What happened
A Nov. 4 Phoenix-Las Vegas Basic award is 3,000 Rapid Rewards points against $136 cash in Southwest's four-day sale through Aug. 31, for travel Sept. 18, 2026 through March 3, 2027.
Awards require a 21-day advance purchase. Southwest calls the sale nonstop-only, though The Points Guy also saw similar discounts on connections such as Boise-Long Beach via Phoenix. A Nov. 8 Sacramento-Honolulu flight was 10,000 points against $279 cash. Blackouts for Hawaii and international trips cover Nov. 19 to 25, 2026 and Dec. 17, 2026 through Jan. 5, 2027. Southwest's bookable calendar runs through June 2, 2027, but sale travel ends March 3, 2027.
The Points Guy values Rapid Rewards at 1.25 cents per point and put the Phoenix-Las Vegas award at 4.3 cents per point. Companion Pass holders taking a companion could see redemptions worth over 8 cents per point, which TPG says can justify transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Book Rapid Rewards awards by Aug. 31 at least 21 days before departure.
- Announced
- Aug 28, 2026
- Starts
- Aug 28, 2026
- Ends
- Aug 31, 2026
- Book by
- Aug 31, 2026
- Travel by
- Mar 3, 2027
- Numbers
- 1.25 cents per point: TPG August 2026 Rapid Rewards valuation
- 4.3 cents per point: value on a PHX–LAS award
- 3,000 points: PHX–LAS award price in the sale
- $136: PHX–LAS Basic cash fare
- 10,000 points: SMF–HNL award price in the sale
- $279: SMF–HNL cash fare
- 21 days: minimum advance purchase for sale awards
- 8 cents per point: potential value with Companion Pass
- Where
- Phoenix (PHX), Las Vegas (LAS), Sacramento (SMF), Honolulu (HNL), Boise (BOI), Long Beach (LGB), Hilo (ITO), Hawaii
- Who qualifies
- Rapid Rewards award bookings made at least 21 days before departure for travel Sept. 18, 2026–March 3, 2027, excluding listed blackout dates; the sale is described as applying to nonstop flights.
- Takeaway
- Search Rapid Rewards awards rather than cash fares and book qualifying trips by Aug. 31, 2026, at least 21 days out, while checking the blackout lists.