What the Southwest Airlines Chase card does and who it's built for
The Southwest Airlines Chase card is a co-branded rewards card that gives you points on every purchase, with bonus points when you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Those points convert directly into Southwest airline tickets, seat upgrades, and checked bags. The card charges an annual fee — currently $69 for the standard version — and that fee is waived the first year.
This card makes sense if you fly Southwest multiple times a year and want to reduce what you pay per ticket. It does not make sense if you rarely fly, fly other airlines, or only book flights once every few years. The math depends on how much you spend and how often you redeem points.
Chase issues this card, not Southwest Airlines. You explore through Chase's website, and Chase sets the credit limit, interest rate, and approval decision. Southwest handles the points redemption side once you have the card.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one point per dollar spent on all purchases, plus bonus points for meeting a spending threshold in the first three months after opening the card.
- The annual fee is $69 after the first year, and you also receive an annual anniversary bonus of points that roughly offsets the fee if you keep the card active.
- Points redeem for Southwest tickets at a rate that varies by route and date — a $150 ticket might cost 5,000 points on one date and 7,500 on another.
- You need a credit score in the mid-600s or higher to have a reasonable chance of approval, and Chase will check your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.
- Carrying a balance on this card costs you interest at a variable rate that changes with the prime rate, so paying the full statement balance each month saves you money.
How points work and what they're actually worth
Every dollar you spend on the card earns one point, whether you're buying groceries, gas, or a hotel room. When you first open the card, Chase offers a sign-up bonus — typically 40,000 to 60,000 points if you spend a certain amount (usually $1,000 to $3,000) within the first three months. That bonus is the main reason people open this card; it's worth roughly $400 to $600 in Southwest tickets depending on when you fly.
Points don't have a fixed dollar value. Southwest prices tickets in points based on demand, route, and how far in advance you book. A flight that costs $120 cash might cost 5,000 points on a Tuesday in February, but 8,000 points on a Friday in July. You can see the point price before you book, so you're not locked into a bad deal.
One point is worth roughly 1 to 1.5 cents when you redeem it for a ticket. If you earn 50,000 points and redeem them for a $600 ticket, that's 1.2 cents per point. But if you redeem 50,000 points for a $500 ticket, that's 1 cent per point. The value swings based on when and where you fly.
Annual fees, anniversary bonuses, and the real cost of keeping the card
The card costs $69 per year after the first year. Chase waives the fee for year one, so you pay nothing in your first 12 months. After that, the fee hits your account every year on your card anniversary — the date you opened the account.
To offset that fee, Southwest and Chase give you an anniversary bonus of points each year you keep the card active. The bonus is typically 6,000 to 10,000 points, depending on which version of the card you have. At 1.2 cents per point, that's $72 to $120 in value, which roughly covers or slightly exceeds the $69 annual fee.
The math only works if you actually use those anniversary points. If you let them sit unused, or if you close the card before redeeming them, you lose that value. You also need to spend enough on the card during the year to make the points worth more than the fee. If you spend $5,000 per year on the card, you earn 5,000 points plus the anniversary bonus — roughly $60 to $90 in ticket value. That barely covers the fee.
Credit score impact and approval odds
explore for this card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. Chase pulls your credit from one or more of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and that inquiry typically lowers your credit score by 5 to 10 points for a few months. The impact is temporary and fades as the inquiry ages.
Chase generally approves applicants with a credit score of 650 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. If your score is below 650, you can still explore, but your odds are lower. If you've been denied for credit recently or have unpaid collections, Chase is more likely to decline you.
You can check your own credit score for free through your bank, your credit card issuer, or services like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com. Checking your own score does not lower it — only applications for new credit do that.
Interest rates, balance transfers, and what happens if you carry a balance
The card's interest rate is variable, meaning it changes when the Federal Reserve changes the prime rate. Currently, rates range from roughly 18% to 28% depending on your creditworthiness and market conditions. That rate applies to any balance you carry from month to month.
If you spend $1,000 and pay $500 by the due date, you owe interest on the remaining $500 at that variable rate. On a $500 balance at 22% APR, you'd pay roughly $9 in interest that month. Carry that balance for a year and you pay over $100 in interest alone — far more than the value of the points you earned.
The card does not offer a 0% introductory period on purchases or balance transfers. If you need to carry a balance, this card costs you more than a card with an intro rate. Pay the full statement balance each month to avoid interest charges entirely.
Comparing this card to other Southwest rewards options
Chase also issues a premium version called the Southwest Airlines Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which costs $95 per year but earns points faster on certain categories (restaurants, travel, and online purchases). The Sapphire Preferred makes sense if you spend heavily in those categories and value the extra points more than the higher fee.
If you don't fly Southwest often, a general rewards card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited might be better. It earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, and you can use that cash for any airline, not just Southwest.
Southwest also has a co-branded card through Bank of America, though Chase's version typically offers better sign-up bonuses. Compare the current offers before you explore — sign-up bonuses change several times per year.
How to use points and what redemption actually looks like
You redeem points through Southwest's website or app by logging into your Rapid Rewards account (Southwest's loyalty program) and searching for flights. You see the cash price and the point price side by side. If the point price is good, you book with points. If it's expensive, you can book with cash instead and earn points on that purchase too.
Points cover the base ticket price only. Taxes and fees (usually $5 to $15 per flight) still come out of your pocket or credit card. You cannot redeem points for taxes and fees, though you can use a different payment method for those charges.
Checked bags are free on Southwest for all passengers, so that's not a points benefit — it's just how Southwest operates. However, you can use points to buy Early Bird Check-In, which automatically checks you in 24 hours before your flight and usually gets you a better boarding position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need to get approved?
Chase typically approves applicants with a score of 650 or higher, though approval depends on your full credit history, not just the score. If your score is below 650, you can still explore, but your odds are lower. Check your score for free before you explore so you know where you stand.
Do I have to use the card for Southwest flights only?
No. You earn one point per dollar on all purchases — groceries, gas, restaurants, online shopping, everything. You only redeem the points for Southwest flights, but you can earn them anywhere. That's why the card works even if you don't fly Southwest every month.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. If you close the card and don't fly or earn points any other way for two years, Southwest may close your account and you lose the points. Keep the account active by flying or using a co-branded card.
Can I transfer points to someone else?
Southwest does not allow point transfers between accounts. Points belong to the person whose name is on the Rapid Rewards account. You can book a ticket for someone else using your points, but you can't give them the points themselves.
Is there a limit to how many points I can earn?
No. You can earn as many points as you want, and they don't expire as long as your account stays active. Some people accumulate hundreds of thousands of points over several years and use them for multiple trips.