The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

With its reliable rewards program, enticing welcome offer, and valuable travel benefits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is tailored to meet the needs of avid travelers. We'll delve into the card's key features, helping you understand its true value and how it can elevate your journeys. With the same redemption rate as the more expensive Southwest Premier and Priority cards, this card gets you as much bang for your buck for an average annual fee.

mglogo icon
WHY WE GEEK OUT

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a travel enthusiast's dream. With its generous rewards rate on various categories, enticing welcome offer, and useful travel benefits, it offers good value for Southwest loyalists. The ability to earn a Companion Pass and flexible redemption options make it a top choice for frequent travelers. While there is an annual fee, the perks and rewards can easily outweigh it if you travel a lot with Southwest.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Overview

As you consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, it's essential to carefully evaluate the array of features it offers. From the generous rewards program to the annual fee and foreign transaction fee, each aspect contributes to the overall value and suitability of the card for your travel needs.

Rewards rate: Earn 2X points on Southwest purchases, as well as on internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, local transit, commuting and rideshare purchases

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a 30% off promo code after you spend $3,000 in the first three months

Regular APR: 20.99% to 27.99% (variable)

Annual fee: $69

Foreign transaction fee: 3%

Annual bonus: Receive an annual bonus of 3,000 points on your account anniversary

Flexible redemption: Redeem points for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, exclusive event access, gift cards and merchandise. Unlimited rewards seats, points don't expire and there are no blackout dates.

Companion Pass: Qualify for Companion Pass by earning 135,000 points from qualifying purchases or 100 qualifying one-way flights

Pros

flatRate icon

Solid rewards rate on various categories

rewards icon

Impressive welcome offer

airplane icon

Valuable travel benefits, including free checked bags and in-flight perks

airportLoungeAccess icon

Opportunity to earn a coveted Companion Pass

travel icon

Flexible redemption options for airfare, hotels, and more

Cons

noForeignTransactionFee icon

Foreign transaction fee

shoppingCart icon

No bonus rewards in popular everyday categories

hotel icon

Limited options for international travel

Important Card Details

From its generous rewards program encompassing multiple categories to the coveted benefits of the Companion Pass, it's important to examine each feature of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card to make an informed decision. Here are some key features that make this card stand out in the world of rewards and travel.

  • rewards icon

    Reliable Rewards Rate

    Earn 2X points on various categories, including Southwest purchases, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, local transit, commuting, and rideshare, and 1X points on all other purchases. This broad range of everyday expenses ensures that you can earn rewards on both your travel-related spending and your daily essentials. The absence of bonus miles on everyday spending, such as groceries or gas, could be a drawback for some. But you can still earn bonus points on dining: registering for Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining allows you to earn up to 3X points at participating restaurants and an additional 10 points for writing a review of your experience.

  • cashCard icon

    Good Welcome Offer

    This card's welcome offer is pretty compelling: spend $3,000 in the first three months, and you receive a whopping 60,000 bonus points and a 30% off promo code. These points and discount can provide a significant boost, potentially translating to hundreds of dollars in airfare.

  • airplane icon

    Decent Travel Benefits

    This card is loaded with travel benefits. Lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and even two EarlyBird Check-In® boarding upgrades each year provide peace of mind and added convenience. Plus, the perk of having your first two checked bags fly free (size and weight limits apply) and no fees for flight changes are extra bonuses that can save you a fair bit of cash. You'll also get 25% cash back on eligible in-flight purchases.

  • travel icon

    Coveted Companion Pass

    The Companion Pass feature is the real game-changer for couples or frequent travel buddies. It allows a chosen companion to fly with you for virtually just the cost of the taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 for a one-way flight. The fact that the pass, once earned, is active for the rest of the year and all of the next, potentially gives it almost two-year validity - an incredible deal for frequent flyers.

  • noForeignTransactionFee icon

    Foreign Transaction Fees

    Foreign transaction fees are uncommon in the travel card space, so it's worth pointing out that this card has them. You'll pay a 3% foreign transaction fee for purchases made abroad. While this may not be a problem if you're only flying domestic, it's something to keep in mind if you're looking to get an airline card to also use for spending while traveling overseas.

  • annualFee icon

    Annual Fee

    The card carries an annual fee of $69, which may give you reason to pause. However, considering the lucrative rewards, if you're a frequent Southwest flyer or spend heavily on the other bonus categories, it should be fairly easy to offset the fee.

How the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Compares

Out of the three co-branded Chase and Southwest Airlines personal credit cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has the cheapest annual fee. However, if you’re looking to make purchases overseas, its higher-end counterparts, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority may be better options.

How This Card Compares

creditCard icon

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

  • Rewards rate: Earn 2X points on Southwest purchases, as well as on internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, local transit, commuting and rideshare purchases
  • Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a 30% off promo code after you spend $3,000 in the first three months
  • Regular APR: 20.99% to 27.99% (variable)
  • Annual fee: $69
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3%
  • Best For: domestic Southwest flyers
creditCard1 icon

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

  • Rewards rate: Earn 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Southwest Rapid Rewards hotel stays and car rentals, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, local transit, commuting and rideshare purchases, and 1X points on other spending
  • Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a 30% off promo code after you spend $3,000 in the first three months
  • Regular APR: 20.99% to 27.99% (variable)
  • Annual fee: $99
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Best for: generous rewards and no foreign transaction fees

About Grace Pilling


Grace Pilling headshot

Grace Pilling is passionate about empowering readers to make informed financial choices to support their best lives, not a company’s bottom line. Prior to joining MoneyGeek as a senior content manager, Grace was a senior editor at CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focused on teaching people how to use credit cards wisely.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.