Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $99.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn 50,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-2x Points |
| Regular APR | 19.24%-27.74% variable APR. |
About this card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card earns an overall rating of 3.3, positioning it as a 'Good' option, particularly for its intended audience of Southwest loyalists. The card shines brightly in its rewards program and fee structure. The rewards (rated 3.7) are strong for Southwest flyers, offering a generous sign-up bonus, consistent anniversary points, enhanced earning on Southwest purchases, and valuable perks like a free first checked bag and a 10% flight discount. Its reputation as an excellent entry point for earning the Southwest Companion Pass further boosts its appeal within this niche. The fee structure (rated 4.2) is a significant advantage, with a moderate $99 annual fee that is well-offset by benefits, and crucially, no foreign transaction fees, which is a rare and welcome feature for a travel card. However, the card's major drawback is its very high regular APR (rated 1.5). This high interest rate, coupled with the absence of an introductory APR offer, makes the card a poor choice for anyone who anticipates carrying a balance, as interest charges could quickly negate any earned rewards. For cardholders who consistently pay their balance in full, the high APR is less of a concern, allowing them to fully capitalize on the card's strengths. In summary, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious Southwest flyers who can leverage its airline-specific benefits and manage their spending to avoid interest charges. Its strong rewards and favorable fee structure for travel are significantly tempered by its uncompetitive APR.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on travel and everyday purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Numerous airline travel perks
- Valuable travel and purchase protections
- Partnership benefits for dining and delivery
Things to consider
- Annual fee
- High regular APR
- No intro APR period
- Rewards primarily focused on a single airline
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards
- Earn 2 points for each dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- Earn 2 points for each dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.
- Earn 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
Other features
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their bag at no additional cost. Save up to $90 round trip ($45 per bag per trip).
- Complimentary Standard seat - Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- 3,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary.
- 10% Flight Discount - Receive a 10% promo code each year on your Cardmember anniversary (Excludes Basic fare).
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year.
- 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.
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees.
- No change fees.
- Unlimited reward seats with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
- Your points don't expire, a benefit of the Rapid Rewards program.
- Redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, access to exclusive events, and merchandise.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Purchase Protection: Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
- Contactless - Just Tap To Pay
- Apply for a card, use it the same day Receive instant access to your card by adding it to a digital wallet, like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
- Doordash: Get one-year complimentary DashPass, membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. Activate by Dec 31, 2027. Plus, DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.
- Lyft: Earn 2X total points on qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft mobile application through 12/31/2027. That's one additional point on top of the 1x you already earn on purchases.
- Instacart: Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually
- $0 delivery fees with 3 months of complimentary Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit. Service fees apply.
- Chase Pay Over Time: After purchase: Pay off an eligible purchase you've already made of $100 or more in smaller, equal monthly payments. No Interest- just a fixed monthly fee with plan durations that range from 3-24 months.
- Chase Pay Over Time: At checkout: Chase Credit card members may have the option to create a payment plan at checkout on Amazon.com. Orders totaling $50 or more using your eligible Chase credit card at Amazon.com could be eligible for Chase Pay Over Time.
Additional Notes
This product is available to you if you do not have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.