How to Transfer Chase Points to Southwest Airlines

If you’re a member of Chase’s Travel program and a frequent flyer with Southwest Airlines, you’re in luck. Southwest is one of the 11 airlines that partners with the bank, so you can directly transfer your Chase points to its Rapid Rewards program. Your points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, ensuring their full value, and appear in your Southwest account within 72 hours.

You must have an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account and log in to the Chase Travel website to submit your points transfer request. You’ll be able to book your Southwest award travel online or over the phone once the Rapid Rewards points appear.

Let’s look at how to transfer your Chase points to Southwest and maximize your travel rewards.

Key takeaways

• Southwest Airlines is a partner with Chase’s Travel loyalty program.
• You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points in increments of 1,000 to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards and Southwest Rapid Rewards points never expire.
• Your Chase Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio.

How to transfer Chase points to Southwest

Before you begin the process of moving your Chase points to Southwest, you’ll need to make sure that you have an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Chase will require your loyalty account number to complete the transfer.

How to make a Southwest Rapid Rewards account

If you don’t already have a Southwest Rapid Rewards account, go to the Southwest Airlines website.

When filling out the account creation form, you need to provide your first and last name, middle initial, any suffix to your name, and your date of birth. You’ll also choose a preferred first name for your account.

Note: It’s important that the name you use for your Southwest Rapid Rewards account matches the name on your Chase account. This helps prevent issues with future Chase points transfers.

Enter your physical address, phone number, and email address, and then confirm that email address.

Next, you’ll need to create a username and password. Your password must be at least eight characters long and include at least one number, one lowercase letter, and one capital letter. You can also use special characters.

After you select two security questions and supply the answers, click Create Account to be done. The next screen will show your Rapid Rewards account number.

Note: You don't need to apply for a Southwest credit card to join the Rapid Rewards program. But if you choose to get a Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa card through Chase, you’ll automatically become a Rapid Rewards member.

How to complete the points transfer through Chase

Once you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you’re all set to transfer your Chase points to Southwest. To get started, go to the Chase Travel website and log in to your account.

Then, take the following steps to submit the transfer.

1. Click the Travel menu on the top of the page and select Transfer Points to Partners.
2. Choose Southwest Airlines from the available partners and click Transfer Points.
3. Provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number and click Next. Make sure that this account is under the same name as your Chase account.
4. Input the number of points in increments of 1,000 that you wish to transfer and click Next.
5. After confirming your points transfer details, click Submit.

After you submit your Chase points transfer request, it could take up to 72 hours for the points to appear in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. (When I’ve transferred points from Chase to Southwest, the transaction has usually been completed in an hour or so, but don’t count on that. Plan ahead so you’re ready to book your flight.)

How to book award travel with Southwest

Once the points are in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you can use them to book travel through the Southwest Airlines website and mobile app. You can also call the airline's customer service department at 1-800-435-9792.

To book travel with Southwest online, log in to your Rapid Rewards account and enter information about the flight you are interested in. You can also choose to have the flights display how many points they require instead of how much they cost in dollars.

Next, review your flight options and choose your departing and returning flights.

If you want to use the fewest points possible and are flexible with the days you travel, use Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar to find the best deal.

Southwest also lets you book flights using a combination of your Rapids Rewards points and cash. To use this feature, you would select your flight in dollars and then choose the Cash + Points option at checkout.

Recommended Chase cards for Southwest miles

Chase offers several credit cards for earning travel reward points from the money you spend, including one specifically designed for the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. Here are three of our picks from Chase for the best credit cards for Southwest flyers.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Chase’s Sapphire Preferred has a great introductory offer that allows you to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. And those points are worth 25% more when you book travel through Chase Travel℠. This card also offers 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card: If you’re a Southwest Airlines frequent flyer, this card allows you to earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. You’ll also earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases. While you can’t transfer your points to other airlines like with other Chase travel rewards cards, the purchase benefits are substantial. The annual fee is $69.

Learn more in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus review

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card: This card lets business owners earn Chase Ultimate Rewards travel points from their business purchases. New card members can earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Chase also offers 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases. You can even get cards for your employees to earn more points. The annual fee for this card is $95.

Learn more in our Ink Business Preferred review

FAQs

Bottom line

Chase offers some of the best travel credit cards available, including a co-branded Southwest card for earning Rapid Rewards points to use on airfare and other travel expenses. However, you can also consider the bank’s other travel cards to get rewards and save on Southwest purchases.

Transferring points from the Chase Travel website is mostly straightforward and can deliver excellent value for your travel needs. Your points will never expire as long as you maintain your account. However, be careful about making transfers since you can’t move points back from Southwest to Chase if you change your mind.