How Do I Start Earning Frequent Flyer Miles with Southwest Airlines?

Being part of a frequent flyer program is always a good way to get a little more for your purchase, especially if you travel frequently. Southwest Airlines has Rapid Rewards, a program where there's no blackout dates and you can earn unlimited points which never expire. There's no cost to create your account. Just fill in a few fields and you're on your way to earn rewards with Southwest.

Adam Goldkamp is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Jul 9, 2020

Not only is Southwest the largest low-cost airfare provider in the world, but they offer a frequent flyer rewards program that has many perks. Rapid Rewards is more than just a frequent flyer program, you can purchase points at any partners and still benefit. No blackout dates, points that don't expire and unlimited reward seats are just a few of the benefits members of Rapid Rewards can enjoy. This guide will give you a few more details about this program and the steps to enroll.

A Few More Perks Please

  1. You earn points on everyday purchases with Rapid Rewards partners, not just when you book a flight.
  2. You can buy more points when needed or you can share them with family and friends, even donate them to charity.
  3. There is also more than one tier, so you can increase your points purchased by spending in the right tier and the more points you accumulate in a calendar year, the higher your tier.
  4. Another option is to apply for one of the Rapid Rewards Visa credit cards. If approved, you can receive 40,000 points for just opening the account. From there, you can receive at least 3,000 reward points a year on the anniversary you opened your Rapid Rewards credit card.
  5. If you already have a rewards credit card, it may be possible to redeem its points for Rapid Rewards. Cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business have Ultimate Rewards which can be used for Southwest purchases.

How to Enroll

  1. Go to southwest.com and click on the Rapid Rewards option, which is to the right and beneath the log-in button.
  2. After clicking on it, you should see a few options like learning more about Rapid Rewards and managing your account. Feel free to review more about the program here and when ready, click on Enroll.
  3. On the enrollment page you will be asked for the basics, name, mailing address, email address and phone numbers. Here, you will create your username, password and security questions. You will also be asked for your communication preferences.
  4. When finished, click on Create Account on the bottom right corner. You should receive a confirmation page, email or both.
  5. Any general questions or concerns? You can reach Southwest customer service here, and for questions about the Rapid Rewards program, contact them here.

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Adam has been tirelessly trying to help customers find the best tips and tricks to get through phone trees and writing many guides for prickly customer service problems. He's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inside Edition and Bloomberg.
How Do I Start Earning Frequent Flyer Miles with Southwest Airlines?

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