4 Best Southwest Airlines Sweet Spots

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is one of the most accessible and easy-to-use frequent flyer programs in the sky. It helps that every seat is available as an award booking, there are no blackout dates and members' points never expire. As well, Southwest's online low-fare calendar makes it easy to find the cheapest time to fly to any city.

NerdWallet values Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents apiece. However, you can increase that valuation on certain flights by knowing where to look. Here are four Southwest sweet spots we found to make your Rapid Rewards points go further.

The best Southwest sweet spots

To see just how valuable your Rapid Reward points can be, we spent some time with the Southwest low fare calendar to find routes that will give you the best value for your points.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll usually find the best redemption rates for your points on short flights between major cities. Points are generally based on the cash value of the flight, so the cheaper the flight in cash, the fewer points you need.

Just like with other airlines, prices on Southwest can vary widely between dates (and change often). So if you can’t find these exact deals, try searching other dates or destinations.

1. Atlanta to New Orleans

A one-way ticket between Atlanta and New Orleans can be booked for $67 or 4,054 points in April, which would get you into town in time for either the French Quarter Festival or the Jazz & Heritage Festival. That gives your points a value of 1.9 cents each. Snag yourself a flight, and even if you don't make it for the festivities, you can still enjoy a beignet any time of year.

If you like to travel alone, here's an intriguing proposition: New Orleans is one of the top 5 budget-friendly cities to explore solo.

» Learn more: How does a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card work?

2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Cancun, Mexico

Spring is a great time to trade one beach for another, and Southwest can fly you between Cancun, Mexico, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April or May for $109 or 2,924 points one way. This bumps the point value to a whopping 3.7 cents per point (more than double our valuation) — though you should also consider the additional fees incurred when flying internationally. We even found a return flight for $123 or 2,924 points, which boosts each point’s value to 4.2 cents.

In Cancun, explore the famous white sand beaches and vibrant nightlife. Check out the nearby Mayan ruins or ecological wonders like the Rio Secreto underground river and crystal caves.

» Learn more: A guide to Southwest flights to Mexico

3. Phoenix to Los Angeles

In May, if you need a break from the desert and are craving a beach vacation (or vice versa), you can find great deals on award flights between Arizona and California. Southwest can fly you from Phoenix to Los Angeles for $46 or 2,471 points one way. That’s not only a great cash deal — paying with points nets out at a value of 1.9 cents per point.

Once there, you might consider taking a giant road trip starting at Joshua Tree National Park and heading as far north as you please, with recommended stops in Death Valley National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Point Reyes and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

If you want to mix it up from the usual hotels, there are plenty of glamping spots in California along the way.

» Learn more: How to Refer-a-Friend and get more Southwest points

4. Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Among the most popular flights out of L.A. is the one that carries you from the City of Angels to Sin City. The entertainment capital of the world has something for everyone with options ranging from shows, gambling, hiking and more. It's a quick flight, too — you'll barely have time to take a sip of your drink before it's time to put the tray tables back up. Keep in mind that temperatures start to rise as we approach summer, so pack accordingly.

Southwest will carry you from Sunset Boulevard to the Las Vegas Strip for a mere $37 or 1,730 points in May or June, which is a point value of 2.1 cents per point. Midweek flights tend to offer the best value.

» Learn more: The ultimate guide on Southwest flights to Vegas

Earning Southwest Points

Of course, you’ll need to have earned Southwest points to redeem them. Luckily, Southwest makes it easy to amass a pile. Here’s the lineup of Southwest credit cards and their sign-up bonuses:

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at a 1:1 ratio, where 1 Chase point equals 1 Southwest point.

» Learn more: Can you have two Southwest credit cards?

Southwest Airlines sweet spots recapped

Finding the best deals on airfare means you’ll have more money available to spend at your destination — and more points left in your account for the next trip. While you won’t find the luxury of lie-flat seats or amenity kits on a Southwest flight, the airline does offer a large inventory of high-value award tickets to plenty of in-demand destinations, and they provide a handy calendar to find the best deals.

Plus, solid award redemptions mean a single sign-up bonus from one of the Southwest credit cards can go a long way, especially when you look for those sweet spots that Rapid Rewards points offer.

(Top photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines)