Turning 17k Chase Points Into 2 Round-Trip Flights on Southwest
One of my favorite low-stress travel hacks for families is using Chase Ultimate Rewards points with airlines that keep things simple—and Southwest Airlines is at the top of that list.
This time, we used a relatively small number of points to cover two round-trip tickets and save real cash out of pocket.
The Points Play
Points transferred: 17,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards → Southwest Rapid Rewards
Total points used: 18,800 Southwest points
Route: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) ↔ Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Tickets: 2 round-trip flights
The Math (Because This Is Where the Magic Is)
Cash price of tickets: $304
Taxes paid: $22
Out-of-pocket flight cost: $22
Point value: 1.5 cents per point
This redemption isn’t flashy or first class—but it’s exactly the kind of win families should be stacking. Two people flew round trip for basically the cost of airport taxes.
Why Southwest Is a Family Favorite
Free checked bags (huge when traveling with kids)
No change or cancellation fees
Points pricing tracks cash pricing, so you always know you’re getting fair value
Easy transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards
When plans change (and with kids… they always do), Southwest gives us flexibility without stress.
The Takeaway
Not every points redemption needs to be 4–5 cents per point to be a win. Sometimes the best value is:
Flights you didn’t have to pay cash for
Low fees
Easy changes
Less stress when traveling as a family
Turning 17k Chase points into two round-trip flights is exactly the kind of practical, repeatable travel hack that helps families travel more—without blowing the budget.
If you want more real-life examples of how we stretch points for family travel, this is just the beginning ✨