What the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card does
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is a co-branded card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It earns points on every purchase you make, and those points convert directly into Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits. You do not earn cash back — the card is built around Southwest's rewards program, so the value comes from redeeming points for travel rather than statement credits.
The card charges an annual fee, which Southwest offsets by giving you a companion pass benefit and an annual points bonus when you first open the account. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends on how often you fly Southwest and how much you spend on the card each year.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on every dollar spent, with bonus categories for Southwest purchases and rental cars, and those points book Southwest flights directly.
- The card comes with an annual fee, but new cardholders receive a large points bonus and a companion pass that lets one person fly free when you pay for a ticket.
- The companion pass is the card's main value proposition — it covers all Southwest flights for the calendar year it is issued, which can save hundreds of dollars if you fly with a partner regularly.
- Points do not expire as long as your account stays open and you use the card at least once every 24 months.
- You can transfer points to someone else's Southwest account, but you cannot convert them to cash or use them with other airlines.
How points and rewards work on this card
Every purchase on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card earns points at a base rate of 1 point per dollar spent. Certain categories earn more: you get 2 points per dollar on Southwest airline tickets and hotel stays booked through Southwest's website, and 2 points per dollar on rental cars from major companies. Everything else — groceries, gas, restaurants, utilities — earns 1 point per dollar.
One point equals one cent of value when you redeem it for a Southwest flight, though the actual number of points needed for a flight varies by route and demand. A short flight might cost 5,000 points; a cross-country flight might cost 15,000 or more. Southwest does not publish a fixed chart — prices change based on when you want to travel and how far in advance you book.
You redeem points by logging into your Southwest account online or through the Southwest app, searching for a flight, and choosing to pay with points instead of cash. The points post to your account when ready after your first purchase, and you can start redeeming them right away.
The companion pass and annual fee explained
The card charges an annual fee of $69. In return, Southwest gives you a companion pass each calendar year you hold the card. The companion pass lets one specific person fly free on any Southwest flight when you purchase a ticket at the full price. The pass covers all of Southwest's routes and does not restrict travel dates, so if you fly with the same partner regularly, the pass can cover multiple trips in a single year.
New cardholders also receive a large sign-up bonus — typically 40,000 to 50,000 points, though this amount changes periodically. That bonus alone can cover several domestic flights or one longer trip. Combined with the companion pass, the first year often delivers more value than the annual fee costs, especially if you plan to use the pass at least once.
After the first year, whether to keep the card depends on whether you will use the companion pass and whether you spend enough on the card to earn back the annual fee in points. If you fly Southwest twice a year with a partner, the companion pass alone typically justifies the fee. If you fly alone or rarely, the math becomes harder.
Who qualifies and how to open the account
Chase requires you to be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and have a U.S. address to open this card. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, income, and employment status during the process. Chase will pull your credit report to check your credit score — there is no published minimum score, but the card typically goes to people with good to excellent credit (usually 670 or higher).
You can start the process on Chase's website or through the Southwest Airlines website. The process takes about 10 minutes. Chase usually makes a decision within seconds or minutes; if they need more information, they will call the phone number you provide. Once approved, your physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days, though you can often use the card number to make purchases online before the physical card shows up.
If you already have a Southwest Rapid Rewards card (the no-annual-fee version), you may be able to upgrade to the Plus version instead of opening a new account. Upgrades do not trigger a new hard inquiry on your credit, though they do reset your sign-up bonus may be able to access clock — you cannot earn another sign-up bonus for a set period after upgrading.
How points expire and what happens if you close the card
Southwest points do not expire as long as your account remains open and you use the card or your Southwest account at least once every 24 months. "Using" the account means making a purchase on the card, redeeming points, or even just logging into your Southwest account online — it does not have to be a flight. If you go more than 24 months without any activity, Southwest will close your account and your points will be forfeited.
If you close the card itself but keep your Southwest Rapid Rewards account open through other activity, your points stay safe. You can still redeem them for flights using the Southwest website or app. However, you will lose access to the companion pass benefit once you close the card, and you will no longer earn points on new purchases.
If you want to keep earning points after closing the card, you can open the no-annual-fee Southwest Rapid Rewards card instead. Points earned on both cards go into the same Southwest account, so you can combine them for a single redemption.
Comparing this card to other Southwest options
Southwest offers two other co-branded cards: the standard Rapid Rewards card (no annual fee, 1 point per dollar on most purchases) and the Rapid Rewards Business card (for business owners, $99 annual fee, similar benefits to the Plus card). The Plus card sits in the middle — it costs more than the standard card but delivers the companion pass, which the standard card does not include.
If you fly Southwest occasionally and do not have a travel partner, the no-fee card makes more sense. If you fly frequently or always travel with the same person, the Plus card's companion pass usually pays for itself. The Business card is only relevant if you have a business and can meet the spending requirements.
Outside of Southwest's own cards, other airline cards from Chase, American Express, and Citi offer similar structures — a sign-up bonus, category bonuses, and an annual fee. The main difference is that those cards earn points in a general travel program (like Chase Ultimate Rewards) that you can use with multiple airlines, hotels, and other travel partners. The Southwest card locks you into Southwest's program, which is a trade-off: less flexibility, but potentially more value if Southwest is your primary airline.
What to watch for when using the card
Southwest charges a fee to change or cancel a flight, but that fee is waived if you pay with points instead of cash. This is one of the few situations where redeeming points can save you money beyond the flight itself. If you book a flight with cash and then need to change it, you can rebook on a different date and pay the difference in points if the new flight costs more — this can be cheaper than paying Southwest's change fee.
The companion pass is tied to the person who holds the card, not to a specific travel companion. You can change who your companion is, but only once per calendar year. If you travel with different people throughout the year, you will need to choose one person to be your official companion for that year.
Points earned on the card go into your personal Southwest Rapid Rewards account, not into a business account, even if you use the card for business expenses. This matters if you are trying to keep business and personal finances separate — the points will be mixed with any personal points you earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the companion pass on a flight I book with points?
No. The companion pass only works when you purchase a ticket with cash or a credit card. If you redeem points for a flight, your companion cannot use the pass on that same flight. You would need to book two separate point redemptions, one for you and one for your companion, which costs twice as many points.
What happens to my points if I move to another country?
You can keep your Southwest account and continue to redeem points for flights to and from the United States. However, you may not be able to open a new Southwest credit card if you no longer have a U.S. address. If you already hold the card, you can typically keep it as long as you have a U.S. billing address on file.
Can I transfer my points to someone else?
Yes. You can transfer points to another person's Southwest Rapid Rewards account through the Southwest website, though Southwest charges a fee based on the number of points transferred. This is useful if you want to give points as a gift or combine points with a family member to book a flight together.
Do I earn points on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee does not earn points. However, the sign-up bonus and companion pass are designed to offset the fee in your first year, and the ongoing companion pass benefit is meant to justify the fee in subsequent years if you use it.
What if I have a balance on the card when I close it?
You can close the card at any time, but you still have to pay off any remaining balance. Closing the card does not erase the debt — you will receive a bill for whatever you owe, and interest will continue to accrue until you pay it off. It is best to pay the balance in full before closing the account.