Southwest Passengers Can Now Pay With Points and Cash — What to Know

Southwest Airlines just rolled out the ability to pay with a combination of both cash and points.

Going forward, members of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program can pay for flights with the airline by combining cash with as few as 1,000 points, the airline announced Monday. To use points for flights, customers must select “Cash + Points” when viewing payment options.

The “Cash + Points” option can also be used to book a hotel through the airline.

However, it’s worth noting that, travelers who pay with a combination of cash and points will not earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points for A-List, A-List Preferred status, or Companion Pass qualifying points on their bookings. But these flights will still count toward the qualifying one-way flights for A-List, A-List Preferred, and Companion Pass status.

“Our Purpose is to connect People to the places that matter most to them by offering a seamless travel experience,” Phil Gouel, Southwest’s vice president of travel products, said in the statement. “These enhancements allow Members additional opportunities to redeem their earned points for hotel stays, with more flexibility and more value.”

The news comes as Southwest continues to sell its points at a discount, allowing Rapid Rewards members to buy points for 50 percent off through May 15. Points must be purchased in 1,000-point increments.

Travelers deciding whether to pay with points or put the flight on their credit card can use a free browser extension, Points Path, which compares airline miles and cash prices on major carriers to help them decide.