What this card does and who it's built for

The Chase Visa Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards card is a co-branded credit card that earns points on every purchase, with those points redeemable for Southwest flights and other travel expenses. The card comes with an annual fee, a sign-up bonus that requires you to spend a certain amount in the first months of ownership, and benefits tied to Southwest's frequent flyer program.

This card makes sense if you fly Southwest multiple times a year and want to accelerate your point accumulation beyond what you'd earn from ticket purchases alone. It's less useful if you fly other airlines primarily, or if you take one or two trips per year and don't want to pay an annual fee for benefits you won't use.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns points on all purchases and includes a sign-up bonus that typically requires $1,000 to $2,000 in spending within the first three months.
  • An annual fee applies every year, and you receive a companion pass (allowing one free ticket when you buy another) only if you meet a higher spending threshold or renew the card.
  • Points earned through the card never expire as long as your account remains open, but the card itself must stay active to keep earning.
  • The card's value depends on how often you fly Southwest and whether you can use the annual bonus rewards before they're needed.

How points and rewards work on this card

Every dollar you spend on the card earns one point toward Southwest's Rapid Rewards program. These points can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel-related purchases through Southwest. The sign-up bonus typically offers a set number of points (often 40,000 to 75,000) if you spend a required amount within the first three months — the exact bonus changes periodically and varies by offer.

Points do not expire as long as your Rapid Rewards account stays open, which means you can accumulate them over time. However, if you close the card or let the account go inactive, you risk losing points under Southwest's inactivity rules. The card itself must remain open to keep earning, even if you don't use it regularly.

Annual fee and the companion pass benefit

Chase charges an annual fee for this card, currently $69 per year. This fee renews every year on your account anniversary. In return, you receive an annual companion pass credit that can be used toward one free ticket when you purchase another ticket at the same price level — but only if you meet certain conditions.

The companion pass is not automatic. You receive it only if you spend $25,000 or more on the card in a calendar year, or if you renew the card and pay the annual fee. This means a cardholder who spends less than $25,000 annually pays the fee but does not receive the companion pass benefit. Understanding your own spending pattern is essential to deciding whether the annual fee pays for itself through the companion pass or other rewards.

Earning rates and category bonuses

Unlike many travel cards that offer higher earning rates in specific categories (dining, gas, hotels), the Southwest card earns one point per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories. This flat earning rate means you don't get extra points for restaurants, groceries, or travel bookings — just the base rate across the board.

The card does offer accelerated earning during promotional periods that Southwest and Chase run occasionally, but these are temporary and not may provide. If you're comparing this card to others that offer 2x or 3x points in specific categories, the Southwest card's flat rate is a trade-off you're making in exchange for the sign-up bonus and companion pass potential.

How to use points for flights and other rewards

Points are redeemed through your Southwest Rapid Rewards account online or through the Southwest app. You can book a flight using points, pay for seat upgrades, or use points toward other travel expenses like hotel stays or car rentals through Southwest's partners. The redemption value varies — a flight that costs $150 might require 10,000 points, while a $400 flight might require 25,000 points, depending on demand and availability.

Southwest does not charge blackout dates, meaning you can use points on any flight the airline operates. However, point availability is tied to seat availability, so popular flights during peak travel times may have few or no point-redemption seats open. Booking further in advance typically gives you more options.

Comparing this card to other Southwest earning options

Chase also offers the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, each with different annual fees and earning structures. The Rapid Rewards Premier has a lower annual fee but a lower companion pass spending threshold. The Plus card has a higher annual fee but offers additional perks like priority boarding and a higher companion pass bonus.

If you don't want to pay an annual fee at all, you can earn Southwest points through the no-annual-fee Southwest Rapid Rewards card, which earns points at the same rate but without the sign-up bonus or companion pass. The choice depends on whether the sign-up bonus and companion pass value exceed the annual fee in your situation.

What happens if you close the card or stop using it

If you close the card, your Rapid Rewards account itself remains open and your points do not disappear when ready. However, Southwest's inactivity policy states that points expire if your account has no activity for 24 months. Activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or taking a Southwest flight — straightforward holding the card does not count as activity.

If you decide the annual fee is no longer worth it, you have the option to downgrade to the no-annual-fee Southwest Rapid Rewards card instead of closing the account entirely. This keeps your points active and your account open without paying the annual fee, though you'll stop earning the higher sign-up bonus and companion pass benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use points on flights booked by someone else?

No. Points must be used by the person whose Rapid Rewards account holds them. You cannot transfer points to a family member or friend, though you can book a flight for someone else using your points if you're purchasing the ticket yourself.

What if I don't spend $25,000 in a year — do I still get the companion pass?

No. The companion pass is only awarded if you spend $25,000 or more in a calendar year, or if you renew the card and pay the annual fee again. If you spend less than $25,000 and don't renew, you won't receive the companion pass that year.

How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?

It depends on the flight price and your spending. A $150 flight typically costs around 10,000 points, while a $400 flight might cost 25,000 points. If you spend $2,500 per month on the card, you'd earn 30,000 points annually, enough for one or two domestic flights depending on their price.

Do points expire if I keep the card open but don't use it?

Points expire after 24 months of inactivity on your Rapid Rewards account. Inactivity means no points earned, no points redeemed, and no Southwest flights taken. straightforward keeping the card open without using it does not prevent expiration.

Can I get the sign-up bonus more than once?

Chase's rules typically prevent you from receiving the same sign-up bonus within a certain period if you've received it before. The exact rules change, so check Chase's current terms, but generally you must wait at least 24 months between bonuses on the same card.