Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card review: Southwest's most affordable Rapid Rewards® card

Southwest frequent travelers are sure to enjoy the extra rewards that this card has to offer. When you earn points with this credit card, you get that much closer toward earning a Companion Pass for your Southwest travels.
author Jennifer Doss

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Our Rating:   
Excellent, Good
on Chase's secure website

CardRatings Editor's Analysis: Pros & Cons

  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
  • Southwest rewards your loyalty with 3,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary.
  • Earn two points on your Southwest purchases as well as on local transit and commuting (rideshares included), internet, cable, phone services and select streaming. Earn one point per $1 on everything else.
  • Southwest's market is expanding, but it's limited to mostly domestic locations. If you travel frequently overseas, you may not fly Southwest often enough to offset the AnnualFees annual fee.
Terms and Limitations Apply.

At CardRatings.com we discuss the most up-to-date news and trends within the credit card space. Since we first pioneered the concept of online credit card reviews in 1998, our team of financial experts has provided comprehensive and unbiased credit card reviews for more than 175 cards, plus hundreds of additional resource articles to help educate everyday cardholders so they can feel more confident about their card choices. All our content is written and reviewed by industry experts. Though our content may occasionally contain references to products from our partners, we maintain strict editorial integrity and advertiser relationships and compensation never influences ratings, reviews or featured products. The difference between editorial content and advertising must always be clearly stated. Learn more.

SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CREDIT CARD BENEFITS

If you are a frequent Southwest Airlines traveler, it might be time to make some space in your wallet for a Southwest credit card. Southwest credit cards reward you for every purchase you make, and you can use those rewards for Southwest flights, hotel bookings, car rentals and more.

The CardName is the entry level credit card in the Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit card family. At AnnualFees it carries the lowest annual fee of the bunch, but still offers many of the same great benefits that come with other Rapid Rewards® credit cards (compared below).

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus cardholders earn two points per $1 on Southwest purchases; local transit and commuting (including rideshares); and on internet, cable and phone services, and select streaming. You earn one point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Another great benefit is that you'll be rewarded annually with 3,000 anniversary points, which is a nice incentive to maintain card membership.

Rapid Rewards points don't expire and can be used on a variety of travel-related purchases such as Southwest flights, hotel stays at eligible chains like Best Western, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, and car rentals. They can also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and access to exclusive events. Plus, enjoy no blackout dates or seat restrictions when booking a flight. As long as a seat is available, it's yours to book.

Top Features

 Rewards
Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
 Bonus Rewards
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
 Annual Fee
$69

SOUTHWEST COMPANION PASS

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable travel rewards perks available today. Once earned, it allows you the option to select one companion to fly with you on any Southwest flight, for just the cost of taxes and fees. Essentially, it gets you two-for-one plane tickets. No wonder it's one of the most sought-after travel rewards there is.

You can learn more on how to become eligible for the Companion Pass in our "Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass."

SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CREDIT CARD TRAVEL AND PURCHASE PROTECTION BENEFITS

Southwest Airlines is already great in that it offers two free checked bags to every passenger, but with the CardName the travel benefits go even further. When using your Plus card to pay for trip expenses you'll have access to auto rental collision coverage, roadside dispatch coverage, lost luggage insurance, baggage delay insurance, and travel accident insurance.

We all hope to never have to worry about these types of things when traveling, but it's good to know you're covered in case something goes wrong. Unfortunately, baggage delays happen all the time, leaving travelers inconvenienced, and without potential essentials. The baggage delay insurance reimburses you in the event that you have to purchase vital items because your baggage is delayed for more than six hours. You could qualify for up to $100 per day for up to three days, and if your bag is lost or damaged, you could enjoy coverage of up to $3,000.

Another commonly utilized benefit is the auto rental collision coverage, which covers your vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad (in the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance). This perk has the potential to knock hundreds off your car rental total.

Also, if you experience an emergency while traveling, you can call up a benefits administrator and receive free referrals for legal, medical, and transportation service providers. It's always a reassuring feeling to know that you are taken care of when you are away from home.

In addition to these travel benefits, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus offers purchase protection, which covers any item purchased with the card in the event of damage or theft. You can also take advantage of extended warranty protection and extend the original manufacturer's warranty by one year on eligible purchases you've made with the card. The limit is $10,000 per claim, and a maximum of $50,000 per account.

SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CREDIT CARD FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE AND OTHER POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES

One potential downside of the CardName is that it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. At first glance, this fee may seem like no big deal; however, it can add up significantly over time, especially if you are someone who travels abroad often. 

For example, let's say you were in Berlin for a few weeks and put $4,000 worth of purchases on your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus card. You'd be on the hook for an extra $120 in fees. Therefore, if you're an avid international traveler but still want to carry a Southwest credit card, you may want to consider the CardName or the CardName as they do not charge a fee on foreign transactions.   

Another potential downside isn't specific to the card itself, but is more generally a drawback of Southwest Airlines. Compared to other major airlines, Southwest is a bit limited in where they fly and to which airports they serve; especially for international flights (though this market continues to expand). Take United Airlines for example, which operates more than 21,000 flights per day in more than 190 countries. Southwest on the other hand offers about 4,000 daily flights to around 100 destinations.

SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CREDIT CARD CARDHOLDER SCORES

CardRatings conducts a survey annually to learn what actual cardholders think of their cards. Here are the results:

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 79.6 79
Features Satisfaction 7.9 7.8
Customer Service 7.3 7.9
Website/App Usability 8.3 8
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.6 8.3
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.3 7.8

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

HOW THE SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CREDIT CARD COMPARES TO OTHER TRAVEL CARDS

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

discontinued

Though the CardName charges a higher annual fee than the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card (AnnualFees vs. AnnualFees), it offers 6,000 anniversary points, which is double the points you'd get with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card. 

In addition, the Premier card does not charge foreign transaction fees and gives cardholders the chance to earn up to 15,000 tier qualifying points per year. These points can be used toward Southwest A-List status and redeemed for priority boarding and bonus reward points for flights. The new cardholder welcome bonus offers are the same, as are the travel benefits and extended warranty perks, but Premier cardholders earn an extra point per $1 spent with Southwest (three points vs. two points with the Plus card); the other rewards earning is the same.

So, if you don't mind paying an extra $30 per year to get more anniversary points and the freedom to spend money abroad without any extra charges, you are likely better off with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Card. The Premier card may also make more sense for someone who is confident they'll spend a lot on the card and be eligible for A-List status.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

discontinued

The CardName is the most expensive Southwest Rapid Rewards® consumer card, charging an annual fee of AnnualFees, but this extra cost includes a number of valuable travel perks that could make the annual fee worth it for many frequent Southwest travels.

Like the Plus card, this card offers new cardholders the same bonus. The rewards structures are the same except that Priority cardholders earn three points per $1 on Southwest purchases vs. the two points per $1 on those purchases that Plus cardholders earn. Both cards offer 25% back on in-flight purchases like Wi-Fi and beverages.

With the Priority card, however, you can also look forward to a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, four upgraded boardings per year and no foreign transaction fees. Additionally, get up to 15,000 tier qualifying points per year with your card, helping get you to A-list status faster which will earn you priority boarding, priority check-in and security lane access, 25% more Rapid Rewards points earned on each flight, and free same-day standby.

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

discontinued

For an annual fee of AnnualFees, the CardName offers new cardholders 60,000 bonus points once spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

A major benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is that it earns cardholders 5X total points on all travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout; 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 3X points on select streaming services; 2X points on travel purchases; and 1X point on all other purchases. Like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus card, the base earning on purchases outside the bonus categories is one point, but because Sapphire Preferred® points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel, those "other" purchases could be worth as much as 1.25 points (or more thanks to the ability to transfer them to a number of travel loyalty programs). In addition, the Preferred® Card doesn't charge a fee on foreign transactions, and has over 10 travel partners, one of which happens to be Southwest, offering you even more flexibility in how you redeem your rewards.

Those who wish to earn more points for everyday spending, travel abroad often, and want more redemption options are likely better off with the Preferred® card. Please note though that you if you're working towards Southwest Companion Pass status, transferred points do not count towards the earned-point threshold.

IS THE SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS® PLUS CARD A GOOD CARD?

Just like all credit cards, the CardName offers its own set of benefits. It's a great option for anyone who likes to travel frequently on Southwest Airlines and wants to earn free flights while paying a low annual fee.

People who travel abroad frequently, wish to earn bonus rewards on every day spending, or who prefer other airlines to Southwest might want to consider an alternative option.

Survey Methodology: CardRatings commissioned Op4G in September 2023 to conduct surveys among 1,869 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings website analytics from Jan. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2023 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards and additional cards were included to add survey breadth. Responses to each of nine questions were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents' scores were then averaged under broad topics. To determine the overall score, responses from questions 1-8 were summed and the answer to "How likely are you to recommend this card to a friend, coworker or family member?" was double weighted. “Current Scores” reflect scores from the most recent survey (2023); "Past Scores" reflect scores from the 2022 survey.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Compared to Other Travel rewards Cards

Apply online for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply online for Mastercard® Titanium Card™
Mastercard® Titanium Card™
Apply online for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply online for Citi Premier<sup>®</sup> Card
Citi Premier® Card
Rewards
Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more. 
Rewards
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel? immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 
Rewards
Flat-rate redemption value of 1% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Earn one point for every dollar spent. Straightforward redemption without needing a high-maintenance reward strategy. No foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and no need to chase down transfer partners to escape very low point values. 
Rewards
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 
Rewards
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 
Bonus Rewards
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 
Bonus Rewards
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.  
Bonus Rewards
N/A  
Bonus Rewards
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening  
Bonus Rewards
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.  
Annual Fee
$69 
Annual Fee
$550 
Annual Fee
$195 
Annual Fee
$95 
Annual Fee
$95 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.

This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.