Chase transfer partner
How to Transfer Chase Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards (2026 Guide)
Southwest doesn't belong to an airline alliance and doesn't offer a premium cabin, so it's an odd fit for most points strategies — but a 1:1 instant transfer from Chase makes it one of the most reliable ways to book last-minute domestic flights and, for the right traveler, to fund a Companion Pass.
By the Point Finder team · Updated 2026-07-17 · Ratios and transfer times verified against issuer transfer pages
- Ratio
- 1:1
- Transfer speed
- Instant
- Alliance
- None
- Type
- Airline
The short version
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1:1, instant. Domestic flexibility and a key piece of Companion Pass strategies.
Why Southwest Doesn't Play the Same Game as Other Airline Transfers
Southwest isn't part of Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam, flies an all-economy fleet, and its route map is almost entirely domestic with a modest slate of Caribbean and Latin American destinations.
What Southwest does offer is a points currency that behaves like cash. Rapid Rewards uses revenue-based pricing, so if you can find a fare, you can book it with points, at a fairly consistent rate of value per point.
How Revenue-Based Pricing Actually Works
Basic fares (Southwest's current lowest-cost tier, formerly named Wanna Get Away) tend to return the best value per point since a low dollar fare converts to a proportionally low points price. Pricier fare classes cost more in points, roughly matching their higher cash price.
In practice this means your redemption is worth roughly one to one-and-a-half cents per point. There's no separate, more restrictive 'award inventory' — if a flight isn't sold out, you can book it with points.
The Companion Pass Angle
Earn the Companion Pass and you can designate one companion to fly with you on every paid or award ticket for the rest of the calendar year plus all of the following year, paying only taxes and fees.
Qualifying takes 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points earned in a calendar year. Chase-transferred points don't count toward that total — only points earned directly with Southwest do (revenue flights, Rapid Rewards credit card spend and bonuses, and Rapid Rewards partner activity). Southwest co-brand cardholders do get a 10,000-point head start toward the threshold each calendar year, and once you've earned the pass, transferred Chase points are great for booking the flights you'll use it on.
Sweet spots worth booking
| Route | Cabin | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul routes under roughly 500 miles (e.g., LAX-LAS, DAL-HOU) | Economy (Basic) | Roughly 3,000-6,000 points one-wayBest redemption value per point. |
| Medium-haul domestic routes (roughly 1,000-1,500 miles) | Economy (Basic) | Roughly 6,000-12,000 points one-wayStill solid value, especially with a Companion Pass active. |
| Transcontinental domestic routes | Economy (Basic) | Roughly 12,000-20,000+ points one-wayValue narrows as fares rise; compare against cash. |
| Last-minute or close-in domestic bookings | Economy | Matches whatever the cash fare is that dayNo blackout dates or award-inventory limits. |
How to transfer Chase points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
- 1Confirm you hold an eligible Chase card: Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred.
- 2Log into Chase and open the transfer to travel partners section.
- 3Select Southwest Rapid Rewards and link your account number.
- 4Search Southwest.com for your target flight and toggle to view points pricing before transferring.
- 5Enter the exact number of points needed and confirm — points post within minutes.
- 6Book the flight directly on Southwest.com or the app.
Tips before you transfer
- •Transfer only after you've priced out the exact flight in points — transfers can't be reversed.
- •Once you've earned the Companion Pass, transfer points early in the year so you have the longest possible runway to use it — transfers don't help you earn the pass itself.
- •Basic fares give the best points redemption value.
- •Southwest charges no change or cancellation fees, and canceled award bookings return points.
- •Don't transfer speculatively — move points only when you're ready to book.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1:1 transfer from Chase to Southwest a good deal?
It's fair and predictable — generally one to one-and-a-half cents of value per point.
How long does the Chase-to-Southwest transfer take?
It's instant.
Which Chase cards can transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Preferred.
Do Southwest points expire?
No — Southwest Rapid Rewards points never expire, regardless of account activity. The only way to lose them is by closing your Rapid Rewards account, which forfeits any remaining balance.
Is it worth transferring points just to help earn the Companion Pass?
No — transferred Chase points don't count toward the 135,000-point qualifying threshold, so transferring won't help you earn the pass. Once you've earned it through Southwest-earned points, transferring is a great way to fund the flights you'll use it on.
Related transfer guides
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