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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Review: Is It Worth the Annual Fee?

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
3.5
Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>®</sup> Plus Credit Card
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Rate
Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
APRs
20.99% - 27.99% Variable on purchases and balance transfers
Editorial Note: shortenedCCEditorialNote

Our take: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is well worth it in the first year. You can use the sign-up bonus to help earn the Companion Pass for the lowest annual fee of any co-branded Southwest card. But it also offers the least-impressive perks of any Southwest card.

Pros and cons

  • Large sign-up bonus
  • Annual bonus
  • Decent earning rate on a variety of purchases
  • Low annual fee
  • Simple, transparent rewards program
  • Points count toward Southwest Companion Pass
  • Offers a handful of Southwest perks
  • Charges foreign transaction fees
  • Limited redemption options
  • There are more rewarding cards for Southwest flights
  • Underwhelming airline perks

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card worth it?

Southwest Airlines offers several co-branded credit cards that let users earn points and enjoy frequent flyer perks, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the least rewarding of them all. However, with the lowest annual fee ($69) of any Southwest credit card, it’s the most affordable way to earn Rapid Rewards while enjoying some airline perks.

The first-year bonus on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a huge incentive to sign up, especially since Southwest points are worth an average of 1.4 cents each. These points count toward the Southwest Companion Pass, which lets you book a companion for just the cost of airline taxes and fees each time you fly for up to two years.

After the first year, however, the value of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card drops dramatically. Compared to other travel cards, the ongoing perks and rewards are unimpressive.

First-year value: $1,412 versus $696 for the average travel credit card*
Ongoing value: $264 versus $419 for the average travel credit card*
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

Quick facts

  • Annual fee: $69
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
  • Regular purchase APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
  • Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Rewards: Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
  • Other benefits:
    • 3,000 point anniversary bonus
    • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost
    • Two Early Bird Check-Ins
    • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • Recommended credit: Good / Excellent

How do Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card benefits rate?

  • Sign-up bonus (4.6 out of 5)

    How large is the sign-up bonus on the 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 points can be used to book airfare with the airline, and they also count toward Companion Pass status. This offer is worth around $1,257 in Southwest airfare, making the card well worth it for the first year.

      Who’s eligible to apply?

    This offer isn’t available for individuals who already have a personal Southwest card, as well as previous members who have received a sign-up bonus from any personal Southwest card in the last 24 months. Note, this rule doesn’t apply to Southwest business credit cards. The Chase 5/24 rule may also disqualify you if you’ve opened too many cards recently.

    Should you apply now?: The sign-up bonus on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is decent at the moment, but you may want to wait to apply if you’re hoping to get the biggest bonus possible.

    Recent offers for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
    DateNumber of points
    June 202485,000 points
    February 2024Companion Pass + 30,000 points
    December 202350,000
    October 202375,000
    March 202350,000
    Tip: If you wait until the bonus offer reaches 85,000 points, you could be more than halfway toward the earning threshold for the Southwest Companion Pass. That’s because earning the pass requires you to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points within a calendar year.
  • Earning rewards (3.3 out of 5)

    How do you earn points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card? There are a variety of ways to earn bonus points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. You’ll get 2x points on categories like transit and streaming services and a 3,000-point anniversary bonus.

    Rewards earned: Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.

    The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has very similar bonus categories to other personal Southwest cards. Aside from a smaller anniversary bonus, you’ll earn points at nearly the same rate as the other cards.

    But its rewards pale in comparison to general travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. These cards will give you a higher return overall because they offer better bonus categories and they let you transfer your rewards to airline and hotel partners. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card even lets you transfer points to your Southwest Rapid Rewards loyalty program account.

    Rewards earned per $1 spent*

    *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

  • Redeeming points (3 out of 5)

    How do you redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card points? Southwest Rapid Rewards points are easier to redeem than most airline miles and offer additional benefits. All Southwest customers get two free checked bags on every flight, points don’t expire and there are no blackout dates. Southwest also has one of the most flexible rebooking and cancellation policies of any airline.

    The program is very straightforward since most flights give you the same value of around 1.4 cents per point for Wanna Get Away fares. In general, Wanna Get Away fares will give you the most bang for your buck, since they are the least expensive option in terms of both cash and points. While the number of points varies by flight, it’s not uncommon to find deals starting at around 7,500 miles one-way. Also note that award costs are based on the cash price for airfare, so you can lock in the best award prices during Southwest’s frequent sales or any other time cash prices for airfare are low.

    Several non-travel redemption options are available with Southwest points as well, including:

    • Gift cards
    • Merchandise
    • Stays at more than 70,000 hotels
    • Certain experiences
    • Southwest Rapid Rewards Access Events

    Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards program

  • Other benefits (2 out of 5)

    What other benefits does the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offer? Aside from its sign-up bonus and rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a few decent perks for its $69 annual fee:

    • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost: Get 10,000 qualifying points each calendar year toward the Southwest Companion Pass.
    • Two Early Bird check-ins each year: Automatically checks you in ahead of Southwest’s 24-hour check-in to score you a better boarding position.
    • 25% back on in-flight purchases: Get a discount on drinks and Wi-Fi on Southwest when you pay with your credit card.
    • Baggage protection: Up to $3,000 per passenger for lost luggage, and up to $100 per day for three days for baggage delays over six hours.
    • Extended warranty: Add an extra year to an existing warranty, for eligible warranties of three years or less.
    • Purchase protection: Covers new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account
    • DoorDash membership: Get unlimited deliveries with no delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a year

    However, the other co-branded credit cards from Southwest offer a better overall value, including larger anniversary bonuses and no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

    Southwest Plus CardSouthwest Premier CardSouthwest Priority Card
    Anniversary bonus3,000 points6,000 points7,500  points
    10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost
    Two Early Bird Check-ins
    25% back on in-flight purchases
    No foreign transaction fees
    Earn tier-qualifying points on spending
    $75 annual travel credit
    Four upgraded boardings

    Find the best credit card for Southwest Airlines

| Disclosures
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card*
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$99
Receive 6,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on
  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 6,000 anniversary points each year.
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent
*The information related to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has the same sign-up bonus with a slightly higher annual fee of $99, but it has a few additional perks that make it worth it. These benefits include 6,000 anniversary bonus points (instead of 3,000), and unlimited tier-qualifying points toward elite status with the airline.

Since it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, it’s the better option for people who travel internationally often and make a lot of overseas purchases.

| Disclosures
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$149
Receive 7,500 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings per year when available, and
  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 7,500 anniversary points each year.
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is geared to Southwest enthusiasts who want as many benefits as possible when they fly with the airline and are willing to pay a $149 annual fee. Members get better perks like a 7,500-point anniversary bonus each year upon account renewal, a $75 annual credit with Southwest and four upgraded boardings per year.

This card also refrains from charging foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad, which makes it a solid choice for frequent Southwest flyers who take a lot of international trips.

| Disclosures
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
$95
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on
  • Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

If you want to have more flexibility when it comes to redeeming rewards, you should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It has much better bonus categories, including 5X points on travel booked through Chase, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services, 2X points on other travel and 1X points on all other purchases.

Its points are much more valuable since you can redeem them in so many ways. You can transfer them to more than 10 different airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, including Southwest Rapid Rewards. You can also redeem points for 25% more travel through the Chase portal, or for flexible options like statement credits, merchandise or gift cards. Still, it’s important to note that points earned with this card cannot be used toward Companion Pass status.

Should you apply?

If you want to earn a generous sign-up bonus and potentially earn the Southwest Companion Pass this year, signing up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card makes sense.

If you don’t want to pursue the Companion Pass, however, you may want to consider a Chase travel credit card instead. A card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers better rewards on everyday spending categories and gives you more redemption options, including Southwest flights.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site

Frequently asked questions

The credit limit will depend on the exact type of card you’re approved for. For example, you may get a Signature version of this card with a minimum credit limit of $5,000. The Platinum version of this card has a minimum credit limit of $2,000.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has an annual fee of $69. It has the lowest annual fee of any Southwest card. In comparison, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has a $149 annual fee.

Chase doesn’t publish a minimum credit score requirement for its credit cards. However, this card is geared toward applicants with good / excellent credit.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

The information related to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.