What the Free Spirit Credit Card Is
The Free Spirit Credit Card is a co-branded card issued by Bank of America in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It is designed for people who fly Southwest regularly or want to earn rewards on everyday purchases that convert to Southwest travel credits. Unlike some airline cards that lock you into a single carrier's ecosystem, this card lets you use rewards for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and baggage fees — the three costs that add up fastest on budget airlines.
The card comes with an annual fee. There is no introductory period waiving that fee, so you pay it in the first year and every year after. The trade-off is a sign-up bonus in the form of Southwest points, which you can use when ready toward a flight or hold for later travel.
Key Takeaways
- The Free Spirit card charges an annual fee starting in year one, with a sign-up bonus in Southwest points that may offset the first year's cost depending on how you value those points.
- You earn points on every purchase — typically 1 point per dollar on most spending and higher rates on Southwest tickets and dining — that transfer directly to your Southwest account.
- The card includes two checked bags free on Southwest flights, which saves $70 to $140 per round trip compared to the standard bag fees.
- Rewards do not expire as long as your account remains open and you have account activity at least once every 24 months, either through the card or your Southwest account.
- The card is worth keeping only if you fly Southwest at least once or twice per year or spend enough on dining and everyday purchases to offset the annual fee.
Annual Fee and Sign-Up Bonus Structure
The annual fee is charged on your statement each year. Bank of America does not waive it in the first year, so you owe it when ready after approval. The sign-up bonus is typically offered as a number of Southwest points — the exact amount changes based on Bank of America's current promotion — and those points land in your Southwest account within one to three weeks of meeting the spending requirement.
To determine whether the card pays for itself in year one, you need to know what those points are worth to you. Southwest points do not have a fixed dollar value. A point might be worth 1 cent on a cheap flight or 2 cents on an expensive one, depending on the route and how far in advance you book. If the sign-up bonus gives you enough points to book a flight you were already planning to take, the card has essentially paid for itself. If not, you are banking on earning enough points through spending to justify the fee.
How Points Earn and What They Cover
You earn Southwest points on every purchase made with the card. The earning rate is typically 1 point per dollar spent on most purchases, with higher rates on Southwest airline tickets (often 3 points per dollar) and dining (often 3 points per dollar at participating restaurants). These points go directly into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and can be used to book any Southwest flight, add a companion pass, or pay for seat upgrades and baggage fees.
Points do not expire as long as your Southwest account has activity within any 24-month period. Activity means either using the card or logging into your Southwest account and taking an action — booking a flight, transferring points, or redeeming them. If you go two years without any activity, Southwest closes the account and points are forfeited. This is a real risk if you stop flying or using the card; setting a calendar reminder to log in once every 18 months is a straightforward safeguard.
Free Checked Bags and Other Cardholder Perks
The most tangible benefit is two free checked bags on Southwest flights when you use the card to purchase your ticket. Southwest charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second on most routes, so this benefit alone saves $70 to $140 per round trip. Over two or three trips per year, that covers the annual fee.
The card also typically includes other perks such as priority boarding (letting you board earlier and choose better seats), a companion pass discount (a reduced-price ticket for a travel companion), and roadside information. These vary by the current offer, so check the card's terms before you explore. The priority boarding alone is worth $15 to $25 per flight if you would otherwise pay for it separately.
When This Card Makes Financial Sense
The Free Spirit card is worth keeping if you fly Southwest at least once per year and use the card to buy your ticket. The free checked bags alone cover most of the annual fee. If you fly two or more times per year, the math becomes clearer: you save $140 to $280 in bag fees, which far exceeds the annual cost.
The card also makes sense if you spend heavily on dining at participating restaurants or regularly buy Southwest tickets with the card. The 3-point earning rate on those categories means you accumulate points faster than on a flat-rate rewards card. If you spend $5,000 per year on dining and Southwest tickets, you earn 15,000 points, which might cover a domestic flight or several upgrades.
The card does not make sense if you fly Southwest fewer than once per year, do not check bags, or rarely eat at participating restaurants. In that case, a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee will earn you more value over time. Similarly, if you split your flying between multiple airlines, a card tied to one carrier limits your flexibility.
How to Decide Between This Card and Alternatives
If you are loyal to Southwest and fly it regularly, this card is straightforward: the free bags and points earn rate justify the fee. If you fly Southwest occasionally but also use other airlines, compare this card to a general rewards card with no annual fee. A card earning 2% cash back on all purchases has no annual fee and gives you flexibility to use the rewards on any airline or expense.
If you fly Southwest but want to avoid an annual fee, Southwest also offers a no-fee version of its card through Bank of America. That card earns points at a lower rate and does not include the free checked bags, but it costs nothing to carry. The choice depends on whether the extra points and bag benefits are worth the annual fee to you.
Another option is to earn Southwest points without a card at all. Southwest's Rapid Rewards program lets you earn points on flights booked directly with Southwest, and you can transfer points from partner programs like hotel chains and car rental companies. This approach costs nothing but earns points more slowly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my points if I close the card?
No. Your points live in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, not on the card itself. Closing the card does not delete your points. However, if your Southwest account has no activity for 24 months, Southwest will close the account and points expire. You can prevent this by logging into your Southwest account once every 18 months, even if you do not fly or use the card.
Can I use points to pay for a flight booked with a different airline?
No. Southwest points work only on Southwest flights and Southwest-related purchases like seat upgrades and baggage fees. If you book a flight on another airline, you cannot redeem points toward it. This is why the card works best for people who fly Southwest regularly.
What happens to my free checked bags if I do not use the card to buy my ticket?
The free checked bags are only included when you purchase your Southwest ticket with the Free Spirit card. If you buy a ticket with a different card or pay cash, you do not get the free bags and will owe the standard baggage fee. Always use the card for your ticket purchase to unlock this benefit.
Is the sign-up bonus worth more than the annual fee in the first year?
That depends on the current promotion and how you value Southwest points. If the bonus is 50,000 points and you can book a flight worth $400 to $500 with those points, the bonus exceeds the annual fee. Check the current offer before you explore and estimate the value of those points based on flights you actually plan to take.
Can I earn points on purchases made by an authorized user?
Yes. Any authorized user on the card earns points on their purchases, and those points go into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Adding a family member or travel companion as an authorized user can help you accumulate points faster, though there may be a fee for the additional card.