The Southwest card gives you points on every purchase, free checked bags, and boarding priority — but the value depends on how often you fly and how you spend
Southwest Airlines offers two main credit cards through Chase: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card. Both earn points on purchases and give you perks tied to flying, but they differ in annual fee, sign-up bonus structure, and which benefits matter most to your travel pattern.
The core benefit is straightforward: you earn points per dollar spent, and points convert to flights. The second major benefit is free checked bags on Southwest flights — both your first and second bag fly free, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip if you normally check luggage. A third benefit is priority boarding, which means you board earlier and get better seat selection. These three benefits alone can justify the card for regular Southwest flyers, but the math changes if you rarely fly or never check bags.
Key Takeaways
- Both Southwest cards earn points on all purchases and give you free checked bags on Southwest flights, but the Priority Card costs $69 annually while the Plus Card costs $99.
- The sign-up bonus differs between cards: the Priority Card typically offers a larger points bonus, while the Plus Card offers bonus points plus a statement credit.
- Free checked bags alone save $35 to $70 per round trip, so the card pays for itself if you take two or more round trips per year on Southwest.
- Points earned never expire as long as your account stays active, and you can combine points from multiple cards or accounts to book a single flight.
- The card's value drops significantly if you don't fly Southwest regularly or if you use other airlines for most trips.
How points work and what they're worth
You earn points on every purchase: typically 1 point per dollar on most spending, and 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and at restaurants. Points are redeemable for Southwest flights, but also for hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program — though flights usually offer the best value.
The actual dollar value of a point varies depending on which flight you book and when you book it. A point might be worth 1 cent on a cheap flight or 2 cents on a premium route, so comparing the card's earning rate to a flat-cash-back card requires knowing your typical spending and flight costs. If you spend $20,000 per year and earn 1 point per dollar, that's 20,000 points. If those points average 1.5 cents each, that's $300 in flight value — which covers the annual fee and then some, but only if you actually use the points.
Points do not expire as long as your Rapid Rewards account remains active, even if you don't use the card for months. You can also combine points from multiple cards or accounts to book a single flight, which is useful if you're traveling with family members who also have Southwest cards.
Comparing the Priority Card and Plus Card
| Feature | Priority Card | Plus Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $69 | $99 |
| Earning Rate (General) | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 |
| Earning Rate (Southwest/Restaurants) | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 |
| Free Checked Bags | Yes, both bags | Yes, both bags |
| Priority Boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Typical Sign-Up Bonus | Larger points bonus (varies) | Points bonus + statement credit |
| Companion Pass Qualification | Counts toward Companion Pass | Counts toward Companion Pass |
The Priority Card's lower annual fee makes it the better choice if you want to minimize costs while keeping the core benefits. The Plus Card's higher fee is offset by a statement credit that typically appears after your first purchase, reducing the net annual cost. Which card makes sense depends on whether that statement credit exceeds the $30 difference in fees — it usually does, but the exact amounts change periodically.
Both cards count toward the Southwest Companion Pass, a benefit that lets you bring one person free on every flight for a year. You earn the pass by spending $25,000 or $35,000 in a calendar year (the threshold varies), so if you're close to that spending level, either card can help you reach it.
When the free checked bags benefit pays for itself
Southwest charges $35 for your first checked bag and $35 for your second on most routes. If you take two round trips per year and check bags both ways, that's four checked bags at $35 each — $140 in fees. The Priority Card's $69 annual fee pays for itself in less than half a year of checked-bag travel.
The math is different if you don't check bags. If you travel with only a carry-on, the free checked bag benefit has no value to you, and you're paying the annual fee purely for points earning and priority boarding. Priority boarding is useful if you prefer aisle or window seats and want to avoid middle seats, but it's not a financial benefit — it's a preference benefit.
For someone who takes one Southwest round trip per year and checks bags, the card likely doesn't pay for itself. For someone who takes four or more round trips per year, the card almost certainly does.
Earning points on everyday spending
The card earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases and 2 points per dollar at Southwest and restaurants. If you spend $500 per month on groceries, gas, and utilities, that's 6,000 points per year at the 1-point rate. If you also spend $200 per month at restaurants, that's another 4,800 points per year at the 2-point rate — 10,800 points total.
At an average redemption value of 1.5 cents per point, that's $162 in annual flight value. Subtract the $69 annual fee and you're left with $93 in net benefit from everyday spending alone, before counting any sign-up bonus or free checked bags. This calculation assumes you actually redeem the points for flights; if points sit unused, they have no value.
The card does not offer bonus categories beyond Southwest and restaurants, so it's not competitive with flat-cash-back cards for categories like groceries or gas. If you want to maximize rewards across all spending, a 2% cash-back card might be better — but if you're already committed to flying Southwest, the points-per-dollar rate is comparable and the free checked bags add value.
Sign-up bonuses and how they affect the decision
Both cards offer sign-up bonuses, but the amounts and structures change throughout the year. The Priority Card typically offers a larger points bonus (sometimes 50,000 to 75,000 points), while the Plus Card offers a smaller points bonus plus a statement credit that reduces the net annual fee.
A sign-up bonus of 50,000 points is worth roughly $750 to $1,000 in flight value at typical redemption rates, which is substantial. However, the bonus usually requires you to spend a certain amount in the first three months — typically $2,000 to $3,000. If you can't naturally spend that amount in three months, the bonus doesn't explore, and you're paying the annual fee for a card that may not be worth it.
Check the current offer before explore, because the bonus structure and amounts vary by month and by which card you're comparing. The card issuer's website shows the current offer, and it's the only reliable source.
Who should and shouldn't get a Southwest card
The card makes sense if you fly Southwest at least twice per year, check bags regularly, or spend enough on restaurants and Southwest purchases to earn back the annual fee in points. It also makes sense if you're working toward the Companion Pass and need to reach the spending threshold.
The card doesn't make sense if you rarely fly, use other airlines for most trips, never check bags, or prefer to earn cash back instead of points. It also doesn't make sense if you're not comfortable with annual fees — some people prefer cards with no annual cost, even if the rewards are lower.
If you already have a Southwest card and are considering a second one, remember that you can hold both the Priority and Plus cards simultaneously and combine points from both. However, you'd pay two annual fees, so this only makes sense if the combined benefits exceed the combined costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the card to get free checked bags?
No. You get free checked bags as long as you're the cardholder or an authorized user on the account, even if you book the flight with cash or points. The benefit is tied to your account, not to how you pay for the ticket.
What happens to my points if I cancel the card?
Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account as long as the account itself remains active. You can cancel the card without losing the points, but if your Rapid Rewards account goes inactive (no activity for 24 months), the points may expire. Keep the account active by earning or redeeming points occasionally.
Can I use points to book flights for other people?
Yes. You can book flights for anyone using your points, as long as you're the one redeeming them. You don't need to be traveling on the flight yourself. This is useful for buying flights as gifts or booking family travel.
Is the priority boarding benefit the same as Business Select?
No. The card gives you priority boarding, which means you board in an earlier group than general boarding. Business Select is a higher fare class that includes priority boarding plus other perks like free drinks and early boarding. Priority boarding from the card is less valuable than Business Select, but it's better than general boarding.
Can I earn the sign-up bonus if I've had a Southwest card before?
Most card issuers have rules about how often you can earn a bonus on the same card. Check the current terms before explore, because the rules change. Generally, you may be able to earn a bonus again after a certain period (often 24 months) has passed since you last earned one.