Looking for a credit card that can help you earn rewards for Southwest Airlines while also providing travel protections? Look no further than the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
With this card, you’ll earn double points on Southwest Airlines purchases as well as common household purchases like rideshares, commuting, streaming, cable, internet, and phone services.
But that’s not all, you’ll also enjoy additional perks such as 3,000 bonus points each year when you renew your Plus card and a range of travel protections, making it a great choice for frequent flyers.
Let’s dive into the benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
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- 2x Points on Southwest Airlines, Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
- 3,000 Points Every Year on Cardmember Anniversary
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $69 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
The Southwest Plus Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Welcome Bonus Eligibility
One thing to remember is that you are not eligible for a Southwest welcome bonus if (1) you currently have a Southwest personal credit card OR (2) you received a bonus on any Southwest personal card in the last 24 months (business cards don’t count toward this limit).
If you’ve recently canceled your Southwest card and it’s been at least 24 months since your last welcome bonus, you are able to eligible for a new bonus.
Earning Points
The Southwest Plus Card earns Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:
- 2 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases.
- 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, and phone services.
- 2 points per dollar on select streaming.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee
The Southwest Plus Card has a $69 annual fee, which is the lowest among all Southwest credit cards (Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (review) at a $99 annual fee and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (review) at a $149 annual fee).
The annual fee can be offset by 3,000 points for each cardmember anniversary, two upgraded boardings, and a 25% in-flight savings.
You can also add authorized users to the card at no extra fee.
Benefits with Southwest Airlines
The Southwest Plus Card offers the following card benefits:
3,000 Point Anniversary Bonus
Every cardmember anniversary you get 3,000 points, which is worth about $40 in flights on Southwest.
Two Early-Bird Check-Ins Each Anniversary
This card offers two EarlyBird check-ins per anniversary year, which provides the ticket holder with automatic check-in starting at 36 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time.
This normally costs $15-25 per year, but you get two free each year with this card.
25% Off for In-Flight Purchases
When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit.
For example, if you bought a drink for $8 using this card, you would receive $2 back as a statement credit.
Annual Bonus of 10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points
Just by holding the Southwest Plus card, cardholders will receive 10,000 bonus Companion Pass qualifying points every calendar year. Remember, all points earned with your credit card will count towards the Companion Pass.
Secondary Car Rental Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
Purchase Protection for 120 Days
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Redeeming Points
One of the best things about redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points is the simplicity of the process.
The cost of your award ticket is directly tied to the cash price of the flight. The higher the cash price, the more points are required.
Rapid Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents per point on average, but it’s not a fixed rate for all flights. You may get 1.6 cents per point on some routes, but only 1.4 cents per point on others.
Plus, there are no blackout dates, and you can use Rapid Rewards points to book any Southwest Airlines ticket for sale.
Another cool feature is that if the price of the flight goes down, you can just rebook your Southwest flight and the difference in points will go back to your account.
Pros and Cons
If you’re considering getting the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision so here are some key factors you need to consider.
Pros
- Anniversary Bonus of 3,000 points
- No limits on rewards
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- Foreign transaction fees
- High APR
- $69 annual fee
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 Card
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- 6,000 Points Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 2X Points on Transit, Ridesharing, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Eligible Streaming Services
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $99 Annual Fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (review)is the mid-tier in the Southwest personal credit card portfolio, and it’s a balanced, low-cost option offering nice perks.
For a reasonable $99 annual fee, you can earn 3X points on Southwest purchases, and 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, ridesharing, local transit, commuting, phone, cable, internet, and streaming services.
Additionally, you receive two EarlyBird check-in each year, 6,000 points each account anniversary, and a 25% savings on in-flight purchases.
The Southwest Premier card also comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and an extended warranty.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- 5x Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars via Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles Everywhere Else
- 2 Free Visits to Capital One Lounges Each Year
- Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check Credit
- Hertz 5-Star Elite Status
- Rental Car Insurance and Extended Warranty
- $95 Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The card also comes with a range of travel benefits, including secondary rental car, no foreign transaction fees, and extended warranty coverage.
Plus, you also get two complimentary passes to visit Capital One lounges each year and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to a $100 credit every four years).
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Worth It?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card can be a good choice for frequent Southwest flyers who want to earn points towards free flights and enjoy some travel benefits. However, if you’re not a frequent Southwest traveler, this card may not be worth it for you.
If you travel at least four times per year on Southwest, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (review) or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (review) is a better option, despite their higher annual fee.
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- 2x Points on Southwest Airlines, Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
- 3,000 Points Every Year on Cardmember Anniversary
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $69 Annual Fee
