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

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an entry-level option built for casual Southwest flyers who want to earn extra points on everyday expenses while building toward a Companion Pass. It balances a low $99 annual fee with annual point bonuses and travel perks that soften the yearly cost.

Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$99
Rec. Credit Score
Good
Good For
Casual 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...

Occasional domestic travel

Everyday grocery and gas spend

Companion Pass status boosts

For occasional Southwest flyers, the Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card easily justifies its $99 annual fee. The 3,000 anniversary points offset nearly $40 of the yearly fee on their own, and the 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost offers a valuable head start for anyone aiming for Southwest's famous two-for-one travel perk. Added benefits like inflight savings and early boarding further improve the onboard experience.

However, frequent travelers may find better long-term value in Southwest's higher-tier cards. The $5,000 annual cap on gas and grocery bonus spending is fairly low, and true road warriors might prefer cards with tier-qualifying points toward A-List status or higher anniversary point bonuses. But if you fly Southwest a few times a year and want simple ways to rack up points, this card hits a comfortable middle ground.

MaxRewards

MaxRewards Verdict

The card is ideal for casual Southwest travelers looking for an affordable way to boost point earnings and jumpstart Companion Pass progress. However, strict spending caps on daily categories limit its long-term earning power for heavy spenders.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points

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

Est. Value

$650

Required Spend

$1,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Est. Value

$650

Required Spend

$1,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Earning

Rewards

Earn Rapid Rewards points on everyday purchases like groceries and gas, as well as direct Southwest bookings, which can all be redeemed for award flights with no blackout dates.

CategoryRate

Car Rental

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Hotel

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Ride-Sharing

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Streaming

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Telecommunication

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Transit

Oct 1 – Dec 31

2.6%

Gas Stations, Grocery Stores

Up to $5,000 spend per year

2.6%

Southwest Airlines Purchases

2.6%

All Other Purchases

1.3%

Rewards percent based on a valuation of 1.3¢ per Southwest point

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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Worth $3,000

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  • 7.5%6%Flights (Booked Direct), Hotels (Booked Direct)
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Rec. Credit

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Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardInk Business Preferred® Credit Card

Earn 100,000 bonus points

Worth $1,500

After you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Annual Fee

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Rec. Credit

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