Southwest Rapid Rewards

Back in October 2023, Southwest announced three ways in which it would be changing the elite status experience for its flyers in 2024 and one new option that it's introducing for all Rapid Rewards members, so before we get any further into the new year, here's a look at what those four changes are.

If your travel schedule has been less busy than normal and you're struggling to requalify for elite status with Southwest, the airline has some good news for you. In two different ways, it has just made earning A-List and A-List Preferred elite status in 2022 (which will last through 2023) considerably easier.

Southwest is currently running a promotion in which it's offering up to 5,000 bonus points as an incentive for people to sign up to its loyalty program (Rapid Rewards) and fly a couple of roundtrip flights. If you're not a Rapid Rewards member already and were planning to make the most of some of the good fares that Southwest is currently offering, this may be an easy path to 5,000 points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards has announced a quick-fire promotion in which it's offering all members a 20% saving on awards booked by 25 March for travel through 30 April 2021. As the value of Rapid Rewards is more or less fixed and as points can be used if a cash fare is available, this could be a great time to use some points.

A little surprisingly, Chase has launched its first airline transfer bonus for some time. Through 31 October 2020, Chase customers transferring Ultimate Rewards Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards will receive a 20% bonus.

Southwest Airlines is blocking middle seats through the end of October and has been selling some nicely discounted fares for at least a couple of weeks, and now the airline is targeting Rapid Rewards members for savings with an offer of 20% off award bookings made by 17 September (Tomorrow).

To earn a Companion Pass for 2020 a Rapid Rewards member has to fly 100 one-way qualifying flights or earn 110,000 Companion Qualifying Points by the end of the calendar year, but the qualification requirements for the qualification year starting on 1 January 2020 have just been increased.

Southwest has come out with a promotion whereby Rapid Rewards members can purchase Rapid Rewards points with a bonus of up to 50% through 10 November 2017 (what bonus you get is dependent on what Southwest has targeted you for).

I don't often write about credit card sign-up bonuses because, to be frank, I don't find most of them to be all that fantastic or exceptional (with a few occasional exceptions). But now we have a credit card sign-up bonus from Southwest & Chase that, as long as you're a California resident, is one you shouldn't be passing up.

I'm a little bit late with this post as the information turned up while I was away from home and without Internet access and I've only just seen the email! Anyway, Southwest has got a promotion running whereby you can purchase Rapid Rewards points with a bonus of up to 60% (bonus is dependent on how many points you buy) up until 13 July - there was a flash sale where, for a few hours, you could get a bonus of up to 70% but that's long gone...sorry!

One of the more regular complaints I hear from vacationers new to the miles and points game is that their airline miles expire before they get a...