Is buying Southwest points worth it?

No, buying Southwest points is not worth it. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth an average of 1.33 cents each, while buying them costs around 3 cents per point, which means you would not be getting a good deal.

The problem is you will need enough points to cover the entire cost of at least a one-way flight because Southwest Airlines doesn’t allow customers to combine two forms of payment. So, even though buying points isn’t a good value, it might be necessary in some situations when you’re just a little short.

The best way to use your Rapid Rewards points is to save them up until you can cover the full cost of a flight. You can earn points by using a Southwest Airlines credit card or shopping online on one of the Southwest Airlines purchasing portals.

Three Ways to Earn Southwest Points Without Buying Them

1. Use one of your Southwest credit cards. You can earn points on eligible purchases if you use a Southwest Airlines credit card. Southwest cards give you more points for buying airline tickets than if you buy them without a card, and they will also allow you to earn rewards on purchases unrelated to travel. 
2. Buy airline tickets with a Southwest loyalty number. One of the best ways to earn Rapid Rewards points without spending money on them directly is to fly with Southwest. By signing up for the Southwest loyalty program before you fly, you can earn points every time you fly with Southwest Airlines.
3. Use the Southwest purchasing portals. Southwest Airlines has two online shopping platforms, Rapid Rewards Dining and Rapid Rewards Shopping. If you want to use the platforms, you will need to sign in with your loyalty rewards program ID. Your loyalty rewards ID is the same number you would use when you are purchasing tickets.

After earning Rapid Rewards points, you can use them to pay for your flights. You can check out WalletHub’s guide on the Southwest Rapid Rewards program for a full breakdown.