You can transfer Southwest points to another person, but only through their gift card program, and the recipient must be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member

Southwest Airlines does not allow you to transfer points directly from your Rapid Rewards account to someone else's account. Instead, the airline offers a workaround: you can purchase a Southwest gift card and load your points onto it, then give that card to another person. That person can then add the points to their own Rapid Rewards account when they redeem the gift card. The process takes a few steps, but it's straightforward once you know the path.

The key limitation is that the recipient must already have a Rapid Rewards account before they can receive your points. If they don't have one, they'll need to create one first — which is free and takes just a few minutes on Southwest's website.

Key Takeaways

  • Southwest does not transfer points directly between accounts; you must purchase a gift card and load points onto it instead.
  • The person receiving your points must have an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account before they can redeem a gift card loaded with points.
  • You buy the gift card through Southwest's website, choose the dollar amount or point value, and the recipient redeems it in their own account.
  • Gift cards loaded with points do not expire, but the points themselves follow normal Rapid Rewards expiration rules once redeemed into an account.

How to purchase a Southwest gift card with your points

Log into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest's website and navigate to the gift card section. You'll find an option to purchase a gift card and pay with your points, your credit card, or a combination of both. Choose the amount you want to transfer — you can use points only or mix points and cash.

Southwest will ask you for the recipient's email address. Enter it carefully, because that's where the gift card code will be sent. You'll receive a confirmation email showing the card number and PIN, and the recipient will receive their own email with the same information. The gift card is now ready to use.

How the recipient redeems the gift card and receives your points

The person you're sending points to will receive an email from Southwest with the gift card code and PIN. They log into their own Rapid Rewards account and go to the "Redeem a Gift Card" section. They enter the code and PIN, and the points (or the dollar value, if you used cash) are added to their account when ready.

Once the points land in their account, they're treated like any other Rapid Rewards points. They can use them to book flights, upgrade seats, or purchase other rewards through the program. The points follow the standard Rapid Rewards expiration policy, which requires account activity at least once every 24 months to keep points from expiring.

What happens if the recipient doesn't have a Rapid Rewards account yet

If the person you want to send points to doesn't have a Rapid Rewards account, they'll need to create one before they can redeem your gift card. The account is free and takes about five minutes to set up on Southwest's website. They'll need a name, email address, and password.

You can send them the gift card email right away — it won't expire — but they won't be able to redeem it until their account is active. Once their account is set up, they can enter the gift card code and PIN and the points will appear in their account.

Gift card expiration and point expiration rules

A Southwest gift card itself does not expire, so if you send one to someone and they don't redeem it when ready, it will still be valid months or years later. However, once the points are redeemed into a Rapid Rewards account, they follow the program's standard expiration rules.

Rapid Rewards points expire if there is no account activity for 24 consecutive months. Activity includes booking a flight, earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into the account. The recipient should be aware of this timeline, especially if they're not planning to use the points right away. If points do expire, Southwest does not restore them.

Limits on how many points you can transfer

Southwest does not publish a specific cap on the number of points you can load onto a single gift card. However, there are practical limits based on the dollar value — a gift card can typically hold up to several thousand dollars' worth of value, which translates to a very large number of points depending on the current point-to-dollar conversion rate.

If you're transferring a very large balance, you may need to split it across multiple gift cards. Contact Southwest's customer service through their website or phone line if you're unsure whether your transfer amount will fit on a single card.

Other ways to use your points if direct transfer isn't an option

If you want to help someone travel but don't want to transfer your points, you have other options. You can book a flight for someone else using your points — you don't have to be the passenger. During checkout, you'll enter the other person's name and details, and they'll receive a confirmation email with their booking reference.

You can also purchase a Southwest gift card with your credit card (not points) and send that to someone. They can use it to book their own flights or purchase points if they're a Rapid Rewards member. This route doesn't move your points, but it does move your money toward their travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer points to a family member's account directly?

No, Southwest does not allow direct point transfers between accounts. The only way to move your points to someone else is through a gift card. You purchase the gift card, load your points onto it, and the recipient redeems it in their own account.

What if I buy a gift card but the recipient never redeems it?

The gift card itself does not expire, so it will remain valid indefinitely. The recipient can redeem it whenever they're ready. However, once the points are in their account, they'll expire if there's no account activity for 24 months.

Can I transfer points to someone who doesn't live in the United States?

Southwest's gift card system works for anyone with a valid email address and a Rapid Rewards account, regardless of location. The recipient will need to create a Rapid Rewards account using their email, and they can redeem the gift card from anywhere.

Do I pay a fee to transfer points via gift card?

Southwest does not charge a fee to purchase a gift card or load points onto it. The only cost is the value of the points or money you're putting on the card.

Can the recipient use the points right away, or do they have to wait?

Once the recipient redeems the gift card in their account, the points are available when ready. They can use them to book flights, purchase upgrades, or redeem other rewards through the Rapid Rewards program right away.