Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card review: Full details

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) has the bottom annual price of any Southwest Airways bank card available on the market, which is both a energy or a weak point, relying on the way you take a look at it. Whereas the $99 annual price is reasonably priced, the Southwest Plus card lacks the perks supplied by its higher-priced counterparts to maintain you previous the preliminary welcome bonus. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐

* Card rating relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

In a pastime that feels dominated by ultrapremium credit cards with $550-plus annual charges and laundry lists of luxurious perks, it is laborious to think about {that a} cobranded airline credit card with a $99 annual price could be helpful to loyal Southwest Airways clients.

Nevertheless, the Southwest Plus card does make sense for some flyers, in some instances.

This card, together with the opposite 4 cobranded Southwest playing cards, was not too long ago refreshed. The Southwest Plus card refresh included expanded day-of-travel advantages and up to date bonus class earnings. Along with these adjustments, there was an approximate 44% annual price improve to $99.

It is also necessary to notice that Southwest is in the course of sweeping adjustments, together with to its boarding process, bag fees and seat assignments.

We usually suggest that candidates have a credit score of 670 or above to extend their probabilities of approval.

Let’s take a look at how the Southwest Plus card and its perks measure up towards its higher-end siblings.

Associated: How to choose an airline credit card

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Associated: Credit cards 101: The beginners guide

New Southwest Plus cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months from account opening.

In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 factors included on this welcome provide are value $1,400. That is the best factors welcome offer we’ve seen on this card with out a Companion Cross.

In case you have somebody who commonly travels with you, chances are you’ll wish to watch for a suggestion that features the Companion Cross, as it may well add considerably extra worth for you.

Take into account you’ll have the prospect to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Cross (relying on how a lot you spend) since you would be 114,000* factors nearer to the 135,000 factors wanted to earn a Companion Cross.

*This whole relies on the 100,000 factors you’d earn from the welcome bonus, plus the extra 4,000 factors you’d obtain from the spending requirement and the increase of 10,000 Companion Cross-qualifying factors you’d additionally earn.

Earlier than you rush to use for this card, there are two utility guidelines to recollect. First, the Southwest Plus card is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. For those who’ve opened 5 or extra new bank card accounts (from any financial institution, not simply Chase) previously 24 months, you seemingly will not be accepted for this card.

One other limitation applies specifically to Southwest credit cards. In case you have any private Southwest credit card — or earned a welcome bonus on a private Southwest card within the final 24 months — you will not be eligible for the bonus on this card.

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

The Southwest Plus card affords perks past the welcome bonus. It is necessary to notice that present cardholders will obtain all their present advantages till Dec. 31.

You may take pleasure in the next ongoing advantages in trade for the cardboard’s $99 annual price:

• Free checked bag: Obtain the primary checked bag for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation.
• Customary seat choice: Cardholders obtain complimentary normal seat choice inside 48 hours of departure for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation. Provided that seat choice now comes with a cost, this perk might be extraordinarily helpful relying on how often you fly Southwest.
• Two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins: Obtain two complimentary EarlyBird Examine-Ins (for flights working in 2025; ends Dec. 31). Given these check-ins can cost as much as $99 every, utilizing only one may probably cowl the cardboard’s annual price in 2025.
• Priority boarding: Cardholders obtain Group 5 precedence (for 2026 and past) for themselves and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation. In case you have A-Listing standing, it is possible for you to to board with an earlier group.
• Anniversary bonus: Cardholders obtain 3,000 bonus factors every account anniversary 12 months, value $42 in response to TPG’s July 2025 valuations.
• Enhance of 10,000 Companion Cross-qualifying factors yearly: Cardholders obtain a ten,000-point increase towards a Companion Cross annually.
• 25% inflight financial savings: Cardholders obtain 25% again (as a press release credit score) after utilizing their card to buy inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
• Flight low cost code: Cardholders obtain one promotional 10% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Primary fares).

Southwest Plus cardholders will obtain the next buy and journey protections:

With the Southwest Plus card, you will earn:

• New: 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and grocery shops, on the primary $5,000 in mixed purchases per 12 months (a 2.8% return, based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (2.8% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on Speedy Rewards lodge and rental automotive companions (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing companies (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and telephone companies; 2 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming companies (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases (1.4% return)

It is necessary to notice that present cardholders will obtain the present and new incomes charges till Dec. 31.

This card now has no foreign transaction fees, so it is a good possibility for making purchases overseas.

These are respectable incomes charges for a cobranded airline card, however the incomes charge on Southwest purchases is decrease than that of the opposite private Southwest playing cards. In case your foremost motivation for getting this card is to earn bonus factors in your Southwest purchases, you will in all probability wish to go together with a type of as an alternative.

Associated: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Redeem the Speedy Rewards factors you earn on the Southwest Plus card for Southwest flights to get one of the best worth from them.

Speedy Rewards additionally affords different redemption choices, together with present playing cards, merchandise, lodge stays, rental automobiles and journey experiences. Nevertheless, the redemption values on these choices are a lot decrease than what you will get when utilizing your factors for Southwest flights.

Award pricing is tied to the money worth of the tickets. So, the variety of factors you want will go up or down relying on the money worth of the flight. The optimistic is that utilizing your factors for Southwest flights is nearly all the time doable.

TPG Senior Director of Content material Summer Hull redeemed 11,000 Speedy Rewards factors to journey from Houston all the way in which to Lihue in Hawaii. Securing redemptions like these could make your factors go even additional.

Associated: How to redeem points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program

The Southwest Plus card’s most blatant opponents are the opposite Southwest bank cards. Nevertheless, it is also value contemplating whether or not a normal journey bank card may match higher in your pockets.

• If you need extra Southwest advantages with a modest price: The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card has stable perks to justify its $99 annual price. These embody 6,000 anniversary bonus factors, two EarlyBird Examine-Ins per 12 months (for flights working in 2025; ends Dec. 31), 25% again on inflight purchases and tier qualifying factors towards A-Listing standing. To study extra, learn our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
• For those who fly Southwest commonly and need probably the most perks: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) is probably the most premium private Southwest bank card and has a $229 annual price. It affords perks like 7,500 anniversary bonus factors and an annual $75 Southwest journey credit score (ends Dec. 31). To study extra, learn our full review of the Southwest Priority card.
• If you need extra factors that can be utilized with Southwest and in different methods: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is an efficient selection for incomes Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll be able to redeem with Southwest and different airline and lodge companions. You may additionally get quite a few journey protections, and the cardboard has a $95 annual price. To study extra, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

For extra choices, take a look at our full checklist of the best travel credit cards and best Chase credit cards.

Associated: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards

The Southwest Plus card has the bottom annual price of the Southwest bank cards at $99, so it is a good possibility for these protecting annual price prices low or simply making an attempt out Southwest. Nevertheless, in the event you’re a loyal Southwest flyer, one of many different two private playing cards will characterize higher worth.

For under $99 per 12 months, the Southwest Plus card lets you earn sufficient factors to make it nicely well worth the annual price. Plus, it comes with a handful of advantages, like normal seat choice inside 48 hours of departure and a free first checked bag, that may justify protecting the cardboard in your pockets yearly.

Nevertheless, in the event you fly with Southwest typically, one of many different two Southwest playing cards will present extra perks. Make sure you consider what’s finest for you past merely trying on the annual price.

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card