Southwest Rapid Rewards points sale offers
Southwest Airlines has launched a limited-time sale on award flights, making Rapid Rewards points worth up to 4.3 cents each on select routes through March
Southwest Airlines has unveiled a limited-time sale exclusively for Rapid Rewards points bookings, available from August 28. The deal offers flights on numerous routes for travel spanning more than six months of the airline's 2026 and 2027 calendar at significantly discounted point rates.
Based on The Points Guy's August 2026 valuations, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are typically worth 1.25 cents each. This sale, however, provides opportunities for much higher redemption values. Initial searches found award flights delivering double, triple, or even quadruple the usual point value.
Exceptional point values found
A flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas on November 4 is priced at $136 for a Basic fare but can be booked for just 3,000 points. This represents a value of 4.3 cents per point. Even popular routes to Hawaii are included. A November 8 flight from Sacramento to Honolulu is available for $279 or just 10,000 points.
Holders of the Southwest Companion Pass can extract even greater value. Booking two flights for the price of one could yield redemptions worth over 8 cents per point. At that level, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest becomes a compelling option for booking award flights.
Sale details and restrictions
The points-only sale runs for a short four-day window, ending on August 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. It only applies to flights booked at least 21 days in advance. Eligible travel must occur between September 18, 2026, and March 3, 2027. The deal technically applies to nonstop flights, but comparable values have been found on some connecting itineraries.
Blackout dates around peak travel periods apply. The specific blackout periods vary by route type.
| Route Type | Blackout Dates |
|---|---|
| Continental U.S. & Interisland Hawaii | Nov 28 & 30, 2026; Dec 23, 26, 28 & 30, 2026; Jan 2, 3, 15 & 18, 2027; Feb 12 & 15, 2027 |
| Continental U.S. to Hawaii, Caribbean & International | Nov 19-25, 2026; Dec 17, 2026 - Jan 5, 2027 |
| Hawaii, Caribbean & International to Continental U.S. | Nov 27 - Dec 1, 2026; Dec 17, 2026 - Jan 5, 2027 |
Examples of connecting itinerary deals exist. Many October and November flights from Boise to Long Beach with connections currently cost $76 but are available for 3,000 points, offering over 2 cents per point in value. On November 1, a connecting flight from Las Vegas to Honolulu via Hilo costs $338 in cash but only 10,000 points, yielding over 3 cents per point.
How to search for deals
Finding these deals requires specific search methods. Cash prices appear normal during the sale and can even be higher than recent promotions. To see the discounted point rates, travelers must switch to the points search results. Using the Low Fare Calendar is particularly helpful, as it allows viewing a wide date range and toggling between cash and points views. The clock is ticking on this opportunity, which ends on August 31.
