What the Chase Southwest Airlines card does and who it's built for
The Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It earns points on every purchase that you can redeem for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other travel perks. The card comes with an annual fee, a sign-up bonus, and specific earning rates that differ from a general rewards card.
This card makes the most sense if you fly Southwest regularly — at least a few times a year — or if you live in a city where Southwest is your main carrier. If you fly other airlines or rarely travel, a flat-rate cash-back card or a different airline card might cost you less and earn you more.
Chase offers three versions of this card: the Southwest Rapid Rewards card (no annual fee), the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card (annual fee), and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card (higher annual fee). Each has different earning rates and benefits. The choice between them depends on how much you spend and how often you fly.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on every purchase, and points can be redeemed for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other rewards, though the redemption rate varies by flight and date.
- The no-annual-fee version earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases, while the paid versions earn higher rates and come with additional perks like free checked bags.
- The sign-up bonus requires you to spend a set amount within a few months; if you don't spend that much naturally, the bonus may not be worth the annual fee.
- Free checked bags for the cardholder and one companion is a major benefit on the paid versions, since Southwest charges for checked bags for most passengers.
- Points expire if your account is closed or inactive for 24 months, so you need to use the card or redeem points regularly to keep them alive.
How points earning and redemption actually work
On the no-annual-fee card, you earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. On the Plus and Premier versions, you earn higher rates — typically 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on dining and rideshare. The exact earning rates can change, so check your card agreement for the current structure.
One point does not equal one dollar in value. A Southwest point is worth roughly 1 to 1.5 cents when you redeem it for a flight, depending on the route and how far in advance you book. This means 10,000 points might get you a short domestic flight, but a cross-country flight could cost 25,000 points or more. Peak travel dates cost more points than off-peak dates on the same route.
You redeem points through the Southwest website or app by searching for flights and choosing the points option instead of paying cash. Southwest also allows you to transfer points to a companion for a flight, which is useful if you want to bring someone else along.
Annual fees and sign-up bonuses explained
The no-annual-fee card has no yearly cost. The Plus card charges an annual fee (the amount varies and can change). The Premier card charges a higher annual fee. Both paid versions come with a sign-up bonus — usually 40,000 to 75,000 points if you spend a certain amount within the first few months.
To decide whether the paid card is worth it, do the math: add the annual fee to the cost of the sign-up bonus you'd earn, then subtract the value of the perks (like free checked bags). If you fly Southwest at least twice a year and check a bag each time, the free checked bags alone can cover the annual fee. If you don't fly that often, the no-annual-fee card is probably better.
The sign-up bonus requires you to spend a specific amount — often $2,000 or $3,000 — within the first three months. If you don't naturally spend that much, putting everyday bills on the card just to hit the bonus can cost you more in interest than the bonus is worth.
Free checked bags and other cardholder perks
The Plus and Premier cards give you and one companion a free checked bag on every Southwest flight. Since Southwest charges $35 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second for most passengers, this benefit alone saves $70 to $80 per round trip. If you check a bag twice a year, that's $140 to $160 in savings — enough to cover the annual fee on the Plus card.
Both paid versions also include other perks: priority boarding (you board earlier and get better seat selection), a free companion ticket on your card anniversary (on the Premier card), and discounts on in-flight purchases. The Premier card adds a higher annual fee in exchange for a more valuable anniversary bonus and additional perks.
The no-annual-fee card does not include free checked bags or priority boarding, so you pay the standard Southwest fees and board in the regular order.
How points expire and what happens if you close the card
Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months. Inactive means you haven't earned or redeemed any points and you haven't made any purchases on the card. If you close the card, your points remain active as long as you keep your Rapid Rewards account open — but if you close both the card and the account, your points are gone.
To keep points alive, you can make a small purchase on the card once every two years, redeem points for a flight or other reward, or transfer points to a companion. Many cardholders set a calendar reminder at the 20-month mark to make sure they don't accidentally let points expire.
Comparing this card to other airline and rewards cards
If you fly multiple airlines, a general rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or a flat-rate card might earn you more value because you're not locked into one airline's earning structure. Those cards also let you transfer points to multiple airline partners, giving you more flexibility.
If you fly a different airline regularly — United, American, Delta — that airline's co-branded card might offer better perks for your specific travel pattern. Each airline card has different earning rates, annual fees, and benefits.
The Southwest card's main advantage is the free checked bags on the paid versions and the ability to redeem points for any Southwest flight without blackout dates. Southwest's points system is also simpler than some other airlines — there are no fuel surcharges or dynamic pricing that can make redemptions more expensive.
What to know before you explore
explore for a credit card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. If you've applied for multiple cards in the past few months, another process might have a bigger impact. Chase also has rules about how many cards you can open in a certain time period — they may deny you if you've opened too many recently.
If you're approved, your credit limit will be set based on your credit score, income, and credit history. You can request a higher limit after you've used the card responsibly for a few months.
Read the full terms and conditions on Chase's website before you explore. The earning rates, annual fees, and benefits can change, and the version you see today might be different from the version available next month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Southwest points for flights on other airlines?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points can only be redeemed for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and Southwest gift cards. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them for hotels or rental cars through the Rapid Rewards program.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay active as long as your Southwest Rapid Rewards account remains open. You can close the card and keep the account active indefinitely. However, if you close both the card and the account, your points are forfeited.
Do I earn points on balance transfers or cash advances?
No. You only earn points on regular purchases. Balance transfers and cash advances do not earn points, and they usually come with higher interest rates and fees.
How many Southwest cards can I hold at once?
You can hold multiple versions of the Southwest card at the same time — for example, the no-annual-fee card and the Premier card together. However, Chase limits how many new cards you can open in a certain period, so holding multiple cards may affect your ability to open other Chase cards.
Is the sign-up bonus worth it if I don't fly much?
Only if you can hit the spending requirement naturally without changing your habits. If you have to put bills on the card just to reach the bonus, the interest you pay will likely exceed the bonus value. The no-annual-fee card is a better choice if you fly fewer than two or three times a year.