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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Rachel Craft is a travel writer at TPG. She's excited about introducing more people to the world of points & miles and helping fellow travel newbies make the most of their points.
July 15, 2026 • 8 min read
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Quick summary
You can transfer certain transferable points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, enabling award bookings for flights across North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Transfers are generally processed instantly, though they may take up to seven business days in rare cases.
Transferred points cannot be used to earn Southwest status and require a minimum transfer in multiples of 1,000.
It is important to compare the value of booking through the travel portal versus transferring points, as redemption values can vary.
What to consider
Transferred points are not reversible, so double-check amounts and account details before submitting.
Taxes and fees apply to Rapid Rewards award bookings, and points transferred via the portal do not count toward elite status.
According to TPG’s July 2026 valuations, transferable points are worth 2.05 cents each, while Rapid Rewards points are valued at 1.25 cents each.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step instructions for transferring points and detailed scenarios illustrating when a transfer offers the best value.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a favorite currency among the TPG staff, partly because you can transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners. I have transferred my points to Southwest Rapid Rewards to redeem them for award tickets to destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean — and sometimes I can stretch my points even further with the valuable Companion Pass.
In this article, we'll cover how to transfer your Chase points to Southwest Airlines and when you should (or shouldn't) do it.
Yes, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of two transferable currencies that offer Southwest Rapid Rewards as a transfer partner. (The other one is Bilt).
The more Ultimate Rewards points you accrue, the sooner you can redeem your next free trip with Southwest Airlines or any of Chase’s other partners. Here are some of TPG’s favorite cards that will help you earn Ultimate Rewards points through welcome bonuses and everyday spending:
Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a ratio of 1:1. However, you may be able to get an even better ratio if you can take advantage of a transfer bonus. Chase transfer bonuses are sporadic, but if you find one that aligns with your travel plans, you can save thousands of points.
One of the great things about transferable points is that you can redeem them for award flights with airlines you’ve never flown or accrued points or miles with before. But if that’s the case, you’ll need to set up a Southwest Rapid Rewards account before you can transfer your Chase points to Southwest.
Head to Southwest’s website to create an account for free. Then, visit your Chase portal and go into your Ultimate Rewards account. Click “Travel” on the top toolbar, and choose “Transfer points to partners.”
CHASE
On the next screen, you’ll see a list of Chase’s travel partners, with any available transfer bonuses noted at the top. Scroll down, and click on the Southwest option.
This will take you to a page with some rules about transferring your points to Southwest. For instance, points transferred via the Chase portal are not eligible for earning Southwest status. You’ll also have to pay taxes and fees on Rapid Rewards points redemptions.
After reviewing the fine print, click the blue “Transfer Points” button at the bottom right.
CHASE
On the following page, you’ll need to enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards number. Chase also allows you to transfer points to one authorized user on your Chase account, so you could enter their Rapid Rewards number instead. Once you complete this step, click “Next.”
CHASE
Then, enter the number of points you want to transfer. This must be a multiple of 1,000, so you may need to transfer a few more points than required for your redemption.
CHASE
The next page will give you a chance to review your information before processing the transfer. Remember that transfers are irreversible, so be sure you have entered the correct number of points you want to transfer before you hit “Submit.” An innocent typo could cause you to transfer 100,000 hard-earned points when you meant to transfer only 10,000. It’s also a good idea to double-check the spelling of your name and your Rapid Rewards number.
CHASE
If you’re ready to complete the transfer, click “Submit” and wait for your points to hit your Rapid Rewards account.
According to Chase’s site, “Most point transfers process by the next business day, but may take up to seven business days.” However, TPG’s tests have shown that most transfers to Southwest happen instantly. That means you could be booking your award flight mere minutes after transferring your Chase points.
When should you transfer Chase points to Southwest?
PAUL BERSEBACH/MEDIANEWSGROUP/ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER/GETTY IMAGES
According to TPG’s July 2026 valuations, Chase points are worth 2.05 cents each, while Rapid Rewards points are only worth 1.25 cents each. That’s because the flexibility of transferable points makes them inherently more valuable. Since Southwest uses variable redemption rates, you can potentially get far more (or less) than 1.25 cents apiece out of your points.
Before you transfer your points to Southwest, make sure this airline makes the most sense. Take a look at Chase’s other airline partners and compare award rates and flight details, as well as add-ons you may need to purchase, like checked bags and seat selection.
Lastly, compare prices with the Chase Travel℠ portal before transferring points to Southwest.
Take this one-way flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). You could book a Wanna Get Away Plus ticket through Southwest by transferring 23,000 Chase points to your Rapid Rewards account and paying $5.60 in taxes and fees.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
But the same fare booked through Chase Travel only costs 20,838 points. In this case, booking through the Chase Travel portal would save you a few points.
CHASE
However, if you already have a decent balance of Rapid Rewards points and just need to top off your account to book the award ticket, transferring from Chase to Southwest could make more sense. The same goes if you have a valuable Southwest Companion Pass.
For instance, a few years ago, I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest to purchase a round-trip ticket to Turks and Caicos. My ticket cost 46,000 points — not a particularly good deal — but thanks to the Companion Pass I had at the time, I got my partner’s ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees. I spent 46,000 Chase points on two seats that would have cost nearly $1,400 total, giving me a value of around 3 cents per point. I couldn’t have gotten that kind of deal if I'd booked through Chase Travel.
Bottom line
If you’ve never transferred points from Chase, it can be a little nerve-wracking to watch the points vanish from your account and wait for them to appear in your account with an airline or hotel partner. Thankfully, the process is usually smooth and almost instantaneous.
Just be sure to confirm award availability and check that you can’t get a better deal by redeeming points through Chase Travel. Then, follow the steps above to transfer your points and book your next (almost free) getaway.
