Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points are great — don’t get me wrong. Yet, when you start thinking about where they can take you currently, your redemption options are a bit limited.
Generally speaking, you can redeem them for a flight within the contiguous U.S., book a trip to Hawaii or take a short international flight to a vacation spot in Mexico or the Caribbean.
But Rapid Rewards will get a lot more exciting in the not-too-distant future.
Fancy a trip to Iceland? Your Rapid Rewards points could take you there.
The arrangement will technically start next month. You’ll be able to book seamless connections between the two airlines on Icelandair’s website and through certain third-party booking sites.
But bigger changes are on the horizon. Next year, after Southwest launches assigned seating, you’ll be able to start booking partner flights to Iceland and beyond (including Europe) through Southwest. That includes Rapid Rewards redemptions.
Speaking with Southwest executives in Washington, it was clear this Icelandair deal is just the beginning, too. The airline hopes to announce a second partnership by the end of this year, and more in the future.
It’s an exciting opportunity for Southwest loyalists sitting on a stash of points — or a reason to start accruing them now. They could be the key to your next trip overseas.
It’s safe to say that it’s a time of big change at the airline. The carrier is doing everything from ditching open seating to dipping its toes into a global partnership.
Here’s more about the big changes in the works at the airline:
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