You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines, but only through specific Chase credit cards and with a few rules about timing and value

Not every Chase card lets you move points to Southwest. You need either the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, or the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Card. If you hold a different Chase card — like the Sapphire Preferred or Freedom Unlimited — your points cannot transfer to Southwest directly. You would need to use those points for other travel partners or redeem them for cash back instead.

The transfer itself takes place in your Chase account online, and the points land in your Southwest account within 24 hours. Southwest then holds those points for you to use when booking flights on Southwest.com or through a travel agent. The exchange rate is always one Chase point equals one Southwest point, with no bonus or penalty.

Key Takeaways

  • Only Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards cards (personal, premier, or business versions) allow point transfers to Southwest Airlines.
  • You initiate transfers through your Chase account online, and points arrive in your Southwest account within 24 hours.
  • One Chase point converts to one Southwest point with no bonus multiplier or discount.
  • Southwest points never expire as long as your account has activity at least once every 24 months, even if you do not use points.
  • You can transfer points to someone else's Southwest account, but Chase requires you to be the cardholder and the recipient must have an existing Southwest account.

Which Chase Cards may have access to for Southwest Transfers

Chase offers three Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards that accept point transfers. The personal card (no annual fee version and premium version with annual fee) and the business card all connect to the same transfer system. You do not need to hold all three; you only need one to transfer points.

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Freedom Unlimited, or any other non-Southwest Chase card, those points stay locked in the Ultimate Rewards program. You can redeem them for travel through Chase's travel portal, convert them to cash back, or transfer them to other airline partners like United, American, or Hyatt — but Southwest is not an option from those cards.

Check which card you hold by logging into your Chase account and looking at the card name under "Accounts" or "Cards." If you are unsure whether your card qualifies, call the number on the back of your card and ask whether it is a Southwest Rapid Rewards card.

How to Transfer Points in Your Chase Account

Log into your Chase account at chase.com and navigate to the "Ultimate Rewards" or "Rewards" section. Look for an option labeled "Transfer Points" or "Move Points." Chase displays this option only if you hold a card that supports transfers.

Select Southwest Airlines from the list of transfer partners. Enter the number of points you want to transfer — you can move as few as 1,000 points or as many as your balance allows. Chase will ask you to confirm the Southwest Rapid Rewards account number where the points should land. This must be an existing Southwest account; you cannot create a new one during the transfer.

Review the transfer details and click "Confirm" or "Submit." Chase will show you a confirmation number. The points typically appear in your Southwest account within 24 hours, though Chase states it can take up to 2 business days during high-volume periods.

Transferring Points to Someone Else's Southwest Account

You can send your Chase points to another person's Southwest account, but with restrictions. You must be the primary cardholder on the Chase card — authorized users cannot initiate transfers. The recipient must have an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account already set up.

During the transfer process in your Chase account, enter the other person's Southwest account number instead of your own. Chase does not verify the relationship between you and the recipient, so you are responsible for making sure you have permission to transfer points and that the account number is correct. Once points transfer, Southwest does not reverse the transaction, so double-check the account number before confirming.

Some people use this feature to gift points to family members or combine points with a spouse's account to reach a redemption threshold faster. Keep in mind that the recipient's Southwest account will show the points as a transfer from an external source, but they can use them like any other points in their account.

Point Value and Redemption After Transfer

One Chase point always equals one Southwest point in the transfer. There is no bonus (like a 1.5-to-1 conversion) and no discount. What you send is what arrives.

Once points land in your Southwest account, their value depends on how you redeem them. Southwest points are worth different amounts per point depending on the flight you book. A short domestic flight might cost 6,000 points (worth roughly 1.5 cents per point), while a long international flight might cost 50,000 points (worth roughly 2 cents per point). You get the best value by booking expensive flights or premium cabin seats, though Southwest does not offer first class.

Southwest also runs periodic promotions where points are worth more — for example, "Rapid Rewards Days" where certain flights cost fewer points than usual. Transferring points and waiting for a promotion can sometimes increase their effective value, though there is no may provide when the next promotion will occur.

Southwest Point Expiration and Account Activity

Southwest points do not expire as long as your account has activity within 24 months. Activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into your Southwest account. If your account sits inactive for 24 months, Southwest will close it and forfeit any remaining points.

After you transfer Chase points to Southwest, they follow the same expiration rule as any other points in your Southwest account. If you transfer 50,000 points but do not use them or log into your account for two years, those points will be lost. To keep your account active without spending money, log in once every 24 months or transfer points from another source (like a Southwest credit card or co-branded partner).

Timing Considerations and When to Transfer

There is no penalty for transferring points when ready after earning them, and no bonus for waiting. Chase does not offer transfer bonuses or time-limited multipliers on Southwest transfers the way some programs do with other partners.

The main timing decision is whether to transfer now or wait for a Southwest promotion. If Southwest is running a limited-time offer on point redemptions (like discounted flights or bonus points for transfers), you might hold your Chase points until that promotion ends, then transfer. However, these promotions are unpredictable and infrequent, so most people transfer when they are ready to book a flight.

One practical reason to transfer sooner rather than later: if you are thinking about closing your Chase card, transfer any remaining points first. Once your card is closed, you lose the ability to transfer points from that card, though points already in your Southwest account stay there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Chase points to Southwest if I have a Freedom or Sapphire card?

No. Only the three Southwest Rapid Rewards cards (personal, premier, and business) allow transfers to Southwest. If you hold a Sapphire or Freedom card, you can redeem points through Chase's travel portal or transfer to other airlines like United or American, but not to Southwest.

What happens if I enter the wrong Southwest account number?

Chase does not verify the account number before processing the transfer. If you enter an incorrect number, the points will go to that account, and Southwest will not reverse the transaction. Always double-check the account number before confirming. If points go to the wrong account, contact Southwest customer service when ready — they may be able to help if you catch the error quickly, but there is no may provide.

Do I lose points when I transfer from Chase to Southwest?

No. The conversion is always one-to-one. If you transfer 25,000 Chase points, you receive exactly 25,000 Southwest points. There is no fee or percentage deducted.

How long does it take for transferred points to show up in my Southwest account?

Points usually appear within 24 hours. Chase states the maximum is 2 business days, but most transfers complete overnight. You can check your Southwest account balance when ready after confirming the transfer, and the points will be there within a day.

Can I transfer Southwest points back to Chase?

No. Transfers only go one direction: from Chase to Southwest. Once points are in your Southwest account, you can only redeem them for Southwest flights, upgrades, or partner rewards. You cannot convert them back to Chase points.