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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.
Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.
One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
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.
You want a simple way to earn more Rapid Rewards points
You’ll take advantage of Companion Pass
Don’t Get If
You prefer luxury rather than budget airlines
You don’t live near a Southwest hub
You won’t spend enough to cover the $69 annual fee
Southwest Plus Card — Is It Worth It?
If Southwest is your airline of choice and you’re looking for a way to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points both on your flights and everyday purchases, then the Southwest Plus card would likely be worth it for you.
Since the card offers 4 separate 2x point categories, it is a great way to help you rack up Southwest Rapid Rewards points, plus you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points each year you renew the card.
To get you more value on your Southwest flights, you’ll also receive 2 free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year to help you land a better boarding position and 25% back on all of your inflight purchases.
Southwest Plus Card — Top Benefits
3,000 Bonus Points Each Year
When you renew your card and pay the annual fee, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points for doing so. We value Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents per point, making 3,000 points worth about $39.
EarlyBird Check-In
To help you score a better boarding position, giving you access to a better seat and more overhead bin space, you will receive 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year for free as a perk of being a Southwest Plus cardholder.
Discounts on Inflight Purchases
Receive a 25% discount on Wi-Fi, drinks, or other items on your Southwest flight when you pay with your Southwest Plus card.
Card Protections
Baggage Delay Insurance: If you checked a bag and it’s delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll receive $100 per day your bag is delayed for coverage of essential items.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If the items inside of your luggage are lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
Extended Warranty Protection: On eligible warranties of 3 years or less, your warranty coverage will be extended by 1 additional year.
Purchase Protection: Items you purchase with the card are covered against theft or accidental damage with up to $50,000 in coverage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
When it comes to redeeming rewards, Southwest is a fixed-point currency, meaning you will pretty much always get somewhere around 1.3 cents per point when you redeem your points for a Southwest flight. That said, the Southwest route map offers redemption flights to some great destinations that you might not have thought of!
Alternative Cards to the Southwest Plus Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Those who want a card with a similar annual fee but the ability to earn transferable rewards should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
With it, you can transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to various Chase transfer partners, including Southwest, and you can redeem points for a 25% bonus through the Chase travel portal.
Southwest also offers an upgraded version of the Southwest Plus card: the Southwest Premier card. It offers a couple of benefits not found with the basic version of the card.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!
Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 50,000 points
$650
$99
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Another week, another flight. Flying weekly can get tiring, but you know that every flight gets you closer to taking some great vacations with your significant other or your favorite travel buddy.
To save money on the flights, you like to use Southwest Airlines.
With the Southwest Premier card, cardmembers earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for every $5,000 in purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the Southwest Plus card? Why should I get it?
The Southwest Plus card is just one of the Southwest credit cards co-branded by Chase Bank.
With this card, you can earn unlimited points that don’t expire if your account is current. Purchases earn up to 2 points per $1:
2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
1 point per $1 for all other purchases
In addition, you earn 3,000 points after each yearly anniversary, no fee for your first 2 checked bags, and no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
Does the Southwest Plus card earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQP)?
No. The card does not earn TQP, unlike the Southwest Premier card, which earns 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQP) for every $5,000 spent.
However, you can still earn TQP with any paid Southwest flight.
How do you redeem Southwest Plus card points?
When you earn reward points, they are automatically deposited into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Then you can redeem them through the Southwest portal.
How can I log in to my Southwest Plus card account?
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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