Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Large welcome offer worth an estimated $625
- Annual fee
- $99
- Welcome offer
- ~$625
- Annual benefits value
- -$61.50
- Est. 1st-year value
- $563.50
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Our review
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is the entry-level option in Southwest's personal card lineup, offering the lowest annual fee and a straightforward set of core Southwest perks. It is designed for casual-to-regular Southwest flyers who want the essentials, including a boost toward the Companion Pass, without paying for the extras found on the pricier Premier and Priority cards.
It ranks as the value pick among the Southwest cards because it delivers the perks most flyers actually use, a free checked bag for the cardholder and companions, a batch of anniversary points, and a yearly boost of Companion Pass qualifying points, at the lowest cost. What it gives up is the ability to earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status, which the two higher cards offer.
The card earns elevated rewards on Southwest purchases and bonus rewards in a couple of everyday categories, and its value, like the rest of the lineup, is tied entirely to Southwest and the Companion Pass. As with all Southwest cards, the airline reworked its boarding and seating during 2025 and 2026, so confirm the current benefit details shown above and in the card terms before applying.
We like this card for its low cost of entry. For a modest annual fee, a Southwest flyer gets the anniversary points and Companion Pass boost that make the lineup worthwhile, and the fee is easy to recover for anyone who flies the airline even a few times a year.
This card is best suited for occasional-to-regular Southwest flyers who want the core perks at the lowest price, especially those working toward the Companion Pass. Frequent flyers who want an elite-status boost should look at the Premier or Priority card instead.
Why we like it
- The lowest annual fee in the Southwest lineup, paired with the core perks most flyers use.
- Every point earned counts toward the Southwest Companion Pass, and the card adds a yearly boost of Companion Pass qualifying points.
- A batch of anniversary points posts each year with no spending requirement, which offsets much of the modest annual fee.
- Rapid Rewards points are easy to redeem for Southwest flights with no blackout dates.
- No foreign transaction fees, so it works well on purchases abroad.
Who it's best for
- Occasional-to-regular Southwest flyers who want core perks at the lowest cost.
- Travelers working toward the Companion Pass on a budget.
- People who do not need an elite-status boost or the extra seating perks of the higher-tier cards.
Welcome bonus
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of Rapid Rewards points after you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. The exact terms change over time, so confirm the current offer and the estimated value shown above before applying.
The full welcome bonus counts toward the Companion Pass, which can give a useful head start when timed early in a calendar year.
Using your rewards
Points are redeemed for Southwest flights with no blackout dates, and award prices generally track the cash fare.
Points earned on this card, including welcome and anniversary bonuses, count toward the Southwest Companion Pass.
Rapid Rewards points cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs, so their value depends on Southwest. Points moved in from Chase Ultimate Rewards do not count toward the Companion Pass.
Airport lounge access
None. This card does not include airport lounge access.
Foreign transaction fees
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees, so it is a practical card to carry abroad.
Major credits & annual benefits
A batch of anniversary Rapid Rewards points each year, credited without a spending requirement.
A yearly boost of Companion Pass qualifying points, shown above, that helps toward earning the pass.
A free first checked bag for the cardholder and companions on the same reservation, plus a discount on in-flight purchases and boarding perks. Because Southwest changed its boarding and seating during 2025 and 2026, review the current terms to confirm how these perks apply today.
Unlike the Premier and Priority cards, this card does not earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status.
Insurance & protections
As a Chase-issued Visa, the card generally includes baggage delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, and select purchase protections.
Coverage requires paying with the card and meeting the benefit terms, and specific limits and exclusions apply. Review the current benefit guide before relying on any protection.
Fees & tradeoffs
The main tradeoff is that the Plus card does not earn tier-qualifying points toward elite status, so frequent flyers chasing A-List will want a higher-tier card.
Rewards are useful only for Southwest, and there is no lounge access or application-fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Final verdict
For a Southwest flyer who wants the core perks and a Companion Pass boost at the lowest annual fee, the Plus card is the easiest to justify, and the anniversary points plus the welcome bonus can outweigh the cost for anyone who flies the airline even a few times a year. The estimated value shown above helps illustrate that.
If you want an elite-status boost or richer annual bonuses, step up to the Premier or Priority card; if you rarely fly Southwest, a flexible travel card is a better fit.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $72.50
- Welcome offer
- $625
- Annual fee
- −$99
- Estimated first-year net
- +$598.50
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 50,000 points after $1,000 in spend within 3 months
$625
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$37.50
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
3,000 Anniversary Points 3,000 Rapid Rewards points awarded each account anniversary. | Annual | $37.50 |
10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year, counting toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. | Annual | $0 |
First Checked Bag Free First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 others on the same reservation. Estimated value ~$35 per checked bag (Southwest's published first-bag fee). | per_visit | $35 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- Large welcome offer worth an estimated $625
Maybe skip it if
- Ongoing benefits may not cover the annual fee on their own
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- $99
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- Varies
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | $99 | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$625 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $563.50 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | -$61.50 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 3.6 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
