How to Setup a Southwest Account (Especially If You’ve Gotten in on Southwest’s Cheap New Hawaii Flights)

July 2, 2019 by Jasmin Baron Jasmin Baron

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INSIDER SECRET: Setting up a loyalty account with Southwest is free and easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

Southwest is a fan favorite among many miles and points enthusiasts for their reasonable airfare, incredibly generous baggage policy, no change or cancellation fees, and fun service. Now that they’ve expanded their route network (including flights to Hawaii!), more and more folks are considering flying Southwest for the first time.

To get the most out of your Southwest flights (and earn points for free travel in the process) you’ll want to know how to set up a Southwest account. It’s free to do and really couldn’t be easier.

Plus, once you have a Southwest account, you can add to your points balance by opening Southwest credit cards that come with valuable welcome bonuses and points for ongoing spending:

And if you’re really into Southwest, these card sign-up bonuses can help you qualify for the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which allows a friend or family member to fly with you for nearly free (just pay taxes and fees) on paid and award tickets an unlimited number of times while your pass is valid.

I’ll show you how to open a Southwest account.

How to Set Up a Southwest Account

Opening a Southwest account is free and super simple. Here’s what to do.

Step 1. Go to the Southwest Website

Visit Southwest.com and click “Enroll” in the upper right-hand corner.

Find the “Enroll” button to get started on the Southwest website.

Step 2. Enter Your Details

You’ll be prompted to enter your personal details – the usual stuff:

Name (be sure to use what’s on your government-issued ID exactly, like your passport)
Date of birth
Phone number
Email address

To create your Southwest account, fill in the standard personal details.

You’ll also be asked to set up a username, password, and security questions (of the “what is your mother’s maiden name?” variety).

Once you’ve finished entering your info (be sure everything is correct, because you won’t have a chance to review once you submit), click “Create Account“.

Step 3. Receive Confirmation of Your New Southwest Account

Next, you’ll be brought to a screen confirming your new Southwest account. Take note of your account number, username, and password you created, so you can sign into your account later.

Note your account number and username – that way you can easily find it later!

Don’t forget to create Southwest accounts for your kids or partner if they don’t have one. You won’t be able to earn points for flights they fly – they’ll need their own frequent flyer membership to do that!

Check out our guides for using Southwest Airlines miles:

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel