is now not the beloved quirky standout it as soon as was.
The silver lining: Even with the newest program modifications, Speedy Rewards factors are among the most simply redeemable loyalty rewards. Here is the best way to earn, redeem and maximize Southwest Speedy Rewards factors.
Associated: What we all know in regards to the surprising modifications from Southwest — and what it’s best to do now
Southwest Speedy Rewards program overview
Like Southwest Airways itself, the Speedy Rewards frequent flyer program has amassed a loyal following. Regardless of not having an ordinary award chart or being a part of an airline alliance, its promise of no blackout dates and the power to earn Southwest’s well-known Companion Go make Speedy Rewards a wonderful alternative for {couples}, households and people with not-so-flexible schedules.
Southwest lately adjusted award costs to make them extra “variable,” versus tying the award worth to the money worth. In our testing, we have discovered that relying on the date and demand of your flight, you will get as little as 1.1 cents or as a lot as 1.7 cents per level in worth.
TPG values Speedy Rewards factors at 1.4 cents per level in our July 2025 valuations, which means 10,000 factors ought to provide you with round $140 in worth.
Southwest elite standing
Southwest gives two elite standing tiers: A-Checklist and A-Checklist Most popular.
Southwest A-Checklist elite standing
To qualify for A-Checklist standing, you have to fly 20 qualifying one-way Southwest flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying factors in a calendar yr.
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Tier qualifying factors embrace these earned from paid flights booked with Southwest or by means of qualifying purchases made with Speedy Rewards companions. Members now earn tier qualifying factors on the money portion of flights booked utilizing Southwest’s Money + Factors choice.
You can too earn:
Bought factors, tier bonus factors, flight bonus factors, associate factors, and factors earned from Speedy Rewards program enrollment and bank card bonuses don’t rely towards A-Checklist or A-Checklist Most popular standing.
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card 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.
With Southwest A-Checklist standing, you may get the next:
- One free checked bag
- Precedence boarding
- 25% bonus on factors earned from paid flights
- Free same-day standby/modifications on Wanna Get Away Plus and above fares (taxes and charges might apply)
- Precedence check-in and safety lane entry
- Devoted A-Checklist member telephone line
Southwest A-Checklist Most popular elite standing
A-Checklist Most popular standing requires you to fly 40 qualifying one-way Southwest flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying factors in a calendar yr. You will obtain all the advantages of A-Checklist standing, in addition to:
- Two free checked luggage
- 100% bonus on factors earned from paid flights
- Free inflight Wi-Fi
- Two free premium drinks on choose flights over 250 miles
Associated: Southwest A-Checklist standing: What it’s and the best way to earn it
Learn how to earn Southwest Speedy Rewards factors
There are a number of methods to earn Southwest Speedy Rewards factors — and a few do not even require flying. Listed below are among the methods to earn factors:
Earn factors by flying: You possibly can earn Speedy Rewards factors each time you fly on a paid Southwest Airways flight. The variety of factors you may earn relies on the price of your flight, your elite standing, the kind of ticket and your cost methodology.
Earn factors with Southwest bank cards: Southwest Airways has a number of cobranded bank cards issued by Chase.
Presently, you possibly can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months from account opening.
Southwest additionally gives the next enterprise playing cards:
Moreover, you possibly can switch Chase Final Rewards factors and Bilt Rewards Factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
Different methods to earn Speedy Rewards factors are by means of Speedy Rewards Eating and Procuring, reserving stays by means of Southwest Resorts, and with different companions.
Try our total information on the alternative ways you possibly can earn Southwest Speedy Rewards factors.
Learn how to redeem Southwest Speedy Rewards factors
There are a number of methods to redeem your factors, however you may virtually at all times get essentially the most worth if you happen to use them for journey on Southwest flights. Different redemption choices, like reward playing cards and merchandise, yield a lot much less worth.
The method for redeeming Speedy Rewards factors for flights is essentially the identical as reserving a paid flight. Head to the Southwest homepage, enter your search standards and choose the “Factors” choice. Click on the yellow search button to see your flight choices.
You will see award pricing to the appropriate of every out there flight. You possibly can filter flights by the variety of layovers and departure instances utilizing the buttons on the prime of the web page. Then, click on on the ticket worth of your required flight and comply with the on-screen prompts to ebook.
Which fare sort ought to I select?
You possibly can redeem factors for flights in any of the 4 Southwest fare sorts. The least costly choice, Primary, is an effective worth for a lot of vacationers, although restrictive. Though these tickets are nonrefundable, you may get a flight credit score if you happen to cancel, or if you happen to booked with factors, you may get your factors and charges refunded. Observe, you possibly can solely change a Primary fare by upgrading to at the very least a Wanna Get Away Plus fare.
Wanna Get Away Plus fares are barely extra versatile, with free confirmed and standby same-day flight modifications (fare distinction might apply). Moreover, these fares allow you to switch flight credit to a different particular person if you happen to cancel your flight.
Anytime fares have the identical advantages as Wanna Get Away Plus, together with precedence safety and EarlyBird Examine-In.
Enterprise Choose fares embrace A1-A15 boarding, expedited safety at choose airports, two free checked luggage for bookings from Could 28 onward, and a free alcoholic drink on board. This fare normally prices greater than triple the factors of a Wanna Get Away fare, so we advocate avoiding this redemption most often except you actually need to test two luggage.
Flight credit now expire primarily based in your fare class. (Observe that flight credit points on or earlier than Could 27, 2025, don’t expire.) Primary fare credit will expire inside six months (and are nontransferable and nonextendable), whereas Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Enterprise Choose fare credit will expire inside 12 months.
Southwest cardholders get their first checked bag free on every of the airline’s playing cards. This profit applies to the first cardholder and as much as eight vacationers flying on the identical reservation. All cardholders may also choose a seat in some capability, even when they’re flying on a Primary fare.
Observe that Southwest might be renaming its fare sorts for flights departing Jan. 27, 2026.
Can I alter Southwest award tickets without spending a dime?
You possibly can cancel Southwest award tickets without spending a dime. In the event you decide to alter a ticket, you are solely answerable for paying the brand new ticket’s fare distinction if it is costlier. Alternatively, if you happen to change to a less expensive flight, Southwest will refund the distinction in factors. With this in thoughts, we extremely advocate maintaining a tally of award pricing after you ebook a flight — if the fare decreases, you may be refunded the factors distinction.
Canceling a Southwest award ticket is simply as easy. Whenever you cancel your ticket, the factors you used to ebook might be refunded to your Speedy Rewards account with no cancellation charges.
Do I’ve to pay taxes and charges on award tickets?
You have to pay sure taxes and charges when reserving Southwest award tickets, beginning at $5.60 one-way. In the event you cancel your award flight, the price might be refunded to your cost methodology.
For extra particulars, take a look at our information on the best way to redeem your Southwest factors.
Maximize your factors with the Southwest Companion Go
The Southwest Companion Go is undoubtedly one of the precious perks of the Speedy Rewards program. After incomes the move, you possibly can select a companion to journey with you for simply the price of taxes and charges on any Southwest flight you ebook. You should utilize the Companion Go on as many flights as you want, successfully doubling the worth of your Speedy Rewards factors.
You possibly can earn a Companion Go by flying 100 Southwest one-way flight segments or incomes 135,000 qualifying factors. Qualifying factors embrace Speedy Rewards factors earned from flying, bank card welcome bonuses, spending on bank cards, and making purchases by way of Speedy Rewards Eating and/or Speedy Rewards Procuring.
Associated: 15 classes from 15 years of getting the Southwest Companion Go
Sadly, level transfers from Chase Final Rewards or Bilt Rewards don’t rely towards the Companion Go.
You possibly can solely designate one companion at a time, however you possibly can change your companion 3 times per yr. You possibly can change your companion by means of your Southwest account; in keeping with the airline, enable as much as 48 hours for the change to course of. Keep in mind that your companion is not going to earn Speedy Rewards factors on their flight, however you’ll nonetheless earn factors if you happen to fly on a paid ticket.
Your Companion Go might be legitimate for the rest of the yr by which it is earned and the whole thing of the next yr.
Make sure you take a look at our information for extra particulars on the best way to earn (and use) a Southwest Companion Go.
Backside line
Southwest Speedy Rewards factors are straightforward to earn and redeem, and the extremely precious Companion Go units Southwest aside from different airways. Do not miss your quick observe to a Companion Go with the appropriate cobranded bank card.
Nevertheless, the airline has lately restructured plenty of its program, which has been met with confusion, frustration and dismay by its most loyal clients. Given the pace at which these modifications have been introduced, extra might come. Nonetheless, this system stays standard with every kind of vacationers, particularly households.
Now you know the way to make an knowledgeable determination about Southwest’s Speedy Rewards program, so you possibly can determine if it is best for you.
