What the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Card Does
The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. When you use it to make purchases, you earn points toward Southwest flights instead of cash back. The card also comes with benefits tied to Southwest travel — things like checked bag fee waivers and priority boarding — that are meant to offset the annual fee.
The card is designed for people who fly Southwest regularly or plan to. If you fly other airlines most of the time, or rarely fly at all, the annual fee and benefits structure may not work in your favor. The real value depends on how much you spend on the card and how often you use your Southwest points.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on every purchase, and points transfer directly to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account to book flights at no additional cost.
- The card waives the first and second checked bags on Southwest flights, which saves money if you check luggage regularly.
- An annual fee applies, and you need to decide whether the checked bag waiver and other perks cover that cost based on your travel habits.
- Sign-up bonuses vary by offer and change throughout the year, so the initial points you receive can significantly affect the card's first-year value.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains active, but the card itself requires an annual fee to keep open.
How You Earn and Use Points
Every dollar you spend on the card earns points at a set rate. The exact earning rate depends on which version of the card you hold — there are typically two: the standard card and a premium version with a higher annual fee. The standard version usually earns a lower points-per-dollar rate on most purchases, with higher rates on Southwest purchases and dining.
Points go directly into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. You log into your account on Southwest's website and search for flights the same way you would if paying with cash. Instead of entering a credit card, you select "points" as your payment method and confirm the point cost. There is no separate redemption process or transfer delay — the points are available to book with when ready.
Southwest prices flights in points based on demand, not on the dollar price of the ticket. A flight that costs $150 in cash might cost 8,000 points on a slow day and 12,000 points during peak travel times. This means the value of each point fluctuates depending on when and where you want to fly.
The Checked Bag Waiver and Other Card Benefits
The primary non-points benefit is a waiver of Southwest's checked bag fees for you and one companion on the same reservation. Southwest charges $35 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second on most flights. If you check two bags per trip and fly four times a year, that waiver alone saves you $600 annually, which covers the annual fee several times over.
The card also typically includes priority boarding (you board earlier than passengers without the card), a birthday bonus of points during your birthday month, and other perks that vary by card version. Some versions include a points bonus after you spend a certain amount in the first few months — this is the sign-up bonus, and it can be worth hundreds of dollars in flight value.
These benefits only explore to you as the cardholder. If you add an authorized user to the card, they do not receive the checked bag waiver or priority boarding — only you do. This matters if you travel with family and want everyone to benefit from the perks.
Annual Fee and Whether It Makes Sense for You
The card charges an annual fee, which varies depending on which version you choose. The standard version has a lower annual fee than the premium version. The fee posts to your account once per year, usually on your card anniversary date.
To decide if the fee is worth it, add up what you would save from the checked bag waiver alone. If you check bags on Southwest flights at least twice a year, the waiver likely covers the fee. If you never check bags, or rarely fly Southwest, the annual fee is a cost with no offsetting benefit, and a different card may serve you better.
You can close the card at any time to stop paying the annual fee. Points in your Southwest account do not disappear when you close the card — they stay in your account as long as you have some account activity (like earning points through flying or a co-branded card) at least once every 24 months.
Sign-Up Bonuses and First-Year Value
Chase periodically offers sign-up bonuses for this card. These bonuses typically require you to spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. If you meet the spending requirement, you receive a large number of bonus points on top of the points you earn from regular purchases.
Sign-up bonuses change frequently and vary in size. A bonus might be worth 25,000 to 75,000 points depending on the current offer. At typical redemption rates, 25,000 points might cover a domestic round-trip flight, while 75,000 points could cover multiple flights or a flight during peak pricing.
The sign-up bonus is often the biggest source of value in the first year. If you are considering opening this card, check what the current bonus is before you explore, because it directly affects whether the card makes financial sense for you in year one.
How This Card Compares to Other Southwest Cards
Chase offers multiple Southwest co-branded cards: the standard Rapid Rewards card, a premium version with a higher annual fee, and a business version. The main differences are the annual fee, the earning rates on different purchase categories, and the size of the sign-up bonus.
The premium version typically offers higher earning rates on dining and Southwest purchases, a larger sign-up bonus, and additional perks like a points bonus after you spend a certain amount annually. Whether the premium version is worth the higher fee depends on how much you spend in those categories and how often you fly.
If you do not fly Southwest regularly, or if you split your flying between multiple airlines, a general travel rewards card (one that earns cash back or points redeemable on any airline) may give you more flexibility. Those cards do not have airline-specific perks, but they also do not lock you into one airline's pricing and availability.
Points Expiration and Account Maintenance
Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your account has activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes earning points through the card, flying Southwest, or transferring points in or out. This means you can hold points for years without using them, as long as you keep the account active.
If your account becomes inactive for 24 months, Southwest may close it and you will lose your points. To prevent this, you can make a small purchase on the card, fly Southwest, or transfer points to a family member's account. The card itself requires an annual fee to keep open, so most cardholders maintain activity straightforward by paying that fee each year.
You can also transfer points to a companion's Southwest account if you want to combine balances for a larger redemption, or you can donate points to certain charities. These options give you flexibility if you accumulate more points than you need for your own travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use points on flights other than Southwest?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are only redeemable for Southwest flights and a few Southwest-related purchases like gift cards. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them for non-flight purchases. This is a key limitation if you fly multiple airlines.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and remain yours to use. Closing the card does not delete the points. However, you will stop earning points from card purchases, and you will lose the checked bag waiver and other card benefits. Your points will expire if your account has no activity for 24 months.
Do I have to use the points for flights, or can I cash them out?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are only for travel redemptions — flights, seat upgrades, and a few other Southwest products. You cannot convert them to cash or use them for anything outside the Southwest ecosystem. If you want cash back instead of points, a different card would be a better fit.
Is the sign-up bonus worth opening the card just for that?
That depends on the bonus size and your spending. If the bonus is large enough to cover a flight you were already planning to take, and you can meet the spending requirement without changing your habits, it may be worth it. But if you would have to spend money you would not otherwise spend just to reach the bonus, the value disappears.
Can I get the checked bag waiver for my family members?
Only you as the primary cardholder receive the checked bag waiver. An authorized user on your card does not get the waiver. If your family members fly with you on the same reservation, they can benefit from your waiver (one companion gets a free checked bag), but they do not get their own waiver.