Our take: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is perfect for travelers who occasionally fly Southwest and want to earn Rapid Rewards points toward future flights.
Pros
- Low annual fee
- Annual bonus points upon renewal
- Benefits when flying Southwest
Cons
- Charges 3% foreign transaction fees
- Purchases don’t earn A-List qualifying points
- Southwest has limited flight destinations
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Highlights
- Card type: Airline, Travel rewards
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $69
- Rewards: 2X points on Southwest flights, Southwest hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting, select streaming, internet, phone and cable services. 1X points on all other purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Overview
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the entry-level airline credit card from Southwest Airlines. It includes numerous bonus categories and a variety of perks that help to offset the card’s annual fee. The card features an affordable annual fee that is offset by its anniversary bonus points and complimentary EarlyBird Check-ins. But its siblings may be a better match for those who luv Southwest.
Something to note: Many airline cards offer a free checked bag benefit, but this would be moot on Southwest as all passengers get two free checked bags.
Who is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card good for?
The Southwest Plus card is best suited to occasional Southwest travelers who want to earn Southwest points but aren’t ready to commit to a higher annual fee. The Southwest Plus Card earns 2X points on a variety of bonus categories, including Southwest flights, phone, internet, local transit and more. Each year that you renew the card and pay the $69 annual fee, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points. When flying Southwest, you’ll be reimbursed for EarlyBird check-in twice per year and get a 25% discount on inflight purchases.
For Southwest travelers who want to earn the Companion Pass, the card’s welcome bonus and points earned from purchases count toward earning the Companion Pass. Additionally, you’ll receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year just for holding the Southwest Plus Card. To learn more, check out our Companion Pass guide.
Who shouldn’t get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card?
Since Southwest’s flight options are limited to the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean, travelers who want to travel further will be disappointed if they focus their spending on the Southwest Plus Card. For international trips to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, they should consider other airline or flexible point cards.
If your dream is to fly business or first class flights, the Southwest Plus card is not for you. As a budget-friendly airline, Southwest does not offer luxury cabin experiences on any of its planes. You won’t get lie-flat seats, premium drinks or full-service meals during your flight.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: How to earn rewards
Cardholders have three primary ways to earn Rapid Rewards points with the Southwest Plus Card, which include the new account bonus, spending on your card and referring others.
Welcome bonus
When you open the Southwest Plus Card, you have the opportunity to earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. At less than $350 per month, hitting this minimum spend requirement should be easy for most cardholders. With points worth an average of 1.4 cents each, this welcome bonus is equivalent to $700 in Southwest flights.
Bonus categories
You’ll earn unlimited 2X points on bonus categories with the Southwest Plus Card. This includes Southwest flights, incidentals and airline fees, as well as hotel and car rental reservations with Southwest partners. Bonus categories also include local transit and commuting, select streaming services and phone, cable and internet bills.
Everyday purchases
All other purchases earn unlimited 1X points for every dollar you spend. Even when you’re not taking advantage of bonus categories, you’re earning Rapid Rewards points on every purchase.
Referring others to the card
Chase Refer-A-Friend gives cardholders the opportunity to earn up to 100,000 Rapid Rewards points each year by referring friends and family. For each person who applies through your link and gets approved, you’ll receive 20,000 points. Chase considers these points as income, so you’ll likely receive a Form 1099 for the value of the points earned.
How to redeem Southwest Plus rewards
Southwest offers several redemption options for points earned from the Southwest Plus credit card. The value of your points can vary considerably depending on how they’re redeemed.
Southwest flights
The highest value option for Rapid Rewards points is booking flights. You can book flights for yourself or anyone else on any flight that Southwest offers. There are no blackout dates or exclusions you need to worry about.
However, Southwest points generally have a fixed value, so you won’t be able to redeem points for extraordinary value. The value you receive varies based on the fare type selected. Wanna Get Away Fares typically offer the most value with an average of 1.4 cents per point.
Pay Yourself Back
If traveling isn’t your highest priority right now, you can redeem Rapid Rewards points for statement credits instead. With Pay Yourself Back, you’ll receive 0.8 cents per point on eligible transactions within the last 90 days. Currently, annual fees, grocery stores and eligible delivery services are available for Pay Yourself Back but categories can change. You can redeem points for up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year.
Exclusive member events
The airline has created exclusive member events where you can redeem points to purchase tickets. These events vary throughout the year but often include concert tickets, culinary experiences and more. The tickets are limited, so you’ll need to act quickly to secure the most popular events. The value received for Rapid Rewards Access Events can be hard to determine since tickets generally aren’t available for sale to the public.
Other redemption options
Southwest offers numerous redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise, hotels, rental cars, flights on other airlines and more. However, the value received tends to be much lower than if you redeemed points for flights. For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid these redemptions if you want to maximize the value of the points earned from the Chase Southwest Plus card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card rates and fees
- Annual fee: $69
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Purchase APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable
Additional benefits
As a Southwest Plus cardholder, you’ll receive a variety of additional benefits that help to justify the card’s annual fee. Here are a few of the benefits you should know about.
- Annual bonus points. When you renew the card, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points. At an average of 1.4 cents per point, this bonus is worth approximately $42.
- EarlyBird Check-in. Get two complimentary EarlyBird Check-ins each year. These benefits allow Southwest passengers to check in to their flights before the standard 24 departure window. Prices vary based on flight length but normally start at $15 per flight segment.
- 25% inflight discount. When you make inflight purchases of WiFi, beverages and more, you’ll get a statement credit worth 25% of the transaction amount.
- Companion Pass boost. You’ll get a jump start on earning the Companion Pass with 10,000 qualifying points each year.
- Visa benefits. The Southwest Plus Card includes a bundle of Visa benefits, including rental car protection, baggage protection, purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.
Credit cards similar to Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card offers good value for its annual fee, but it may not be the best travel card for the way you travel or your spending habits. Before applying for this airline credit card, consider other cards that may be a better fit.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice to earn flexible points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel and more. Its points also transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners on a 1:1 basis, including Southwest, United, and Hyatt. This card earns 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery orders, plus 2x points on travel purchases. With its general welcome bonus, travel protections, flexible points and other features, it offers tremendous value for less than $100 per year.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
For travelers who luv to fly Southwest, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers the best value among the airline’s credit card options. Although its annual fee is $149, it includes a $75 Southwest® annual travel credit each year and 7,500 bonus points each year you renew the card. Plus, you also receive four Upgraded Boardings, which can upgrade your boarding pass from A1 to A15, so you can get on the plane quicker. With prices starting at $30 per segment, this benefit is worth at least $120.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card right for you?
The Southwest Plus Card is the best card for travelers who occasionally fly Southwest and who want to earn Rapid Rewards points. It features an affordable annual fee and benefits that make it worthwhile. The benefits include inflight discounts, EarlyBird Check-Ins, anniversary points and more. With category bonuses on select hotels and rental cars, local transit and more, you’ll continue earning Rapid Rewards points even when you aren’t flying on Southwest.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card have an annual fee?
Yes, all of the Southwest credit cards have an annual fee. The annual fees range from $69 to $149, depending on which card you get. In general, the higher the annual fee, the more benefits the card includes.
How do I get 50,000 points on my Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card?
New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. These bonus points can be used to book approximately $700 in Wanna Get Away fares. Plus, welcome bonus points and rewards on purchases count toward earning the Companion Pass.
Is it worth it to upgrade to the Southwest Priority Card?
Travelers who fly Southwest on a regular basis will receive exceptional value by upgrading to the Southwest Priority Card. Although it has the highest annual fee of any consumer Southwest card, it features a $75 Southwest® annual travel credit each year, 7,500 anniversary points each year and four Upgraded Boardings per year. The value of these benefits easily covers the card’s annual fee.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
