Southwest Rapid Rewards reduces points earning on all Wanna Get Away fares without notice
Southwest Airlines has reduced the Rapid Rewards program earning rate for Wanna Get Away and Wanna Getaway Plus fares without notice.
The new earning rates for cash fares are as follows:
- Wanna Get Away: 2 points per dollar spent (down from 6 points)
- Wanna Get Away Plus: 6 points per dollar spent (down from 10 points)
- Anytime: 10 points per dollar spent (unchanged)
- Business Select: 14 points per dollar spent (up from 12 points)
This suggests that the points-earning adjustment is to encourage members to upgrade to more expensive (and flexible) fares.
All Wanna Get Away fares are nonrefundable, though passengers can receive a flight credit if they wish to cancel without fees. They include checked bags and same-day standby; Wanna Get Away Plus fares also offer free same-day confirmed changes and the ability to transfer flight credits to somebody else.
A significant reduction for top-tier elite members
Rapid Rewards elite status members will continue to earn bonuses on all fares — 25% for A-List and 100% for A-List Preferred. Members could also boost their earnings on all fares with up to 4 additional points per dollar spent by using Southwest credit cards.
Still, with the reduced rates for the cheapest two fare types, this means a top-tier A-List Preferred elite member who previously earned 2,400 Rapid Rewards points on a $200 Wanna Get Away fare (worth $32.40 by our March 2025 valuations) will now earn just 400 points, worth just $5.40 — a significant reduction.
Anytime and Business Select fares are usually noticeably more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares. So, you'll need to pay more to earn more points and enjoy other benefits like fully refundable fares, early check-in and priority airport services.
This alteration is one of several the airline is making to fundamentally change its business model. Others include letting go of 1,750 mostly corporate staff to reduce costs, launching red-eye flights for the first time, forming a new partnership with Icelandair and ending its unique open seating policy.
Related: You can now book Southwest Airlines flights on Expedia, Travelocity and 3 other sites
Bottom line
We have seen plenty of airlines devalue their loyalty programs without notice by increasing the number of points and miles required to book flights. However, it is rarer to see a devaluation by reducing the number of points and miles members earn for taking flights.
Southwest may hope its Rapid Rewards members buy up more expensive (and less restrictive) Anytime and Business Select fares in exchange for higher earning rates.
Still, for those looking for the best value fares on this traditionally value-orientated airline, this is a negative change to the Rapid Rewards program, and it frustratingly came without notice.