Southwest Airways as soon as prided itself on its “transfarency” philosophy — low fares and no change charges, hidden charges or surprising bag charges. Subsequently, it was no shock that some TPG staffers regarded Southwest as one in every of their high airline decisions.
Nevertheless, following a number of (principally destructive) 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, Fast Rewards factors are a few of the most simply redeemable loyalty rewards. This is how one can earn, redeem and maximize Southwest Fast Rewards factors.
Associated: What we all know concerning the surprising modifications from Southwest — and what it is best to do now
Southwest Fast Rewards program overview
Like Southwest Airways itself, the Fast Rewards frequent flyer program has amassed a loyal following. Regardless of not having a typical 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 Fast Rewards a wonderful selection for {couples}, households and people with not-so-flexible schedules.
Southwest not too long ago 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 Fast 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 provides two elite standing tiers: A-Listing and A-Listing Most popular.
Southwest A-Listing elite standing
To qualify for A-Listing standing, you need to fly 20 qualifying one-way Southwest flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying factors in a calendar yr.
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Tier qualifying factors embrace these earned from paid flights booked with Southwest or via qualifying purchases made with Fast Rewards companions. Members now earn tier qualifying factors on the money portion of flights booked utilizing Southwest’s Money + Factors choice.
You can even earn:
Bought factors, tier bonus factors, flight bonus factors, accomplice factors, and factors earned from Fast Rewards program enrollment and bank card bonuses don’t depend towards A-Listing or A-Listing Most popular standing.
The data for the Southwest Fast 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
With Southwest A-Listing standing, you will 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-Listing member telephone line
Southwest A-Listing Most popular elite standing
A-Listing 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-Listing 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-Listing standing: What it’s and how one can earn it
How you can earn Southwest Fast Rewards factors
There are just a few methods to earn Southwest Fast Rewards factors — and a few do not even require flying. Listed below are a few of the methods to earn factors:
Earn factors by flying: You’ll be able to earn Fast Rewards factors each time you fly on a paid Southwest Airways flight. The variety of factors you will earn is dependent upon the price of your flight, your elite standing, the kind of ticket and your cost technique.
Earn factors with Southwest bank cards: Southwest Airways has a number of cobranded bank cards issued by Chase.
At the moment, you possibly can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months from account opening.
Southwest additionally provides the next enterprise playing cards:
Moreover, you possibly can switch Chase Final Rewards factors and Bilt Rewards Factors to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
Different methods to earn Fast Rewards factors are via Fast Rewards Eating and Procuring, reserving stays via Southwest Inns, and with different companions.
Try our total information on the other ways you possibly can earn Southwest Fast Rewards factors.
How you can redeem Southwest Fast Rewards factors
There are a number of methods to redeem your factors, however you will virtually all the time get probably the most worth when you 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 Fast Rewards factors for flights is basically 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 proper of every obtainable flight. You’ll be able to filter flights by the variety of layovers and departure occasions utilizing the buttons on the high of the web page. Then, click on on the ticket worth of your required flight and observe the on-screen prompts to ebook.
Which fare sort ought to I select?
You’ll be able to redeem factors for flights in any of the 4 Southwest fare varieties. The least costly choice, Primary, is an efficient worth for a lot of vacationers, although restrictive. Though these tickets are nonrefundable, you will get a flight credit score when you cancel, or when you booked with factors, you will get your factors and charges refunded. Observe, you possibly can solely change a Primary fare by upgrading to a minimum of 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 when you cancel your flight.
Anytime fares have the identical advantages as Wanna Get Away Plus, together with precedence safety and EarlyBird Test-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 until you actually need to verify two luggage.
Flight credit now expire based mostly 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 choose a seat in some capability, even when they’re flying on a Primary fare.
Observe that Southwest will likely be renaming its fare varieties for flights departing Jan. 27, 2026.
Can I alter Southwest award tickets free of charge?
You’ll be able to cancel Southwest award tickets free of charge. If you happen to decide to alter a ticket, you are solely chargeable for paying the brand new ticket’s fare distinction if it is costlier. Alternatively, when you 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 will be refunded the factors distinction.
Canceling a Southwest award ticket is simply as easy. While you cancel your ticket, the factors you used to ebook will likely be refunded to your Fast Rewards account with no cancellation charges.
Do I’ve to pay taxes and charges on award tickets?
You should pay sure taxes and charges when reserving Southwest award tickets, beginning at $5.60 one-way. If you happen to cancel your award flight, the price will likely be refunded to your cost technique.
For extra particulars, try our information on how one can redeem your Southwest factors.
Maximize your factors with the Southwest Companion Go
You’ll be able to earn a Companion Go by flying 100 Southwest one-way flight segments or incomes 135,000 qualifying factors. Qualifying factors embrace Fast Rewards factors earned from flying, bank card welcome bonuses, spending on bank cards, and making purchases by way of Fast Rewards Eating and/or Fast 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 depend towards the Companion Go.
You’ll be able to solely designate one companion at a time, however you possibly can change your companion thrice per yr. You’ll be able to change your companion via your Southwest account; in line with the airline, enable as much as 48 hours for the change to course of. Keep in mind that your companion won’t earn Fast Rewards factors on their flight, however you’ll nonetheless earn factors when you fly on a paid ticket.
Your Companion Go will likely be legitimate for the rest of the yr during which it is earned and everything of the next yr.
Make sure you try our information for extra particulars on how one can earn (and use) a Southwest Companion Go.
Backside line
Southwest Fast Rewards factors are simple to earn and redeem, and the extremely priceless Companion Go units Southwest other than different airways. Do not miss your quick monitor to a Companion Go with the proper cobranded bank card.
Nevertheless, the airline has not too long ago restructured loads of its program, which has been met with confusion, frustration and dismay by its most loyal clients. Given the velocity at which these modifications have been introduced, extra might come. Nonetheless, this system stays common with all types of vacationers, particularly households.
Now you know the way to make an knowledgeable resolution about Southwest’s Fast Rewards program, so you possibly can resolve if it is best for you.
