You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines, but only through specific Chase cards and with some real limits on value
Not every Chase card lets you move points to Southwest. Only cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program that explicitly list Southwest as a transfer partner will work — primarily the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards cards and a few premium Chase cards like the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred. If your card doesn't name Southwest in its transfer partners list, you cannot move points to that airline, no matter how many you have.
The transfer itself is straightforward once you confirm your card qualifies: you log into your Chase account, go to the rewards section, select Southwest as your transfer destination, choose how many points to send, and complete the transfer. The points land in your Southwest account within a few hours to a day. But the real decision is whether this move makes financial sense for you, because transferring points to an airline is almost always worth less than using them for other things.
Key Takeaways
- Only Chase cards that explicitly list Southwest as a transfer partner allow point transfers — check your card's benefits guide or your online account to confirm.
- Transferring points to Southwest typically gives you less value per point than redeeming them for cash back or travel through Chase's portal.
- Southwest points transferred from Chase count toward elite status qualification, which can matter if you are close to a status threshold.
- The transfer is instant and free, but you cannot reverse it once it completes, so confirm your Southwest account number before you send anything.
- Chase-to-Southwest transfers work best if you have a specific Southwest flight booked and need points to cover the cost, rather than as a general rewards strategy.
Which Chase cards actually transfer to Southwest
The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards cards — the standard card, the Plus card, and the Premier card — all transfer points to Southwest. These are co-branded cards designed specifically for Southwest flyers, and transferring points is part of their core function.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred also transfer to Southwest, along with dozens of other airlines and hotels. These are premium travel cards with broader transfer options. The regular Chase Freedom cards and Chase Freedom Flex do not transfer to airlines at all; they only let you redeem for cash back or statement credits.
If you are unsure whether your card qualifies, log into your Chase account, go to your rewards balance, and look for a "transfer points" or "redeem points" option. If Southwest appears in the list of transfer partners, you can proceed. If it does not appear, you cannot transfer to Southwest from that card.
The math of transferring versus other redemption options
Chase points are worth roughly 1 cent per point when you redeem them for cash back or a statement credit. When you transfer them to Southwest, you are usually getting less value per point, even though the math is not always obvious.
Southwest uses a revenue-based pricing model, which means the number of points required for a flight changes based on the cash price of that flight. A short domestic flight might cost 6,000 to 8,000 points; a longer flight or one during peak travel might cost 15,000 to 25,000 points or more. If you transfer 10,000 Chase points to Southwest and use them for a flight that would have cost $150 in cash, you got $150 of value from 10,000 points — or 1.5 cents per point. That is better than cash back. But if that same 10,000 points books a flight worth $80, you got only 0.8 cents per point, which is worse than taking the cash.
The only way to know whether a transfer makes sense is to check the actual cash price of the flight you want and divide that by the points required. If the result is more than 1 cent per point, transferring beats cash back. If it is less, cash back is the better choice.
How to transfer Chase points to Southwest step by step
Log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app. Navigate to your rewards balance — this is usually labeled "Ultimate Rewards" or "Rewards" depending on your card type.
Look for an option to transfer or redeem points. Click on it and select Southwest Airlines from the list of transfer partners. Enter the number of points you want to transfer. Chase will show you a confirmation screen with the exact number of points leaving your account and the Southwest account that will receive them.
Before you confirm, verify that the Southwest account number shown is correct. This is critical: once the transfer completes, you cannot undo it. If you send points to the wrong account, you will have to contact Southwest to try to recover them, which is difficult and not always successful.
After you confirm, the transfer usually completes within a few hours. Check your Southwest account to verify the points arrived. There is no fee for the transfer, and Chase does not charge you anything beyond the points themselves.
Why transferred points count toward Southwest elite status
Points you transfer from Chase to Southwest count as Rapid Rewards points for the purpose of earning elite status. This matters if you are working toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass status, because those tiers require a minimum number of points earned in a calendar year.
If you are 5,000 points away from A-List status and you transfer 5,000 Chase points to Southwest, those points push you over the threshold and you gain the status immediately. This can be valuable if you are close to a status tier and want the benefits — priority boarding, free checked bags, or a Companion Pass — before your next trip.
However, points earned through credit card sign-up bonuses do not count toward elite status, even after you transfer them to Southwest. Only points you earn through actual spending on the card count. This is an important distinction if you are planning a transfer specifically to reach a status goal.
What happens if you change your mind after transferring
Chase does not reverse transfers once they complete. The points leave your Chase account and land in your Southwest account, and that transaction is final from Chase's side. If you made a mistake — transferred to the wrong Southwest account, transferred more than you meant to, or changed your mind about the redemption — you will need to contact Southwest directly.
Southwest may be able to help if the transfer just completed and you catch the error quickly, but they are not obligated to reverse it. The best protection is to triple-check the Southwest account number before you confirm the transfer. If you do not have a Southwest account yet, create one first and verify the account number before you initiate any transfer from Chase.
When transferring to Southwest makes sense and when it does not
Transferring makes sense if you have a specific Southwest flight booked, you know the exact points cost, and that cost divided by the flight's cash price gives you more than 1 cent per point. It also makes sense if you are close to an elite status threshold and the transferred points will push you over it before an important trip.
Transferring does not make sense if you are just moving points around without a specific flight in mind, or if you are trying to "save up" for a future trip. In those cases, keeping your points in your Chase account and redeeming them for cash back or statement credits gives you more flexibility and usually better value. You can always book a Southwest flight with cash and use your Chase cash back to pay for it.
The exception is if you are a frequent Southwest flyer and you earn elite status regularly. In that case, the points-to-status conversion might be worth more to you than the per-point value, because elite status itself has real benefits on Southwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Chase points to Southwest if I do not have a Southwest account yet?
You need an active Southwest account before you transfer. Create one on Southwest's website first, verify your account number, and then initiate the transfer from Chase. If you transfer without an account, Chase will reject the transfer or it will go to an account you do not control.
Do transferred Chase points expire?
Southwest points expire if your account has no activity for 24 months. Once points land in your Southwest account, they follow Southwest's expiration rules, not Chase's. If you transfer points and then do not use your Southwest account for two years, those points will disappear.
Is there a limit to how many Chase points I can transfer to Southwest at once?
Chase does not publish a specific per-transfer limit, but you cannot transfer more points than you currently have in your account. Some sources report that very large transfers (over 100,000 points) may trigger a review, but this is not common. If you want to transfer a very large amount, contact Chase first to confirm there are no restrictions.
What if my Chase card is not a Southwest co-branded card but lists Southwest as a transfer partner?
The process is identical. Log into your Chase account, navigate to rewards, select Southwest, enter the number of points, and confirm. The transfer works the same way whether your card is co-branded with Southwest or just has Southwest as one of many transfer options.
Can I transfer Chase points to Southwest and then transfer them to another airline?
No. Once points land in your Southwest account, they are Southwest Rapid Rewards points and cannot be moved to another airline. Southwest does not allow transfers between airlines. If you think you might want to use points on a different carrier, keep them in your Chase account instead.