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  1. Credit Cards
  2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Chase

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Built for Southwest flyers who want practical airline perks without stepping up to a high annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is more of a Southwest loyalty card than an everyday spending card. Its value comes from checked bag savings, anniversary points, and a few useful travel perks, especially if you fly the airline at least a couple of times a year.

Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$99
Rec. Credit Score
Good
Good For
Occasional Southwest flyers
Learn MoreEstimate your value
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

MaxRewards has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. MaxRewards and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Overview

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card worth it?

This card is great for...

Checked bags on Southwest trips

A lower-cost airline card

Companion Pass progress

This card is worth a look if you already fly Southwest and want airline-specific perks for a modest $99 annual fee. The first checked bag free benefit can cover the fee quickly for travelers who check luggage, and the 3,000 anniversary points plus annual 10% flight discount add ongoing value if you keep booking Southwest. The 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year also matters for anyone actively working toward Companion Pass.

Where this card is less convincing is everyday rewards. The earning structure is fine for Southwest purchases, but it is not especially strong as a primary card for general spending, and the grocery and gas bonus is capped. If you do not fly Southwest regularly, you will likely get more flexible value from a general travel card or cash-back card.

MaxRewards

MaxRewards Verdict

A solid fit for Southwest loyalists who want bag savings and a few ongoing travel perks at a relatively approachable annual fee. For most other travelers, the rewards are too airline-specific and the everyday earning is too limited to make it a standout keeper.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points

after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Est. Value

$750

Required Spend

$1,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Est. Value

$750

Required Spend

$1,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Earning

Rewards

Rapid Rewards points are most useful for people who already book Southwest, so the rewards story here is about supporting that travel pattern rather than maximizing every purchase. Expect the most value from Southwest spending and treat the other bonus categories as a small extra, not the main reason to carry the card.

CategoryRate

Car Rental

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Hotel

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Ride-Sharing

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Streaming

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Telecommunication

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Transit

Oct 1 – Dec 31

3%

Gas Stations, Grocery Stores

Up to $5,000 spend per year

3%

Southwest Airlines Purchases

3%

All Other Purchases

1.5%

Rewards percent based on a valuation of 1.5¢ per Southwest point

Annual Credits & Perks

Benefits

The practical value here comes from Southwest travel benefits you can actually use on trips, not from a long list of premium extras. If you fly the airline often enough to use the bag benefit, anniversary points, and annual discount, those features do the real work of justifying the fee.

BenefitAnnual value
$40

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardDoorDash non-restaurant promo
Autotracked
$0 of $10Every 3 months

Benefits

Insurance

Purchase Protection

Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.


Baggage Delay Insurance

Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.


Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles. In the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance.


Extended Warranty Protection

Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.


Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.

Benefits

Status & Access

Complimentary DashPass Membership

$0 delivery fees on eligible orders from DoorDash and Caviar after activating by 12/31/27.

Benefits

Other

3,000 anniversary points

Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year after your Cardmember anniversary.


25% back on inflight purchases

Receive 25% back on inflight purchases.


Boarding benefit

Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.


First checked bag free

First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.


10% Flight Discount

Receive a 10% promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (Excludes Basic fare).

Eligibility

Recommended Minimum Credit

Min: Good
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent

Good credit or higher is recommended for this card.

Credit approval is not guaranteed. Meeting the recommended credit range does not ensure approval, and applicants with lower scores may still be considered.

Pricing

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee

$99

Purchase APR

19.24% - 27.74%

Variable

Transfer APR

19.24% - 27.74%

Variable

Cash Advance APR

28.49%

Variable

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer

$5

Cash Advance

$10

Late Payment

None

For rates and fees of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, please visit the Chase website.

Table of Contents

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Learn More

MaxRewards has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. MaxRewards and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

MaxRewards may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on MaxRewards are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MaxRewards does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Compensation may be earned when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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