Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Review: High Rewards, Low Annual Fee

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Updated: October 8, 2024

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is great for Southwest loyalists looking to earn rewards from their flights without a high annual fee. It’s particularly beneficial for folks looking for the most affordable Southwest card that can give them a boost on their Rapid Rewards points. With a generous sign-up bonus and 2X points on Southwest purchases and other travel-related categories, the card lets you rack up points quickly.

However, its limited bonus categories and rewards redemption make this card less appealing. If you fly Southwest frequently for business or leisure, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card card may offer better rewards and perks.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards Summary
Earn 1X–2X points
APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable
Intro Offer
Earn 85,000 points.
Annual Fee
$69
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Rapid Rewards Plus Detailed Review

The Rapid Rewards Plus card is a solid choice for Southwest flyers who want to earn Rapid Rewards points. At $69, its annual fee is the lowest among Southwest cards. You’ll also earn unlimited 2X points on Southwest purchases and select travel expenses, helping you quickly accumulate points for free flights.

However, the card lacks some of the premium benefits found in Southwest’s more expensive options. It doesn’t earn qualifying points toward Southwest’s elite status program, though it does contribute to attaining the Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees). Additionally, it charges foreign transaction fees, a smaller anniversary point bonus and fewer points earned on Southwest flights than on other Southwest cards.

It's current sign-up bonus of 85,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months is a sizeable reward but a higher spend threshold than you might expect for an entry level airline card. The sign-up bonus counts towards earning the Companion Pass, so it takes a big bite out of the 135,000 points needed to earn the pass.

Like other Southwest cards, the Rapid Rewards Plus has limited bonus categories, and the best redemption value is in Southwest flights. It’s still a good card to get if you’re primarily looking for a Companion Pass boost, but if you often travel internationally or want more flexibility, you may want to consider other travel cards.

Rapid Rewards Points Earning and Redemption

The Rapid Rewards Plus lets you earn high rewards on Southwest purchases and various spending categories, making it easy to accumulate rewards quickly.

  • Southwest Purchases: 2X points
  • Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partners: 2X points
  • Local Transit and Commuting (Including Rideshare): 2X points
  • Internet, Cable and Phone Services; Select Streaming: 2X points
  • All Other Purchases: 1X points

It’s important to note that when you fly Southwest, you automatically earn points in your Rapid Rewards account. The points you earn with this card are added to the initial points from your fare.

Southwest points are best used for booking Southwest flights, giving you a value of 1.4 cents per point. While you can also redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, car rentals and hotel stays, these options usually offer less value than flights. Rapid Rewards points don’t expire as long as your account remains active, allowing flexible redemption.

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To keep your Rapid Rewards account active, earn points at least once every 24 months through flights, credit card purchases or partner activities. This will prevent your points from expiring.

Does This Card Earn Companion Pass and A-List Status Points?

The Rapid Rewards Plus lets you earn Companion Pass points but doesn’t earn qualifying points for Southwest’s elite status programs.

Companion Pass: The points you earn with the Rapid Rewards Plus card count toward qualifying for the Companion Pass, just like other Southwest cards. The Companion Pass lets you bring someone for free (excluding taxes and fees) on any flight you book with cash or points. Every point you earn, including the 85,000 sign-up bonus, helps you reach the 135,000 points needed for this perk.

A-List and A-List Preferred: The Rapid Rewards Plus is the only Southwest co-branded card that doesn't accumulate tier qualifying points for Southwest’s elite status: A-List and A-List Preferred. With elite status, you get perks like priority boarding and extra points on paid flights. If you’re a Southwest loyalist, you may want to get either the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card to earn qualifying points for these programs.

Benefits and Perks

The Rapid Rewards Plus still dazzles with its rewards and perks, even though it’s not the most impressive Southwest card.

Sign-Up Bonus: The card lets you earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is a valuable perk because it contributes to the 135,000 points needed for the Companion Pass. If your main goal is to boost your points toward earning Southwest’s most coveted perk, the Rapid Rewards Plus is the most budget-friendly option.

Companion Pass: All points earned with this card count toward the Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a companion on your flights for the cost of taxes and fees. This can be a significant money-saver for those who often travel with a partner or family member.

Anniversary Points: During your anniversary year, you can earn 3,000 points every year on your card anniversary. These points can be used for future travel and are worth $42 when redeemed for Southwest flights.

EarlyBird Check-In: This card lets you enjoy two EarlyBird Check-In credits (worth $30 per flight) each year, giving you a better boarding position and earlier access to overhead bins.

Travel Insurance: The card offers free lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance, providing peace of mind and financial protection in case of travel mishaps.

Drawbacks and Considerations

Take a look at these drawbacks before deciding on the Rapid Rewards Plus:

Limited Bonus Rewards Categories: The card offers 2X points on Southwest purchases and several travel-related categories. However, most everyday purchases, such as groceries and dining, only get the base 1X point. If you want to get a travel card that also lets you earn points on a broader range of categories, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Inflexible Rewards Redemption: While you can redeem points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals and other purchases, you’d get the best value only by redeeming on Southwest flights. Since Rapid Rewards points are not transferable to other loyalty programs, redeeming points would always mean flying Southwest.

Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $69. While the rewards can offset this cost, it's important to consider whether the benefits align with your spending habits.

Fewer Perks Than Other Southwest Cards: Unlike its pricier counterparts, this card earns 1X fewer points on Southwest flights and offers a smaller anniversary points bonus. It also comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee and doesn’t earn tier-qualifying points for Southwest’s elite programs. If you’re a Southwest loyalist and want to get the most from your flights, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority is a strong alternative.

How Rapid Rewards Plus Compares to Other Cards

If you're thinking about other Southwest co-branded cards, here's how they stack up against the Rapid Rewards Plus:

Features
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual Fee

$69

$99

$149

Southwest Travel Credit

None

None

$75 per year

Sign-Up Bonus

Earn 85,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account

Earn 85,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account

Earn 85,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account

Points on Southwest Purchases

2X points

3X points

3X points

Points on Other Spending

  • 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases
  • 2X points on local transit, rideshares, internet, cable, phone services and select streaming services
  • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Same

Same

Below, we compare the Rapid Rewards Plus with another travel card to help you find the best travel card for your needs.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee is higher than the Rapid Rewards Plus. However, the Sapphire Preferred offers 5X points on Chase Travel purchases and 3X points on dining, streaming and online groceries. It also lets you earn a bigger sign-up bonus. Notably, you can transfer your Chase points to several airline and hotel partners, including Southwest. It’s a more flexible and robust travel card, especially if you’re not a Southwest loyalist.

Cards to Pair With the Rapid Rewards Plus

If you want to earn more rewards from your purchases, you may want to pair the Rapid Rewards Plus with a no-annual-fee cash back card.

Pairing With the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

It can be a smart strategy to pair the Rapid Rewards Plus with a cash back card like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. The SavorOne Cash offers 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and grocery stores for no annual fee. This pairing allows you to maximize rewards on both travel and everyday spending. Also, the SavorOne Cash card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for international travel.

Credit Card logo for Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Is the Rapid Rewards Plus Worth Getting?

The Rapid Rewards Plus card stands out in two situations: if you’re seeking the most budget-friendly way to earn bonus points for a Companion Pass or if you’re a Southwest loyalist who wants a straightforward card that earns Rapid Rewards points.

However, if you routinely fly Southwest, the Rapid Rewards Priority or the Rapid Rewards Premier might offer better value. Their higher annual points, perks or travel credits can easily offset the higher annual fees. On the other hand, if you want more flexibility with your points and aren’t committed to Southwest as a carrier, you might want to explore other airline credit cards.

Credit Card logo for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
Rates & Fees

Rapid Rewards Plus Card Details

Feature
Details

Card Uses

  • Airline
  • General Travel

Annual Fee

$69

Introductory Offer

85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months

Introductory APRs

None

Rewards

  • Earn 2X 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.
  • Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

How We Evaluated the Rapid Rewards Plus

We evaluated the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card among 20 cards using MoneyGeek's Airline Score. Our evaluation considered several key features:

  • Expected Value for Traveler (40%): Measures the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for a frequent traveler.
  • Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which is crucial for frequent travelers.
  • Offer ROI (15%): Evaluates the return on investment from the introductory bonus offers.
  • Airline Rewards Rate for Traveler (10%): Measures the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
  • Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study, rating the overall satisfaction with the card issuer.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): Rates the cost of foreign transaction fees, where a higher rating indicates no or low fees.
  • Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the accessibility of the card based on credit score requirements.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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*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.
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