The Complete Guide to Southwest Rapid Rewards

Have you ever considered how to save more on flight bookings? Well, with Southwest Airlines, you can earn on every flight booking you make, whether you are booking a business class fare or an economy class fare. Southwest Airlines has provided a program for its frequent flyers. In which they reward them by giving points on each booking, which can be used for various purposes, such as booking, upgrading, etc. 

In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of earning points, where you can use those points, and how you can make the most out of them, so that you can fly more in less price.

What Are Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards? 

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is a simple and rewarding points-earning program for each air travel. This points-based loyalty program offered by Southwest Airlines gives frequent and occasional flyers alike the opportunity to book free flights, upgrades, and other perks of travel without any specious blackout dates or expiration.

Using Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is very easy; log in to the Rapid Rewards account while you're making a booking. And book a flight with points only. If you want, you can also add facilities and benefits to these points. 

Choose the book with the points option while searching for your flight, and you can see the ticket value as points in place of dollars. See the flight that suits you and start flight booking. 

How do I earn rapid reward points? 

It's quite easy to earn points with Southwest! Almost on every trip, you maintain the accumulation of frequent flyer points: through its own flights, using its co-branded credit card, dining with partner restaurants, and more. Southwest passengers earn points by booking flights.

• Passengers can get points while booking flights. 
• A-list members receive 25% extra points than base members. 
• A-list preferred members get 100% extra points compared to base members. 
• Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be earned if you make a booking through a credit card
• Reward points also vary based on the fare option you book. Here are the points Base Members earn: 
• Basic- 2 points. 
• Choice-6 points. 
• Choice preferred-10 points. 
• Choice extra- 14 points. 

What are some benefits of rapid reward points? 

Know how to earn rapid reward points, but not where to use them and what the benefits of it are? Well, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points can be used in many ways:

• There are no blackout days when redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points. 
• Points do not expire and can be redeemed at any time. 
• No restrictions on booking seats with reward points. 
• Check into hotels or rent cars with these points. 
• Use these points for an upgrade, excess baggage allowance, or seat selection.

How to sign in to the Rapid Reward account? 

Booking your flights, keeping an account of your rewards, and enjoying Southwest's exclusive benefits can be achieved in a matter of a few clicks. Here is how you can create an account for your Rapid Reward points online. 

• Visit the official website and open the Rapid Rewards Southwest section. 
• Then choose sign up.
• Fill the form with correct information. 
• Make your username and also fill in a password that you can use in the future to access your account. 
• Then click on create account, and your account will get created. 

If you are unable to create the account online, or you have any queries related to account creation. You can contact the customer service representative of Southwest Airlines.

How to retrieve my account? 

If for any reason you have missed the password or forgotten the account number, then you can easily retrieve your account using the Retrieve Rapid Rewards/Account Number portal: 

• Please visit the Southwest Airlines Retrieve Rapid Rewards/Account Number site. 
• Provide the information so they can find your account. 
• Clear the captcha and submit. 
• They will give you your account number and assist you with account retrieval. 

If you refuse the online route or if the procedure bogs you down at some point, contact customer service for assistance.

What Is Southwest Airlines' Cash + Points?

Cash + Points is a Southwest Airlines flexible booking option, whereby Rapid Rewards® Members combine their points with cash to buy flights. It is basically for travelers who do not have enough points for a full award ticket but still want to use whatever balance they have to lower the price of a trip.

If using Cash + Points, members have to redeem at least 1,000 Rapid Rewards points. The rest of the fare has to be paid in cash, with any eligible means of payment considered. The possible methods are credit/debit cards, Southwest gift cards, flight credits, or Transferable Flight Credit.

Cash + Points bookings earn Rapid Rewards points on the cash portion of the base fare, including:

• Regular Rapid Rewards points
• Tier qualifying points
• Companion Pass qualifying points
• Rapid Rewards Business points (if eligible)

Bookings made with Cash + Points must be done through the “Dollars” fare search, not the “Points” search flow. Modifications are allowed after booking. However, any increase must be paid with an alternate payment method, since additional points cannot be applied. 

In case a booking is canceled, points are returned to the same Rapid Rewards account used while booking, along with the return or crediting of the cash portion, subject to the standard refund terms of Southwest.

The Cash + Points option may be used for all fare types and is compatible with the Companion Pass as well, meaning members can add in a Companion to these bookings via Cash + Points methods. But combining points from more than one Rapid Rewards account is not permitted. Also, Southwest Vacations, ancillary purchases, or bookings through SPS or GDS systems are not available using this particular method. 

Thereby, this gives Rapid Rewards Members more scope to use their points frequently, even if they can't quite accumulate enough points for an entire redemption.