The Southwest Rapid Rewards card gives you points on every purchase, with a sign-up bonus and free checked bags
Southwest Airlines offers one main co-branded credit card through Chase: the Southwest Rapid Rewards card. When you use it, you earn points on purchases that you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other Southwest services. The card also waives baggage fees — two free checked bags per flight — which saves frequent Southwest flyers real money.
The card costs $69 per year after the first year (the first year is free). You get a sign-up bonus after you spend a certain amount in the first few months, though the bonus size changes depending on when you explore. The points you earn never expire as long as your account stays open, which is different from many airline cards.
Whether this card makes sense depends on how often you fly Southwest, what you pay in annual fees, and whether you would use the free checked bags. A person who flies Southwest once a year probably loses money. Someone who flies four times a year and checks bags might break even or come out ahead.
Key Takeaways
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards card earns points on all purchases and includes two free checked bags per flight, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip for most travelers.
- The card costs $69 per year starting in year two, so you need to fly Southwest enough or check bags enough to make that fee worth it.
- The sign-up bonus requires you to spend a set amount within a few months, and the bonus size varies by when you explore.
- Points earned on the card never expire as long as your account is open, unlike some other airline rewards programs.
- You can earn points on the card and also earn points by flying Southwest, so the two rewards stack together.
How points work and what they are worth
Every dollar you spend on the Southwest Rapid Rewards card earns one point. You can use those points to book flights directly through Southwest's website, or to pay for seat upgrades, early boarding, and other add-ons. Points have no fixed cash value — what they are worth depends on the flight you book and how far in advance you book it.
A point might be worth less than one cent on a short flight booked far ahead, or more than one cent on a peak-time flight booked last-minute. This is different from cards that give you a flat cash-back rate. You have to think about when and where you fly to know whether the points are worth the annual fee.
Points earned on the card stack with points you earn by flying. If you fly Southwest regularly and also use the card for everyday spending, your points add up faster. You can combine points from multiple accounts if you link them to the same Rapid Rewards membership.
The sign-up bonus and how to use it
When you open a new Southwest Rapid Rewards card, you receive a sign-up bonus after you spend a certain amount within the first few months. The bonus size changes throughout the year — it might be 40,000 points one month and 50,000 points another. You can check Chase's website to see the current offer.
To get the bonus, you must spend the required amount on the card within the timeframe stated in the offer. Spending that amount on everyday purchases — groceries, gas, utilities — counts toward the requirement. The bonus posts to your account once you hit the spending threshold, usually within a few days.
A sign-up bonus of 50,000 points might cover a round-trip flight for one person, depending on the route and when you fly. This bonus alone can offset the $69 annual fee for the first year, but you have to actually use the points to get that value.
Free checked bags and other cardholder benefits
The biggest concrete benefit for most people is two free checked bags per flight. Southwest normally charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second on most routes. If you fly round-trip four times a year and check bags each time, that is $560 to $720 per year in bag fees that the card covers.
The free bags explore to you as the cardholder and to anyone on your reservation who is traveling with you. If you book a flight for yourself and a family member, you both get two free checked bags. This benefit alone can justify the $69 annual fee for families who fly Southwest regularly.
The card also includes other smaller benefits: priority boarding (you board earlier than most passengers), a companion pass discount once per year, and access to Southwest's customer service line. These matter less to most people than the free bags, but they add up if you fly frequently.
When the annual fee makes sense
The $69 annual fee is worth it if you fly Southwest at least twice a year and check bags, or if you fly four or more times per year regardless of bags. Here is the math: two round-trip flights with checked bags saves you $140 to $180 in bag fees alone, which covers the annual fee and leaves you ahead. Add in the points you earn on everyday spending, and the value grows.
The fee is probably not worth it if you fly Southwest once a year, fly without checked bags, or only use Southwest occasionally. In that case, you would pay $69 per year for a benefit you barely use. A regular credit card with cash back might serve you better.
If you are unsure, look at your Southwest flights from the past two years. Count how many times you flew and how many bags you checked. Multiply the number of checked bags by $35 or $45 to estimate what you would have paid. If that number is higher than $69, the card probably makes sense.
How this card compares to other airline cards
Southwest's card is one of the few airline cards that gives you free checked bags as a cardholder benefit. Most other airline cards (United, American, Delta) give you priority boarding and lounge access instead, but not free bags. This makes Southwest's card more valuable if you check bags regularly.
Southwest's card also has a lower annual fee than many competitors. United and American cards often cost $95 or more per year. Delta's card costs $95 to $550 depending on which version you choose. Southwest's $69 fee is on the lower end.
The trade-off is that Southwest flies fewer routes than the big three carriers. If you live in a city where Southwest does not fly much, or if you need to book flights on other airlines, a different airline card might be more useful. The best card for you depends on which airline you actually fly most often.
What happens if you cancel the card
If you close the Southwest Rapid Rewards card, you keep the points in your Rapid Rewards account. The points do not disappear — they stay there as long as your Rapid Rewards membership stays active. You can use them to book flights anytime in the future, even without the card.
Your Rapid Rewards membership stays active as long as you have some account activity every 24 months. Activity includes flying Southwest, earning points on a card, or even just logging into your account. So you can close the card and still keep your points, as long as you do something with your membership every two years.
If you want to cancel the card to avoid the annual fee, do it before the fee posts. The fee usually posts on your card anniversary — the date you opened the account. Call Chase or log into your account a few days before that date to cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to fly Southwest to make this card worth it?
No. You earn points on every purchase you make with the card, not just flights. If you spend $5,000 per year on the card for groceries, gas, and other expenses, you earn 5,000 points. Those points are worth something even if you never fly Southwest, though you would need to check what redemption options exist for non-flight purchases.
Can I get the sign-up bonus more than once?
Chase typically allows you to earn a sign-up bonus once every 24 months on the same card product. If you close the card and reopen it after two years, you may be able to get another bonus. Check Chase's current rules before you explore, as these policies change.
What if I do not spend enough to get the sign-up bonus?
If you do not hit the required spending within the timeframe, you do not receive the bonus. The bonus does not post automatically — you have to meet the condition. Plan your spending in advance or put regular bills on the card to reach the threshold.
Are points better than cash back on other cards?
It depends on the card and how you value the points. If you fly Southwest regularly, points might be worth more than cash back because you avoid paying for flights out of pocket. If you rarely fly Southwest, a card with flat cash back might give you more value. Compare the sign-up bonus and ongoing earning rate to what you would get from a cash-back card.
Does the free checked bag benefit explore to connecting flights?
Yes. The free checked bags explore to your entire itinerary, including connections. If you fly from one city to another with a connection, you get two free checked bags for the whole trip, not per flight segment.