Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is the entry-level Southwest credit card, and at $99 per year it's designed for casual Southwest flyers who want the core perks — free checked bags, some bonus points, and a shot at the legendary Companion Pass — without paying Priority-card prices.

Let's be real: this card exists because Southwest's bag policy changed. Once upon a time, everyone got free bags on Southwest. Now, having a Southwest credit card is the easiest way to keep that perk alive. The Plus card is the cheapest way in, and for many flyers, that's the only reason they need.

The earning rates are modest (2x on Southwest, 2x on gas and groceries up to $5K, 1x elsewhere), and the 3,000 anniversary points won't blow anyone's mind. But combined with the 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost, free bags for your whole group, and the ability to earn toward the Companion Pass, this card delivers solid baseline value for loyal Southwest travelers.

• Free Checked Bags: Cardmember and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation get their first checked bag free. At $45 each way per bag, this adds up fast for families.
• 10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points: Automatic annual boost toward the Companion Pass — the most valuable perk in domestic travel.
• 3,000 Anniversary Points: Not huge, but worth about $39-$45 toward Southwest flights. Offsets part of the annual fee.
• 25% Back on Inflight Purchases: Statement credit of 25% when you pay for inflight drinks with your Southwest card. (Wi-Fi is already free for Rapid Rewards members.)
• Standard Seat Selection: Complimentary Standard seat within 48 hours of departure (when available).
• 10% Annual Flight Discount: Promo code for 10% off Southwest flights every cardmember anniversary (excludes Basic fares).
• Group 5 Boarding: Cardmember and up to 8 passengers board in Group 5.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Southwest flies to Mexico and the Caribbean too, so this comes in handy for spending on those trips or anywhere else abroad.

• Annual Fee: $99 — the cheapest Southwest card option.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• APR: Variable, typically 19.24% - 27.74%
• Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40

The standard offer is 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That's a very low spend requirement — about $333/month — making this one of the easiest airline card bonuses to earn. One catch: it's off-limits if you currently have a personal Southwest card or earned a bonus on one in the past 24 months.

50,000 Rapid Rewards points can get you 2-4 round-trip domestic flights depending on routes and timing. At roughly 1.3 cents per point, that's about $650 in Southwest flight value from a card with a $99 annual fee.

Periodically, Southwest runs limited-time offers that include Companion Pass — which is wildly more valuable. If you see a Companion Pass offer, jump on it.

• 2x points on: Southwest Airlines purchases.
• 2x points on: Gas stations and grocery stores (on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1x).
• 1x points on: Everything else.

The earning rates are... fine. Not exciting. The $5,000 cap on gas and grocery bonus earnings is restrictive — that's only about $417/month before you drop to 1x. If you're a heavier spender, the Premier or Priority cards offer better earning potential.

Southwest Rapid Rewards points redeem directly for Southwest flights with no blackout dates, no award charts, and no seat restrictions. The value fluctuates based on the cash price of the flight.

• Southwest Flights: Points cover the fare (you still pay taxes/fees in cash). Typical value is 1.2-1.5 cents per point.
• Cash + Points: Short on points? Pay for a flight with a mix of cash and points.
• Hotel & Car Rentals: Redeemable through Southwest's More Rewards program, though values are generally worse than flights.
• Gift Cards & Merchandise: Available but poor value — stick to flights.

The simplicity is Southwest's strength. No complicated award charts, no devaluation anxiety. The price you see is the price you pay in points.

• Free Checked Bags: The headline perk. At $45 per bag each way, a family of four saves $360 per round trip.
• 25% Inflight Credit: Get 25% back on inflight drinks bought with your Southwest card (Wi-Fi is already free for Rapid Rewards members).
• 3,000 Anniversary Points: Worth ~$39-$45 in flight value. Modest but consistent.
• 10,000 Companion Pass QP Boost: Automatic head start toward the 135,000 qualifying points needed for the Companion Pass.
• Standard Seat Pick: Choose a Standard seat within 48 hours of departure. Want a Preferred seat at booking or free Extra Legroom upgrades? That's the Priority card.

The Plus card is stripped-down compared to its siblings. No free Preferred seat, no Extra Legroom upgrades, no A-List tier points from spending, fewer anniversary points. You're paying for the bag benefit and the Companion Pass qualifying points — and for many people, that's enough.

• vs. Southwest Premier ($149/yr): For $50 more, you get 3x on Southwest (vs 2x), 2x on groceries and restaurants on up to $8,000 a year (the Plus's 2x covers gas and groceries up to $5,000), a free Preferred seat within 48 hours of departure, 6,000 anniversary points, and a 15% promo code (vs the Plus's 10%). If you fly Southwest more than a few times a year, the Premier is worth the upgrade.
• vs. Southwest Priority ($229/yr): The full-featured option with 7,500 anniversary points, 4x on Southwest, uncapped 2x on gas and restaurants, a Preferred seat at booking, and free Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure. Best for frequent Southwest flyers.
• vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/yr): If you don't fly Southwest often, the CSP offers transferable points to 14+ partners (including Southwest) with better everyday earning rates. More flexible overall.
• vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold ($150/yr): An even richer bag benefit for Delta flyers: first checked bag free on Delta flights, plus a second free bag on domestic Delta flights. The right pick depends on which airline you fly — loyalty to the airline matters more than card-to-card comparison here.

• Casual Southwest flyers: If you fly Southwest 2-4 times a year and want free bags without paying Priority prices.
• Families on a budget: The free checked bag benefit for up to 8 companions is huge for family travel.
• Companion Pass chasers: The 10,000 QP annual boost gives you a running start, and the welcome bonus can get you even closer.
• Minimalists: You want one Southwest card for the basics and don't need premium perks.

Not ideal for: Frequent Southwest flyers (upgrade to Premier or Priority), heavy spenders (the earning rates and caps are too limiting), or travelers who want flexible points (get a Sapphire Preferred instead).