Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card Review [2024]: Tons of Value For Less

Card basics

Who should get the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Card?

The casual Southwest traveler

If you fly Southwest a few times per year, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is an excellent choice for earning Southwest points and receiving useful travel benefits.

The welcome offer can give you a head start toward a free flight and the ability to earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming makes racking up rewards easy.

The early bird

For many travelers, securing an early boarding position is important – both for finding a seat, having time to board without feeling rushed, and increasing the odds of finding available overhead bin space for your carry-on bag.

Southwest's EarlyBird Check-In® service automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to your flight's scheduled departure, holding your spot in the first few boarding groups. While it's not guaranteed to be in the very first boarding group, EarlyBird typically gets you onto the plane before a large chunk of passengers.

This perk starts at $15 per person for a one-way flight but may be more depending on the popularity and length of your flight.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card helps offset that cost by providing two annual EarlyBird Check-In credits, so you'll be one of the first to board the plane without having to pay those fees.

What you should know before applying

If you want higher Southwest perks, two higher cards from the airline make more sense: the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card.

The Premier provides more earnings potential with 6,000 anniversary points each year (double the Plus) and the ability to earn tier qualifying points toward A-List elite status.

Meanwhile, the top-tier Priority card really loads you up with benefits like an annual $75 Southwest travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, four upgraded boardings per year, and 25% back on in-flight purchases.

If you prefer the flexibility of flying with multiple airlines or frequently travel internationally, you’d likely prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

These general travel cards offer more versatile rewards programs that allow you to redeem your points across a wide variety of airline and hotel partners – rather than being committed solely to Southwest's rewards program.

You can use your Sapphire or Venture points to book flights on any airline with no blackout dates or restrictions. Both cards also don't charge foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travel.

Here's a closer look at this card's top benefits

• Generous welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's a solid haul of points that could easily be worth $1,000 or more in Southwest flights depending on how you redeem them.
• Simple rewards structure: Earning 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases makes it easy to rack up a nice points balance without doing much work.
• 3,000 anniversary points: Every year on your account anniversary, you'll get a nice 3,000 point boost to your Rapid Rewards balance. It's not an earth-shattering amount, but it would net you around $42 to use toward your next flight or cover nearly two-thirds of the annual fee.

Southwest travel perks

• EarlyBird Check-In®: If you want the best overhead bin space, it's extremely valuable to be able to secure an early boarding position without paying Southwest's EarlyBird fee. This card comes with two annual credits for free EarlyBird Check-In, which is great for ensuring you board early.
• First and second checked bags free: This isn’t specific to the Southwest Plus Card, but one of the most tangible money-saving benefits of flying Southwest is that you can check up to two bags for free when using your Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card to pay for your tickets.
• 25% back on inflight purchases: Any Southwest flyer can benefit from earning 25% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases like drinks and Wi-Fi.

Baggage protections and other benefits

• Baggage delay insurance: If your flight is delayed by six hours or more, you can get up to $100 a day for up to three days in reimbursement for necessities like toiletries or clothing.
• Shopping protections: This card offers extended warranty protection and purchase protection, which provide coverage for your eligible purchases.
• DoorDash benefits: You can receive a complimentary 12-month DashPass subscription if you activate by Dec. 31, 2024. DashPass benefits include $0 delivery fees for orders over $12.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: This card provides coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger if your carry-on or checked baggage is damaged or lost.

Perspectives

Yahia Barakah, CEPF

SENIOR EDITOR AND CREDIT CARD ENTHUSIAST

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Yahia is an avid credit card user with a passion for maximizing credit card benefits and perks.

WHY I LIKE THE SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS PLUS

I was glad to have booked my flight with my Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus when my luggage got delayed on a connecting flight. My bag didn't make it to my destination for over three days. But I managed to use this card’s baggage delay insurance to get reimbursement for the toiletries, change of clothes, and other necessities I had to purchase during the delay.

Drawbacks: Why you may want a different card

• Annual fee: While the $69 annual fee is relatively low for an airline card, it may still deter some budget-conscious travelers. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is worth looking into if you'd prefer a $0-annual-fee travel card.
• Foreign transaction fee: This card has a 3% foreign transaction fee, which adds up if you travel outside the U.S. frequently.
• Limited perks: If you're a frequent Southwest flyer, the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card offers more value. It offers additional benefits like 7,500 points on your cardmember anniversary, four upgraded boardings per year, and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
  
  Although it has a higher annual fee of $149, it has no foreign transaction fees, making it a smart choice for international travelers.

  Tip

  If you're trying to decide between the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and the airline's other personal and business credit cards, check out our review comparing the full lineup of Southwest credit cards.

• No A-List status from spending: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the only one of the three Southwest personal credit cards that does not earn tier qualifying points. These points are used to achieve elite status, known as "A-List" status, in Southwest's loyalty programs. Having this elite status provides benefits such as priority boarding and bonus points when you book flights.

Earning & redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your points can add up with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card. We calculated these values using a point valuation of $0.014.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $1,324

Year two earnings: $666

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the sign-up bonus, and the annual fee.

The values above reflect general travel spending and do not take spending with Southwest into account. Your yearly earnings could be much higher by taking advantage of the 2X rewards rate on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. 

Best ways to earn

You’ll earn 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, such as flights, in-flight WiFi, or in-flight snacks. Southwest’s partners include big names, such as:

• Best Western Hotels & Resorts
• Marriott Rewards
• Starwood Preferred Guest
• Alamo
• Avis
• Hertz
• Budget

You’ll earn 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. To build up rewards quickly, use your Rapid Rewards Plus Card for all your travel purchases.

Maximizing your redemptions

The value of your points is dependent on how you redeem them. With the Rapid Rewards Plus Card, there are several different redemption options, including flights, gift cards, merchandise, and hotel stays. Depending on which option you choose, your points can be worth one cent to 1.5 cents each.

Redeeming your points for Southwest flights is the quickest and easiest redemption method, and you’ll likely be able to get the most value for your points. Best of all, there are no blackout dates or travel restrictions. 

If a seat is available on a flight, you can book it using your points. If you earn enough points to qualify for a Southwest Companion Pass, you can choose one person to fly with you free of charge — you just have to pay the taxes and fees.

Gift cards and merchandise offer the least value of the redemption methods, with points worth just one cent each.

Redeeming your points is easy. Just log into your Rapid Rewards account and book your travel through the site with Southwest or Southwest partners.

Other cards to consider

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card is great for people who travel Southwest at least a few times a year.

However, if you tend to fly multiple airlines or travel internationally with any frequency, a general travel rewards card is likely a better fit. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer much more versatility by allowing you to redeem points across a wide range of airlines and hotels with no blackout dates or restrictions.

It's also worth noting that even though the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is a co-branded Chase card, you cannot transfer your Rapid Rewards points to Chase's flexible Ultimate Rewards currency or airline/hotel partners. Your points are locked into the Southwest ecosystem.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

In my opinion, the Chase Sapphire Preferred narrowly edges out the Venture card as the most well-rounded travel rewards card on the market today.

While the Venture provides excellent rewards earning rates, the Sapphire Preferred's ability to transfer points to over a dozen airline and hotel partners (including Southwest Airlines) at a 1:1 ratio is incredibly useful for stretching your points further on premium redemptions.

The Sapphire Preferred also provides excellent travel protections like primary rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement.

With the current welcome offer, you can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening – worth $750 when redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ program. Like the Venture, this card has a $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Card’s simplicity is one of its biggest strengths – you'll earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day with no bonus categories to worry about.

The miles can be redeemed to erase previous travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also transfer them to Capital One's airline partners, such as Air France, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

The welcome offer on the Venture is also impressive – enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. There's a $95 annual fee but no foreign transaction fees.

So, in summary, for maximum flexibility and travel benefits, I give the Sapphire Preferred a slight edge. But the Venture's simplicity and rewarding earnings rate across all purchases make it a great alternative as well.

Learn more in our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.

Generous Welcome Bonus

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

Why We Like It

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Apply Now

See how these cards compare:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Generous welcome offer valued at $750 when redeemed via Chase Travel
• High rewards on dining and bookings via Chase Travel
• 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel
• Up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
• Receive valuable travel protections like trip delay reimbursement and primary rental car insurance

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Has a generous welcome offer
• Offers up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit
• Has an easy rewards program and highly flexible travel redemptions
• Doesn't charge foreign transaction fees
• Offers valuable travel protections
• Rates and fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card FAQ

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card review: bottom line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card is an excellent option for value-minded Southwest flyers looking for an affordable way to earn Rapid Rewards points and some solid travel benefits.

However, if you prefer rewards flexibility across multiple airlines and hotels, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture could be a better fit.

But for casual Southwest travelers who just want the basics done well, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card delivers a compelling package of rewards and benefits at a reasonable $69 annual fee.

Generous Welcome Bonus

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

Apply Now

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$69

Rewards Rate

2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Solid rewards rate
• Redeem points for flights, gift cards, and more
• 3,000 bonus points after cardmember anniversary
• 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins® per year

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• Has foreign transaction fee
• Limited travel benefits compared to premium Southwest cards

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Member FDIC