The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards airline rewards program offers frequent flyers the opportunity to earn free flights, and when you apply for the Southwest Airlines rewards credit cards, you can earn enough bonus points for a free round-trip flight.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is free to join, and it’s easy to participate and earn free flights.

Rapid Rewards from Southwest Airlines allows you to earn 1 reward credit for each one-way Southwest Airlines flight flown and 2 credits for each round-trip flight flown.

Once you receive 16 credits within a 24-month period, you will receive a Standard Award, which is good for one free round-trip flight to anywhere Southwest serves in the continental U.S.

You can Join Rapid Rewards for Free, and you’ll receive 2 bonus credits just for joining the program.

Frequent Southwest flyers may also want to sign up for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, which offer you the opportunity to earn enough bonus credits for a free round-trip flight.

The Southwest Airlines rewards credit cards, which include a consumer card and a business credit card, both offer 8 bonus credits after your first purchase with the card, and you can earn up to 8 extra bonus credits when you make balance transfers onto these credit cards. You’ll receive 1 bonus credit for each $1,200 transferred.

That’s a potential for up to 16 bonus credits per card, which is enough for a free flight, and if you don’t want to transfer balances onto this card, you’ll at least get the 8 bonus points after your first purchase, which will get you halfway towards your first free airlines flight.

You could even apply to both Southwest Airlines credit cards, if you wanted one for personal use and one for business purposes, and then you could combine the 8 bonus credits you earn from each card after your first purchase to receive a free airline ticket.

If you’re not already a Rapid Rewards member when you apply for the credit card, you will automatically be enrolled into the program.

However, you may wish to join the basic program first before applying for the credit card, in order to ensure you receive your initial 2 bonus credits for enrolling in the program (the credit card terms don’t indicate you will receive these 2 bonus credits otherwise).

Both of the Southwest Airlines rewards cards have annual fees of $59, but they offer many additional opportunities to earn more Rapid Rewards credits and save money on travel through exclusive promotional offers.

You’ll earn 2 rewards dollars for each $1 spent on Southwest Airlines flights, vacation packages, gift card purchases, and preferred hotel and rental car partner purchases, plus 1 rewards dollar for each $1 spent everywhere else.

For every 1,200 rewards dollars you earn, you will receive 1 Rapid Rewards credit, plus you’ll receive 2 bonus Rapid Rewards credits each year on your card membership anniversary.

All Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program members can earn additional credits through participating partners.

Participating hotels include all Choice Hotels, Hilton brands, Hyatt, la Quinta, InterContinental Hotels Group, Priority Club hotels, and Marriott hotels. You may be interested in these Hotel Rewards Credit Cards for more free hotel nights.

Participating car rental partners include Alamo, Budget, Dollar, and Hertz. You may also be interested in these Car Rental Discounts from national car rental companies.

American Express Credit Card members who are participating in the American Express Membership Rewards program may also transfer their points into the Rapid Rewards program to earn additional rewards credits, and Diners Club Rewards Members may also convert their credit card rewards.

Frequent flyers participating in Rapid Rewards can also qualify for special privileges such as VIP boarding privileges or a free companion pass for a year, plus all Rapid Rewards members will receive free drink coupons for beer, wine, or mixed drinks each time they earn 16 credits for the Standard Award.

There are plenty of Rapid Rewards Promotional Offers and Southwest Partner Perks and Savings to help Rapid Rewards members save money.

Check out these other Airline Rewards Credit Cards to get free flights and save money on your airline travel.

Take advantage of the Rapid Rewards program and the Southwest Airlines rewards credit cards to earn free flights and promotional travel savings.

Thanks and enjoy maximizing your money.