The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) is Southwest’s most affordable personal cobranded credit card, offering practical Southwest-specific perks like a free checked bag, anniversary bonus points and preferred boarding for a modest $99 annual fee.
However, loyal Southwest flyers may get more long-term value from one of the airline’s higher-tier cards, which offer richer benefits and stronger earning rates. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus: The basics
If you’re looking for an entry-level Southwest credit card, the Southwest Plus card offers a straightforward mix of airline perks and ongoing value at a relatively low annual fee.
- Annual fee: $99
- Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Best for: Southwest travelers seeking airline perks for a low annual fee
- Rewards structure: Bonus points on Southwest purchases plus select everyday and travel categories
- Key benefits: First checked bag free, free standard seat selection (within 48 hours of departure), Group 5 boarding and anniversary bonus points
- Rewards currency: Southwest Rapid Rewards points, best redeemed for Southwest flights
We generally recommend a credit score of 670 or higher to improve your approval odds.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| <ul> <li>Free first checked bag</li> <li>Baggage delay insurance</li> <li>Bonus points each year after your cardmember anniversary</li> <li>Extended warranty and purchase protection</li> <li>No foreign transaction fees</li> </ul> |
<ul> <li>Has an annual fee</li> <li>Fewer Southwest perks than higher-tier cards</li> <li>Limited value outside the Southwest ecosystem</li> </ul> |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus key benefits
Southwest has spent years reinventing how passengers board, choose seats and earn status. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus includes several practical Southwest perks that help the updated travel experience feel more predictable.
Southwest travel perks
Cardholders receive several Southwest-specific benefits, including:
- Free first checked bag (for themselves and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation)
- Group 5 priority boarding (for the cardholder and eligible companions)
- Free standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure, when available (for the cardholder and eligible companions)
- One 10% flight discount code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares)
- 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases
I think the free first checked bag is one of the card’s most valuable ongoing perks given that Southwest charges for checked bags. Southwest checked bags typically cost $45 per bag each way, meaning that checking a bag on one round trip comes close to offsetting the card’s $99 annual fee.
Southwest currently has eight boarding groups, so Group 5 falls near the middle of the boarding process.
With Southwest charging for seat selection, choosing standard seats for free can help cardholders save money on future flights.
For benefits like the free first checked bag, Group 5 boarding and standard seat selection, cardholders generally only need to attach their Rapid Rewards number to the reservation (and keep their card account open and in good standing). However, the 25% inflight savings benefit requires payment with the card.
Anniversary points and status boosts
Beyond the travel perks, the card also offers ongoing value through Southwest’s loyalty program. Cardholders receive 3,000 anniversary bonus points each year after account renewal, which is a small but welcome extra.
Through the end of 2026, they also receive an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points. Starting in 2027, Companion Pass qualifying points will be retired and instead cardholders who reach 130,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) by Dec. 31, 2027, will receive a one-time 10,000-TQP boost toward Platinum status — which includes a Companion Pass.
I like that these perks provide value beyond the first year, especially for travelers working toward the Companion Pass.
Travel and shopping protections
While this isn’t a premium travel card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus still includes a solid set of protections:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Extended warranty protection
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Purchase protection
These benefits can provide meaningful value if something goes wrong during your trip or after a purchase.
How to earn and use your rewards
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus keeps things relatively simple when it comes to earning and redeeming Rapid Rewards points.
Earning Rapid Rewards points
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, you’ll earn:
- 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores (on the first $5,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year)
- 2 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
The earning structure is fairly straightforward rather than being a true earning workhorse. A general travel rewards card or cash-back card could offer better returns across many everyday spending categories.
However, the card could still make sense for Southwest loyalists because it also earns 1 TQP per $1 spent toward elite status (starting in 2027). This is the same TQP-earning rate as Southwest’s higher-tier cards.
Redeeming Rapid Rewards points
Rapid Rewards points are generally most valuable when redeemed for Southwest flights.
Because Southwest uses dynamic award pricing, redemption rates fluctuate alongside cash fares. The upside is that award availability is usually excellent — if there’s a seat for sale, you can typically book it with points.
TPG senior content strategist Gabrielle Bernardini recently redeemed 38,500 Rapid Rewards points for a round-trip flight from Orlando to Aruba, which would otherwise have cost about $800. That redemption gave her roughly 2 cents per point in value, well above TPG’s October 2026 valuation of Southwest points at 1.25 cents each.
Starting in spring 2027, Southwest is also expected to launch awards on partner airlines like Etihad Airways and Icelandair as part of its program overhaul. Award costs have not yet been announced, but having additional redemption options is always a welcome addition for members.
You can also redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays and rental cars, though these options typically provide less value.
If you want more flexibility, a transferable-points card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) may be a better fit since Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest and multiple other airline and hotel partners.
Downsides to consider about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
The biggest drawback of the Southwest Plus card is that it offers fewer perks and weaker earning rates than Southwest’s higher-tier cards.
While the $99 annual fee is approachable, it gives you the most basic version of Southwest’s perks compared to other Southwest credit cards. It offers standard rather than preferred seat selection, the lowest anniversary bonus among the personal Southwest cards and only 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
Additionally, Rapid Rewards points are only valuable within the Southwest ecosystem. When partner awards become available in 2027, this will improve somewhat, but general travel rewards cards will provide even more flexibility.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) offers richer perks, which could make it a better package for some travelers.
The Priority’s annual fee is $130 higher, but it earns 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases, provides 7,500 anniversary points and includes preferred seat selection at booking plus extra-legroom upgrades within 48 hours (when available). These ongoing Southwest benefits might help justify an airline card long-term.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Plus card is better for occasional Southwest travelers who want airline perks without committing to a higher annual fee.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus worth it?
The Southwest Plus card won’t supercharge your Rapid Rewards balance, but it can keep a seemingly cheap ticket from getting more expensive at every step. Between the free checked bag, anniversary bonus points and seat selection benefits, it’s fairly easy to offset the $99 annual fee if you fly Southwest even a couple of times per year.
But if you’re a frequent Southwest traveler, you’ll likely get more long-term value from one of the airline’s higher-tier cards.
When to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
New Southwest Plus cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,000 and is higher than what we’ve seen in recent Southwest and Chase welcome offer history trends.
The offer is even better if you’re working toward a Companion Pass. This is the last year when the points you earn through credit card welcome offers will count toward the threshold you need for a Companion Pass. Cardmembers who are approved for a Rapid Rewards credit card on or before Dec. 2 will have the opportunity to have these bonus points count, even if the spend threshold is met in 2027.
The card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more new credit card accounts from any bank in the past 24 months, you’ll likely be denied.
Additionally, you generally won’t qualify for this bonus if you currently have another personal Southwest credit card or earned a welcome bonus on one within the past 24 months.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
If the Southwest Plus card doesn’t fit your travel style, there are several other airline and travel rewards cards worth considering, depending on the types of perks and flexibility you want.
- If you want more Southwest benefits with a modest fee:The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has solid perks to justify its $149 annual fee. These include more anniversary bonus points and higher earning rates. To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Premier.
- If you want more flexible travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to Southwest and other airline and hotel partners. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want premium travel perks beyond Southwest: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers airport lounge access, travel credits and flexible rewards that can be redeemed with loyalty partners. To learn more, read our full review of the Venture X.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards and best Chase credit cards.
Bottom line
The Southwest Plus card occupies an interesting middle ground: It’s affordable enough for casual flyers but still offers enough practical travel perks to justify keeping long-term.
I think this card hits the sweet spot for occasional Southwest flyers who want airline perks like a free checked bag and better boarding without committing to a premium annual fee.
The best test is not how often you fly Southwest, but which fees you actually pay. If Southwest is your primary airline, you might find you actually come out ahead with one of the carrier’s higher-tier cards.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: thepointsguy.com
