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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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Southwest is a popular travel partner available with the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. If you have one of Chase's travel cards and you want to transfer Chase points to Southwest, you'll get a 1:1 transfer ratio. That means 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Here's everything you need to know to transfer Chase points to Southwest, including which Chase credit cards offer this option, how the transfer process works, and how to maximize the value of your points when booking a flight.
What you need to transfer Chase points to Southwest
Before you begin, you'll need:
A Chase credit card with travel rewards in the Ultimate Rewards program
A Southwest Rapid Rewards account
At least 1,000 points to transfer
Is your card eligible?
The following Chase travel credit cards allow you to transfer your points to travel partners:
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
Welcome Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
Welcome Offer:
Earn 120,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 120,000 bonus points
Rewards Program:
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Rewards Program:
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Program:
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Regular APR:
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Regular APR:
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee:
N/A
$95
Annual Fee:
N/A
$550
Annual Fee:
N/A
$95
Highlights:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
1. Log in to your account on the Chase Ultimate Rewards site.
You can also log in to your Chase credit card account, and then go to the Ultimate Rewards page from there. If you have multiple Chase credit cards, you'll need to select the one with the points you'd like to use after logging in.
Image source: Brooklyn Sprunger
2. Select "Transfer points to partners."
You'll find this option in the "Travel" dropdown menu.
Image source: Brooklyn Sprunger
3. Go to the Southwest listing and select "Transfer Points."
It's listed under the Airlines section in alphabetical order.
Image source: Brooklyn Sprunger
4. Choose a recipient for the transfer.
Chase requires you to transfer points to yourself or a member of your household whom you've set up as an authorized user on your account. When you've chosen a recipient from the dropdown menu, you'll need to enter their Rapid Rewards account number.
5. Decide how many points to transfer.
You must transfer points in increments of 1,000.
6. Submit the transfer.
Chase provides a review with all the transfer details. From this screen, you can transfer Chase points to Southwest.
Transfers are normally instant. Chase says that most transfers process by the next business day, but may take up to seven business days. However, based on cardholder reports, transfers almost always happen right away.
Keep in mind that transfers are one way. After you transfer Chase points to Southwest, there's no option to cancel or transfer them back later. That's why you should find the flight you want to book first, and then make the transfer.
How to book an award ticket with Southwest
If you've ever booked a flight with Southwest in cash, doing so with points is almost the same. From the Southwest homepage, enter all the details for your desired flight, including the departure city, arrival city, and your travel dates. In the top-right corner of the flight search, click "Points."
TIP
See how much your points are worth
When booking a trip in points, you can toggle to view the prices in dollars and points on the search results page. This allows you to quickly check what kind of value you'll get with potential award tickets.
The search results will display all the flight options for your chosen dates. If your travel dates are flexible, the Low Fare Calendar shows you the best deals for traveling on each day of the month. After you've chosen your itinerary, Southwest will provide a breakdown of your trip details -- including the cost in points and any additional fees.
Click "Continue," and if you haven't logged in to your Rapid Rewards account yet, Southwest will prompt you to do so at this point. Enter your username and password, and then you can confirm your trip.
Maximizing value when you transfer Chase points to Southwest
You don't need to worry about award availability or searching for rare, high-value redemptions with Southwest. Unlike many airlines, it lets you book any seat with cash or points. Award ticket prices are tied to cash prices, and you typically get about $0.014 to $0.016 per Southwest point, no matter what you book.
Wanna Get Away fares normally get you the most value when you transfer Chase points to Southwest. This is the cheapest fare option, both in dollars and points. Anytime and Business Select tickets cost much more -- sometimes over twice as many points.
The best ways to redeem Southwest points could change in the near future. Southwest is transitioning from its open seating system to assigned seating, and it's also planning to offer premium seats starting, with both changes coming in 2025.
Since Southwest's seats are the same throughout the aircraft right now, spending more points on premium fares doesn't make a big difference. With assigned seating and premium seating options, higher fare classes will likely have more benefits and offer more value.
Should you transfer Chase points to Southwest or redeem through Chase's portal?
Chase gives you the option of booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can redeem points toward travel purchases at a rate of $0.0125 per point. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you get $0.015 per point.
Booking a flight this way also generally earns you points with the airline. Award tickets don't earn points, giving the Chase Travel portal an edge in that regard.
You could compare the value you'll get on a flight with each method to see which is the better deal. If that's too time consuming, here's a simpler solution based on which credit cards you have:
Transfer Chase points to Southwest if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Redeem Chase points through the Chase Travel portal if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Chase's Southwest credit cards
If you're a frequent flyer with Southwest, you may want to consider one of the Southwest credit cards. There are three personal credit cards that Chase and Southwest offer together:
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points.
Welcome Offer:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points.
Welcome Offer:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points.
Rewards Program:
Receive 7,500 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings per year when available, and a $75 Southwest® travel credit each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Rewards Program:
Receive 6,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Rewards Program:
Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% variable
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% variable
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% variable
Annual Fee:
N/A
$149
Annual Fee:
N/A
$99
Annual Fee:
N/A
$69
Highlights:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
6,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
The big draw with these cards is that they earn Rapid Rewards points. They all offer sign-up bonuses, yearly anniversary points, and points on your credit card purchases.
Not only can you use these points to fly with Southwest, they can also help you qualify for the airline's Companion Pass. This is a fantastic benefit if you have someone who flies with you frequently. Here's how it works:
You earn a Southwest Companion Pass after either earning 135,000 qualifying points or taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
When you meet one of those requirements, you'll earn a Companion Pass for the remainder of the calendar year and the next full calendar year.
You can then choose one person to fly with you free of airline charges (this doesn't include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight.
You can change your designated Companion up to three times per calendar year.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards cards offer much more versatile travel points, though. You can transfer Chase points to Southwest and many other airline and hotel partners, or you can redeem them through the Chase Travel portal. If you want more flexibility when redeeming your travel rewards, one of those cards is the better choice.
Booking a Southwest flight with Chase points
Once you know how to transfer Chase points to Southwest, it's a fast and simple process. While Southwest may not have a glamorous first-class product or a ton of international routes, its prices are among the very best. Those low prices and the Companion Pass make Southwest especially useful for families looking to take an affordable vacation. Keep an eye on the deals and you could score roundtrip tickets without dipping too far into your points.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
2% cash rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro:
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
1.5 points per dollar
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Intro:
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Yes. You can transfer Chase points to Southwest online or by phone, and after you transfer them, they're converted to Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Points normally transfer from Chase to Southwest instantly, according to cardholder reports. Chase says that most transfers process by the next business day, but it can take up to seven business days.
To transfer Ultimate Rewards to Rapid Rewards, follow these steps:
Log in to your Ultimate Rewards account.
Select "Transfer to Travel Partners."
Select Southwest under the Airlines section.
Provide the recipient's Rapid Rewards account number. You can transfer Chase points to yourself or a member of your household who's on your Chase credit card account as an authorized user.
Enter the number of points and submit the transfer.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, JPMorgan Chase, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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