How to Use Southwest Card’s 50,000 Point Bonus to These 11 International Destinations

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Wanna get away?  Right now, you can earn 50,000 Southwest points on all 3 Chase Southwest cards when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.

That’s worth between ~$625 and ~$695 toward Southwest award flights, including to 11 international destinations like Belize City, Cancun, and Punta Cana!

I’ll show you where you can visit with your Southwest points!

Earn 50,000 Southwest Points on All 3 Southwest Cards

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Link:   Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Currently, all 3 Chase Southwest cards have a 50,000 point sign-up bonus when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.  I do NOT know how long the increased offer will last on all of them!

Any 2 of these cards get you most of the way toward the Southwest Companion Pass, which is the best deal in domestic travel.

When you earn 110,000 Southwest points within a calendar year, you can choose a partner to fly with you for only the cost of taxes and fees on any paid OR award ticket.  And there’s NO limit to how many times you can use it!

How Southwest Points Work Toward Flights

Southwest never has blackout dates for award flights.  If a flight is available to purchase, you can use Southwest points to cover the cost.

Southwest points are worth between ~1.25 and ~1.39 cents each, depending on which flights you choose.  And the number of points you’ll need is tied to the retail cost of the ticket.  That means the higher the out-of-pocket cost is, the more points you’ll need for an award seat.

50,000 Southwest points are worth between ~$625 and ~$695 toward award flights on Southwest.  That’s more than enough for a round-trip flight to many of Southwest’s destinations, including their international flights!

Even better, you always get 2 free checked bags with Southwest.  And there are no change or cancellation fees if your dates change!

But keep in mind, you are responsible for taxes and fees on award flights.  Sometimes these fees can add an extra $100+ each way, depending on where you want to visit.

Where Can You Go?

Link:   Southwest Route Map

Link:   Where to Stay With Hotel Points in the Caribbean

Link:   Where to Stay With Hotel Points in Mexico

Link:   Where to Stay With Hotel Points in Central America

Let’s look at Southwest’s 11 international destinations.  And how many Southwest points you’ll need for a round-trip getaway!

If you have hotel points, check out my guides on where to stay in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.

Note:   Prices in these examples are based on travel in September 2016.  You may pay more (or less!) depending on the season.

1.   Oranjestad, Aruba

I found round-trip flights from Baltimore to Aruba for ~23,000 Southwest points and ~$75 in taxes.

With the sign-up bonus on any of the Chase Southwest cards, you and a mate could go.  And you’d still have some points left over!

Better yet, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, you could stretch your points out over 2 trips with a special someone.

2.   Nassau, Bahamas

Folks in Dallas can visit the Bahamas for just under ~19,000 Southwest points round-trip!

Keep in mind departure taxes from the Bahamas are ~$102, even on award flights.  But it’s only ~$6 in taxes to fly there.

You’ll have at least 52,000 Southwest points after you complete the minimum spending requirements on any of the Chase Southwest cards.  If you can accumulate 57,000 Southwest points, you’d have enough for 3 round-trip flights at this price.  You might need more sunscreen! 😉

3.   Belize City, Belize

Non-stop award tickets between Houston and Belize City cost ~7,000 Southwest points each way when I checked.  So the sign-up bonus on a Chase Southwest card is easily enough for 4 one-way award flights.

You’ll pay fewer points than other airlines charge.  And you can check 2 bags for free!

Belize is known for its beaches, eco-tourism, and terrific scuba-diving!  If you love history, its inland jungles have lots of Mayan ruins to explore.

4.   Liberia, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has beautiful beaches to surf, rainforests with hiking and wildlife, and warmer temperatures during the colder months!

I found round-trip flights from Chicago for ~22,000 Southwest points and ~$80 in taxes.  You’ll save ~$722 on 2 award flights with 44,000 Southwest points, which is a great deal!

Friends of mine went to Costa Rica recently and loved their experience!

5.   San Jose, Costa Rica

Depending on what you want to do in Costa Rica, you might decide to fly to San Jose instead of Liberia.

I found lots of flights from Denver to San Jose for ~20,000 Southwest points round-trip.  With the sign-up bonus on any of the 3 Chase Southwest cards, you’d have more than enough for 2 award seats.  Or, save your points to visit another fun destination!

6.   Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Southwest has non-stop flights between Atlanta and Punta Cana.  I found many seats for ~10,000 Southwest points each way.

Emily enjoyed taking a trip there with her friend for her birthday.  Folks enjoy the nearly constant 80-degree weather, local food, and beaches in the Dominican Republic.

50,000 Southwest points is enough for 5 one-way trips.  Or 2 round-trips with points left over!

Keep in mind taxes on round-trip award flights to the Dominican Republic are ~$105.  So be sure to factor them in when making your plans.

7.   Montego Bay, Jamaica

I found non-stop, round-trip flights between Houston and Montego Bay for ~14,000 Southwest points and ~$114 in taxes.  Or you’d pay ~$352 out-of-pocket.

If you collect ~56,000 Southwest points, you’d have enough to cover 4 one-way award flights to Jamaica.  Or 2 round-trip award seats!

8.   Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Southwest also flies to 4 Mexican destinations, including Cabo San Lucas on the tip of the Baja peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

This would be an excellent spot to treat yourself to a break.  Or plan a trip with a partner!

Fly there from many cities non-stop, including Austin (which has seasonal flights)!  I found a round-trip award seat for ~19,000 Southwest points and ~$83 in taxes.

9.   Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is another popular destinations for lots of folks, thanks to its fantastic diving, surfing, and swimming.

I found non-stop award flights from Denver for only ~16,000 Southwest points and ~$74 in taxes.  So the 50,000 Southwest points you’ll earn with a Chase Southwest card is plenty for 3 flights across the border!

10.   Mexico City, Mexico

Folks wanting to visit Mexico’s biggest city have options on Southwest, too.

I found non-stop, round-trip flights from Santa Ana to Mexico City for ~14,000 Southwest points and ~$89.

50,000 Southwest points is easily enough for 3 round-trip award flights.  That’s a fantastic deal!

Be sure to check out what folks on TripAdvisor voted the best things to do in Mexico City!

11.   Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Here’s another destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast!  I found non-stop, round-trip award flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta for ~14,000 Southwest points and ~$76.

Remember, Southwest also flies to lots of cities in Florida as well as Puerto Rico.  So if it’s sunshine you’re after, you’ll have several ways to put your Southwest points to good use!

Bottom Line

Right now, you can earn 50,000 Southwest points on the Chase Southwest Premier (Personal), Chase Southwest Premier (Small Business), and Chase Southwest Plus cards when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.

That’s worth between ~$625 and ~$695 toward award flights on Southwest!  I do NOT know how long these increased sign-up bonuses will last.

Two of these cards get you most of the way toward the Southwest Companion Pass, which is the best deal in domestic travel!

But keep an eye out for taxes and fees, even on award tickets.  And remember you get 2 free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees on every Southwest flight.

Here are all the places Southwest flies.  Let me know which is your favorite!