Do I redeem Southwest miles with Southwest or Chase?

You can only redeem Southwest miles with Southwest and not with other cards. You get the most value when you use your Southwest points/miles for Southwest fares, especially if you have the carrier’s famed Companion Pass. Companion Pass is the benefit that allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (doesn’t include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) every time you purchase or redeem points for a flight. Once you earn 125,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying flights on Southwest, you’ll receive the Companion Pass for the rest of the current year and the entirety of the next year.

There are currently two personal credit cards and one business credit card available for Southwest through Chase:

• The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 

This credit card comes with a $69 annual fee, currently offering 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 within the first three months once your account is open. 

• The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier 

This credit card comes with a $99 annual fee, currently offering 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 within the first three months once your account is open.

• The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business 

This business credit card comes with a $99 annual fee, currently offering 60,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 within the first three months once your account is open.

Each of the above cards mentioned earns 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines and at participating hotel and car rental partners, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. You earn bonus points of about 3,000 points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and about 6,000 points with the Rapid Rewards Premier personal and business cards.