Best in Class
{{ benefit.description }}
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
If your main goal is earning the Southwest Companion Pass and you don’t plan to keep a card long-term, the Plus card is your lowest-cost entry point. It offers the same 50,000 (current special 20,000)-point sign-up bonus as the other two personal cards, but with a lower $99 annual fee. You'll be able to select a standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, for the cardmember and up to 8 passengers, along with one free bag (for up to 8 passengers) and no worse than Group 5 boarding. If you fly Southwest frequently or desire value-added perks like upgraded boardings and travel credits, one of the higher-tier cards might be a better fit.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card gives you a low-cost way to unlock solid rewards. It’s the most budget-friendly of the three personal Southwest cards, yet it still includes a strong sign-up bonus and a few helpful perks.
- Earn 50,000 (current special 20,000) points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Receive 3,000-anniversary points each year
- Select a standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure when available (a value of $50 per round trip on average)
- First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation
- Group 5 boarding for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers
- Receive a 10,000-point Companion Pass boost each year
- Receive a 10% promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fare)
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
You’ll also earn 2x points on Southwest purchases, hotel and car rental partners, and internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be for you if:
- You fly Southwest often and want more premium perks
- You plan to travel internationally — it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- You’ve opened another personal Southwest card in the last 24 months and are ineligible for another bonus
What to Know About Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
- Their points are among the easiest to earn, plus they have solid value.
- They’re partnered with Chase Ultimate Rewards, our favorite point partner ecosystem.
- Southwest moved to reserved seating and now charges for bags, two features that once made them unique.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards aren’t the most glamorous, but they’re the utility points that just work.
How The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Fits In The Southwest Rapid Rewards Ecosystem
There are three personal Southwest cards and two business cards, giving you multiple paths to earn the Companion Pass. Each personal card shares the same 50,000 (current special 20,000)-point sign-up bonus, 10k boost of Companion Pass qualifying points each year, group 5 boarding, and first checked bag free, but the perks and annual fees scale up with each tier.
- Rapid Rewards Plus Card has a $99 annual fee and offers 3,000-anniversary points and a 10% promo code each year. Cardmembers can select standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
- Rapid Rewards Premier Card costs $149 per year and increases the anniversary points to 6,000 and a 15% promo code each year. Cardmembers can select a standard or preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
- Rapid Rewards Priority Card, at $229 per year, gives you 7,500-anniversary points and a preferred seat when booking (when available). You can also receive unlimited Extra Legroom Seat upgrades when available
The Premier card also allows you to earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent toward A-List status while the Priority card allows 2,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent. Beyond these differences, all three cards offer the same sign-up bonus and general structure.
If you want to earn the Companion Pass primarily through sign-up bonuses, you’ll need to pair a personal card with a business card. Chase doesn’t allow you to receive two personal Southwest card bonuses within 24 months. The Performance Business Card is your best option with its 80,000-point bonus, while the Premier Business Card offers 60,000 points.
My Experience, No Filter
I picked the Plus card because I wanted to earn the Companion Pass without committing to a high annual fee. I don’t fly Southwest every month, but the value of the points, the flexibility to cancel or change flights, and the no-hassle reward bookings make it easy to get real savings.
I’ve used points to book flights for friends visiting from out of town, and the EarlyBird Check-Ins helped avoid some of the stress during peak travel weekends. While I don’t see this card as a long-term hold, it served its purpose.
Card Information
Bonus Points
20,000
Minimum Spend
$3,000 / 3mo
Point Value
1.3 ¢
Annual Value
Annual Fee
$99
1st Year Value
{{ firstYearValue }}
Differentiating Perks
Anniversary 3,000 Bonus Points
Annual 10% Southwest Discount Code
Free Checked Bag + 8 Guests
2X on Southwest Airlines Purchases
Rules
Potential Boosts
Companion Pass valid through 2/28/27
Card Extras
Extra
Worth/Fit
Est. Value
Total Annual Value
{{ totalAnnualValue }}
No extras to display for this card.
Card Benefits
No benefits are available for this card.
Historical Card Offers
{{ offerStats.averageFrequency != null ? Math.round(offerStats.averageFrequency) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Frequency
{{ offerStats.averageOfferLength != null ? offerStats.averageOfferLength.toFixed(1) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Offer Length
{{ offerStats.estimatedNextOffer ? (['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'][offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getMonth()] + " '" + String(offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getFullYear()).slice(-2)) : 'N/A' }}
Estimated Next Offer
Start Date
Offer Length
Bonus
Minimum Spend
Spend Categories
2.6¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
2.6¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
2.6¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
1.3¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Application Rules
You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from a personal Southwest card within the last 24 months
Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months.
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Point Transfer Options
+5 Lower Value Transfers Show
Radisson Rewards
Value: 0.3¢
43% Value Retained
10:1
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
Rank
1st
Honorable Mention
Ranking of Cards Offering Southwest Rapid Rewards
Downgrade Options
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Southwest Rapid Rewards