How (and when) to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are highly valued by the TPG team, mainly because they can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners. I frequently transfer my points to Southwest Rapid Rewards to obtain affordable award tickets to locations in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean — and I can sometimes maximize my points even more with the sought-after Companion Pass.

Receive 90,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 within the first three months of opening your account with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

However, based on which Chase credit card you hold, it might be more advantageous to book flights directly through Chase Travel℠, as this could use fewer points and allow you to earn Rapid Rewards points on your ticket.

Here's everything you need to know about transferring your Chase points to Southwest.

How to transfer Chase points to Southwest

One of the fantastic aspects of transferable points like Ultimate Rewards is that you can use them for award flights with airlines you might not have flown with or earned miles from before. If that’s your situation, you’ll need to set up a Southwest Rapid Rewards account before transferring your Chase points.

Visit Southwest's website to create an account for free. Then, go to your Chase portal and access your Ultimate Rewards account. Click on "Travel" in the top menu, and select "Transfer points to partners."

On the following screen, you'll find a list of Chase's travel partners, with any applicable transfer bonuses highlighted at the top. Scroll down and select the Southwest option.

This will direct you to a page outlining the rules for transferring your points to Southwest. For example, points transferred through the Chase portal do not qualify for Southwest status. Additionally, taxes and fees will apply to Rapid Rewards points redemptions.

Once you've read the fine print, click the blue "Transfer Points" button located at the bottom right.

On the next page, you'll be prompted to enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards number. Chase also allows you to transfer points to one authorized user on your Chase account, so you can use their Rapid Rewards number if preferred. After completing this step, click "Next."

Next, specify the number of points you wish to transfer. This amount must be a multiple of 1,000, so you might need to transfer slightly more than required for your redemption.

The following page will provide an opportunity to review your details before finalizing the transfer. Keep in mind that transfers are permanent, so ensure you have a specific redemption planned and verify award space availability before proceeding. It's also wise to double-check your name spelling, Rapid Rewards number, and the point amount you're transferring before clicking "Submit." A simple typo could result in transferring thousands of hard-earned points when you intended to send just 10,000.

When you're ready to finalize your Southwest redemption, click "Submit" and await the transfer of your points to your Rapid Rewards account.

According to Chase's website, "Most point transfers are completed by the next business day, but can take up to 7 business days." However, tests conducted by TPG indicate that most transfers to Southwest are processed instantly, meaning you could be booking your award flight just minutes after transferring your Chase points.

Chase to Southwest transfer ratio

Like all of Chase's current transfer partners, Ultimate Rewards points convert to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. However, you might achieve an even better ratio by taking advantage of a transfer bonus. These bonuses are uncommon, but if you discover one that fits your travel plans, you could save yourself thousands of points.

Should I transfer my Chase points to Southwest?

According to TPG's August 2024 valuations, Chase points hold a value of 2.05 cents each, whereas Rapid Rewards points are valued at only 1.4 cents each. This disparity arises because transferable points offer greater flexibility, making them inherently more valuable.

Since Southwest determines the cost of award flights based on cash prices, you'll generally find that redeeming Rapid Rewards points yields about 1.4 cents per point. Other Chase transfer partners, such as United Airlines, Air France, and World of Hyatt, present better award sweet spots where you can extract more value from your points. Therefore, you might consider holding onto your Chase points for these more lucrative transfer partners.

However, depending on your circumstances, Southwest could be the most practical choice. Examine Chase's other airline partners first and assess their award rates and flight options. If Southwest is running a promotion for your preferred route or offers more convenient flight times than other airlines, it could be the ideal option. This is especially true if you already possess a collection of Rapid Rewards points or a Companion Pass.

For example, last year I transferred my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my Rapid Rewards account to book a round-trip flight to Turks and Caicos. The ticket required 46,000 points, but because I had the Companion Pass at that time, my partner only had to pay taxes and fees. Consequently, I redeemed 46,000 Chase points for two flights that would have cost nearly $1,400 in total, resulting in a value of about 3 cents per point. Such a deal would not have been possible with any other airline.

However, it's crucial to verify whether booking your Southwest flights directly through Chase Travel might offer a better deal. Depending on your Chase card, you could receive a value of 1.25 cents or 1.5 cents per point. Additionally, flights booked this way will accumulate Rapid Rewards points like a standard fare ticket. This could prove to be a more advantageous option, depending on the flight you choose.

For instance, a one-way flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) in February would cost 12,885 points plus $5.60 in taxes and fees.

If you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (which values your points at 1.5 cents each when booking flights via Chase Travel), you can secure the same flight for only 12,132 points — and you'll also earn Rapid Reward points in the process.

In fact, it's advisable to book all of Southwest's fare classes directly through Chase Travel for this flight. You'll end up redeeming fewer Chase points compared to transferring them to your Rapid Rewards account.

However, if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you may require extra points to book this flight, which could make transferring a more appealing option. Additionally, if you have a solid balance of Rapid Rewards points and only need a few more to reach the threshold for the award ticket, transferring your Chase points to your Southwest account can be a sensible choice.

Therefore, it's crucial to always compare prices between Chase Travel and Southwest to ensure you're not using more points than necessary.

How to accumulate Chase points

The more Ultimate Rewards points you gather, the quicker you'll be able to book your next complimentary trip with Southwest or any of Chase's other partners. Here are some of TPG's top card recommendations to help you earn Ultimate Rewards points through sign-up bonuses and regular purchases:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

However, keep in mind that you're not restricted to just these cards. Personally, I really enjoy the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. While they don’t generate Ultimate Rewards points on their own, if you also possess one of the cards mentioned above, you can convert those cash-back points into genuine Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to any of Chase's partners.

In conclusion

Transferring points from Chase for the first time can feel a bit intimidating as you watch your points disappear from your account and eagerly await their arrival in your partner account. Fortunately, the transfer is typically quick and seamless. Just ensure you verify the amount of points needed and check if you might score a better deal by booking through Chase Travel directly. Once you've done that, follow the steps outlined above to complete your transfer.