What Chase Southwest cards offer and who they're built for
Chase offers three Southwest-branded credit cards: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business. All three earn points on every purchase that you can redeem for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other travel expenses. The main differences are the annual fee, the sign-up bonus, and which perks come with the card — not the earning rate itself.
These cards make sense if you fly Southwest regularly or plan to book several flights in the next year. Southwest's reward structure is straightforward: you accumulate points and redeem them directly for tickets at a fixed rate, with no blackout dates. That simplicity appeals to people who want to avoid the complexity of airline-specific status tiers or transfer partners.
If you fly other airlines more often, or if you value flexibility to book any airline, a general travel rewards card or a card from a different airline may serve you better. The Southwest cards lock your rewards into one airline, which is a real constraint if your travel plans change.
Key Takeaways
- All three Southwest cards earn the same points per dollar spent, but the Premier and Plus cards charge annual fees that the basic card does not.
- The sign-up bonus on each card typically covers the annual fee for the first year, so your real cost decision starts in year two.
- Southwest cards include perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding, which add value beyond the points themselves if you fly Southwest frequently.
- You can hold more than one Southwest card at a time, and some people do to stack the annual free checked bag benefit across multiple household members.
The three cards and their annual fees
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus charges $69 per year and comes with a sign-up bonus that typically covers that fee in the first year. You earn 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and at restaurants, gas stations, and transit. You earn 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card includes one free checked bag per flight and priority boarding.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier charges $99 per year and offers a higher sign-up bonus to offset the higher fee. The earning rate is identical to the Plus card: 2 points per dollar on Southwest, restaurants, gas, and transit, and 1 point elsewhere. The Premier includes the same free checked bag and priority boarding, plus a $75 Southwest credit every year after your first year — which effectively reduces the net annual fee to $24 if you use it.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Business is designed for business owners and self-employed people. It charges $99 per year and earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, internet, cable, phone services, and office supply stores. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else. It includes the free checked bag and priority boarding but does not include the annual Southwest credit that the Premier offers.
None of these cards charge foreign transaction fees, which matters if you travel internationally and want to use the card abroad.
How the sign-up bonus works
Each card offers a sign-up bonus when you meet a spending threshold within the first few months of opening the account. The bonus is typically 40,000 to 60,000 points, depending on the card and the current promotion. That bonus alone is worth several hundred dollars in Southwest flights, which is why the sign-up bonus usually exceeds the annual fee in year one.
To earn the bonus, you must spend a set amount — often $2,000 or $3,000 — within the first three months. This is a real spending requirement, not a minimum balance. If you don't spend enough, you don't receive the bonus. Chase does not pro-rate or hold the bonus for later; you either meet the threshold or you don't.
The sign-up bonus resets if you close the card and reopen it later, but Chase has rules about how long you must wait. Generally, you cannot earn the bonus again if you've earned it on the same card within the past 24 months. This matters if you're thinking about cycling cards to collect multiple bonuses.
Perks that add value beyond points
The free checked bag is the most tangible perk. Southwest allows two free checked bags for all passengers, but most airlines charge $30 to $40 per bag. If you check a bag on just two round trips per year, the card pays for itself. If you travel more often, the savings compound quickly.
Priority boarding means you board in an earlier group, which gives you a better chance of getting overhead bin space and a seat of your choice. On a full flight, this is a real convenience. On a half-full flight, it matters less.
The Premier card's $75 annual Southwest credit is a significant benefit if you use it. The credit applies to any Southwest purchase: flights, seat upgrades, or even gift cards. You don't have to use it on the card itself; you can buy a Southwest gift card and use it later. The credit resets every calendar year, so you get it in year two and every year after as long as you keep the card.
When the annual fee makes sense
The Plus card's $69 annual fee makes sense if you fly Southwest at least twice per year and check a bag both times. The free checked bag alone saves you $120 to $160 annually, so the fee pays for itself. If you fly more often, the value increases.
The Premier card's $99 fee is harder to justify on checked bags alone, but the $75 annual credit changes the math. Your net cost is $24 per year, which is very low if you use the credit. The question becomes whether you'll actually spend $75 on Southwest in a year. If you book even one flight, you'll likely hit that threshold.
The Business card makes sense for business owners who can put business expenses on it and earn 2 points per dollar on categories like internet, phone, and office supplies. The $99 fee is tax-deductible as a business expense, which lowers the real cost.
If you fly Southwest fewer than twice per year or never check bags, the annual fee is harder to justify. In that case, a no-annual-fee travel rewards card might serve you better, even if the earning rate is lower.
Comparing the cards side by side
| Feature | Plus | Premier | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $69 | $99 | $99 |
| Annual Southwest Credit | None | $75 | None |
| Earning Rate (Southwest, Restaurants, Gas, Transit) | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 |
| Earning Rate (Everything Else) | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 |
| Free Checked Bag | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Boarding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None | None | None |
How to redeem points and what they're worth
Southwest points redeem directly for flights at a fixed rate. The number of points required depends on the flight's price, which varies by route, date, and how far in advance you book. A short domestic flight might cost 6,000 to 8,000 points, while a cross-country flight might cost 15,000 to 25,000 points. Southwest publishes the point cost for each flight, so you can see exactly what you're paying before you book.
Points also redeem for seat upgrades, which cost between 1,500 and 5,000 points depending on the flight. Some people use points strategically for upgrades on longer flights rather than for entire tickets.
You can also use points to buy Southwest gift cards, which you can give to someone else or use yourself later. This is useful if you have points but no when ready travel plans.
Southwest does not allow you to transfer points to other airlines or to use them for non-travel purchases. Your points are locked into Southwest's ecosystem, which is why these cards work best for people who fly Southwest regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hold more than one Southwest card at the same time?
Yes. Some people hold both the Plus and Premier cards to stack the free checked bag benefit across multiple household members, or to earn points on two separate accounts. Chase allows this, but you must meet the spending requirements for each card's sign-up bonus separately. Each card also charges its own annual fee.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and do not disappear when you close the card. You can continue to redeem them for flights and upgrades. The card itself is just the tool you use to earn points; the points belong to your account, not to the card.
Do I have to use the free checked bag on every flight?
No. The benefit is available to you on every Southwest flight, but you don't have to use it. If you're traveling with only a carry-on, you straightforward don't check a bag. The benefit doesn't expire or roll over if you don't use it on a particular flight.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?
That depends on how much you spend and which flights you want to book. If you spend $3,000 per month on the card and earn 2 points per dollar on average, you'll earn about 72,000 points per year. That's enough for several domestic flights. The sign-up bonus typically gives you 40,000 to 60,000 points right away, so you could book a flight within the first few months if you meet the spending threshold.
What if I don't fly Southwest often but want to earn travel rewards?
A general travel rewards card with no annual fee might serve you better. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture X earn points on all purchases and let you redeem for any airline or hotel. You lose the free checked bag and priority boarding perks, but you gain flexibility if your travel plans change or if you want to fly different airlines.