Southwest Airlines is trying to win back its once-loyal passengers with free rewards points worth up to $300

This reporter was among the hundreds of thousands of people who were stranded during the peak holiday travel days after Southwest Airlines canceled hundreds of flights.

A future Southwest plane ticket, gift card, or merchandise can be redeemed for this reward, according to the email Southwest sent out. The airline claims that the points can be used on any available seat, and never expire, but how many points customers need to redeem for a flight depends on the destination, day of travel, and other factors.

Those whose flights were canceled or delayed more than three hours will be offered the offer. Reimbursements and refunds on flights are also being given.

The purpose of our company has always been to connect our customers to what is important in their lives. The email was sent in the name of Southwest CEO Robert Johnson. Accept my apology for that.

The points aren't being given out automatically like the refunds and reimbursements the airline has been promising Passengers need to redeem a unique code to receive it. Before they can claim the offer and redeem the points, they need to sign up for the program.

If your flight was canceled and you were not able to rebook, you can request a refund on Southwest's website. If you had to pay for additional days in a hotel, meals, or other form of transportation because of your delay or flight cancellation, you can email the company and submit a receipt.

Chris Mainz told Fortune that Southwest has a long and proud 51-year record of delivering on its customers' expectations. We aim to do the right thing when we fail.

Southwest experienced a systemwide meltdown that lasted days longer than the disruptions of other airlines because of its unique and persistent troubles.

The federal government is investigating the cause of the canceled flights. The airline could lose a lot of money. A passenger has filed a class action lawsuit against the airline.

The Impact Report newsletter looks at how ESG news and trends are affecting the responsibilities of executives. You can subscribe here