Southwest Rapid Rewards Points can be earned flying Southwest, spending with their partners, using transfer partners, and using Southwest credit cards, but there may be times in which none of these options work for you. That leaves the option of buying Southwest Points. Buying Southwest Points can be an easy way to top off your account if you need points sooner than later.
Cost To Buy Southwest Points
The standard cost of Southwest Points will range from 2.75 to 3 cents. In order to get the best price, you'll need to buy at least 6,000 Southwest Points otherwise you'll be dishing out 3 cents per point. If you only end up needing 5,000 or less Southwest Points, then paying 3 cents per point is fine. Don't buy more points than what you need if it does not make sense to do so.
| Southwest Points Cost Cost Per Points |
|
|---|---|
| 2,000 - 5,000 Points | 3 Cents |
| 6,000 - 60,000 Points | 2.75 Cents |
Southwest Points can be purchased in 1,000-point increments starting at 2,000 Southwest Points. You can buy as little as 2,000 Southwest Points for $60 and as many as 60,000 Southwest Points for $1,650 per transaction. 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.
Southwest Buy Points Calculator
If you're looking to buy Southwest Points at the standard rate, the calculator below can give you an idea of how much buying points may cost you. 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.
Buy Southwest Points Calculator
| Total Cost 2.75-3 Cents Each |
$0 |
When To Buy Southwest Points
The most common reason for buying Southwest Points is to top off your account. If you're a few thousand miles short of a redemption, buying Southwest Points can be worth it if you need to cover the cost of an award flight.
If you need more than just a "top-off", buying them will typically not be the best way to go about it. The only time it makes sense to buy a large amount of Southwest Points (or points with any program for that matter) is if you can redeem them at a higher value than what you paid for them. If you do find a case in which buying a bunch of points is worth it, you'll want to try and wait until Southwest has one of their 'Buy Points' sales in which you can get them at a great discount.
How To Buy Southwest Points
If you're in need of Southwest Points, you can buy them directly from their website following these steps:
- 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.
