You Can Buy Southwest Points for Up to 50% Off — Here’s How
31.07.2024 - 16:16
/ travelandleisure.com
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are back on sale again, allowing travelers the chance to buy award flights at a significant discount.
“At Southwest, we give you the power to control your Rapid Rewards balance,” the airline wrote about the promotion on its website. “If your balance needs a little love, you can buy Rapid Rewards points anytime.
The sale, which is valid until Monday, August 19, at 11:59 p.m. PT, allows Rapid Rewards members to get a discount when purchasing points. The discount offered will be 40%, 45%, or 50%, but the exact promotion could depend on your status level with the airline.
With the maximum 50% discount, this promotion reduces the cost of Southwest points from 3 cents to 1.5 cents apiece. Points must be purchased in 1,000-point increments, and a maximum of up to 60,000 points can be purchased per day. However, the limit resets the next day, allowing travelers to buy as many points as they wish.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be redeemed for flights directly via the airline’s website or app, and travelers can toggle to paying with points to see the exact cost at checkout. Note that purchasing points do not contribute toward earning the Companion Pass, which requires 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year.
Southwest prices award flights dynamically, which means the rate will change depending on the route and day. One-way tickets within the U.S. will also incur a charge of $5.60 in taxes and fees, which is an important consideration when deciding to redeem points or pay cash for a flight.
Rapid Rewards points are separate from tier qualifying points (TQPs) that help travelers attain elite status. The airline is also offering elite points for sale to Rapid Rewards members who already have at least 3,000 TQPs in their account, which can help make perks like priority boarding and free same-day flight changes more accessible.