Thanks to its generous rewards program, Southwest Airlines is making it easier than ever for families to earn free flights to destinations in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Not only does Southwest make earning free flights easy, but it also offers free checked bags, family boarding, and additional perks that make it ideal for family travel.
In just the last year alone, my family has used the Southwest Rapid Rewards program to fly to Mexico, Jamaica, Denver, Raleigh, Orlando, and Las Vegas. Because of its unique redemption policies – and how easy it is to rack up airline miles – we focus most of our spending on the best airline rewards credit card that allows us to rack up these miles quickly.
If you want to take your family on a trip anywhere in the country but want to avoid the crushing cost of airfare, you’ll want to read this. In the meantime, you should also check out our guide on the other airline credit cards on the market:
Table of Contents
Credit Cards That Let You Earn Miles on Southwest Airlines
While you can earn Southwest points by signing up through their program and spending money on Southwest and through their affiliates, the easiest way to rack up points quickly is with a credit card that lets you earn this valuable point currency. Here are the two cards you should consider signing up for today:
Southwest Airlines® Rapid Rewards® Premier card – For a limited time, you’ll earn 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend just $2,000 within 90 days. That’s enough miles for at least one round-trip flight within the continental United States, and maybe two if you’re judicious in how you use your miles.
Plus, you’ll earn 2x points per dollar spent at Southwest Airlines and 1x points on all other purchases. As an added bonus, you’ll get 6,000 points on your account anniversary and no foreign transaction fees. The $99 annual fee is not waived.
With 50,000 points in your account, you should have enough for at least two round-trip flights within the continental United States or to the Caribbean. The $95 annual fee on this card is waived as well, meaning you can try out the card’s benefits for a full 12 months without a commitment and with a nice 0 APR credit card offer.
Why Southwest Is the Best Airline for Families
While lots of airlines try to cater to families, Southwest Airlines does it better than anyone else. In addition to their rewards program, they have thought of almost everything a family who travels together might need during their journey. Here are a few of the reasons Southwest is ideal for families:
Reason #1: The Southwest Credit Card Lets You Earn Free Flights
With both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card and the Southwest Airlines® Rapid Rewards® Premier card, you can earn free flights for your family. All you have to do is sign up, use your card for regular spending, and meet the minimum spending requirement to earn the signup bonus. Once you meet those requirements, your miles will be deposited into your account within 30 days (but usually sooner).
Reason #2: Your Bags Fly Free
Unlike other airlines that charge $25 or more per checked bag, Southwest Airlines lets your first two checked bags fly free. For my family of four, that is a huge savings! On our recent trip to Jamaica on Southwest, we checked five separate bags. If we had flown with another airline, that would have cost us at least $125.
Reason #3: You Can Get Unlimited Award Flights With No Worry Over Blackout Dates or Capacity Controls
Southwest Airlines is adamant about the fact that they don’t limit award seats on single flights, and this is crucial if you have a family in tow. Each time I fly my family using Southwest Rapid Rewards, I can rest assured there will be at least four award seats waiting for me – as long as the flight isn’t sold out! If you have ever dealt with award availability on another airline before, you know what a huge deal this is.
Reason #4: SUPER CHEAP Flights
Because Southwest awards are fare-based, you can score some super cheap flights any time Southwest has a sale. For our upcoming trip to Raleigh, for example, my husband and I paid just 3,500 miles per leg to get there and back. And for our family trip to Orlando this summer, our flights cost just 5,500 miles each way, per person!
Reason #5: Family Boarding Lets You Sit With Your Kids
Since Southwest doesn’t offer assigned seating, it can be tricky to sit with your family if you don’t check in for your flight exactly 24 hours ahead of time. But if you have kids under the age of six, you qualify for family boarding after the “A group” boards the plane.
Reason #6: Redeem Your Points for Gift Cards as a Last Resort
A lot of people worry they’ll get stuck with airline miles they can’t use, and I don’t really blame them. Fortunately, Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be turned in for gift cards if your travel plans fall through. Someone I know lost their job but still had 50,000 Southwest miles from a recent promotion.
Because she decided not to fly anywhere, she redeemed her 50,000 Rapid Rewards points for $500 in gift cards and spent them on Christmas presents last year. While that isn’t the ideal redemption, earning $500 in gift cards isn’t half bad, either.
How to Get the Most Out of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Program
Since joining the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is easy and free, it’s a no-brainer. However, there are several ways to maximize your experience – and the number of free flights you earn. Consider these tips:
- Pair several travel rewards credit cards for the signup bonuses and earning potential. If you want to rack up a bunch of points quickly, signup bonuses are the way to go. And if you want to earn even more miles, consider getting both cards.
- Shop through each card’s shopping portal to earn extra points. Both cards that earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points have shopping portals that can let you earn points even faster. By clicking through these portals to do your online shopping, you can usually earn another 3-5 points for every dollar you spend.
- Use your card for all of your regular bills, then pay it off each month. It’s easy to rack up points quickly if you use your card for all of your regular spending. Just remember to pay it off every month and never, ever pay interest on your purchases.
- Try earning the Southwest Companion Pass. The Southwest Companion pass is a benefit that allows your “companion” to travel for free for the year you earn it and the following year. To earn it, you’ll need to earn 110,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points during a single calendar year. It’s important to note, however, that points transferred to Southwest from your Chase account do not count toward the Companion Pass.
The Bottom Line: Southwest Rapid Rewards Card Review
With free checked bags, plenty of ways to earn free flights, and unlimited award availability, Southwest Airlines is the ideal airline for families. And with hubs all over the United States and the Caribbean, you can count on using your miles to take your family somewhere exciting.
For my family, that means a mix of everything – from warm weather trips in Florida and the Caribbean to vacations in the mountains, concert trips, and adult getaways as well. With so many ways to use our points, I always say “Why not?”
Have you ever used Southwest Rapid Rewards points before? What is your favorite redemption so far?
How We Review Banking or Financial Institutions:
Good Financial Cents undertakes a comprehensive review of banking and financial institutions, analyzing service offerings, customer satisfaction, and financial stability. Our intention is to provide readers with a balanced overview, aiding them in their financial journey. We consistently emphasize editorial transparency.
We source data from these institutions, reviewing account offerings and other key services. This data, when combined with our in-depth research, forms the foundation of our evaluation. Institutions are subsequently rated on a range of criteria, resulting in a star rating from one to five.
For further insight into the criteria we use to rate banking and financial institutions and our evaluation approach, please refer to our editorial guidelines and full disclaimer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Card Review
Product Name: Southwest Rapid Rewards Card
Product Description: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Card, in collaboration with Southwest Airlines, is designed for frequent flyers looking to maximize travel benefits. Cardholders earn points on purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and more, making it a go-to for loyal Southwest patrons.
Summary of Southwest Rapid Rewards Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Card seamlessly merges the convenience of a credit card with the perks of the renowned Southwest Airlines loyalty program. Every purchase made on the card accrues points that funnel directly into the cardholder’s Rapid Rewards account. Beyond just flight redemptions, these points can be exchanged for hotel accommodations, car rentals, and exclusive experiences. With added benefits like anniversary points and potential for earning A-List status, it’s more than just a payment method — it’s a passport to a world of travel benefits with Southwest Airlines.
-
Cost and Fees
-
Customer Service
-
User Experience
-
Product Offerings
Overall
Pros
- Generous Rewards: Purchases rack up points quickly, especially on Southwest-related expenses, ensuring valuable returns.
- Versatile Redemptions: Points can be used not just for flights but also a range of travel-related rewards.
- Anniversary Bonus: Cardholders often receive anniversary points as a loyalty bonus, enhancing the card’s overall value.
- No Blackout Dates: When redeeming points for Southwest flights, there are no blackout dates, ensuring flexibility in travel planning.
Cons
- Annual Fee: The card typically comes with an annual fee, which might deter some potential users.
- Limited to Southwest: While the rewards are generous, they are mostly geared towards Southwest Airlines, which might not be ideal for those who prefer other airlines.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Some versions of the card might have foreign transaction fees, making it less ideal for international spending.
- Competitive Reward Rates: Other cards in the market might offer higher reward rates on broader categories.
