How to Redeem Southwest Points For Maximum Value

The best way to get value out of Southwest Rapid Rewards is by redeeming for airfare — but some redemptions are slightly better than others.

NerdWallet values a Rapid Rewards point as being worth 1.3 cents, but you’ll typically only get that when you redeem your points for Southwest flights.

» Learn more: Your guide to earning Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points

The best way to redeem Rapid Rewards points is also the most straightforward: Book Southwest flights.

The airline recently introduced dynamic pricing on award redemptions, which means that point values can change depending on various factors like routes, fare class and timing.

Southwest airfares are divided into four categories, all of which are redeemable with points:

• Choice Extra (most expensive, higher earning rates, more flexibility).

• Choice Preferred.

• Choice.

• Basic (least expensive, lower earning rates, less flexibility).

How to redeem your Southwest points for flights

To redeem your Rapid Rewards points for flights, log in to the Southwest website and make sure the “Points” option is selected on the search (not “Dollars”). You can use your Southwest points to book flights for anybody, not just yourself.

Here are the steps for how to redeem your Southwest points for flights:

1. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account

Booking flights with Rapid Rewards points is easy. Simply navigate to Southwest's website and click the yellow login button. Once you've entered your credentials, you will be directed to your dashboard.

2. Input your flight details

Enter your dates, destination, number of passengers and whether you would like to book round-trip or one-way. You can toggle to looking at award flights ahead of searching by clicking "Points."

Note that you can also do this on the next screen.

3. Click search and browse flight availability

Deal-seeking travelers know to refer to Southwest's Low Fare calendar if your dates are flexible. If you skipped toggling to the points view in the last step, you can also do that here.

4. Select your flight and input your payment details

Once you've found the right flight for you, navigate to the next page and input your personal travel details. If you are a Global Entry / TSA PreCheck member, be sure to add in your Known Traveler Number so you can get through security faster on your day-of travel.

Since the cost of your trip is covered by your points balance, you will only be on the hook to pay the $5.60 in government taxes and fees. These can be paid for with a credit card, PayPal or a Southwest travel voucher.

Redeem using Cash + Points

To pay with Cash + Points, you'll have to start booking your ticket as a cash fare. At checkout, you'll be presented with the chance to use points to cover a portion of your fare, discounting the final cash price.

Southwest will provide you with up to five preset points-to-cash redemption ratio options determined by a number of factors, including the specific flight and number of passengers. You'll need a minimum of 1,000 points in your account to use Cash + Points.

You can also use your Rapid Reward points to pay for other types of travel expenses including hotels, rental cars and experiences through the Southwest Rapid Rewards portal. Redemption value is hit and miss versus cash rates, but this is for certain: rates are almost worse than booking actual Southwest flights.

Only take this option if you're certain you won't be flying on Southwest anytime soon (like perhaps you've moved to a city that isn't served by Southwest).

» Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards program: The complete guide

Southwest’s Rapid Rewards offer a variety of opportunities for redemption — but the most valuable are flights to one of Southwest’s many destinations. You can stretch your points further by looking for fare deals.