Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Review 2023

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Chase issues five different Southwest credit cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the entry-level version, with the lowest annual fee ($69) of the bunch. That makes it ideal for those who want to minimize their out-of-pocket cost while still earning a lot of Southwest points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Review: Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus the Best Credit Card for You?

The low annual fee on the Southwest Plus card also means fewer ongoing benefits. This shouldn't be a factor if you're just an occasional traveler, but frequent Southwest flyers could get better value from the additional perks on the other Southwest credit cards. The great thing about Southwest points is that they never expire, so there's no pressure to redeem your points right away.

The best way to redeem your points is for free flights, which will provide a value of around 1.4 cents per point, based on Insider's points and miles valuations. However, you can also use Southwest points with Chase Pay Yourself Back to offset eligible dining purchases made within the last 90 days (ends March 31, 2023) as well as to offset the card's annual fee.

Before you decide on whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the right pick for you, you'll want to compare it to the other Southwest cards, because you can only have one personal version at a time. And if you prefer flexibility, a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points might be a better bet.

Southwest is one of over a dozen Chase airline and hotel transfer partners, and cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® have broader bonus categories and more benefits.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Rewards

Welcome bonus

Currently, the card is offering welcome bonus of 80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months). That equates to Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card in Southwest travel, on average (based on Insider's valuations).

How to earn Southwest points

With this card, you'll earn:

• 2x points on Southwest purchases (including flights, inflight purchases, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages)
• 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases (see the full list here)
• 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (and also passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
• 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube TV)
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

How to use Southwest Points

Southwest has an expansive domestic route network (including Hawaii), and also flies to a number of international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

Southwest doesn't have an award chart as other airlines do. Instead, the number of points required for an award flight is tied to the price of a paid ticket. On average, you can expect to get a value of 1.4 cents per Southwest point when you redeem them for award travel, based on Insider's points and miles valuations.

Redeeming Southwest points to book award flights online is simple — once you log into your Rapid Rewards account, search for flights just as you would if you were looking for a paid ticket. The website gives you the option to toggle between the cash price and the points cost, so you can easily compare the two. 

If you're not flying Southwest right now, there's no harm in holding on to your points until you're ready, because they'll never expire. However, Southwest credit card holders do have other options for redeeming points through the More Rewards program, including merchandise, gift cards, car rentals, hotels, cruises, and experiences. The value you'll get per point varies, but it's typically much lower than what you'd get if you redeemed for Southwest flights.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card also unlocks the ability to redeem Southwest points at a rate of 1 cent each through Chase Pay Yourself Back. Eligible redemptions are dining purchases made within the last 90 days, up to $200 in reimbursements (through March 31, 2023), and your card's annual fee.

Southwest Plus Card Benefits and Features

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card doesn't come with some of the other benefits offered by other Southwest cards (like elite-qualifying points or travel credits), but you'll still get a variety of travel and purchase protections and a handful of other perks.

Earn Southwest Companion Pass points

The Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel — particularly for those who book a lot of flights around the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. With it, you can bring a companion on any paid or award flights for just the cost of taxes and fees (typically $5.60 for domestic flights).

The points you earn from the card (from the bonus and spending) count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass, which requires 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. By having a Southwest card, you'll also receive a 10,000-point boost each year, effectively lowering the requirement to 125,000 points each year.

You can use your Companion Pass for as many flights as you like while it's valid. Even if you take ten flights per week, your companion can join you. It's effectively a buy-one-get-one flight certificate.

EarlyBird Check-In

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card cardholders receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins per account anniversary year, awarded as a statement credit after your purchase. EarlyBird Check-In normally costs $15 to $25 each way, and allows you to automatically check-in for your flight 36 hours prior to departure.

Because Southwest determines your boarding position by the time you check in, this feature can help you get on the airplane sooner and have a better opportunity to select your desired seat.

Anniversary points bonus

Each year when you renew your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you'll receive 3,000 points, which are worth around $42 in Southwest airfare. This can offset a big chunk of the $69 annual fee.

Inflight purchase discount

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card for inflight purchases (drinks or Wi-Fi), you'll receive 25% back in the form of a statement credit. 

Car rental insurance

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card to pay the full cost of your car rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get coverage for damage due to collision or theft. This coverage is secondary to your own personal policy in the US, but primary car rental insurance overseas (or if you don't have your own insurance).

Purchase protection and extended warranty

New purchases made with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card are covered by purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. You can also save money because the card extends the time period of a US manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card to pay for your fare, you (and your immediate family) are covered if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier, up to $3,000 per passenger.

And if your bags are delayed by six hours or more, you're eligible for up to $300 in reimbursement ($100 a day for up to three days) for essential items like toiletries and clothing.

Other travel protections

If you're approved for the Visa Signature version of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you'll get access to travel and emergency assistance services, which can help arrange things like medical and legal referrals when you're away from home. Just keep in mind you're responsible for the cost of any services arranged.

All cardholders also get travel accident insurance, which covers accidental death or dismemberment when they use their card to pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation. Visa Signature cardholders get up to $500,000 in coverage, and Visa Platinum members get up to $250,000.

Finally, you'll also get access to a roadside dispatch hotline, which can arrange services like towing and jumpstarts when you're on the road. Again, you'll be responsible for the actual cost of the service, which gets billed to your card. 

Free DoorDash DashPass subscription

Through December 31, 2024, you can activate a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for 12 months which gets you no delivery fees and reduced service fees when you order from DoorDash and Caviar delivery services. 

GoPuff credits

When you add the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card as your default payment method in the Gopuff app, you can receive $10 per month in Gopuff credit when you make a qualifying purchase. There's a minimum order amount of $10 plus a $3.95 delivery fee per order.

Gopuff is a service that promises fast delivery of supplies like groceries, convenience items, beverages, health and beauty aids, and more. You can earn the $10 credit each month through December 31, 2023.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Annual Fee and Other Costs

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, in addition to charging a $69 annual fee, also adds foreign transaction fees — so it's not a good choice for purchases outside the US. If you're looking for a card to use overseas, plenty of credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees, including any of the other Southwest cards.

There's a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - Regular APR APR to be aware of if you carry a balance on your card. And, as with most cards, you'll also pay fees for:

• Cash advances: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
• Balance transfers: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Late payments: Up to $40
• Returned payments: Up to $40

How the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Compares

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Other Southwest Personal Cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Other Airline Credit Cards

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Chase Southwest Plus card worth it?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers ongoing benefits valuable enough to offset the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card annual fee each year, between the 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird Check-In certificates. However, if you wouldn't otherwise spend money for EarlyBird Check-In, this card is likely not a good deal long-term. It's better to explore the other more benefits-rich Southwest credit cards.

What credit score do you need for the Chase Southwest Plus?

To have the best chance of being approved for a travel credit card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, your credit score should be 700 or above. It's possible to be approved with a lower score (your credit score isn't the only factor that banks use to approve your application). Still, a healthy credit score is critical to opening up more travel credit cards in the future.

Who is eligible for the Chase Southwest Plus card?

Chase has a few specific rules when it comes to credit card applications: If you've opened five or more cards (from any bank) within the last 24 months, you won't be eligible for this card. The only exception is most small business cards. This is known as the Chase 5/24 rule.

If you currently have a Southwest personal credit card, you aren't eligible for another. You'll have to cancel your current card first. And if you've received a welcome bonus from a Southwest personal card within the past 24 months, you're not eligible for this card.

How does the Southwest Companion Pass work?

The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a travel buddy every time you fly Southwest for just the cost of taxes and fees. As long as there are two seats available, you can bring someone along.

This isn't a one-time voucher, either, like companion certificates offered by other airline cards. Even if you fly every single day, your companion will get to fly with you. Just note that you'll have to be on the itinerary for your companion to qualify. If you're not traveling with them, they can't benefit from the Companion Pass.

Can you use Southwest points and the Companion Pass?

Yes, you can use the Companion Pass on Southwest award flights. Simply book your flight with points, then add your companion later. You'll then both pay just taxes and fees for your flight.

Can you change your companion with the Southwest Companion Pass?

You can change your companion up to three times per calendar year. For example, after you earn your Companion Pass, you may designate your spouse as your companion. You can then:

Change your companion to your child (first change)

Change your companion back to your spouse (second change)

Change your companion to your other child (third change)

Methodology: How we reviewed the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

Chase offers three Southwest personal credit cards, each with varying annual fees and benefits to suit the budgets and travel goals of different flyers. We compared the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card against the benefits and welcome bonuses of those and other similar airline credit cards to arrive at a rating of 3.55 stars out of 5 stars.

Here's a closer look at how we rate credit cards at Insider.