Update: While this offer is no longer available through our site, you may be able to access the promotion directly before November 28, 2011

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards available.  So much so that’s amazing that more people haven’t been shouting it from the hilltops.  If you're hunting for free flights you just can’t beat the current offer. At a first glace you might think that the face value seems equivalent to other credit card promotions, for example the Chase Sapphire Credit Card is offering 50,000 Ultimate Rewards Points and might be a great choice if you want to fly internationally or somewhere that Southwest doesn’t fly.  However,  what even Southwest themselves isn’t explaining is that with the new Rapid Rewards program, instead of equating the 50,000 rapid rewards points to 2 free flights (as Southwest tells you in their marketing), The truth is that you could actually get up to 4.7 free flights instead of just 2!

Here’s how it works and more information on why we think the Southwest credit card bonus is pretty amazing:

Let’s say you’re ready to hit the slopes to work off your Thanksgiving turkey calories:  A flight from Seattle to Salt Lake City (assuming you book your flight a couple of weeks in advance) takes only 5,340 rapid rewards points each way, 10,680 points for the round trip.

Southwest Credit Card 2 Free Flights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing the math:  50,000 rewards points / 10,680 points for the flight =  4 round trip flights for free, and 70% of the points you’d need for another round trip left over (or you could use the remaining points for half of another trip!)

More to love about the southwest free flights offer

When you dig into the details of the offer other reasons to like this card.

·      Minimal Taxes and Fees – Sometimes the taxes and fees associated with rewards tickets means you may pay $75 or more for your “free” ticket, but when you use your rapid rewards points for free flights you’ll only pay $5.  Plus no baggage fees!

·      Southwest Companion Pass – A massive perk given to you when you have earned 100,000 rapid rewards points, and yes, the 50,000 bonus points count towards the pass.   The pass is good for the rest of the year you earn it as well as the following it year, so if you earned the pass in January 2012 it would be valid for the rest of 2012 and all of 2013.  Anyone can be your companion, you still get a companion on flights you used points to book, and they only pay the $5 taxes to go with you.

·      Flexibility – Have you ever had to endure the pain of changing a flight only to find that the value of your ticket is almost completely eaten up by the fees some airlines charge?  Southwest will let you change your flight anytime without any fees, and if you find a flight with the same fare available, it won’t cost you anything.  Even if you need to completely cancel your flight, Southwest will let you use the credit for another flight in the future.

To sum it up, the Southwest credit card bonus is worth more than 2 free flights and could get you as many as 4.7 flights for free.  No fine print, no baggage fees, no big taxes or airport fees tacked on, just free flights, flexibility.  Not many offers we review at CreditSense make this much good sense!

southwest credit card 2 free flights and more

 

 

 

 

 

  • Limited Time! Earn TWO FREE FLIGHTS after your first purchase.
  • Get 3,000 Points every year on your Cardmember Anniversary - which can be redeemed for a $50 Wanna Get Away® Fare
  • Now you can redeem for International Travel, Hotels, Gift Cards and more.
  • Earn unlimited FREE FLIGHTS - 2 Points per $1 Spent on Southwest Purchases and 1 Point per $1 Spent on EVERYTHING else
  • Your Bags Fly FREE! No Blackout Dates, Points Dont Expire, and Unlimited Reward Seats!
  • No Change fees - if you need to change your flight, you wont be charged a fee.
  • September 11th Security Fee Applies