You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines, but only through specific Chase credit cards and with some real limits on value

Not all Chase cards let you move points to Southwest. Only cards in the Chase Sapphire and Chase Ink families, plus a few co-branded Southwest cards, have transfer partners that include Southwest Airlines. If your card doesn't list Southwest as a transfer partner, you cannot move points there — you'll need to use them for cash back, travel bookings through Chase's portal, or other redemption methods instead.

When you do transfer, Chase moves the points directly to your Southwest account within one to two business days. Southwest then converts those points into their own currency, called Rapid Rewards points, at a 1:1 ratio. The real catch is that Chase typically charges a transfer fee — usually $10 per transfer — though some premium cards waive this fee for a limited number of transfers per year.

Key Takeaways

  • Only Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and certain Chase Ink cards can transfer points to Southwest; check your card's benefits guide to confirm.
  • Chase charges $10 per transfer to Southwest unless your card waives the fee for a set number of transfers annually.
  • Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio and arrive in your Southwest account within one to two business days.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth less per point than premium travel redemptions through Chase's portal, so compare the value before transferring.

Which Chase cards can transfer to Southwest

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are the most common cards that offer Southwest transfers. Both cards list Southwest as a transfer partner in their benefits guide. The Sapphire Preferred waives the $10 transfer fee for up to 10 transfers per calendar year; the Sapphire Reserve waives it for up to 10 transfers per year as well.

Some Chase Ink Business cards also allow Southwest transfers, though not all of them do. Check your specific card's benefits guide or log into your Chase account and look at the "Transfer Points" section to see whether Southwest appears as an option. If it doesn't show up there, it's not available for your card.

Co-branded Southwest credit cards issued by Chase (like the Southwest Rapid Rewards card) typically do not allow transfers to Southwest because you're already earning Rapid Rewards directly. Those cards earn Rapid Rewards points, not Ultimate Rewards points, so the transfer mechanism doesn't apply.

How to transfer points step by step

Log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app. Go to the "Points & Cash" or "Rewards" section, then select "Transfer Points." You should see a list of transfer partners; if Southwest appears, click on it.

Chase will ask you to enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number. You can find this in your Southwest account under "Account Settings" or on any confirmation email from Southwest. Enter it exactly as it appears — any typo will send points to the wrong account, and Chase's process for recovering misdirected points is slow.

Choose how many points you want to transfer. Chase typically requires a minimum transfer of 1,000 points and allows transfers in increments of 1,000. Enter the amount, review the fee (if any applies to your card), and confirm. The points leave your Chase account immediately, though they may take up to two business days to appear in your Southwest account.

When the transfer fee applies and when it doesn't

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders get 10 free transfers per calendar year. Once you've used those 10, each additional transfer costs $10. The calendar year resets on January 1, so if you transfer in December, your count goes back to zero in January.

If you hold a Chase Ink card that allows Southwest transfers, check your specific card's benefits guide for fee details. Some Ink cards waive the fee for a limited number of transfers; others charge $10 per transfer with no waiver. The fee structure varies by card, so don't assume it matches the Sapphire cards.

The $10 fee comes out of your Chase account balance, not your points balance. You'll see it as a separate charge when you review your statement.

Why the value math matters before you transfer

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth more when redeemed through Chase's travel portal than when transferred to Southwest. In the portal, points typically redeem at 1.25 cents per point or higher for premium travel bookings. When you transfer to Southwest, you get a 1:1 conversion, which means each point becomes one Rapid Rewards point — and Rapid Rewards points are generally worth 0.8 to 1 cent each when used for flights.

This means transferring 10,000 Chase points to Southwest often nets you less value than using those same 10,000 points to book a flight through Chase's portal. The exception is if you have a specific Southwest flight in mind and the Rapid Rewards price is genuinely cheaper than the Chase portal price for the same flight. Before transferring, check both options: look up the flight on Southwest's website and see what it costs in Rapid Rewards points, then check the same flight in Chase's travel portal and see what it costs in Ultimate Rewards points.

What happens after points land in your Southwest account

Once the points arrive in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, they behave like any other Rapid Rewards points. You can use them to book flights, pay for seat upgrades, or purchase gift cards. Southwest doesn't distinguish between points you earned from credit card spending and points you transferred from Chase.

Rapid Rewards points don't expire as long as you have account activity — a flight, a credit card purchase, or even a login — at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, Southwest may close it and forfeit the points. Transferred points follow the same rule.

You cannot transfer Rapid Rewards points back to Chase or to any other program. The transfer is one-way only.

Alternatives if your Chase card doesn't allow Southwest transfers

If your card doesn't list Southwest as a transfer partner, you have other options. You can redeem your Chase points for cash back and then use that cash to buy Southwest tickets directly. You can also book flights through Chase's travel portal, which often includes Southwest flights at competitive point rates.

Another route is to look at whether you're may be able to access to upgrade to a card that does allow Southwest transfers. If you've held your current Chase card for at least a year, you may be able to request a product change to the Sapphire Preferred or another card with Southwest transfer capability. This keeps your account open and your credit history intact, though it does change your rewards structure going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer points to Southwest if I don't have a Southwest account yet?

You need an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account before you initiate a transfer. Create one for free at Southwest's website first, then use your account number when you transfer from Chase. The account takes just a few minutes to set up.

What if I enter the wrong Southwest account number?

Contact Chase customer service immediately. They can sometimes intercept the transfer before it posts to the wrong account. If the points have already landed in the wrong account, you'll need to contact Southwest to request a reversal, which can take weeks. Double-check the number before confirming.

Do transferred points count toward Southwest's Companion Pass?

Yes. Transferred points count the same as points you earned from Southwest credit card spending or flights. If you're working toward the Companion Pass (which requires 125,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year), transferred points add to that total.

Can I transfer points to Southwest and then use them for a flight I've already booked?

No. You must have the points in your Southwest account before you book the flight. Once a flight is booked and paid for, you cannot retroactively apply points to it. Plan your transfer before you make the reservation.

Is there a limit to how many points I can transfer at once?

Chase doesn't publish a maximum transfer amount, but transfers of very large point balances (over 500,000 points) may trigger additional review. For most transfers under 100,000 points, there are no practical limits beyond the minimum of 1,000 points per transfer.