Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a favorite currency among TPG employees, in part because you can transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners. I frequently transfer my points to Southwest Rapid Rewards, where I can redeem them for award flights to destinations in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and sometimes stretch my points further with valuable companion passes.
In this article, we’ll cover how to transfer your Chase points to Southwest and when you should (or shouldn’t) do so.
RELATED: How TPG’s Points and Miles Experts Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Can I transfer Chase points to Southwest?
Yes, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of two transferable currencies that Southwest Rapid Rewards offers as a transfer partner. (The other is Bilt Rewards).
The more Ultimate Rewards points you accumulate, the sooner you can redeem them for your next free trip on Southwest Airlines or one of Chase’s other partners. Here are some of TPG’s favorite cards to help you earn Ultimate Rewards points with welcome bonuses and everyday spending:
However, you’re not limited to these Chase cards. I personally like it very much Chase Freedom Flex® (See Rates and Fees) and Chasing Freedom® (See Rates and Fees). They don’t earn Ultimate Rewards points themselves, but if you also hold one of the cards listed above, you can cash in full Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to any of Chase’s partners.
Information on preferred ink businesses is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: No-annual-fee credit cards that earn transferable rewards
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Chase to Southwest Airlines transfer ratios
As with all of Chase’s current transfer partners, Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. However, if you can take advantage of transfer bonuses, you may be able to get a better ratio. Chase transfer bonuses are sporadic, but if you find one that fits your travel plans, you can save thousands of points.
Related: Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards
How do I transfer Chase points to Southwest Airlines?
One of the great things about transferable points is that you can redeem them for award flights on airlines you’ve never flown before, or you can accumulate points or miles. But if this is the case, you’ll need to set up a Southwest Rapid Rewards account before you can transfer your Chase points to Southwest.
Go to the Southwest Airlines website to create an account for free. Then, visit your Chase portal and enter your Ultimate Rewards account. Click “Travel” on the top toolbar and select “Transfer Points to Partner.”
On the next screen you’ll see a list of Chase’s travel partners, with any available transfer bonuses noted at the top. Scroll down and click on the Southwest option.
This will take you to a page with some rules about transferring points to Southwest Airlines. For example, points transferred through the Chase portal are not eligible for Southwest Airlines membership. You must also pay taxes on Rapid Rewards point redemptions.
After reviewing the fine print, click the blue “Transfer Points” button in the lower right corner.
On the next page, you will need to enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards number. Chase also allows you to transfer points to an authorized user on your Chase account so you can enter their Quick Rewards number. After completing this step, click Next.
Then, enter the number of points you want to transfer. The value must be a multiple of 1,000, so you may need to transfer more points than needed to redeem.
The next page will give you an opportunity to review your information before the transfer is processed. Remember, transfers are irreversible, so make sure you enter the correct number of points to transfer before clicking “Submit.” An inadvertent spelling mistake could result in you transferring 100,000 hard-earned points when you only wanted to transfer 10,000. It’s also a good idea to double-check the spelling of your name and Quick Bonus number.
catch up
When you’re ready to complete your transfer, click “Submit” and wait for your points to be credited to your Rapid Rewards account.
According to Chase’s website, “Most points transfers are completed the next business day, but may take up to seven business days.” However, TPG’s testing shows that most transfers to Southwest occur instantly. This means you can book award flights within minutes of transferring Chase points.
RELATED: Booking Southwest Airlines flights just got easier with Chase points
When should you transfer Chase points to Southwest Airlines?
According to TPG’s November 2025 valuation, Chase points are worth 2.05 cents each, while Rapid Rewards points are worth just 1.4 cents each. This is because the flexibility of transferable points makes them inherently more valuable.
Southwest has historically priced award flights based on cash prices, so you’ll typically get around 1.4 cents per point in value when redeeming Rapid Rewards points for flights. However, since airlines switched to variable redemption rates, you can now get more or less value from your points. This could lead to more sweet spots in the Express Rewards program, similar to other Chase transfer partners like United, Air France and Hyatt.
Before transferring points to Southwest, make sure this airline is the best fit. Check out Chase’s other airline partners to compare award rates and flight details, as well as add-ons you may want to purchase, like checked bags and seat selection.
Finally, before transferring points to Southwest, compare prices with the Chase Travel℠ portal.
Take this one-way flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). You can book a Wanna Get Away Plus ticket through Southwest Airlines by transferring 23,000 Chase points to your Rapid Rewards account and paying the $5.60 tax.
But booking the same fare through Chase Travel only costs 20,838 points. In this case, booking through the Chase Travel portal will save you some points.
However, if you already have a large Rapid Rewards points balance and just need to top up your account to book award flights, it might make more sense to switch from Chase to Southwest. The same goes for if you have a valuable Southwest Companion Pass.
For example, a few years ago I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines for round-trip tickets to the Turks and Caicos Islands. My ticket cost 46,000 points – not a particularly good deal – but thanks to the companion pass I had at the time, I got my partner’s ticket for just the tax. I spent 46,000 Chase points on two seats, for a total cost of nearly $1,400, worth about 3 cents per point. If I had booked through Chase Travel, I would not have gotten this deal.
bottom line
If you’ve never transferred points from Chase, it can be a little unnerving to watch them disappear from your account and wait for them to show up in your airline or hotel partner account. Thankfully, the process is usually smooth and almost instantaneous. Be sure to confirm award availability and check if you can’t redeem points for a better deal with Chase Travel.
Then, follow the steps above to transfer your points and book your next (almost free) vacation.
