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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review: A Low-Cost, Introductory Airline Card

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Eric McWhinnie
Fact Checked: Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is good for Southwest flyers who want a travel card that doesn't break the bank. It has a $69 annual fee, making it one of the most affordable airline cards. For that, you'll get a solid sign-up bonus and 3,000 points every year, but without some of the benefits of Southwest's more expensive cards.

Keep reading our detailed review for a full breakdown of this card's features.

Ratings Methodology

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Apply Now for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 Early Bird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.

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

Annual Fee

$69

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.

  • This card has competitive benefits and bonus offers, and the annual fee is easy on the wallet. However, it gets overshadowed by the other Southwest credit cards that offer more valuable features for the airline's frequent flyers.

    • Sign-up bonus
    • Travel rewards on purchases
    • Yearly points bonus
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Annual fee
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 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

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus review

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus worth it?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has enough benefits to justify the annual fee. But the other Southwest credit cards aren't too expensive, either, and they have more to offer. It's worth checking out all of them to be sure you're picking the right one for your needs.

Author's note
Image of reviewer

I love travel rewards cards, and I've tried quite a few of them. What's most important is finding one that fits your travel habits, with features you can use to either save money or have a better time on your trips. This Southwest card is good for earning Rapid Rewards points, and it has a few other useful perks. It's not exactly feature-packed, but the annual fee is one of the lowest I've seen on a travel card.

What everyone else is saying

Here's a look at what other credit card reviews and people online are saying about this Southwest card.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 3.7 / 5 stars

We read reviews from five popular credit card review sites. Everyone agrees that this card will work well for Southwest loyalists who don't want to pay an expensive annual fee. Reviewers also pointed out that if you just want to earn Southwest points and don't need any extra perks, this card works for that.

The most frequent criticism was that the other credit cards with Southwest could offer more value for frequent travelers. They may cost more, but they offer more yearly bonus miles and other perks, so you could save more overall with one of them. A reviewer also mentioned that those other cards can help you earn A-List status, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card doesn't.

Last but not least, the fact that this card has a foreign transaction fee was a common complaint. Most travel credit cards don't charge that.

Online consensus

Southwest flyers like the airline's credit cards, based on what they're saying on social media. Several cardholders talked about how often they can fly for free (or nearly for free, after taxes and fees) thanks to their Southwest points. Many have also used Southwest cards to earn a Companion Pass.

However, we also saw the same response every time someone asked about getting this particular Southwest card: Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card instead. Practically everyone on social media seems to consider it a better deal.

Credit card enthusiasts tend to be open to paying higher annual fees than the average consumer. So if cost is a big factor for you, then the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card could be a better fit.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus features and benefits

An affordable way to earn Southwest points

Airline credit cards are great if you fly often with a specific airline, because you can earn points on all your spending. This Southwest card is a solid earner, and it has a fantastic sign-up bonus of 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Here's how much it earns on purchases:

  • 2X points per $1 on Southwest purchases
  • 2X points per $1 on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
  • 2X points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
  • 2X points per $1 on internet, cable, and phone services, as well as on select streaming services
  • 1X point per $1 on other eligible purchases

To top it off, you'll get 3,000 points every year on your cardholder anniversary. We've done the math and found that Rapid Rewards points are worth about $0.014 to $0.016 each. Using that value, a 3,000-point bonus is worth $42 to $48, wiping out a large chunk of this card's annual fee.

Those are all qualifying points toward a Companion Pass, too. Opening a Southwest card is one of the best ways to earn enough points for a Companion Pass.

Useful extras to improve your air travel experience

While this Southwest card doesn't have a ton of features, there are a couple of valuable perks. As a cardholder, you get two EarlyBird Check-In® credits each year. With EarlyBird Check-In®, Southwest automatically checks you in and reserves a boarding position for you 36 hours before your flight's departure.

Southwest is making some changes in 2025, including switching to assigned seating. Checking in early won't be as much of an advantage at that point, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this benefit. For now, it's still useful to get an early check-in and be one of the first on the plane.

You also get 25% back on in-flight drink and wifi purchases when you pay with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. That's a pretty good savings on a beverage or internet service. You receive this as a statement credit within one to two billing cycles.

Complimentary travel and shopping protections for peace of mind

It's never fun to be at the baggage carousel and slowly come to the realization that your checked bag isn't showing up. While that's always a lousy experience, this Southwest card at least has a couple of built-in protections for these kinds of situations:

  • Lost luggage reimbursement with coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger
  • Baggage delay insurance for essential purchases during baggage delays of over six hours, up to a maximum of $100 per day for three days

It also has two shopping protections that could come in handy. Purchase protection covers new purchases against damage or theft for the first 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. Extended warranty protection extends the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by one year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

Save on food deliveries with one year of DashPass

Several Chase credit cards have special partner benefits, and this one is no exception. You get one complimentary year of DashPass, a membership service for DoorDash and Caviar. DashPass provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. To take advantage of this benefit, you need to activate it by Jan. 31, 2025.

When the one-year membership ends, you're automatically enrolled in DashPass at the monthly rate. If you want to avoid that, make sure you cancel it.

What could be improved

A foreign transaction fee costs you extra abroad

The most disappointing drawback with this card is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. Spend $3,000 while on vacation outside the United States? That's an extra $90 in fees.

This is the only travel card I've seen that charges a fee for foreign transactions. A top-notch travel card should ideally be one that you can use anywhere. But this Southwest card is only good for domestic travel. You'd still need a credit card with no foreign transaction fees if you want to explore the rest of the world.

Doesn't offer as much value as other Southwest credit cards

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a good value overall. The problem is Southwest has two other credit cards that are arguably even better. There's the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 annual fee), and as mentioned earlier, that one is highly recommended on social media. Another option is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee).

If you're thinking about getting a Southwest card, you probably fly with the airline often. And for frequent Southwest flyers, those two cards may cost more, but they also have more money-saving benefits

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Since this is a Chase card, also be mindful of Chase's 5/24 rule. In most cases, Chase will automatically deny your application if you've already opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Pre-approval process

To see if you're pre-approved for a Chase card, visit the pre-approval page on its website. Chase sometimes (but not always) has a pre-approval tool available where you can enter your information, including your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. It will immediately let you know if you're pre-approved for any Chase cards.

Regular APR

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has a 20.74% - 27.74% Variable APR. Like most travel cards, it doesn't have a 0% intro APR, so it's a good idea to pay the balance in full every month and avoid interest charges.

Fees

Here are the most common fees for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:

  • Annual fee: $69
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Credit limit

The minimum starting credit limit for this Southwest card is $2,000 if you're approved for a Visa Platinum account and $5,000 if you're approved for a Visa Signature account. Chase sets your credit limit based on several factors, including your income. On the high end, some cardholders have received limits of $25,000 or more.

Should you apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus?

If Southwest is your favorite airline, and you don't want to spend too much on a credit card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card could be the best option. You'll get the most important perks, including Rapid Rewards® points on your spending and a valuable sign-up bonus, without a large annual fee.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum starting credit limit for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is $2,000, but some cardholders have gotten limits of $25,000 or more. Your credit limit is determined by multiple factors, most importantly your income and credit history.

  • No, you can't have two Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Cards. You can only apply for the card if you don't currently have any personal Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit cards.

  • Yes, you can use the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. However, it charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.