southwest travel points

Southwest reserves the right to amend, suspend, or change the program and/or program rules at any time without notice. Southwest reserves the right to end the program with six months' notice. Members do not acquire property rights in accrued points and rewards. By enrolling and/or participating in Rapid Rewards, you agree to abide by these rules and regulations.

Reward travel by the Member and, if applicable, a Companion, is subject to taxes, fees, and other government or airport-imposed charges from $5.60 per one-way trip. Applicable taxes, fees, and other government or airport-imposed charges can vary significantly based on your arrival and departure destination. The payment of any taxes, fees, and other government or airport-imposed charges is the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time reward travel is booked. In some instances, the government may elect to collect the fees directly from the passenger.

For information on how Southwest collects, uses, and shares the information you provide when you become a Member, update your profile or preferences, or earn or redeem points, please review our privacy policy .

Southwest is not responsible for unauthorized access to a Member’s account and will not replace stolen points.

By enrolling in Rapid Rewards, you confirm and represent that you are the Member or that, if the Member is a minor, you are the child’s parent or legal guardian. If you are the child’s parent or legal guardian, you also confirm and represent that you, and not the child, are providing the child’s information to Southwest.

Membership in the Rapid Rewards program will be granted by Southwest and is for individual travelers only. Individuals must enroll separately and may not pool or combine points with other Members. Except as specifically approved by Southwest, corporations, groups, and other entities may not be enrolled as Members.

Member is limited to one account. A Member must provide their legal name matching their government issued photo identification, address, phone number, valid email address, gender, and date of birth. Account specific information will be sent via email to the primary email address in the Member's Rapid Rewards account.

Member is responsible for notifying Southwest immediately of any change of name, email address, or physical address. Name change requests must be submitted in writing. Members may request a name change by contacting us via Southwest.com or by mail at Rapid Rewards, P.O. Box 36657, Dallas, Texas 75235. The written request must contain the Member's current contact information (name, address, telephone number, and email address if available), Rapid Rewards account number, along with photocopies of legal documentation (ex. old government issued photo ID and new government issued photo ID, marriage license, divorce decree, etc.) and an informal letter indicating legal name. Email address and physical address changes may be made on Southwest.com ® after logging into in your account.

Points do not expire. Should a Member close their account, the points in the account will be forfeited.

All account activity and accounts in the Rapid Rewards program are subject to review and adjustment by Southwest at any time and without notice to the Member to ensure compliance with applicable rules. Any suspected fraud, misrepresentation, misuse, abuse or violation of applicable rules, including, but not limited to, Contract of Carriage, tariffs, the program rules, our Rapid Rewards partners’ rules and regulations, and qualification requirements and benefits applicable to A-List and A-List Preferred status and Companion Pass, may result in (a) cancellation of the Member's account and any associated reservations, (b) forfeiture of (1) accrued points in the Member’s account, (2) A-List or A-List Preferred status (if applicable), (3) Companion Pass qualification (if applicable), and (4) rewards or promotional incentives, and/or (c) a delay or suspension of the processing of points and reporting and the redemption of points, status benefits, rewards and promotional incentives.

Earning Rapid Rewards Points

Points can be earned from (a) completing travel on qualifying flights flown by Southwest or (b) through qualifying purchases with our Rapid Rewards partners. Qualifying flights means flights operated by Southwest Airlines and paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points, and excluding nonrevenue travel and charters. Rules and regulations regarding transactions with our Rapid Rewards partners may apply, including, without limitation, adjustments for returns and cancellations with respect to qualifying purchases and engaging in a pattern of returning products after points have been credited to an account.

To earn points for each qualifying flight, Member must provide their Rapid Rewards account number when making their reservation or prior to commencement of travel.

Member who fails to provide their account number can request points for past qualifying flights for up to 12 months after their qualifying flight by visiting Southwest.com .

The actual number of points earned for each individual qualifying flight segment is calculated after completion of the entire ticket and is based on the final dollar amount paid for the base fare, the fare product purchased for that qualifying flight segment, and the Member's tier status (if applicable).

Nonrevenue travel, including reward travel, e-pass travel, Companion Pass travel, and any travel with any portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points, is not eligible for earning points.

Buying, Gifting, Transferring and Donating Rapid Rewards Points

A Member has the ability to purchase points for personal use and as a gift. Point purchases must be paid for with a credit card and can be made online through Southwest.com . Points will be offered in blocks of 1,000 during promotional periods and 500 when off promotion with a minimum purchase of 2,000 points and a daily maximum of 60,000 points combined for personal and gift purchases. Point value will be quoted in U.S. Dollars ("USD") and transactions will be settled in USD. The summary of pricing may be different from what the Member is charged due to the exchange rate or foreign exchange fees associated with purchases made with a credit card issued through a foreign bank.

Points may be purchased as a gift and can be given to an existing Rapid Rewards Member or given to a non-Rapid Rewards Member. Non-Rapid Rewards Members must enroll in Rapid Rewards to claim gifted points. Gifted points must be claimed within 12 months of purchase. Unclaimed points will be forfeited.

A Member has the ability to transfer points to another Member or a preselected charity chosen by Southwest with an active Rapid Rewards account. Costs to transfer points to another Member must be paid for with a credit card, and transfers can be made through Southwest.com . Points can be transferred in blocks of 1,000 during promotional periods and 500 when off promotion with a minimum transfer of 2,000 points and a daily maximum of 60,000 points. Point value will be quoted in USD and transactions will be settled in USD. The summary of pricing may be different from what the Member is charged due to the exchange rate or foreign exchange fees associated with purchases made with a credit card issued through a foreign bank. Points may not be transferred to a Member's estate or as part of a settlement, inheritance, or will. In the event a Member’s account is closed upon death, any points will be forfeited.

A Member may donate points only to those preselected charities chosen by Southwest and no other charities may receive donations through the program. The donating Member’s account will be reduced by the number of points donated to the charity. A Member must affirmatively select the charity to receive a donation of points from the menu of options given on a Southwest website. Unless Southwest and a charity jointly announce otherwise, no portion of the purchase price that a Passenger pays for a ticket is paid to any charity or may automatically generate points for any charity, even those Southwest preselects as eligible to participate in the program.

Southwest reserves the right to change the charities that are eligible to participate in the program at any time without notice. Southwest makes no representation as to the tax consequences of a donation of points. Members should seek tax advice regarding the tax consequences of donating points to a charity through the program. A charity receiving points in the program does not acquire property rights in accrued points and rewards. Southwest is not responsible for the products and services offered by participating charities. Southwest does not endorse, expressly or implicitly, any product, service, company, opinion or political position of any participating charity or any of their affiliates.

Redeeming Rapid Rewards Points

Points can be redeemed for any available seat on any flight booked through Southwest and for any other products or services approved by Southwest. Number of points required to redeem for reward flights may vary based on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare class, point redemption rate, and other factors.

Member can use their points to purchase seats for themselves or others; however, the Member is solely responsible for making any changes to the itinerary after booking. A Passenger traveling on a ticket using points from another Member's account will not be allowed to make changes to the itinerary. The Passenger must contact the Member and have the Member make any necessary changes.

The number of points required to purchase a reward flight is subject to change at any time until the booking is confirmed. Additionally, any changes to the itinerary after the initial booking may result in a change to the amount of points required to purchase the reward flight.

Special fares, such as military and government fares are not eligible to be purchased with points. Other travel not eligible for purchase with points includes, but is not limited to, charter flights, group travel, vacation packages, service-charged, reduced-rate, trade out, and travel not purchased through Southwest Airlines directly.

Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred Status

A Member who flies 20 qualifying one-way flight segments booked through Southwest or earns 35,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year will qualify for A-List status, and a Member who flies 40 qualifying one way flight segments or earns 70,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year will qualify for A-List Preferred status.

A qualifying one-way flight segment is defined as a one-way trip operated by Southwest from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest and excluding nonrevenue travel, group travel, and charters. Tier qualifying points are earned through travel completed on qualifying flights or through the use of the Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Cards Card from Chase. Tier qualifying points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Premier Credit Cards from Chase are not available for qualification for benefits such as A-List and A-List Preferred status until they are posted on your billing statement and posted to your Rapid Rewards account. The following will not count toward qualification for A-List or A-List Preferred status: Rapid Rewards program enrollment points; Rapid Rewards reward flights or any travel with any portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points; Rapid Rewards Companion Pass travel; Rapid Rewards partner points except for tier qualifying points earned on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Cards from Chase (as per the rules described below); bonus points, unless specifically designated as such; nonrevenue travel, unless specifically designated as eligible; stops at intermediate cities on connecting or through flights; and charter flights. Tier qualifying points are not redeemable for travel on Southwest or through the "More Rewards" site.

A Member who has a Rapid Rewards Priority Card, a Rapid Rewards Premier Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Cards from Chase will earn 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases on that card.

A-List and A-List Preferred qualification will be based on a calendar year. Once A-List or A-List Preferred status is earned, the Member can enjoy the benefits for the remainder of that calendar year and for the next calendar year. The Member will maintain A-List or A-List Preferred status for the remainder of the calendar year in which the status was earned and for the entire calendar year immediately following. To continue receiving A-List or A-List Preferred tier benefits, the Member must re-qualify each calendar year. The Member can only maintain one Rapid Rewards A-List Membership during a calendar year, regardless of how many flights (over 20 qualifying one-way flights) are taken or points (over 35,000 tier qualifying points) are earned.

Once a Member qualifies for A-List or A-List Preferred status, Southwest will automatically reserve a boarding position for such Member and all Passengers included on a reservation with such Member 36 hours prior to each of the Member's confirmed Southwest flights (“priority boarding”), unless one or more of the following applies:

• The reservation is booked or changed less than 36 hours prior to scheduled departure.
• The Member’s Rapid Rewards account number is not saved to reservation at least 36 hours prior to check-in.
• The reservation is a group travel itinerary with an A-List or A-List Preferred Member. Only A-List and A-List Preferred Members will receive priority boarding.
• One or more Passenger travels standby on a different flight than what was originally confirmed.
• The flight is taken after a Member’s A-List or A-List Preferred status expires.
• Irregular operations, which may affect A-List or A-List Preferred Membership benefits.

While boarding positions will be reserved, all Passengers on the reservation will still need to check in within 24 hours of scheduled departure to retrieve their boarding passes.

Same-day change: On your day of travel, if there’s an open seat on a different flight that departs on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same origin airport and destination airport, you can get a seat on the new flight free of airline charges. For the same-day change benefit, you must change your flight at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. If there are any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes, you will be required to pay those.You will be required to pay any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes but refunds will be provided Your original boarding position is not guaranteed. If an A-List or A-List Preferred Member is traveling on a multiple-Passenger reservation, same-day change will only be provided for non-A-List or non-A-List Preferred Members in the same reservation if the fare purchased for the reservation is Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus. The same eligibility applies for a Companion and Member who has earned the Companion Pass as set forth below. Keep in mind that a Companion must travel with the Member who earned the Companion Pass. If there are not two seats available, the travelers will not receive same-day change. If the Companion and Member who earned the Companion Pass choose not to travel together, the Companion must purchase a ticket at the applicable fare in order to travel.

Same-day standby: For information about same-day standby, visit our Help Center .

Companion Pass

A Member who earns 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or who flies 100 qualifying one-way flight segments per calendar year will qualify for Companion Pass. Companion Pass qualifying points are earned from travel completed on qualifying flight segments flown by Southwest, points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners. Points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card from Chase are not available for redemption or qualification for Companion Pass status until they are posted on your billing statement and posted to your Rapid Rewards account. Only points posted on your billing statements and posted to your Rapid Rewards account during the same calendar year are available for qualification for Companion Pass status. The following do not count as Companion Pass qualifying points: purchased points; points transferred between Members; points transferred from partner programs, e-Rewards®, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club®; Rapid Rewards reward flights or any travel with any portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points; points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment; tier bonus points; flight bonus points; promotion bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards and Southwest Business Refer a Company promotion); points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards; purchased promotional tier qualifying points; and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase). No points, tier qualifying points, or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion using the Companion Pass.

The Companion Pass allows the Member to designate an individual to fly with the Member (such designated individual, the “Companion”) on Southwest flights purchased by the Member and completed during the Companion Pass validity period. A Companion’s reservation must be booked through Southwest. A Companion's reservation is not considered a purchased flight, and therefore, another Companion Pass reservation cannot be booked from it.

The Member must first book and purchase their flight in cash or points through Southwest and then book the Companion's flight through Southwest by choosing the Rapid Rewards Companion Pass booking option on Southwest.com , or if calling our toll-free reservations number at 1-800-248-4377, notifying the Customer Representative that a Rapid Rewards Companion Pass will be used. Both the Member and the Companion must be booked on the same flights and dates. If the Member’s ticket is canceled, the Companion’s ticket will also be canceled. If the Member changes their ticket, the Member must also change the Companion’s ticket to match the Member’s ticket changes or the Companion’s ticket will be canceled. If the Companion is not traveling with the Member, the Companion's reservation will be canceled. The Member and the Companion must check in together and, if asked, present documentation regarding the the Companion Pass at the Southwest Ticket Counter, Skycap podium (where available), or departure gate in order for the Companion to travel. Valid photo identification for both Member and the Companion is required. The Member and the Companion must board with their assigned group(s). Upon check-in, the Member and the Companion will receive sequential boarding positions unless the Member purchased a Business Select fare, purchased Upgraded Boarding, added their Companion after the Member had been assigned a boarding position, changed a flight on the day of travel, or was impacted by a flight delay or cancellation, in which case the Member and the Companion will not receive sequential boarding positions. For Business Select fares, only the Member will receive an A1-A15 boarding position and the Companion will receive a boarding position based on whichever of the following is applicable: time of check-in, A-List or A-List Preferred status, or EarlyBird Check-In.

Companion Pass qualification will be based on a calendar year, unless otherwise designated by Southwest in writing. Once Companion Pass status is earned, the Member can begin using their Companion Pass immediately once they have designated a Companion. The Member will maintain Companion Pass status for the remainder of the calendar year in which the status was earned and for the entire calendar year immediately following. To continue receiving Companion Pass privileges, the Member must requalify each calendar year. The beginning validity date and/or expiration date of Companion Pass status may not be adjusted.

The Member will automatically be notified via email of Companion Pass eligibility and provided with instructions for designating a Companion. The Member is limited to one Companion at any time. After designating a Companion, the Member may receive notification of such designation. The Companion Pass card is not transferrable. The Member may, however, change their designated Companion, as set forth below, up to three (3) times each calendar year that the Member maintains Companion Pass status. Any reservation with the current Companion Pass would need to be cancelled before changing their designated Companion. Requests for changes of Companions may be made by calling 1-800-435-9792. Allow 21 business days for processing the change of Companion. The Member's designated Companion must be an individual. An individual may not travel as both a Member and a Companion on the same flight. Corporations and other entities cannot be designated as Companions

Companion Pass travel has no blackout dates, but is subject to availability. While there are no seat restrictions, a seat must be available on a flight for a Companion.

Some Members may have legacy Companion Pass cards. The Companion Pass card is the property of Southwest and must be surrendered upon request. The Companion Pass card is not a credit card.

Members will no longer receive Companion Pass cards. For more information on the Companion Pass, please visit Southwest.com or call 1-800-435-9792.

Additional Program Rules and Regulations

Southwest may from time to time offer "bonus" points or promotional reward flights, promotional tier or Companion Pass status, partnership programs, or promotional incentives for Members' use, such as drink coupons, rental car discounts, hotel discounts, or retail discounts. Such offers are not a part of the program’s formal award structure and may be temporary. Southwest reserves the right to modify or eliminate such offers at any time. These offers are void where prohibited by law. At no time may a Member sell, purchase, redeem, broker, or barter their points, rewards, old Companion Pass cards, or drink coupons for cash or other consideration. Points, reward flights, old Companion Pass cards, and drink coupons have no cash value and are void if sold, purchased, brokered, or bartered. In addition, such actions may result in the termination of the Member's account and points may be forfeited, regardless of whether or not the transaction is completed. Any such points or redemption of points are void if transferred for cash or other consideration. Violators may be liable for damages and litigation costs, including Southwest’s attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this rule. On flights traveling 176 miles or more, A-List Preferred Members receive up to two complimentary premium drinks per leg. Flights traveling 175 miles or less only serve water. Drink coupons are subject to availability. Service may also be limited at Southwest's discretion and are non-exchangeable for other goods or services. Drink coupons are invalid after expiration date and will not be updated or replaced. Members must be 21 or older to consume alcoholic beverages and alcohol purchased with drink coupons must be consumed onboard the aircraft. Beverage options may change at any time and are subject to availability. On flights that are not eligible for a digital boarding pass, a physical boarding pass may be shown onboard to demonstrate A-List Preferred status and premium drink eligibility.

By enrolling in the Rapid Rewards program you acknowledge that: (i) the program is not mandatory in order to purchase any ticket on Southwest; (ii) all transactions and activities relating to the program will be deemed to take place exclusively in the state of Texas, United States of America, regardless of where any Member may be located or reside or the destination or origin of any flight; (iii) all monetary amounts and fees relating to such transactions will only be expressed and processed in USD and Southwest is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations that may affect the value that any Member receives in any other currency; and (iv) your credit card company or bank may charge you fees or charges related to your transactions as a Member and you will be solely responsible for any such fees or charges.

Any and all matters arising out of or relating to the program rules and/or the subject matter hereof shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, the laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of law principles, regardless of the legal theory upon which such matter is asserted.

You and we consent to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts within Dallas County, Texas. You and we also agree to litigate any disputes between or involving you and us exclusively in the state and federal courts within Dallas County, Texas. You agree that any cause of action arising out of and/or relating to this program must be commenced within two (2) years after the cause of action accrues. Otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.

NO TRIAL BY JURY:

YOU WAIVE A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BETWEEN YOU AND SOUTHWEST ARISING OUT OF AND/OR RELATING TO THIS PROGRAM.

NO CLASS ACTIONS:

YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PURSUE DISPUTES ON A CLASSWIDE BASIS. YOU AGREE THAT NO CLAIM OR DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF AND/OR RELATING TO THIS PROGRAM MAY BE JOINED WITH A CLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, AND YOU MAY NOT ASSERT A CLAIM IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY ON BEHALF OF ANYONE ELSE IN ANY LAWSUIT OR OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDING.

The program rules, together with the Member’s enrollment, the terms and conditions on Southwest.com , and our Rapid Rewards partners’ rules and regulations, represent the entire, integrated agreement between the parties relating to the program, and shall supersede all prior representations, understandings or agreements pertaining thereto, either oral or written. No other covenants, warranties, undertakings or understandings may be implied, in law or in equity.

If you have any questions regarding the program, visit the Rapid Rewards Help Center page at Southwest.com .

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Southwest is one of the most popular airlines to fly in the U.S., partially because it offers a generous cancellation and flight change policy. However, depending upon the ticket you buy, you may receive travel funds instead of a cash refund in the event your flight plans change.

Here's how to use Southwest travel funds.

How do you get Southwest travel funds?

Thanks to its no-fee change/cancellation policy, Southwest provides a full refund or issues travel funds to your account. To benefit from this generous policy, you must cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before departure.

Here’s how to determine what kind of refund you’ll get:

You get a full refund to your original payment method when you book Anytime or Business Select tickets.

You get travel funds when you book Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets. If you use Rapid Rewards points, they will be returned to your Southwest account. Any refunded taxes will go to your travel funds.

Business Select and Anytime fares offer the most flexibility, but they also cost more than Wanna Get Away fares. Wanna Get Away fares, on the other hand, offer the lowest prices. But if you need to cancel or choose to rebook to a lower-priced flight , your only choice is to receive travel funds — cash refunds aren't on the table.

» Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards program: the complete guide

Where can you see your travel funds balance?

When you log in to your Rapid Rewards loyalty account, your travel funds appear at the top of the "My Account" screen.

This shows the total available travel funds that you have, but it does not provide the details. You need to click on "View Details" to see the balance of the individual travel fund reservations. Here, you find the expiration date and balance for each reservation. As of July 28, 2022, any unexpired funds and any funds created from there on out will no longer expire. Southwest is updating their system, so for the time being, an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2040, will be displayed in the expiration field. Eventually, that field will go away altogether.

If you don't have a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account, booked a flight that didn't have your loyalty number attached to it or have travel funds from a special purchase ticket, then you'll need to track them manually. Signing up for a Rapid Rewards account is free to do.

Unfortunately, you cannot manually add travel funds to your profile. To track your travel funds manually, visit the " Check Travel Funds " page on Southwest's website. You'll need to provide the passenger's first and last name plus the confirmation number from the reservation. On this page, you can also check the balance of Southwest LUV vouchers and gift cards.

» Learn more: Don't just redeem miles — redeem them wisely. Here's how

What can I do if my travel funds have expired?

While unexpired funds and newly created funds no longer have an expiration date as of July 28, 2022, what if you have travel funds that expired just before this change in policy? According to the Southwest Community message boards, your one hope is to call customer service within six months of the expiration and ask them to reinstate your travel funds as a LUV voucher. The LUV voucher will be good for another six months from the date of your call. Southwest charges $100 for this one-time extension and it comes out of your travel funds.

» Learn more: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

What can Southwest travel funds be used for?

Travel funds from Southwest can be used to book any available cash flight or to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. They are treated like cash and can be used to pay for some or all of the amount owed. If you don't use all of the travel funds for the reservation, any remaining balance remains for future use.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award flights on Southwest

Can I use Southwest travel fund for someone else?

Your travel funds can be transferred to someone else with a Rapid Rewards account if you bought a a Business Select , Anytime or Wanna Get Away Plus fare. That person would have to book their own flight using the travel fund, though. You won't be able to use your travel fund to book for someone else. Wanna Get Away fares are not eligible to transferred, so they can only be used by the ticketed passenger.

4 steps to book a flight with Southwest travel funds

Your travel funds can be used to book flights online, over the phone or at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter. For this illustration, we'll focus on booking a reservation online.

1. Have your original ticket confirmation number handy

Before booking a reservation, print out or write down the travel funds reservation number(s) that you'd like to use. Southwest's website does not allow you to choose from a list during booking.

2. Browse and select your flights

During the booking process, you'll select your travel dates, cities and times as normal.

3. Apply your travel funds

When you arrive at the "Passenger & Payment Info" page, click to expand the "Apply Travel Funds, LUV Vouchers and gift cards" section. Here is where you'll enter your travel funds' confirmation number and your first and last name before clicking "Apply funds." Then, continue the booking process as normal and pay any remaining balance owed with your preferred form of payment, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card .

Again, you may use your travel funds for cash fares or to pay the taxes and fees on award tickets.

Remember, travel funds from other passengers may not be applied to your ticket.

4. Get confirmation

Now that you've filled out all of the necessary information and remitted payment with your travel fund, you should see a confirmation email pop up in your inbox.

» Learn more: Is a Southwest credit card worth it?

Using Southwest travel funds

Southwest travel funds are typically created when you cancel or change a Wanna Get Away reservation. They are automatically added to your account when you attach your Rapid Rewards number to the reservation before it is canceled. These funds can be used to book cash or award travel, and any unused amount from your new reservation can be used on a future flight.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

RAPID REWARDS®

Take a vacation. earn more rapid rewards points per member. it's that simple..

Did you know that you when you book a Southwest Vacations package you earn more Rapid Rewards points per Member on the air portion of your package? Yea, we thought you'd be excited. Just one of those perks you get when vacationing with us. 

How can you earn Rapid Rewards while on vacation?

• Complete the online enrollment form at Southwest.com® .
• After completing the enrollment form, you will receive your Rapid Rewards account number.
• Find the perfect vacation package
• At checkout, provide your Rapid Rewards account number and you're done. It is that easy. 
• Lastly, enjoy your vacation! 

How to earn

How to redeem, earn even more rapid rewards points per member with select hotel partners:, mgm resorts.

*All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at  Southwest.com/rrterms.  A qualifying flight is a one-way revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections or a round trip revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal.  Travel booked or flown prior to registration for this promotion is not eligible for the double points offer. 1 Rapid Rewards® Members will receive special offer earnings of 600 Rapid Rewards points per room for every qualifying stay at MGM Rewards Destinations in Las Vegas. A qualifying stay is defined as one or more consecutive nights at an MGM Rewards Destination regardless of check in/check out occurrences. Rapid Rewards points will be credited to one (1) person, per room. Rapid Rewards points are offered by select MGM Rewards Destinations and are in addition to the base vacation package points earned by each traveling member in your party. Upon check in at the hotel, you must request Rapid Rewards points and provide your Rapid Rewards account number. MGM Rewards Membership is required, and membership number must be attached to your reservation prior to check out. To request Rapid Rewards points for past stays, please contact MGM Rewards Member Services at [email protected] . Missing Rapid Rewards points may be requested up to 6 months from the qualifying stay. Please allow 30 days after completion of stay for the Rapid Rewards points to be credited to your account. If you are not already a Rapid Rewards Member, you may enroll at Southwest.com® . If you are not already an MGM Rewards Member, you may enroll at mgmrewards.com . See Southwest.com® for more details. If you have any questions, please contact Member Services at [email protected] .  2 One-day advance purchase is required. 5,000 Rapid Rewards ®  bonus points will be awarded to each Member on flight + hotel vacation packages of five nights or more at any RIU Hotels & Resorts property in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. To earn Rapid Rewards points for a vacation package, enter each Passenger's Rapid Rewards account number during checkout. Rapid Rewards account numbers can also be entered by visiting your account at  Southwest.com​ , when you check in online for your flight, or by providing your account number at the airport counter or gate before boarding your flight. Please allow up to eight weeks after completed qualifying travel for the 5,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points to be posted to each Member on the reservation with a Rapid Rewards account number at time of booking. Rapid Rewards points are awarded in addition to the base Rapid Rewards points for air offered with any package purchase and indicated during the booking process and on travel documents. Points do not count towards A-List or A-List Preferred status. Points will be rewarded if booked 3/7/2023 – 4/3/2023 by 6:00 p.m. CT for travel 3/8/2023 – 10/4/2023. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at  Southwest.com/rrterms .

Southwest Airlines to offer first red-eye flights in coming years

Southwest Airlines is preparing to launch a travel option common throughout the airline industry — but one not in place at the Dallas-based carrier.

In the coming years, Southwest says it will begin offering red-eye flights from some of its most popular cities.

It will mark the first time the airline has offered the overnight itineraries, which see passengers depart at night in one time zone and wake up (assuming they slept at all) the next morning in another.

The aptly named itineraries are commonplace throughout the industry. In the U.S., scores of flights take off from the West Coast each night en route to the East Coast. The same is true for flights headed to Europe.

But Southwest doesn't currently offer any red-eyes — and hasn't regularly flown them historically, either.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter .

In the past, technology limitations with the carrier's booking channels prevented the airline from offering red-eye bookings. After the airline migrated to a new system several years ago, that technological barrier was no longer an obstacle.

From that point, it was, seemingly, only a matter of time before the airline began the move to offer red-eyes, as CEO Bob Jordan hinted during an aviation conference last fall.

"At some point Southwest Airlines will be doing red-eyes. Absolutely," Jordan confirmed during remarks at the Skift Aviation Conference in November.

When will Southwest red-eye flights begin?

It's still not entirely clear when Southwest's first red-eye flights might take off. The airline still must complete "a wide range of work," a company spokesperson told TPG on Monday, noting the process could take "a few years."

Future red-eye routes would likely depart from prime leisure markets "where they would make sense for our customers, and in places where Southwest has a large presence," the spokesperson said, specifically noting Hawaii and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

A quick look at Southwest's route map shows the obvious opportunities. For instance, it flies to more than a half-dozen continental U.S. airports from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu alone.

The airport's online departures board for Monday shows a wide range of late-night departures to the U.S. mainland for American Airlines.

It's a similar story for United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines.

But you can see that Southwest's departures from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland end, on this day, at 3:15 p.m.

The airline envisions up to 50 nightly red-eye flights in the future, TPG contributor Edward Russell was first to report in The Washington Post last week, citing comments by a Southwest executive at the 2024 Routes Americas Conference in Colombia.

Why is Southwest adding red-eye flights?

As for why Southwest is interested in adding red-eye flights to its daily schedule, economics are a big factor.

Red-eye flights help airlines keep their jets in use even during the overnight hours. After all, aircraft don't make money when they sit still.

"A way to continue to develop your revenue production is to fly our aircraft and utilize them more," Jordan said at the November conference. "You're basically producing [capacity] without expending more capital."

And the need for Southwest to maximize its existing fleet is critical amid 737 MAX delivery delays at Boeing, which saw the carrier move down its 2024 delivery forecast in recent weeks.

Bottom line

Your next trip with Southwest likely won't feature a red-eye flight, with overnight itineraries likely at least a couple of years away, still. But the carrier has made clear it will add these sleep-depriving flights to its future plans, offering a travel option employed by its competitors for decades.

Related reading:

• Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
• The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
• How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
• Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight

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How to earn and use the Southwest Companion Pass in 2024

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• The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a buddy with you for just the cost of taxes and fees.
• With some strategy and foresight, you can earn this unlimited travel benefit through 2025.
• Read Business Insider's guide to the best travel credit cards .

Traveling can be a great adventure, but it's even better with a friend or loved one. Southwest offers an incredible perk called the Companion Pass, arguably one of the most valuable benefits in the travel industry. This benefit allows you to fly a buddy with you on any flight you take — with a few caveats and exceptions, of course.

Here's everything you need to know about getting and using the Southwest Companion Pass, including the best strategies to keep it for as long as possible.

Southwest Companion Pass Guide

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you on both paid and award tickets for just the cost of taxes and fees, for up to two years (provided your timing is right). To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you'll either have to accrue 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 eligible one-way flights in a calendar year.

But here's a nice little trick: The points you'll earn from the Southwest credit card bonuses and spending count toward earning the Companion Pass — so opening a card and earning the bonus is an easy way to achieve a big part of the requirement.

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to book a friend or family member's airplane ticket, on the same flight as you, without needing to pay any cash or points for the flight. You will be responsible for taxes and fees, but typically these do not amount to much (about $6 each way for a domestic flight).

Once you earn the Companion Pass, you can designate your travel companion in the Southwest system. The good news is that you can change to a different companion up to three times per calendar year. This means that you can bring along different friends for different trips.

How to Get a Southwest Companion Pass

To qualify for the Companion Pass, you need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 one-way flights per calendar year on Southwest Airlines, which must be earned and posted to your Rapid Rewards account.

However, if you hold a Southwest credit card, you'll receive a "boost" of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year. You won't actually receive 10,000 redeemable points — this benefit effectively reduces the number of points you must collect to 125,000. You'll only receive one boost yearly, even if you have multiple Southwest cards.

You can earn qualifying points by:

• Booking flights
• Earning points issued on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
• Earning points from Rapid Rewards partners

You won't earn qualifying points for the following:

• Purchased points
• Points transferred between Rapid Rewards members
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards ®
• Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
• Points converted from e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club
• Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment
• Tier bonus points
• Flight bonus points
• Partner bonus points

Southwest Companion Pass Timing

If you decide you want to earn the Companion Pass, you need to plan out the timing just right. If you're going through the work of getting a pass, then you should maximize the amount of time you have to use it. 

As soon as you earn the pass, it will be valid through the rest of that calendar year as well as for the entire year that follows. For example, if you earn the Companion Pass in 2024, it will expire at the end of December 2025. That means:

• If you earn the required number of points in November 2024, you will only be able to use the Companion Pass through December 2025 — just a little over a year.
• But if you earn the Companion Pass in April 2024, you can use it through December 2025 — nearly two years of nearly-free travel.

The year in which your qualifying Southwest Companion Pass points post to your account is the year for which they will count toward the Companion Pass.

With this in mind, the best time to start planning to get the Companion Pass is toward the end of a calendar year, or very early in the new year. 

Earn the Southwest Companion Pass With Credit Cards

If you're flying thousands of miles to earn the Companion Pass, you're doing it the hard way. You can more easily earn the required number of points using Southwest credit cards, since their welcome bonus offers and points earned from spending count toward the qualifying points you need.

Southwest consumer credit cards

All three personal credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses of 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest rapid rewards® premier credit card, southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card, southwest business credit cards.

You can easily earn the Companion Pass by earning a bonus from one of these personal cards and one from a Southwest business credit card, plus the points you'll earn from spending enough to meet both bonuses.

You can only have one Southwest personal card at a time. However, you can have one personal card and either (or both!) Southwest small business credit cards at the same time.

You don't have to be a full-fledged CEO to get a business credit card. You may qualify for a small business credit card even if you just freelance, work a side gig, or occasionally sell secondhand items on eBay.

Here's what the two Southwest business cards currently offer:

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card — 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card — 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open

How to earn the remaining points you need for the Companion Pass

If you only open one Southwest card, you'll usually be short points for earning a Companion Pass. To earn the remaining points, there are a few strategies:

• Use the Southwest card for your everyday spending and all other bills and expenses — and boost your earnings even more by making online purchases through the Southwest shopping portal
• Fly Southwest, where you'll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on the fare type
• Book hotels through Southwest Hotels (in partnership with Booking.com)
• Rent a car through Southwest Book a Car
• Sign-up for Rapid Rewards Dining and eat out at participating restaurants

Compare Southwest personal credit cards

Each credit card comes with different perks and annual fees. Here's what you should know about each personal card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the lowest-tier card in this Southwest family, with an annual fee of $69.

Infrequent Southwest flyers get great benefits on this entry-level card: 

• 2x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
• 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 2x on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• 1x on everything else

You'll also get 3,000 points on your card anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review . 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child of the credit card family, with a good range of benefits to offset the $99 annual fee.

Premier cardholders earn rewards at the following rates:

• 3x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• 2x on Internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services

You earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year when you renew the card, and get two complimentary EarlyBird check-in credits each year. You'll also earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend with no limits, as well as 25% back on inflight purchases. Finally, you'll also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year, which gives you a head start on earning your next Companion Pass.  

Learn more about this card in our Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review . 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's top-tier consumer credit card, and a great option for frequent Southwest travelers to keep in their wallet.

The earning rates on the Priority card mirror those of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Priority cardholders earn: 

• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You'll also receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on your card anniversary, earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status when you spend money on this card, and receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit as well as four upgraded boardings per year when available.

The Priority card also gives you 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Priority Card review . 

Both of Southwest's business credit cards offer great value for a reasonable annual fee.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Southwest Performance Business card is a heavy hitter for frequent Southwest travelers, especially if you often purchase WiFi during your flights. This card currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth 112000 based on Business Insider's valuations.

This card has the highest annual fee out of all Southwest credit cards, at $199. In exchange, you get a slew of benefits that are worth significantly more than what you pay, assuming you can utilize most of them. 

You'll earn Rapid Rewards points at the following rates: 

• 4x on Southwest purchases
• 3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2x on rideshare
• 2x on social media and search engine advertising
• 2x on internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point per dollar on everything else 

You get 365 inflight WiFi credits with the Southwest Performance card. This is one of the most unique (and generous) perks for inflight WiFi across all airlines and credit cards. You'll still earn rewards for each $8 WiFi purchase, but receive it back in the form of a statement credit on your next bill. And the high number of annual WiFi credits available means that you can connect your cellphone, iPad, and laptop on every flight (if you so desire) without ever running out of credits. 

You'll also earn 9,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on your card renewal anniversary; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit; four complimentary upgraded boardings per year when available; and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. 

Read more about this card in our Southwest Performance Business card review .

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a strong choice for business travelers who occasionally fly on this airline, especially if you can make use of the welcome bonus: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

For a $99, you'll get many of the same benefits as the Performance card with slightly lower earning rates: 

• 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2x on rideshares
• 1 per dollar on everything else

Cardholders get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. They also receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on their card renewal anniversary. 

Read more in our Southwest Premier Business card review .

How to Use the Southwest Companion Pass

As a Companion Pass holder, you can book your flight to your desired destination using cash or points. Once your flight is confirmed, you can add your companion for the same flight online, through the Southwest mobile app, or by calling Southwest customer service.

There's no limit to how often you can use the Companion Pass — as long as you're flying and there's at least one spare seat on the plane, you can book it for your travel buddy.

You'll get the most out of your pass if you choose someone you frequently travel with, such as a spouse, child, best friend, or family member. 

Designate your Southwest companion

Before you start scouring the site for flights, you must first register your designated companion on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.

To do so, log into your Rapid Rewards account at Southwest and click Choose Your Companion under the Snapshot tab. Enter all of the requested information about your companion until the process is complete. A Companion Pass member kit and membership card will arrive within 10 business days.

You don't need to wait for your Companion Pass member kit to arrive in the mail before you start booking tickets. In fact, you don't really need the pass itself at all; you can add a companion to any flight you've already booked for yourself directly through the app or the website, and they will receive a confirmation number and boarding pass just like any other passenger. 

Add your companion to a reservation

Once your flight is booked, visit the My Trips section of your account. Find your flight in the section titled "Upcoming" and click on the "Add Companion" link. Here, click "Continue" to proceed to the next step where you can purchase your companion fare and review the information. Once you hit the "Purchase" button to complete your booking reservation, you're all set.

You can also book via phone and notify the customer service representative that you will be using a Companion Pass.

How to change your designated companion

You can change your companion up to three times each calendar year. If you choose a companion when you earn the pass in 2024, you can rotate through four total different companions before 2025.

You cannot switch your companion online yourself; instead, you need to speak with Southwest directly at 800-435-9792. The process is straightforward: A customer representative will take the information about your new designated companion and make the switch for you.

You cannot book new travel with your next companion until all travel with your current companion is complete. For example, if you're traveling to New York with your sister in August, but want to fly to Los Angeles with your spouse in September, you cannot add your spouse as your companion until your trip in August is completed.

If you use points and need to cancel for any reason, all of your points will be restored to your account.

What Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth?

Southwest is largely a domestic and Caribbean airline, but it also serves many popular destinations such as Mexico, Aruba, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. The value you'll get from the Southwest Companion Pass depends entirely on how often you and your travel companion fly Southwest. You could easily save tens of thousands of dollars with this perk.

Southwest points are worth 1.4 cents each toward flights, on average, based on Personal Finance Insider's current points and miles valuations . But the Companion Pass can effectively double the value of your points.

Once you've successfully earned the 125,000 points necessary to qualify for the Companion Pass (again, the qualification is 135,000 points, but Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-mile boost), you'll have enough points for at least $1,750 in Southwest flights (125,000 points x 1.4 cents each).

The Companion Pass allows you to bring along another person for just the cost of taxes and fees, meaning you could potentially get $3,500 in flights ($1,750 x 2) just from the points you earned to qualify for the pass.

Southwest Companion Pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the southwest companion pass.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel benefits in the industry. If you hold a Southwest Companion Pass, you can bring one designated travel companion on any Southwest flight you take for just the cost of taxes and fees, as long as there's at least one extra seat on the plane. The Companion Pass works on both paid flights and award travel.

Are Southwest buddy passes free?

Southwest companion fares are almost free — you'll only pay for any associated taxes and fees, which are often as low  as $5.60 on most domestic one-way direct flights. Taxes and fees must be paid in cash. 

How can I tell if I have the Companion Pass on Southwest?

After you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you'll see a banner in the center of your account page prompting you to designate a travel companion. Once you do so, you'll see your Companion Pass badge and companion name on the right side of your account page. 

How do I get the Southwest Companion Pass?

You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by earning 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or flying 100 one-way cash flights within a calendar year. Qualifying points can be earned through Rapid Rewards credit card spend, or by flying with the airline.

Is the Southwest Companion Pass good for two years?

You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass through the year following the one in which you earn the required 135,000 points or complete your 100th flight. Thus, you'll earn the Companion Pass for nearly two full years if you can complete the requirements in January each year. 

How many times can a Companion Pass be used?

The Southwest Companion Pass is unlimited. You can bring your designated companion on any flight that you take yourself, as long as there's an extra seat on the plane. You can even use the Companion Pass on Southwest award flights booked with Rapid Rewards points.

Is the Companion Pass only for domestic travel?

The Companion Pass can be used for both domestic and international travel.

Can my companion fly without me on Southwest?

Your companion cannot fly on a companion fare unless you are on all of the same flights, but they can still book their own travel through Southwest as a regular passenger.

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Southwest Airlines One-Way Wanna Get Away Airfares to Select Cities

Editor's notes & price research.

• 21-day advance purchase required.
• Purchase from April 2 through April 11, 2024 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
• Continental U.S. travel valid April 23 through June 5, 2024 and August 6 through November 20, 2024.
• Hawaii, international, and San Juan, Puerto Rico travel valid August 20 through November 20, 2024.
• Continental U.S. to/from Hawaii, international, and San Juan, Puerto Rico blacked out 9/3/24.
• Orange County (SNA) travel not valid.
• Fares valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service.
• Review the offer page for the complete terms and conditions.
• Consider signing up for Rapid Rewards to earn points you can use for any seat, any time. There are no blackout dates and points don't expire ( free to join ).
• Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

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2024 solar eclipse map: Where to see the eclipse on April 8

These 2024 solar eclipse maps will help you make the best decision about where and how to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday (April 8).

It's finally here: Today, (April 8) a total solar eclipse will pass across the skies North America, giving more than 33 million people living in 15 U.S. states a rare view of the totally-obstructed sun, and — weather permitting — a taste of some seriously strange eclipse phenomena .

If you’re wondering where the total and partial phases of the eclipse will be visible, the good news is that almost everyone in the contiguous U.S. will be able to see the celestial spectacle to some extent. But for a more detailed view of the eclipse’s path, take a look at these handy eclipse maps, courtesy of GreatAmericanEclipse.com. 

Solar eclipse 2024 path of totality map

Totality is the moment that every eclipse-chaser lives for: The moment when the moon completely covers the sun’s face, resulting in a brief but eerie darkness in the daytime. The path of totality , shown in the map above, is the path of the moon’s shadow across Earth’s surface. 

On Monday (April 8), totality will begin in Sinaloa, Mexico, then move northeast up to Texas, ultimately crossing 15 states before moving on to Canada. The states where totality will be visible are: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine — although Tennessee and Michigan will only be glanced by the moon's shadow.

Related: April 8 solar eclipse: What time does totality start in every state?

Viewers MUST be within the path of totality to witness the total phase of the eclipse; if you are off the path by even a mile, you will only see a partial eclipse, and miss out on the spooky daytime darkness. Furthermore, the closer you are to the center of the path of totality, the longer totality will last for you — up to a maximum duration of 4 minutes, 27 seconds in Torreón, Mexico.

Note: Totality is the ONLY TIME when it is safe to view the sun without protective eyewear like certified solar eclipse glasses . You must protect your eyes during the entire partial phase of the eclipse, no matter where you are.

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Solar eclipse 2024 partial eclipse map

If you live in the U.S. and can’t make it to the path of totality, a partial eclipse still awaits you on April 8. The entire contiguous U.S. will have some view of the partial eclipse, ranging from 99% coverage of the sun just off the path of totality to about 15% coverage far to the northwest of the path.

The map above shows how much of the sun’s disk will be blocked from your location. Watching the partial phases of the eclipse — which last about an hour and 20 minutes before and after totality — means wearing protective eyewear at all times. Failure to do so could result in permanent eye damage, according to NASA .

If you want to experience the celestial spectacle but don’t have a pair of eclipse glasses handy, there are many other ways to safely enjoy the partial eclipse . These include making a homemade pinhole projector , using a pasta strainer to project the shadow of the moon onto the ground or watching one of the various eclipse live streams available.

2024 eclipse travel maps

If you want to see totality but don’t live within the path, driving or taking public transit to a city within the path may be possible. The map above shows how far the drive is to the path of totality, based on where you’re coming from. Meanwhile, the map below shows the most populated cities within the path of totality — many of which are expected to be flooded with millions of eclipse tourists on April 8.

The biggest cities within the path of totality include: San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth in Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Hamilton and Montreal in Canada; and Torreón and Mazatlan in Mexico.

Wherever you are on April 8, we wish you clear skies and protected eyes during this rare, wondrous eclipse over North America.

Brandon is the space/physics editor at Live Science. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. He enjoys writing most about space, geoscience and the mysteries of the universe.

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