How To Book Southwest Flights For Grandchildren With Points

Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards is a loyalty program that allows members to earn points by flying or spending with partners. These points can be redeemed for flights, gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, rental cars, and exclusive cardmember experiences. While there are no blackout dates, and points don't expire, members must have a Rapid Rewards account to start earning points. Members can also purchase additional points to get their desired reward. When it comes to travelling with grandchildren, no special paperwork is required, but identification may be needed for minors travelling without their parents.

Rapid Rewards points can be earned by signing up for a Rapid Rewards account

Signing up for a Rapid Rewards account is the first step to earning Rapid Rewards points. You can then earn points by flying with Southwest Airlines or spending with their partners. The number of points you earn depends on the cost of your flight, your elite status, the type of ticket, and your payment method. There are four ticket classes:

• Wanna Get Away: 6 points per dollar
• Wanna Get Away Plus: 8 points per dollar
• Anytime: 10 points per dollar
• Business Select: 12 points per dollar

You can also earn points by spending on Southwest credit cards, referring friends to a Southwest credit card, or transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards. Additionally, you can earn points by renting cars with Southwest car rental partners, dining at participating restaurants through Rapid Rewards Dining, or shopping online through Rapid Rewards Shopping.

Points can be earned by flying with Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines' loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, offers several ways to earn points that can be redeemed for flights and other benefits. One of the primary ways to earn points is by flying with Southwest Airlines. The number of points earned depends on the price of the ticket and the type of fare. Southwest Airlines offers four types of fares, each with a different earning rate:

• Wanna Get Away: Earns 6 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent. This is the most basic fare, offering same-day standby and refundable flight credits.
• Wanna Get Away Plus: Earns 8 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent. This fare includes transferable flight credits, same-day standby, and confirmed flight change benefits.
• Anytime: Earns 10 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent. This mid-tier fare provides more flexibility, with cancellations credited to the original form of payment. It also includes priority and express lane access and EarlyBird Check-In.
• Business Select: Earns 12 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent. This is the highest fare, offering priority boarding, priority security lanes, free in-flight internet, and a complimentary premium drink.

Additionally, elite status members of the Rapid Rewards program will earn bonus points on their flights. There are two levels of elite status: A-List and A-List Preferred. A-List members receive a 25% bonus on their Rapid Rewards points, while A-List Preferred members earn a 100% bonus.

It's important to note that children can also earn Rapid Rewards points by signing up for an account. However, creating an email address for minors may require using a false birth date, as some email providers have minimum age requirements.

Points can be earned by spending with Southwest partners

Southwest Airlines' loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, allows members to earn points by flying or spending with partners. These points can be redeemed for flights through Southwest, gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, rental cars, and exclusive cardmember experiences through the Southwest More Rewards program.

There are numerous ways to earn Rapid Rewards points through spending with partners. Firstly, members can earn points by shopping at over 1,100 online stores via the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. Secondly, members can earn points by renting cars with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty. Thirdly, members can earn points through the Rapid Rewards Dining program by participating in the dining program and eating at eligible restaurants.

Additionally, Rapid Rewards members can earn points by using co-branded credit cards such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. These cards offer various benefits, including bonus points, statement credits, and rewards on purchases made with Southwest, hotel and car rental partners, local transit, commuting, and select streaming services.

Furthermore, members can earn extra points by booking vacation packages with Southwest Vacations, especially when booking hotel stays with select partners like MGM Resorts in Las Vegas.

By taking advantage of these opportunities to earn points through spending with Southwest partners, members can accumulate Rapid Rewards points more quickly and easily, bringing them closer to redeeming their points for exciting rewards.

Points can be purchased

Southwest Airlines' loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, allows members to earn points by flying or spending with partners. These points can be redeemed for flights, gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, rental cars, and exclusive cardmember experiences.

If you are short on points, you can purchase more to get the reward you want. The maximum number of points you can buy each day is 60,000 Rapid Rewards. Before buying, it is essential to compare the cost of purchasing your ticket versus buying the points. Generally, you won't find great value when purchasing points, even with frequent promotions. Additionally, because purchasing Rapid Rewards points is run through a third-party site, you will not receive any travel-related bonus credit card spending, and these points do not count toward a Companion Pass or elite status.

You can also earn extra points by shopping at over 1,100+ online stores with Rapid Rewards Shopping. Members can also earn Rapid Rewards while dining at participating restaurants through the Rapid Rewards dining program.

Points can be earned through credit card spending

Southwest Airlines' loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, offers several ways to earn points, including through credit card spending. The airline partners with Chase Bank to offer several co-branded credit cards that allow members to earn points on their purchases. These include:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: Cardholders can earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points by spending $3,000 in the first four months after opening their account. They can then earn two points per dollar on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit and commuting, ridesharing, and select streaming services. They also earn one point per dollar on all other purchases. All points earned count toward the Companion Pass.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card offers a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first four months. Cardholders earn three points per dollar on Southwest purchases, two points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ridesharing), select streaming services, and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases. There are no foreign transaction fees. All points earned count toward the Companion Pass.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: This option provides a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points when cardholders spend $3,000 in the first four months. They can earn three points per dollar on Southwest purchases, two points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases, local transit and commuting (including ridesharing), select streaming services, and one point per dollar on other purchases. Additional benefits include a $75 Southwest travel credit each year, four Upgraded Boardings per year, and 25% back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: This business card offers 60,000 points after cardholders spend $3,000 in the first three months. They can earn three points per dollar on Southwest purchases, two points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and local transit and commuting (including ridesharing), and one point per dollar on all other purchases. Additional benefits include two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card: With this card, cardholders can earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. They can earn four points per dollar on Southwest purchases, three points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, two points per dollar on local transit (including ridesharing), commuting, social media, search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services, and one point per dollar on all other purchases. Additional benefits include four Upgraded Boardings per year, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.

It's important to note that Chase Bank has strict application rules, including the 5/24 restriction, which means that applicants with more than five credit card applications in the last two years will not be approved for a new card. Additionally, individuals can only hold one personal Southwest credit card at a time, and the business card rules state that the offer is for those who do not currently hold the card and have not received a welcome bonus in the past 24 months.

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