The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a solid entry point into Southwest Airlines rewards with basic perks like 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird check-ins annually. While it provides nice rewards for Southwest purchases and everyday spending categories, you’ll get better value from Southwest’s premium card options if you fly the airline regularly.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Southwest Plus Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
This card comes with standard Southwest credit card eligibility rules you’ll need to keep in mind before applying. You won’t qualify if you currently hold any Southwest personal card or have received a welcome bonus on one in the past 24 months. However, having a Southwest business card won’t impact your eligibility for this bonus.
Chase’s 5/24 Rule affects your ability to get approved for this card. If you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the past 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application.
Earning Points
The Southwest Plus Card earns Rapid Rewards points at the following rates: We value Southwest points at 1.37 cents per point based on our data analysis, which means you earn a return of 2.7% for 2x categories and 1.4% for 1x categories.
Annual Fee
The Southwest Plus Card comes with a $69 annual fee, which is the lowest among all Southwest Airlines credit cards. You’ll receive 3,000 anniversary bonus points (worth approximately $36 in airfare), two EarlyBird check-ins per year (worth $30-190), and 25% savings on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi, which help offset the annual fee cost.
Additional cardholders can be added to your account at no extra cost.
Benefits of Southwest Plus Card
The Southwest Plus card offers the following benefits to its cardholders: 3,000 Anniversary Points: Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive 3,000 Rapid Rewards points automatically deposited into your account. These points can help offset your annual travel expenses on Southwest flights. Two EarlyBird Check-Ins:You’ll get two complimentary EarlyBird check-ins per anniversary year, which can significantly improve your boarding position. This benefit helps you secure better seat options and overhead bin space on your Southwest flights. 25% In-Flight Savings: When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit. Companion Pass Boost: Get a 10,000 point head start each year toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, though keep in mind all qualifying activity counts, not just credit card spend Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card. Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card. Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. 120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Redeeming Points
Southwest Rapid Rewards offers a flexible and straightforward way to redeem points for flights. The program’s simplicity is one of its key strengths, and its value is fairly onsistent across different fare types and destinations. Our data study found that the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is 1.37 cents per point, making it easy for members to gauge the worth of their rewards. Redemptions are seamless on Southwest’s website, where you can book any available seat without blackout dates. One of the program’s standout features is its generous change and cancellation policy. You can modify or cancel award bookings without fees, with points returned to your account and taxes refunded to your original form of payment. While Southwest primarily serves domestic routes, it also flies to select international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. The airline’s extensive U.S. network makes it a popular choice for domestic travelers, despite not belonging to a major alliance. For maximum value, focus on redeeming points for Wanna Get Away fares, which often provide the best return. Avoid using points for gift cards, hotels, or rental cars, as these options typically offer significantly lower value than the 1.37 cents per point average for flights. The Southwest Companion Pass is a potential game-changer for frequent travelers. This benefit allows a designated companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on both paid and award tickets, effectively doubling the value of your points when traveling together.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros:
Low Annual Fee: At $69, this is the lowest annual fee among Southwest Airlines credit cards, making it accessible for budget-conscious travelers.
Anniversary Bonus Points: Cardholders receive 3,000 bonus points each year on their account anniversary, providing ongoing value.
EarlyBird Check-In Credits: The card offers two EarlyBird check-ins per year, potentially improving your boarding position.
Rapid Rewards Earning Potential: Earn 2x points on Southwest purchases and in select bonus categories, helping you accumulate Rapid Rewards points faster.
Cons:
Foreign Transaction Fees: The card charges a 3% fee on purchases made outside the United States, making it less suitable for international travel.
Limited Travel Perks: Compared to other Southwest cards, this one offers fewer premium travel benefits like upgraded boardings or travel credits.
Restricted Redemption Options: While Rapid Rewards points are valuable for Southwest flights, they have limited flexibility for other travel redemptions compared to some general travel rewards cards.
Alternatives to the Southwest Plus Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (review) delivers solid rewards for Southwest flights and useful perks like two EarlyBird check-ins per year. This mid-tier Southwest card provides good value through its anniversary bonus points and travel benefits, making it particularly appealing if you fly Southwest several times per year. Welcome Bonus: Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: 6,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, no foreign transaction fees, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card (review) offers valuable perks for frequent Southwest flyers, including a $75 annual travel credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. This premium card provides the most benefits of Southwest’s personal credit cards, making it ideal for loyal customers who want to maximize their rewards and travel experience with Southwest. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: 7,500 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 4 Upgraded Boardings per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Worth It?
The Southwest Plus Card delivers decent value for occasional Southwest flyers seeking a lower annual fee option, with perks like 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird check-ins that easily offset the $69 annual fee.
The card earns double points on Southwest purchases, local transit, and everyday bills like phone and internet services, though you can find better earning rates with other travel cards.
While the card’s basic benefits like 25% back on inflight purchases are nice to have, the real value comes from using it to help earn Southwest’s valuable Companion Pass through your spending.
However, if you fly Southwest more than a few times per year, you’ll get significantly more value by paying a bit more for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, which offers enhanced benefits like a $75 annual travel credit and more anniversary points. The biggest drawback of the Plus Card is its 3% foreign transaction fee, so you’ll want to use a different card when traveling internationally.
Learn How to Apply: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
