Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards has rolled out a new promotion regarding the purchase of points. Although there has always been merit in strategically acquiring points, the notion of a revenue-based frequent flyer program offering points for sale has consistently struck me as unusual, particularly for Southwest. Nevertheless, let’s dive into the specifics.
Southwest Rapid Rewards offering points at a discount
Through Monday, February 23, 2026, Southwest is providing a discount of up to 50% on Rapid Rewards points purchases. It seems that different members are being offered discounts of 40%, 45%, or 50%, so you’ll need to log into your account to find out what discount applies to you. In all instances, a minimum purchase of 3,000 points in a single transaction is required to qualify for the discount.
Acquire Rapid Rewards points with a 40-50% discount
Southwest allows you to buy up to 60,000 Rapid Rewards points daily, but there is no yearly cap on the total points you can purchase. The standard rate for purchased Rapid Rewards points is 3.0 cents each.
If you were to buy 60,000 points with a 50% discount, the cost would be $900 for those points, resulting in a price of 1.5 cents per Rapid Rewards point.
Acquire Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents apiece
What is the value of Southwest points?
Southwest Rapid Rewards operates as a revenue-based frequent flyer program, where the required points for a flight generally relate to the monetary cost of the flight. However, pricing varies dynamically, meaning the value per point can differ significantly depending on the flight and fare class for redemption. Consequently, we are seeing redemption values ranging from approximately 1.1 cents to 1.5 cents per point.
Clearly, there are likely very few instances where purchasing points for 1.5 cents each is advantageous when they may only be redeemed for lesser value at best.
Is purchasing Southwest Airlines points worthwhile?
To be direct — purchasing Rapid Rewards points only makes sense in a limited number of situations. Even at the discounted price, there typically isn’t any real value in acquiring points for 1.5 cents each when they can generally be redeemed for less.
I would like to consider three possible scenarios, including the primary situation that might be perceived as justifiable (though arguably it isn’t), which involves accumulating a balance of Southwest points for the flexibility it provides.
Acquiring points to finalize an award
Some individuals may opt to buy Rapid Rewards points to top off their account and ensure they have enough for a Rapid Rewards award ticket. This could be worthwhile for those needing only a few extra points, though I personally would prefer to continue accumulating points and then redeem them with my next flight.
Acquiring points with the Southwest Companion Pass
The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most valuable benefits in domestic travel. It typically requires accruing 135,000 qualifying points within a calendar year, allowing you to always have a companion fly with you for just the standard taxes, whether you are booking a cash ticket or redeeming points.
For Companion Pass holders, buying Southwest points may yield disproportionate value:
– You could purchase points for 1.5 cents each
– Then redeem them for 1.1-1.5 cents each for travel and have a companion travel alongside you, resulting in a value of 2.2-3.0 cents
However, it still makes little sense to do so. You’d be more advantageous booking a paid ticket and allowing a companion to fly with you.
It’s important to note that purchasing Southwest Rapid Rewards points does not contribute toward Companion Pass qualification.
The value of maintaining a reserve of Southwest points
There’s a significant overall advantage to paying for a ticket using Southwest Rapid Rewards points instead of cash. While Southwest Airlines imposes no change fees on revenue and award tickets:
– Canceling a revenue ticket results in a travel credit to be used for a future flight, whereas Rapid Rewards points can be redeposited into your account and made available for anyone; certain Southwest fares permit transferring your ticket to another individual
– Canceling an award ticket results in the Rapid Rewards points returning to your account and being usable for anyone at any future time
I believe maintaining a reserve of Rapid Rewards points holds substantial value. I utilize this when I wish to book travel speculatively (including for friends and family), as there is no downside.
Which credit card is best for purchasing Southwest points?
Should you wish to acquire Southwest Airlines points, keep in mind that purchases are processed through points.com, meaning they don’t qualify as airfare.