Let's cut to the chase: Southwest is currently offering up to a 50% discount on Rapid Rewards points purchases through April 4, 2025. With this promotion, you can buy points for as low as 1.5¢ each. But is this actually a good deal? As miles and points experts who've helped thousands turn their loyalty currencies into real value, we're giving you the unfiltered truth about Southwest's latest points sale.
The Current Promotion: What You Need to Know
Southwest's latest promotion offers tiered discounts when you purchase Rapid Rewards points:
Discount Tiers: • 2,000 points: No discount (3.0¢ each) • 3,000–9,000 points: 40% discount (1.8¢ each) • 10,000–14,000 points: 45% discount (1.65¢ each) • 15,000–60,000 points: 50% discount (1.5¢ each)
This means you can buy a maximum of 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for just $900. The promotion runs until April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT, so you've got some time to decide if this makes sense for your travel plans.
Here's what most blogs won't tell you: Southwest runs these promotions almost monthly. The data doesn't lie – they've been offering the exact same 50% discount consistently since 2022. Take a look at their recent promotion history:
Recent Promotion History: • April 4, 2025: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Targeted • February 23, 2025: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Targeted • December 31, 2024: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Public • October 22, 2024: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Targeted • September 25, 2024: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Targeted • August 19, 2024: 45% Discount (1.65¢ per point) - Targeted • July 21, 2024: 50% Discount (1.5¢ per point) - Targeted
So don't feel pressured by any "limited time" marketing language. These deals come around with remarkable regularity.
The Real Math Behind Southwest Points Value
Most travelers don't take the time to calculate their true cost per point – and that's exactly what airlines count on. Let's break it down:
Southwest's loyalty program differs significantly from other major U.S. carriers. Instead of award charts with fixed redemption rates, Southwest points have a semi-fixed value tied directly to the cash price of tickets. Currently, Southwest charges 81-83 points per dollar of the base fare (not including taxes and fees).
What does this mean in plain English? After factoring in taxes and fees that you'll still pay on award tickets, you're generally getting between 1.3¢ and 1.5¢ per point in value. This makes the math surprisingly straightforward: if you're buying points at 1.5¢ each, you're basically breaking even on most redemptions.
Let's analyze a real example with actual numbers:
Example: LAX-LAS One-Way Flight • Cash price: $59.00 • Points price: 3,335 points + $5.60 security fee • Cost if buying exact points needed: $50.02 + $5.60 = $55.62 • Potential savings: $3.38
But here's the catch – you can only buy points in 1,000-point increments. So the real comparison looks like this:
Real-World Comparison • Cash price: $59.00 • Points purchase: 4,000 points @ 1.5¢ = $60.00 + $5.60 = $65.60 • Difference: $6.60 MORE expensive with points
Suddenly, you're paying $6.60 MORE than the cash price.
The Hidden Opportunity Costs No One Mentions
When you pay cash for a Southwest flight, you earn Rapid Rewards points, progress toward elite status, and credit card rewards for the purchase. When you use points, you miss out on all three. These opportunity costs further erode any potential value from buying points.
Also, if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points (from cards like the Sapphire Preferred), you can book Southwest flights through the Chase portal at up to 1.5¢ per point value – effectively matching this promotion's rate while still earning Southwest points and status credit from the flight.
When Buying Southwest Points Actually Makes Sense
Despite all the caution above, there are specific scenarios where buying Southwest points can be worthwhile:
- Topping off your account: If you're just a few thousand points short of a redemption you need to book immediately, buying points can make sense. Southwest deposits purchased points instantly (despite their claim of "up to 72 hours"), making this a viable last-minute option.
- Connecting itineraries with cheap fares: When booking connecting flights with low base fares, points redemptions don't charge the Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) that cash tickets do. This can occasionally push your redemption value above 1.5¢ per point.
- Using a Southwest credit card for the purchase: When buying points, one payment option is "Rapid Rewards Credit Card." Using your Southwest co-branded card for this purchase should trigger the card's bonus multiplier, effectively reducing your cost per point.
Better Alternatives to Buying Points
Before you rush to purchase Southwest points, consider these more economical alternatives:
Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer • Transfer ratio: 1:1 • Speed: Instant • Value proposition: Best option for quick transfers; perfect for topping off account
Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Sweet Spot • Transfer ratio: 3:1 + bonus • Speed: 1-2 days • Value proposition: 60K Marriott → 25K Southwest (5K bonus included) • Effective ratio: 2.4:1 when transferring in 60K increments
Southwest Priority Card • Current offer: Companion Pass through 2/26 + 30K points after meeting minimum spend • Value proposition: Significantly better value than buying points outright
Monetize Existing Miles • Convert unused miles from other programs to cash via themilesmarket.com • Use cash toward Southwest flights • Speed: 2-5 business days
The Fine Print You Can't Afford to Miss
Most travelers skim over the terms and conditions, but here are the crucial details:
Purchase Limits: 100,000 points per day, no annual cap - You can buy as many as needed for large redemptions
Elite Status & Companion Pass: Purchased points do not qualify - Cannot use purchased points to fast-track status
Processing Time: Officially up to 72 hours - Our data shows points typically post instantly
Refund Policy: Non-refundable, non-reversible - Make absolutely sure before purchasing
Payment Processing: Via Points.com, not Southwest - Won't code as travel for most credit cards
Credit Card Recommendation: Use Southwest co-branded cards - May trigger bonus points on purchase
The payment processing point is particularly important. Since Southwest uses Points.com as a third-party processor, these purchases won't qualify for travel category bonuses on cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum. However, using a Southwest co-branded card may still trigger the airline purchase bonus.
The Bottom Line: Should You Buy Southwest Points?
At 1.5¢ per point, this promotion matches the best rate Southwest has ever offered – but that doesn't automatically make it a good deal. For most travelers, the value proposition is marginal at best.
TheMilesMarket.com Recommendation Matrix
Need <5,000 points to complete a specific booking ✅ BUY - Convenience outweighs slight premium
Planning future travel with no immediate booking ❌ DON'T BUY - Wait for credit card signup or future promotions
Have Chase Ultimate Rewards points ❌ DON'T BUY - Transfer from Chase instead (1:1 ratio, instant)
Have Marriott Bonvoy points ❌ DON'T BUY - Transfer from Marriott for better value
No immediate redemption in mind ❌ DON'T BUY - Same promotion likely to return next month
Our professional recommendation: Only buy Southwest points if you need a small amount to top off for a specific redemption with immediate travel plans. Otherwise, you're better off earning points through credit card bonuses, partner transfers, or simply paying cash for your Southwest flights.
If you do decide to purchase, we strongly recommend using a Southwest co-branded credit card to potentially earn bonus points on the transaction, effectively reducing your cost per point.
And remember – this same promotion will almost certainly return next month, so there's no rush to buy points you don't have an immediate use for.
At themilesmarket.com, we specialize in helping travelers maximize the value of their loyalty currencies. Whether you're looking to sell unused miles or develop a strategy to make the most of your points, we're here to help you navigate the complex world of travel rewards.
Need expert advice on your points strategy? Contact our team for a personalized consultation.
