10 Genius Tips to Effortlessly Book Southwest Flights Using Capital One Travel Miles!
Travel hacking with rewards points can seem a bit overwhelming, but once you know the tricks, it’s a total game-changer. If you’ve got Capital One travel miles and want to fly Southwest, I’ve got some genius tips to make the process smooth and effortless. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a newbie, these tips will help you get the most out of your miles and score those Southwest flights.
Let’s dive in!
1. Start by Understanding How Capital One Travel Miles Work
Before booking anything, it’s essential to understand how your Capital One travel miles work. Unlike traditional airline miles, Capital One travel miles are more flexible. You can redeem them for statement credits on travel purchases or book flights directly through Capital One’s travel portal.
Pro Tip: 1 mile = 1 cent in value. That means 10,000 miles are worth $100 when booking travel.
2. Check Southwest’s Fare Calendar for the Best Deals
One of the best things about Southwest Airlines is their fare calendar. It shows you the lowest prices available across an entire month. When using your Capital One miles, you want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Here’s how you do it:
- Head to Southwest’s website and navigate to their fare calendar.
- Once you’ve found a great deal, you can book it through Capital One’s travel portal or use your miles to erase the purchase.
3. Book Directly on the Capital One Travel Portal
Booking through Capital One’s travel portal is one of the easiest ways to use your travel miles. Plus, you can sometimes find exclusive deals that aren’t available on the airline’s website.
Here’s why you should consider it:
- No blackout dates – You can book any available flight.
- Flexible redemptions – You can pay for part of your flight with miles and the rest with your card.
4. Use Purchase Eraser to Cover Southwest Flights
Did you already buy a Southwest flight with your Capital One card? No problem! You can use the Purchase Eraser feature within 90 days of the purchase to get a statement credit for your flight.
Why this rocks:
It’s an excellent way to use your miles after-the-fact, allowing you to book flights when you see a deal and still use your rewards.
5. Leverage Capital One’s Transfer Partners
Here’s a secret hack: Capital One lets you transfer your miles to several airline partners at a 1:1 ratio, including programs like Aeroplan and Avianca. While Southwest isn’t a direct partner, you can book Southwest flights with partners like these if you’re strategic.
Here’s how to do it:
Transfer your miles to one of these partners and then use that program to book a Southwest flight.
6. Track Southwest Sales for Extra Savings
Southwest is known for running frequent fare sales. Keep an eye on these, as they can save you thousands of miles! You can sign up for Southwest’s email list or follow deal-finding sites to stay updated.
Bonus Tip:
The earlier you book during a sale, the more likely you are to snag the cheapest seats.
7. Use Companion Pass to Maximize Your Miles
If you have Southwest’s Companion Pass, you can bring a buddy along on your flight for almost free (just pay taxes). Combining this with your Capital One miles is a double-win!
Quick Hack:
Use your miles to book your flight, then use the Companion Pass for your travel partner.
8. Monitor Your Capital One Rewards for Bonus Opportunities
Keep an eye on your Capital One account for special offers and limited-time promotions. Occasionally, Capital One offers bonuses for redeeming miles on specific airlines or through their portal.
Why it matters:
Taking advantage of these offers can stretch your miles even further.
9. Use Southwest’s No Change Fee Policy to Your Advantage
Southwest allows you to change your flight without a fee (you only pay the fare difference). This is great if you’re booking early but want to keep an eye out for better deals.
How this helps:
If a lower fare pops up, simply cancel and rebook, and use fewer miles in the process.
10. Stay Flexible for the Best Deals
Flexibility is key when booking travel with rewards points. If your travel dates aren’t set in stone, you can often find cheaper flights by searching for different dates or times.
Pro Tip:
Mid-week flights tend to be cheaper, so try flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the best deal.
How to Get the Most Value from Capital One Travel Miles
When using travel miles, the goal is to get the best value possible. Here’s a breakdown of how you can ensure every mile counts:
1. Always Compare Flight Prices
Before booking, take a moment to compare the prices on Southwest’s website with those on the Capital One travel portal. While prices can be similar, Southwest sometimes offers exclusive deals that aren’t visible on third-party booking portals.
By doing a quick comparison, you ensure that you aren’t using more miles than necessary. Even though 1 mile equals 1 cent through Capital One’s portal, deals and promotions could mean paying fewer miles for the same flight.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to compare against travel partners! Even though Southwest isn’t a direct transfer partner of Capital One, you may find it cheaper to fly with a partner airline for a similar route.
What About Fees? Here’s How to Minimize Them
When booking Southwest flights, one major perk is their no hidden fee policy. However, some costs are unavoidable, like taxes and the September 11th Security Fee. Here’s what you need to know to minimize extra expenses:
- No Change Fees: Southwest doesn’t charge change fees, which is a huge win if you’re someone who’s prone to changing plans.
- Bag Fees? Not Here! Southwest allows two free checked bags, which saves you a ton of money compared to other airlines.
- Refundable Points: If you cancel a Southwest flight booked with points or miles, you’ll get your points back. This flexibility is perfect for anyone who needs to make last-minute changes.
Using Capital One’s Purchase Eraser for these flights also gives you the freedom to wipe out any additional charges (like taxes) using your miles.
Understanding the Value of Transfer Partners
While Southwest isn’t a Capital One transfer partner, you can still leverage other airline transfer options to score great deals on similar routes.
For example:
- Avianca LifeMiles is a 1:1 transfer partner of Capital One. Though it doesn’t book Southwest flights directly, Avianca operates routes that overlap with Southwest’s, especially across Central and South America. You might find a better deal booking through them.
How to Transfer Miles:
- Log into your Capital One account.
- Go to the rewards portal and select the “Transfer Miles” option.
- Choose the airline partner you want and transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
- Once your miles are transferred, use the partner’s website to book flights.
Even though you might not be flying Southwest directly, you could land a more affordable flight while still getting value from your Capital One miles.
How to Use the Purchase Eraser Like a Pro
One of the most underrated features of Capital One miles is the Purchase Eraser. It’s a great way to retroactively apply your miles to travel purchases, making it especially useful if you found a last-minute flight on Southwest that you didn’t have time to book through Capital One’s portal.
Here’s how to use it:
- Book your Southwest flight using your Capital One card.
- Once the charge posts, go to your Capital One account and select the Purchase Eraser.
- Choose the transaction (your Southwest flight) and redeem your miles for a statement credit.
What’s amazing about this feature is its flexibility. Unlike other travel rewards programs, which require you to book within their ecosystem, Purchase Eraser allows you to book directly through Southwest (or any travel service) and still use your miles to cover the cost. This way, you won’t miss out on flash sales or limited-time offers!
Maximize Your Rewards with Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Program
Although Capital One’s miles are versatile, it doesn’t hurt to take advantage of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program while you’re at it. Sign up for their loyalty program (if you haven’t already) and you’ll be able to double-dip on rewards, earning points for your flight even if you’ve used miles to pay for it.
Here’s how it works:
- When you book through Capital One, you can still enter your Rapid Rewards number during the booking process.
- You’ll earn points for your flight as long as you’re logged into your Southwest account.
- Redeem those points for future flights or upgrades, stacking rewards from both programs.
Bonus Tip: If you fly Southwest frequently, it’s worth considering applying for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card to earn even more points on everyday purchases. While the Capital One Venture card offers flexibility, a Southwest-specific card can offer targeted perks like free companion passes or bonus miles.
Should You Use Capital One Travel Miles for Southwest Flights?
So, is using your Capital One miles on Southwest flights the best option? The answer is: it depends.
When It’s Worth It:
- You’ve found a great deal on Southwest’s fare calendar or during a sale.
- You want to take advantage of the Purchase Eraser feature to offset costs.
- You’re flying during peak times when using miles can save you a ton of money.
When It’s Not Worth It:
- You could find better deals using other airlines or transfer partners.
- You don’t have enough flexibility in your travel dates to take full advantage of points.
Ultimately, using Capital One miles for Southwest flights is a fantastic option for those who want flexibility in their travel planning and the ability to quickly erase travel purchases with points.
Bonus Tip: Leverage Capital One Travel Alerts and Notifications
To stay ahead of the game and snag the best deals, make sure to set up Capital One travel alerts and notifications. These alerts will notify you about flight prices, special offers, and even when it’s the best time to book. Here’s how it works:
- Price Alerts: You can track the price of specific Southwest flights in Capital One’s travel portal. If the price drops, you’ll get an alert, giving you a chance to book at the lowest price available.
- Deal Notifications: You can receive notifications about special offers or flash sales on Southwest flights, helping you to use your miles when it’s most cost-effective.
- Price Drop Protection: In some cases, Capital One offers a price match guarantee, which refunds you the difference if the price drops after you book. This is especially helpful when you book far in advance.
How to Set Up Alerts:
- Log in to your Capital One account and navigate to the travel portal.
- Search for your preferred Southwest flight or route.
- Click the “Track Prices” button, and Capital One will send you notifications for any changes.
Pro Tip: This is especially useful if you’re planning to book during peak travel times, like holidays or long weekends, when prices tend to fluctuate.
Southwest Companion Pass: The Ultimate Hack
If you fly Southwest frequently, you’ve likely heard of the Southwest Companion Pass, which is one of the most valuable perks in the travel industry. The pass allows a designated companion to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees) whenever you book a flight.
Here’s how you can combine Capital One miles with the Southwest Companion Pass for ultimate savings:
- Step 1: Use your Capital One miles to book your flight through the travel portal or by erasing the purchase with miles.
- Step 2: If you hold a Companion Pass, book your companion’s flight on the same Southwest itinerary for just the cost of taxes and fees (usually around $5.60 each way).
- Step 3: Enjoy the savings! You’ve now used miles for your flight and only paid minimal fees for your companion.
How to Earn the Companion Pass:
To qualify for the Companion Pass, you’ll need to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. One way to fast-track this is by combining points earned through Southwest’s co-branded credit cards and any flights you’ve booked using Capital One miles.
Capital One Travel Miles vs. Cash – What’s Better?
One of the most common questions travelers have when redeeming rewards is whether they should pay for flights in cash or use their miles. Here’s a breakdown of when using miles is the smarter choice:
When to Use Capital One Miles:
- You’ve accumulated enough miles to cover the full cost of the flight, reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket expenses.
- The flight is during peak travel periods (holidays, summer break), and ticket prices are higher than usual.
- You want the flexibility of erasing the cost later with Purchase Eraser if you find a better deal elsewhere.
When to Pay in Cash:
- The cash price of the flight is low, and you want to save your miles for a more expensive trip.
- You have a limited number of miles and prefer to accumulate more for a bigger reward later.
- There’s a sale or discounted fare that offers better value than using miles.
Pro Tip: A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 1 cent per mile in value. If your miles can save you more than what you’d pay in cash, it’s worth redeeming them. If not, hold onto them for future use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Southwest with Capital One Miles
Even seasoned travelers can make mistakes when using travel rewards. Here are a few common errors to avoid:
- Not Double-Checking Restrictions: Always read the fine print before booking through the Capital One travel portal. Certain flights may have restrictions or blackout dates that limit your flexibility.
- Ignoring Southwest’s Sales: Southwest frequently offers sales on their own website that may not be reflected in the Capital One portal. Be sure to check both before finalizing your booking.
- Not Booking Early Enough: Popular Southwest flights can sell out fast, especially during holiday seasons. Book as early as possible to avoid missing out on available seats.
- Forgetting to Use Purchase Eraser: If you pay cash for a flight, don’t forget to redeem your Capital One miles within 90 days through the Purchase Eraser feature. Many travelers forget, leaving potential savings on the table.
Final Thoughts: Ready to Book?
Booking Southwest flights using Capital One travel miles offers incredible flexibility and value if you know how to navigate the system. From leveraging the Purchase Eraser to taking advantage of Southwest’s no-fee policies, there are multiple ways to get the most out of your miles.
With these 10 genius tips, you’re now ready to tackle the booking process with confidence and maximize your rewards. Whether you’re jetting off for a weekend getaway or embarking on an international adventure, Capital One miles can help make your trip more affordable.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning, get booking, and use these tips to save big on your next Southwest flight. Happy travels!
