Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be used to book rental cars directly through Southwest’s platform with eight major partners: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty. The process involves converting points into travel funds on a fixed value basis, where 1,200 points typically equal $1 in rental value. For example, a $300 weekly rental would require approximately 360,000 points. This method often provides less value per point compared to redeeming for Southwest flights, but it offers flexibility for travelers needing ground transportation.
The value is fixed and transparent. According to industry data from frequent traveler analyses, the redemption rate for car rentals through Southwest’s portal consistently averages around 0.83 cents per point. This is a critical figure for members to assess value. In contrast, flight redemptions can regularly yield 1.4 to 1.6 cents per point, especially during peak travel times. Therefore, using points for car rentals is generally most practical when you have a small points balance insufficient for a flight, or during periods of high cash rental prices.
Booking is centralized. You must start your search on the Southwest Airlines website or mobile app under the “Car” section. You cannot apply points directly at the rental company’s counter or website. The portal shows both cash and point prices, allowing for easy comparison. Availability mirrors what’s found on major online travel agencies.
Partner-specific benefits may apply when booking with points. For instance, booking with points through the portal can sometimes include basic benefits like those from National’s Emerald Club or Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, but you must ensure your membership number is added to the reservation. It does not automatically confer elite status benefits unless you already hold status with the specific rental company.
A key consideration is cancellation flexibility. Reservations made with points are fully refundable; the points are redeposited into your Rapid Rewards account without fee if cancelled before the rental pickup time. This is more forgiving than many non-refundable cash rates.
To maximize value, follow this process: First, check the cash price for your desired rental. Second, calculate the points required. Third, evaluate if using points makes financial sense compared to paying cash and saving points for a flight. For a $250 rental costing 300,000 points (0.83 cents/point), paying cash is advisable if you have flight redemptions in mind that offer higher value.
