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Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards points have gone through some devaluations in the last several years, but the introduction of variability in the airline’s award pricing has continued to offer some sweet spots for bargain hunters.
Today, Aug. 28, bargain hunters will undoubtedly find outsize value in Southwest Rapid Rewards points. That’s because the carrier just unveiled a limited-time sale exclusively on Rapid Rewards points bookings. Flights on a number of routes for more than six months of Southwest’s 2026 and 2027 calendar are available with this sale at some truly jaw-dropping discounts.
Rapid Rewards points worth 2, 3 or even 4 cents each
In some initial searches with this sale, we found award flights available at prices that deliver double and triple the usual value.
Based on TPG’s August 2026 valuations, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth 1.25 cents per point. In my personal Southwest flight bookings for 2026, my redemptions fall near that mark. The best value I’ve been able to get so far this year was 1.63 cents per point, but I’m sometimes stuck booking at just 1.1 cents per point. Occasionally, I have spotted deals at 1.8 or 1.9 cents per point, but those are usually at highly undesirable flight times.
So, beating 2 cents per point in value is a great deal. Beating 3 cents per point is even better. How does 4 cents per point sound? We found it.
A Nov. 4 flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is currently priced at $136 for a Basic fare but can be booked with Rapid Rewards points for just 3,000 points. That’s a value of 4.3 cents per point.
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Even highly sought-after routes, like flights from the mainland to Hawaii, are on sale at rates that offer 2 to 3 cents per point in value. For example, we found a Nov. 8 flight from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) priced at $279 available for just 10,000 points.
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Holders of the Southwest Companion Pass can extract even more value from the sale, as booking two flights for the price of one could yield redemptions worth over 8 cents per point. At that price, it’s definitely worth transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest to book a couple of award flights.
Southwest deal details
This points-only sale runs for a short four-day window and only applies to flights booked at least 21 days in advance. Eligible flights include those in fall, winter and early spring. (Southwest’s current calendar is open through June 2, 2027.) Note, though, that there are expected blackout dates around peak travel periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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The full deal restrictions and details are as follows:
- You must book by Aug. 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
- You must travel between Sept. 18, 2026, and March 3, 2027.
- Blackout dates apply.
- For continental U.S. and interisland Hawaii flights, blackout dates are: Nov. 28 and 30, 2026; Dec. 23, 26, 28 and 30, 2026; Jan. 2, 3, 15 and 18, 2027; and Feb. 12 and 15, 2027.
- For travel from the continental U.S. to Hawaii; St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and international destinations, blackout dates are: Nov. 19 to 25, 2026, and Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027.
- For travel from Hawaii, St. Thomas, San Juan and international destinations to the continental U.S., blackout dates are: Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2026, and Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027.
The deal technically only applies to nonstop flights, but we’ve found some comparable deals on connecting itineraries. As a result, it’s worth pricing out any and all routes you’re considering.
For example, many October and November flights from Boise Airport (BOI) to Long Beach Airport (LGB) in California — with connections in PHX or LAS — that currently cost $76 are available for just 3,000 Rapid Rewards points, offering a value of over 2 cents per point.
Similarly, on Nov. 1, nonstop flights from LAS to HNL are available for $333. Adding one connection at Hilo International Airport (ITO) on Hawaii Island doesn’t save any money if you book with cash (that trip is priced at $338). However, if you book the connecting itinerary with Rapid Rewards points, you’ll redeem just 10,000 points, giving you a value of over 3 cents per point.
Related: The new playbook for booking and flying with Southwest Airlines
How to search for deal availability
Finding the sweet spots with this deal definitely takes a bit of effort, but the potential payoff makes it worth it.
If you are in the habit of searching for cash prices first, it’s very easy to miss the deals. During this sale, cash prices appear entirely usual and normal. In some cases, cash prices are even a bit higher than they were a few days ago during a different Southwest sale.
To ensure you see the discounts, switch over to the points search results. I found searching with the Low Fare Calendar particularly helpful, as using it lets you view a wide range of dates and easily toggle between the cash and points views.
The clock is ticking, so if this deal is of interest, act fast. It’s only available until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Aug. 31.
