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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a travel card that doesn't break the bank. It has a $69 annual fee, making it one of the more affordable airline credit cards. For that, you'll get a solid sign-up bonus and an extra 3,000 points every year. But because of the low cost, it also lacks some of the benefits you'd get with Southwest's other card options. Explore our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card review for a full breakdown of this card's features.
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% variable
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.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Annual Fee N/A
$69
Welcome Offer Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points.
This card has competitive benefits and bonus offers, and the annual fee is easy on the wallet. However, it gets overshadowed by the other Southwest credit cards that offer more valuable features for the airline's frequent flyers.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
20,000 ThankYou® Points Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Up to 2% cash back 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Domestic travelers who fly with Southwest and are looking for the most budget-friendly card option.
There are several benefits that come with this Southwest credit card.
Earn 50,000 points. after spending $1,000 on purchases with this card in the first 3 months. While there are bigger sign-up bonuses out there, this one isn't bad considering the card's low annual fee. It also has a low, easy-to-meet spend requirement.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card earns:
Overall, this is a reasonable rewards rate for the annual fee. However, there are other top credit cards that offer more bonus rewards.
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You'll get a bonus of 3,000 points each account anniversary year. We've done the math and found that Rapid Rewards points are worth about $0.014 to $0.016 each. Using that value, a 3,000-point bonus is worth $42 to $48, wiping out a big chunk of this card's annual fee.
Each anniversary year, you'll be reimbursed for the purchase of up to two Early Bird Check-In services. Prices otherwise start at $15. An Early Bird Check-In helps you get an earlier boarding position, which is useful with Southwest, since you choose your seat when you board.
When you purchase in-flight drinks or wifi with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you'll receive a 25% statement credit. Statement credits appear within one to two billing cycles.
DashPass, the membership service for DoorDash and Caviar, offers a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees for your eligible orders over $12. This Southwest credit card gets you one year free of DashPass. After that, you're automatically enrolled in the service at the monthly rate unless you decide to cancel. To get your free year of service, you must activate the benefit by Dec. 31, 2024.
On eligible travel bookings paid for with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you'll get:
MORE OPTIONS: Best Airline Credit Cards
Eligible purchases made on your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card get complimentary purchase protection coverage against damage or theft. This card also offers extended warranty coverage.
If you're thinking about applying for this card, you should also know about its downsides.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card will cost you $69 per year. That's not very expensive, but it does mean you should consider whether the annual fee is worth it for this card. Assuming you'll use the 3,000 annual bonus points and those two Early Bird Check-In credits, you should come out ahead.
The most frustrating flaw of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a 3% foreign transaction fee. Most travel credit cards, especially those with annual fees, don't charge extra for foreign transactions. There are even plenty of no annual fee credit cards without this fee. A top-notch travel card is one that you can take anywhere. Since the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card costs you more on international travel, it's only a good option for domestic trips.
There are two other Southwest credit cards with higher annual fees and better yearly benefits:
Even though these cards cost more, they also offer more annual value. If you can afford to spend more, it's worth comparing credit cards in Southwest's lineup.
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
We recommend a 670 or higher FICO® Score to open the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Consumers who get approved typically have good credit. Keep in mind that your credit score is one of many factors that determines whether your application is a success.
Because this is a Chase credit card, you'll also need to be aware of Chase's 5/24 rule. This rule generally results in an automatic denial if you've opened five or more credit accounts already during the previous 24 months.
LEARN MORE: A Guide to Chase's 5/24 Rule
You fly with Southwest Airlines every year and you want an inexpensive credit card that earns Southwest Rapid Rewards® points.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card works best for budget-conscious consumers who only travel domestically. It may be best to check out more credit card reviews or at least consider an upgrade in the future. Other Southwest credit cards offer better perks that more than make up for their annual fees. They also don't have foreign transaction fees, so they won't cost you more on international trips.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
The minimum starting credit limit for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is $2,000, but some cardholders have gotten limits of $25,000 or more. Your credit limit is determined by multiple factors, most importantly your income and credit history.
No, you can't have two Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Cards. You can only apply for the card if you don't currently have any personal Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit cards.
Yes, you can use the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. However, it charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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