✈️ The Lowdown on Looping in Your Pals: Can You Really Transfer Your Southwest Airlines Points?
What is up, travel fanatics! You're sitting on a massive pile of Southwest Rapid Rewards points, a beautiful, shiny digital stash just begging to be used. Maybe your bestie is totally tapped out, or your favorite relative is just a few thousand points shy of that dream vacation to the coast. You, being the generous legend that you are, want to slide some of your points their way.
But hold up, Is this even possible? Are you going to be able to play Santa with your points balance? The short answer, my friends, is a resounding YES! You totally can transfer Southwest points to another person. But, and this is where we gotta get real, it ain't exactly a free lunch. Let's dive deep into the nuts and bolts of how to transfer those precious Rapid Rewards points without getting totally jipped.
Step 1: Check Your Vitals (and Theirs, Too!)
Before you even think about hitting the transfer button, you need to make sure both parties are legit in the eyes of Southwest. This is like the bouncer checking your ID at the coolest club in town.
1.1 The Rapid Rewards Requirement
This is the most critical piece of the puzzle, so listen up. Both the sender (that's you, big spender!) and the recipient have to be active Rapid Rewards Members. If your buddy isn't signed up, tell them to get on it, pronto! It’s free, it’s fast, and you can't transfer a single point without it. You'll need their full name, email, and their Rapid Rewards account number. No account number? No dice.
1.2 Know the Point Minimums and Maximums
Southwest isn't going to let you transfer a measly 1 point. They've got rules, man! You'll need to transfer a minimum of 2,000 points to start the party. Transfers can generally be made in increments of 500 points (or 1,000 points during promotions). Also, don't get greedy—there's a daily transfer limit of 60,000 points. That's usually plenty to cover most folks' needs, but worth knowing if you're trying to move a mega-ton of points.
QuickTip: Pause when something feels important.
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| Can You Transfer Southwest Airlines Points To Another Person |
Step 2: Prepare for the Fee Factor (It's a Real Buzzkill)
Okay, here’s the part where the laughter stops and the wallet gets nervous. Southwest charges a fee to transfer points. This is where most people pause and do some serious math.
2.1 The Dollar-to-Point Exchange Rate
Southwest is going to charge you a fee per point increment transferred. Historically, this fee is often around $10 per 1,000 points transferred. Let's break down the math because numbers can be scary, but we're adults and we can handle it:
Yikes! If you're sending 10,000 points, that's gonna cost you a cool $100. You need to decide if the value of the points for the person receiving them is worth the cash you are shelling out for the transfer. Sometimes, it's better for you to book the flight for them from your account, especially if you have Companion Pass!
2.2 Payment Must Be on a Credit Card
When you hit the transfer page, you're not going to pay with points. This is a cold, hard cash transaction, and it's gotta go down with a credit card. So, make sure your plastic is ready to go!
Step 3: Navigating the Digital Waters (The Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Alright, you've decided the transfer fee is worth it for the love of the game (and your buddy's vacay). Time to execute the mission!
Tip: Reread slowly for better memory.
3.1 Log in and Locate the Transfer Zone
Head over to the official Southwest Airlines website. Don't use any sketchy third-party sites! You gotta keep it on the straight and narrow for security.
Log into your Rapid Rewards account. Look for the "Rapid Rewards" tab or your account dashboard.
Navigate to the section for "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" (it might also just say "Manage Points"). Click on the option to "Transfer Points."
3.2 Input the Recipient's Deets
This is where you plug in the information for your lucky recipient. Double-check every single character. You don't want to accidentally send your sweet points to some random Joe Shmoe!
Enter the recipient’s First Name
Enter the recipient’s Last Name
Enter the recipient’s Rapid Rewards Account Number
3.3 Select the Point Amount and Confirm the Fee
Input the exact number of points you want to transfer. Remember the minimums and the 500-point increments!
The system will automatically calculate the total transfer fee. Take a deep breath and look at that number. Does it still feel right?
If the answer is heck yeah, proceed to the payment page.
3.4 Finalize the Transaction
Enter your credit card information to cover the transfer fee.
Review all the details one last time. Seriously, don't rush this part.
Hit that final "Confirm" or "Purchase" button.
And just like that, you’ve done it! You’ve sent your points off to a new home. Most transfers are wicked fast—sometimes they show up in the recipient's account immediately, though Southwest says to allow up to 72 hours, just in case the internet is having a slow day.
Step 4: Alternative Strategies (The Smarter Way to Share)
QuickTip: Skim fast, then return for detail.
Hold the phone! Before you fork over that transfer fee, let's talk about a few alternative moves that are often way more value-packed than a straight point transfer.
4.1 The "Book It For Them" Method (The King of Savings)
The simplest and most economical way to share your points is to just book the flight for the other person yourself.
Log into your Rapid Rewards account.
Search for the flight they want.
Book the flight using your points and their name as the passenger.
This works because Southwest lets you use your points to book a ticket for anyone you want. Zero transfer fee! You just pay the required taxes and fees (usually $5.60 one-way) in cash.
4.2 Companion Pass – The Ultimate Cheat Code
If you are a Companion Pass holder, this is the ultimate power move. You fly, and your designated Companion flies for just the cost of taxes and fees. You can change your Companion up to three times a year. If you and your recipient travel together a lot, earning the Companion Pass is the most efficient long-term solution. This is the real MVP of Southwest sharing.
FAQ Questions and Answers
Can you transfer Southwest Airlines points to another person?
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Yes, absolutely! Southwest Airlines allows you to transfer your Rapid Rewards points to any other active Rapid Rewards Member via their "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" page on the Southwest website.
How to transfer points without paying the fee?
The best way to "transfer" points without incurring the fee is to book the flight directly from your account for the person you want to help. Southwest allows you to use your points to purchase a ticket for any traveler, not just yourself.
How much does it cost to transfer 10,000 Southwest points?
Based on Southwest's historical rate of about $10 per 1,000 points, transferring 10,000 points would typically cost you around $100.00. Always check the official Southwest transfer page for the current, exact rate before completing the transaction.
How long does a Southwest point transfer take?
Point transfers are usually instantaneous or take only a few hours. However, Southwest states that you should allow up to 72 hours for the points to post to the recipient's Rapid Rewards account.
Do transferred Southwest points count towards Companion Pass?
No. Purchased, gifted, or transferred points do not count as Companion Pass qualifying points. Only points earned from flying, credit card spending, or certain partner activities will qualify for the Companion Pass.
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