Southwest Rapid Rewards Points can be earned in many way, but there may be times in which none of these options work for you. Luckily, you can buy Southwest Points to top off your account if you need points sooner than later.
How much does it cost to buy Southwest points?
Southwest Points will cost you between 2.75 and 3 cents per point based on how many you buy in a single purchase. In order to get the best rate of 2.75 cents, you'll need to buy at least 6,000 Southwest Points.
| Points Purchased | Cost Per Point |
|---|---|
| 2,000 - 5,000 Points | 3 Cents Each |
| 6,000 - 60,000 Points | 2.75 Cents Each |
How many Southwest points can you buy?
You can buy as little as 2,000 points for $60 and as many as 60,000 Southwest points for $1,650 per transaction. They can be purchased in 1,000-point increments.
You cannot buy or receive as a gift more than a total of 60,000 Southwest Points in a calendar year.
| Base Cost Per Points | 2.75-3 Cents |
|---|---|
| Taxes? | No. |
| Min Purchase Per Transaction | 2,000 Points |
| Max Purchase Per Transaction | 30,000 Points |
| Max Points Per Calendar Year | 60,000 Points |
| Purchase Increments | 1,000-point increments |
Do note that buying Southwest Points do not count towards A-List, A-List Preferred, or the Companion Pass.
Are buying Southwest points worth it?
Southwest points are worth about 1.3 cents per point on average and they don't fluctuate too much in value like other airline miles. You may find a redemption here and there that will give you slightly higher value, but it's not often.
This basically means that you'll always be buying Southwest points for higher than what they are worth. For this alone, buying large amounts of Southwest points will be a bad investment.
The only time I recommend buying Southwest points is if you're a few points of redemption and need to top off your account... and this is best done when they are on sale and can be purchased for a much more reasonable price.
Buy Southwest points calculator
Use the Buy Southwest Points Calculator to find out how much it will cost you to buy Southwest Points at the standard rate. Do note that the cost of Southwest Points can change at any time, so you'll want to log into your Rapid Rewards account and check their Buy Points page to see the actual cost.
| Total Cost 2.75-3 Cents Each |
$0 |
How to buy Southwest points
- Head to Southwest's Buy Points page.
- Log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.
- Select how many Southwest Points you want to buy.
- Enter your payment details.
- Review the purchase and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Click Pay Now.
Earn more Southwest points
If you need a large amount of Southwest points or you're in no rush to buy them, you should consider picking up a credit card that earns Southwest points. You can earn lots of points via intro bonuses and everyday spending across Southwest credit cards and Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards.
Learn More: Best Southwest credit cards
Southwest credit cards
Southwest offers five co-branded credit cards that consists of three personal consumer credit cards and two business credit cards. If you fly Southwest, I highly recommend picking up at least once Southwest credit card as they offer fantastic benefits.
Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred directly to your Rapid Rewards account at a rate of 1,000 Chase points for 1,000 Southwest points. There are several credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, but you must have one of these three credit cards in order to transfer them to Southwest:
FAQ
How much does it cost to buy Southwest Points?
Southwest points will cost you 3 cents each when buying between 2,000 and 5,000 points and will cost you 2.75 cents each when buying 6,000 points or more.
How many Southwest Points can you buy?
You can buy up to 60,000 Southwest Points in a single transaction and up to 60,000 Southwest Points per day.
Where do you buy Southwest Points?
Southwest points are purchased through the Southwest Buy Points Portal.
When should you buy Southwest points?
Southwest points should only be purchases to top off your account if you're a few points shy of a redemption. Buying large amounts of Southwest points will usually be a bad investment.
Can Southwest points be gifted?
Yes. Southwest points can be gifted through the Southwest Buy Points Portal.
We've run the calculations for you and here are our top picks for best credit cards of 2023:
- Best premium card for unlimited miles: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- Best for flexible travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
- Best for everyday spend and travel: Citi Premier® Card.
- Best cash back card for groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
- Best for dining and supermarkets: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for business travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
- Best cash back business card: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Our Credit Card Rewards calculator can help you find the perfect card and offers based on your monthly and yearly spending habits. Simply enter your spend amounts into our tool and let us do the work for you!
