What the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards card does
The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card is a co-branded card issued by Chase that earns points on every purchase you make. Those points convert directly into Southwest airline tickets, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits. Unlike some airline cards that require you to spend a minimum before earning rewards, this card earns points on dollar-one spending.
The card comes in two versions: the Performance Business card and the Personal card. Both earn the same points per dollar spent, but they differ in annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and some cardholder perks. The card is designed for people who fly Southwest regularly or plan to, since the points have the most value when redeemed for flights on that airline.
Key Takeaways
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards card earns points on every purchase, with higher earning rates on Southwest bookings and dining.
- You can redeem points for Southwest flights with no blackout dates, though point values vary by route and season.
- The card charges an annual fee that varies by version, and that fee should be weighed against the points you expect to earn and use each year.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains active, but closing the card or going inactive for 24 months resets the clock.
- The card's value depends on how often you fly Southwest and whether you can use the companion pass benefit that comes with certain spending levels.
How points are earned and what they are worth
The card earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and dining, and 1 point per dollar on all other spending. Southwest purchases include flights booked directly with Southwest, seat upgrades, and baggage fees. Dining includes restaurants, food delivery services, and bars.
Points convert into Southwest flights at a rate that depends on the route and how far in advance you book. A short flight might cost 6,000 points, while a cross-country flight could cost 15,000 or more. Southwest publishes its award chart, so you can see the point cost for any route before you book. Unlike some airlines, Southwest has no blackout dates — you can use points on any flight that has award availability, even during peak travel times.
The card also earns points on the sign-up bonus. New cardholders typically receive a bonus of 40,000 to 75,000 points after meeting a spending requirement in the first few months. That bonus alone can cover one or two domestic flights, depending on the routes you fly.
Annual fees and when they make sense
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal card charges an annual fee of $69. The Business version charges $99 per year. Both fees are charged on the anniversary of opening the account, every year you keep the card open.
Whether the fee is worth paying depends on how much you spend and how often you redeem points. If you spend $7,000 or more per year on the card, you earn enough points to cover the fee in value. If you fly Southwest at least once a year and use the card for everyday purchases, the fee usually pays for itself. If you rarely fly or don't use the card regularly, the annual cost outweighs the benefit.
Some cardholders close the card before the annual fee posts and reopen it later to capture the sign-up bonus again. This strategy works if you can meet the spending requirement each time, but it requires tracking the anniversary date and acting before the fee charges.
The Companion Pass and how to earn it
One of the highest-value benefits of the Southwest card is the Companion Pass, which lets one person fly free on any Southwest flight you book for a full year. The pass is earned by spending $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, or by earning 135,000 may have access to points through any combination of card spending and flights.
The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year you earn it, plus the following calendar year. So if you earn it in June, you have the pass through December of that year and all of the next year — 18 months total. You choose one person to be your companion, and that person can fly free on any ticket you purchase, though they must be on the same reservation.
The pass does not cover taxes and fees, which typically run $5 to $15 per flight. Your companion also does not earn points on the free flight. But for frequent Southwest travelers, the Companion Pass often pays for the card's annual fee many times over.
How points expire and what keeps them active
Southwest points do not expire as long as your Rapid Rewards account stays active. An account is considered active if you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months. This means you do not have to use the card every month — you just need to earn or spend points within a two-year window.
If your account goes inactive for 24 months with no earning or redemption, Southwest will close the account and you will lose all points. Keeping the card open and using it occasionally is the simplest way to prevent this. Even a small purchase every couple of years keeps the account active.
If you close the card itself, your Rapid Rewards account does not close automatically — you can still hold points and redeem them. However, you will no longer earn points on new purchases. The points themselves remain valid as long as you stay active in the Rapid Rewards program.
Redeeming points for flights and other rewards
You redeem points through the Southwest website or mobile app by searching for flights and selecting the points option instead of paying with cash. Southwest shows you the point cost for each available flight, and you can compare prices across different dates to find the best value.
Points can also be used for seat upgrades, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases. Some cardholders use points strategically — for example, paying cash for a short flight and saving points for a longer, more expensive route. Others redeem points as soon as they accumulate enough for a flight, to lock in the travel date.
You can transfer points to someone else's Rapid Rewards account, though there is a fee for transfers. This is useful if you have a companion who also flies Southwest and you want to pool points for a joint trip.
Comparing the Personal and Business versions
The main differences between the two cards are the annual fee, the sign-up bonus structure, and some business-specific perks. The Personal card has a lower annual fee ($69 versus $99) and is designed for individual travelers. The Business card offers higher sign-up bonuses in some periods and includes benefits like employee cards and purchase protections that appeal to business owners.
Both cards earn points at the same rate and have the same point redemption rules. The choice between them depends on whether you have a business to put the card under and whether the business-specific benefits justify the higher annual fee. If you are an individual traveler, the Personal card is usually the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Southwest points on other airlines?
No. Southwest points can only be redeemed for Southwest flights, upgrades, and fees. They cannot be transferred to other airline loyalty programs or used on partner airlines. This is one reason the card's value depends heavily on how often you fly Southwest specifically.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points do not disappear when you close the card. They stay in your Rapid Rewards account and you can redeem them anytime. However, you stop earning new points on purchases once the card is closed. Your points remain valid as long as you stay active in the Rapid Rewards program.
Do I have to spend $25,000 to get value from this card?
No. The Companion Pass requires $25,000 in spending, but the card earns points on every dollar you spend. Even if you never reach the Companion Pass threshold, you earn enough points from regular spending and the sign-up bonus to cover the annual fee and fund at least one flight per year for most cardholders.
Can I earn the sign-up bonus more than once?
Chase typically allows you to earn the sign-up bonus once every 24 months. Some cardholders close and reopen the card to capture the bonus again, but you must wait at least two years between bonuses and meet the spending requirement each time.
What if I don't fly Southwest but want to earn travel rewards?
This card is built for Southwest loyalty. If you fly multiple airlines or prefer flexibility, a general travel rewards card that lets you redeem points across many airlines or for cash back may be a better fit. The Southwest card's value is highest for people who fly that airline regularly.