Estate planning as a Rapid Rewards account holder
Southwest Airlines points are forfeited when the account holder dies
Customer Relations (no dedicated estate desk)
Southwest Rapid Rewards is the loyalty program for Southwest Airlines. Members earn points through flights, Rapid Rewards credit cards, and partner purchases. Points do not expire so long as the account has qualifying earning or redeeming activity within the rolling activity window. Points have no cash value and cannot be transferred to a member's estate.
When a Rapid Rewards account holder dies, their points are forfeited. The program's terms state that points do not constitute property of the account holder and cannot be transferred upon death, by operation of law, or through estate planning documents.
During their lifetime, Rapid Rewards members can transfer points to other program members for a fee. This provides a straightforward way to share accumulated value.
What happens at death
Under the Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations, "Points may not be transferred to a Member's estate or as part of a settlement, inheritance, or will. In the event a Member's account is closed upon death, any points will be forfeited." Members do not acquire property rights in accrued points, and the Companion Pass card is likewise "not transferrable." Southwest does not publish a separate bereavement transfer process; the written policy is strict forfeiture.
Planning your estate
Protecting Rapid Rewards points while the account is active
No beneficiary designation, lifetime transfer options for points, and 4-step plan.
View details →When someone dies
Handling Rapid Rewards points after a death
Points are forfeited under the official terms, 5-step process, and 3 required documents.
View details →There is no beneficiary designation option for Rapid Rewards. This means points cannot be directed to a specific person through the program itself, unlike traditional financial accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A Rapid Rewards member can redeem their own points for any named passenger. This is the simplest way to share value with family during your lifetime — there is no transfer fee when you book a flight directly for someone else.
Yes, but for a fee. Southwest lets members transfer points to another Rapid Rewards member in increments of 500 (1,000 during promotions), with a 2,000-point minimum and a 60,000-point combined daily cap across buy/gift/transfer. The price is quoted at checkout and is non-refundable.
Southwest does not run a discounted bereavement fare program. Because Southwest fares have no cancellation fees and can be changed up to departure, they are typically competitive for urgent travel without a special program.
Sources
Data sourced from Southwest Airlines primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Relations (no dedicated estate desk)
