What the Southwest Airlines credit card does
The Southwest Airlines credit card is a co-branded card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It earns points on every purchase — typically 1 point per dollar spent on most things, and bonus points on Southwest purchases and at partner merchants. Those points convert directly into Southwest flight tickets, seat upgrades, and checked baggage fees.
The card comes in two versions: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier. The main difference is the annual fee and the sign-up bonus. Both cards give you two free checked bags on every Southwest flight you take as the cardholder, which alone saves money if you fly more than once or twice a year.
You do not earn points toward a free ticket or status with Southwest just by holding the card — you earn points by spending money on it. The card itself is the tool; your spending is what generates the rewards.
Key Takeaways
- The Southwest credit card charges an annual fee (currently $69 for Plus, $99 for Premier) and offers a sign-up bonus of points after you spend a set amount in the first few months.
- Every purchase earns points at a base rate of 1 point per dollar, with higher rates on Southwest bookings and select partner categories like restaurants and rideshare.
- Two free checked bags per flight is included with either card and applies to you as the cardholder on any Southwest flight, regardless of ticket price.
- Points do not expire as long as your account stays open and you earn or redeem at least one point every 24 months.
- You need enough points to cover the full ticket price — there is no partial redemption, and points do not combine with cash to buy a ticket.
Annual fees and sign-up bonuses
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card charges $69 per year. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier charges $99 per year. Both fees hit your account on the anniversary of when you open the card, every year you keep it open.
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus after spending a required amount within the first few months — typically 40,000 to 75,000 points depending on the current offer. That bonus alone can cover a domestic round-trip ticket on Southwest. The offer changes throughout the year, so the exact bonus amount varies.
Whether the card pays for itself depends on how much you spend and how often you fly. If you take at least two round-trip flights per year and use the two free checked bags, the annual fee is often offset by the baggage savings alone. Add in the points you earn on everyday spending, and the math usually works for regular Southwest flyers.
How points are earned and what they are worth
You earn 1 point per dollar on most purchases. Southwest flight bookings earn 3 points per dollar. Restaurants, rideshare services, and some hotel chains earn 2 or 3 points per dollar depending on the card version and the merchant category. The exact bonus categories vary between the Plus and Premier versions.
One point is worth roughly 1 cent when redeemed for a Southwest flight, though the actual value depends on the ticket price. A $200 ticket requires 20,000 points; a $400 ticket requires 40,000 points. The points-to-dollar ratio stays consistent, but the real value of each point changes based on which flights you book.
Points can also be used for seat upgrades (called "Upgraded Boarding"), checked baggage fees for companions, and gift cards. Redemption rates for these options vary. Points do not expire as long as you use your account at least once every 24 months — either by earning or redeeming a point.
The two free checked bags benefit
As the cardholder, you receive two free checked bags on every Southwest flight you take. This applies to any ticket you purchase, whether you paid cash or used points. Your when ready family traveling on the same reservation also gets the two free bags.
Southwest's standard policy allows one free checked bag for all passengers; the second bag normally costs $30. Over two round-trip flights per year, that benefit alone saves $120 — more than the annual fee on the Plus card. For families or frequent travelers, the savings compound quickly.
The benefit does not transfer to companions traveling on separate reservations, and it does not explore to flights booked through third-party sites. You must book directly with Southwest for the benefit to work.
Comparing Plus and Premier versions
| Feature | Rapid Rewards Plus | Rapid Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $69 | $99 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 40,000–50,000 points | Typically 50,000–75,000 points |
| Points on Southwest Flights | 3 points per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
| Points on Restaurants | 1 point per dollar | 2 points per dollar |
| Free Checked Bags | 2 bags | 2 bags |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes (A-List status) |
| Companion Pass Bonus | No | Yes (after $25,000 spend in a year) |
The Premier card's higher annual fee is justified if you spend enough to earn the Companion Pass — a benefit that lets one person fly free with you for a full year. You need to spend $25,000 on the card in a calendar year to unlock it. For heavy Southwest flyers, this can save thousands.
The Premier card also grants A-List status automatically, which includes priority boarding and other perks. The Plus card does not. If you fly Southwest infrequently or spend less than $10,000 per year on the card, the Plus version is usually the better choice.
When the card makes financial sense
The Southwest card works best for people who fly Southwest at least twice a year and spend money regularly on the card. The two free checked bags pay back the Plus card's annual fee quickly. The points you earn on everyday purchases — groceries, gas, utilities — add up over time.
If you fly other airlines primarily, or if you rarely travel, the annual fee is harder to justify. You would need to earn enough points through spending alone to offset the cost, which takes time. A person who spends $5,000 per year on the card earns 5,000 points at the base rate — worth roughly $50 in flight value, which does not cover the annual fee.
The sign-up bonus is the biggest when ready value. If you can meet the spending requirement within the first few months, the bonus points often cover a full ticket or several upgrades. That alone can make the first year worthwhile, even if you decide not to renew.
Points, transfers, and redemption limits
Southwest points stay in your account as long as you use them or earn them at least once every 24 months. There is no maximum balance. You can accumulate points indefinitely, which means you can save toward a premium ticket or a trip that costs more points.
Points cannot be transferred to other people or other airline programs. They are tied to your account. You can book a flight for someone else using your points, but the points must come from your card account.
You must have enough points to cover the full ticket price — there is no option to pay part cash and part points. If a ticket costs 35,000 points and you have 30,000, you cannot book it. You can use points for seat upgrades separately, but not as a partial payment toward the ticket itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I earn points if someone else uses my card?
No. Only purchases you make on the card earn points. Authorized users on the card earn points on their purchases too, but the points go into your account, not theirs. If you add a family member as an authorized user, all their spending counts toward your rewards balance.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account even after you close the card. You can still redeem them for flights. However, if you do not earn or redeem any points for 24 months, your account will close and the points will be lost. Keeping the account active is the key.
Can I use points to pay for a companion's ticket?
Yes. You can book a flight for anyone using your points, as long as you have enough points for the full ticket price. The person does not need to be a family member or cardholder. You book the flight in their name and they fly on your points.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?
It depends on your spending and the ticket price. A domestic round-trip ticket typically costs 20,000 to 40,000 points. If you spend $2,000 per month on the card at the base 1 point per dollar rate, you earn 24,000 points per year — enough for one round-trip flight. The sign-up bonus can cut this time in half.
Is the annual fee worth it if I only fly once a year?
Probably not, unless you check two bags on that flight. One round-trip with two checked bags saves you $60 in baggage fees, which covers most of the Plus card's $69 annual fee. But if you only fly once and check one bag or none, the fee is hard to justify without significant spending on the card itself.