Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a solid choice for Southwest flyers looking for an entry-level Southwest Airlines credit card. Although it comes with fewer perks than Southwest’s higher-tier airline credit cards, it also charges a lower annual fee and carries the same great welcome bonus. And while you’ll have to put up a $99 annual fee, the card’s annual benefits can easily cover the cost.

That said, the additional features you’ll get on higher-tier Southwest cards or premium general-purpose travel credit cards could easily offer enough value to make those cards worth a higher fee.

Rewards
2X points on Southwest purchases; gas stations and grocery stores purchases (in the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year)
2X points on Southwest hotel and car rental partners; local transit and commuting (including rideshares); internet, phone and select streaming services (until December 31, 2025)
1X points on all other purchases
Rewards value: 1.5 cents per point
Expert Appraisal: TypicalSee our expert analysis
Welcome offer
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Expert Appraisal: ExceptionalSee our expert analysis
Rates and fees
$99 annual fee
19.74% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0 foreign transaction fee
Up to $40 late payment and return payment fee
Balance transfer fee is the greater of $5 or 5 percent of the transfer
Expert Appraisal: Typical See our expert analysis
Other cardholder perks
3,000 bonus point anniversary bonus
Lost luggage reimbursement
Baggage delay insurance
25 percent back on eligible in-flight purchases
Two EarlyBird Check-In boarding upgrades (until December 31, 2025)
First checked bag fly free
No fees for flight changes
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection
Complimentary DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
Expert Appraisal: GoodSee our expert analysis

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus pros and cons

Pros

Cons

First-year value vs. ongoing value

Although the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card carries an updated $99 annual fee, its solid rewards potential and additional benefits carry enough recurring value for many travelers to easily recoup the cost. Even after the first year, your annual credits alone can make up the annual fee. Your 3,000-point anniversary bonus and two complimentary EarlyBird Check-In® boarding upgrades each year can be valued at up to $95.

Offsetting the $99 fee through earning rewards shouldn’t be too hard, either, since you’d only need to spend about $275 per month across your 2X bonus categories if you redeem your points at a 1.5 cents value. Here's a look at how much you could earn in your first year and beyond, based on Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations:

Why you might want the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Although the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card has increased its annual fee to $99, it still holds a lot of value, including several helpful travel perks. This makes the card a great choice for both occasional travelers and those just getting their feet wet with travel rewards.

Welcome offer: Great value for a low-cost card

New cardholders can earn earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Based on Bankrate's latest airline point valuations, which give Southwest Rapid Rewards an average value of around 1.5 cents per point, this bonus could be worth about $1,275. That's an amazing return on spend and can cover a good bit of airfare.

Plus, those points count toward earning the incredibly valuable Southwest Companion Pass, which requires you to earn at least 135,000 points per year from qualifying purchases (or taking 100 eligible one-way flights).

Cardholder perks: A great spread for the price

While it lacks a few of the travel perks you’d expect on an airline credit card of this tier, like upgraded boarding status, the Rapid Rewards Plus does have a nice set of perks and can provide a lot of value, especially if you’re looking for a low-cost way to earn Rapid Rewards points.

You’ll receive a lineup of travel benefits, including lost luggage reimbursement of up to $3,000 per passenger and baggage delay insurance of up to $100 per day for three days. Additionally, your first checked bag flies free (size and weight limits apply). Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost. This perk is especially handy since, as of May 2025, Southwest Airlines no longer offers the first two bags free for all passengers.

Of special note is the card’s anniversary bonus points: After your cardmember account anniversary each year, you’ll earn 3,000 bonus points, which equates to $45 toward flights based on a 1.5-cent point value. These anniversary points are a great deal since their value nearly accounts for your entire annual fee.

The Rapid Rewards Plus card also provides 25 percent back on eligible in-flight purchases and until December 31, 2025, two EarlyBird Check-In® boarding upgrades (an up to $50 value).

Finally, when you use your card to buy items with eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less, you may earn an extended warranty for an additional year. Further, purchase protection covers your purchases for up to 120 days against theft or damage, up to $500 per event and up to $50,000 per account.

Although general travel cards, like the flagship Chase credit cards, may offer a better benefit portfolio, these make up a pretty solid roster. Even the top-shelf Southwest card only builds on this list with bonus elite status point opportunities, more boarding upgrades and a yearly travel credit.

Why you might want a different travel card

Adding the Rapid Rewards Plus to your wallet is light on risk and most travelers can enjoy its perks. But there are a few reasons why it’s not necessarily the best airline pick.

Rewards: Lacking in flexibility and power

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card earns Rapid Rewards points, which you can only spend on Southwest Airlines bookings and products and services through the airline loyalty program.

Every dollar you spend on purchases with Southwest Airlines will earn you 2X Rapid Rewards points. Southwest Airlines purchases include Southwest flight reservations, in-flight purchases, gift cards, vacation package purchases and bookings with the airline’s rental car and hotel partners.

Southwest Rapid Rewards points are also locked to Southwest Airlines, making them less flexible compared to the top general travel card competitors. Rewards programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards have travel partners that allow you to transfer your points to partner rewards programs. Moving your points in this fashion can boost the overall value of your points by as much as double in some cases.

On the bright side, Southwest points are among the most valuable when strictly comparing airline points and miles.

Rates and fees: Could be better

The APR on purchases and balance transfers ranges from 19.74% - 28.24% Variable APR, depending on your creditworthiness, with no zero-interest offers available currently. These are typical rates for cards of this tier, though you can find a few travel cards offering an intro APR on purchases, balance transfers, or even both.

We tried it: Here’s what our experts say

Frequent personal finance contributor Tim Maxwell is a fan of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus—especially the value its Companion Pass perk delivers.

If you prefer Southwest Airlines over the competition, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is the perfect tool to begin earning perks with the airline. The annual fee is low, and the value of the benefits is high.

The main attraction of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. It’s the premier travel pass and the primary reason I love this card as much as I do.

Best cards to pair with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card limits the rewards you can earn outside of Southwest Airlines and its bonus category purchases. To maximize your spending, consider pairing it with a cash back card with higher rewards rates in other categories for everyday spending or a flat-rate rewards card.

How the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus compares to other travel cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers good value to budget travelers focused on earning Rapid Rewards points. But for even better value, consider a different Southwest card or a general travel rewards card.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card right for me?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is a good option if you fly occasionally and prefer to fly with Southwest. The boosted rewards, attractive welcome bonus and travel perks are well worth the modest annual fee. This card works best for:

Occasional Southwest travelers.
Commuters.
Those who want a travel card but don't mind a low annual fee.

Alternative picks

A more general travel rewards card, or one of the airline’s higher-tier cards, like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, can offer more lucrative perks and a slightly better rewards rate on Southwest purchases if you travel frequently.

*The information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate credit cards using a proprietary card scoring system that ranks each card’s estimated average rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more against those of other cards in its primary category.

Each card feature is assigned a weighting based on how important it is to people looking for a card in a given category. These features are then scored based on how they rank relative to the features on other cards in the category. Based on these calculations, each card receives an overall rating of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest).

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash back cards to determine where each stacked up based on their value, cost, benefits and more. Here are some of the key factors that influenced this card’s overall score and how the score influenced our review:

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Review | Bankrate