What the Southwest Visa Card Does
The Southwest Visa is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It earns points on every purchase you make, and those points convert directly into Southwest airline tickets, seat upgrades, and checked baggage fees. Unlike some airline cards that require you to reach a spending threshold before points become useful, Southwest points have a fixed value: you redeem them for flights at a rate set by Southwest, typically between 6,000 and 15,000 points per one-way ticket depending on the route and how far in advance you book.
Chase offers three versions of this card: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority. Each has a different annual fee, earning rate, and set of perks. The differences matter if you fly Southwest regularly or spend heavily on the card, but they are meaningless if you fly once a year or never.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest Visa cards earn points on all purchases, with bonus points for the first few months if you meet a spending target, and those points redeem for Southwest flights at a fixed rate.
- The card charges an annual fee that ranges from $69 to $159 depending on which version you choose, and that fee is due every year you keep the card open.
- You earn extra points on Southwest purchases and at restaurants, gas stations, and hotels depending on which card version you have.
- The card includes two free checked bags per person per flight when you use it to buy your ticket, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip compared to what Southwest charges non-cardholders.
- The introductory bonus points offer requires you to spend a set amount within the first few months, and the bonus is only worth taking if you were planning to spend that money anyway.
Annual Fees and What They Cover
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus charges $69 per year. The Premier version costs $99 per year. The Priority version costs $159 per year. These fees renew every year on your card anniversary, and you pay them whether you use the card or not. Chase does not waive the annual fee after the first year, so if you keep the card open, you will pay this fee indefinitely.
The annual fee is not a hidden cost — it appears on your statement as a separate charge. The question is whether the benefits you receive justify the cost. The free checked bags alone save most Southwest flyers $70 to $140 per year if they fly round-trip even once. If you fly Southwest more than once or twice a year, the fee typically pays for itself. If you never fly Southwest or fly a different airline, the card makes no financial sense.
If you close the card before the annual fee posts, you will not be charged. If the fee posts and you call Chase to dispute it, they may reverse it once as a courtesy, but this is not may provide and should not be your plan.
How Points Earn and What They Are Worth
All three Southwest Visa versions earn 1 point per dollar spent on any purchase. The Plus and Premier cards earn 2 points per dollar at Southwest.com and on Southwest flights, and 2 points per dollar at restaurants and gas stations. The Priority card earns 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points per dollar on restaurants, gas, hotels, and local transit.
Points redeem for Southwest flights at a rate that Southwest sets. A short flight might cost 6,000 points one-way. A cross-country flight might cost 12,000 or 15,000 points one-way. The exact price depends on the route, the time of year, and how far ahead you book. Southwest does not publish a fixed chart; instead, you search for a flight and see the point cost before you redeem.
To estimate whether points are worth the effort, assume each point is worth roughly 1 cent when redeemed for a flight. This means 10,000 points is worth about $100 in ticket value. This is a rough estimate — some redemptions are worth more, some less — but it helps you decide whether the card's earning rate justifies the annual fee and the spending required to reach a useful point balance.
The Introductory Bonus and Spending Requirements
When you open a Southwest Visa, Chase offers a bonus of points if you spend a certain amount within the first three months. The bonus varies by card version and changes periodically, but recent offers have ranged from 40,000 to 75,000 bonus points. This sounds large, but the catch is the spending requirement: you might need to spend $2,000, $3,000, or more within the first 90 days to earn the bonus.
The bonus is only worth pursuing if you were already planning to spend that money on the card. If you open the card specifically to earn the bonus and then spend money you would not otherwise have spent, you have lost money. The bonus points are real and valuable, but they do not justify overspending. If you spend $2,000 per month anyway and can shift that spending to the new card, the bonus is a genuine benefit. If you would have to charge $3,000 in new purchases to reach the threshold, skip the bonus and choose a different card.
Comparing the Three Card Versions
| Feature | Rapid Rewards Plus | Rapid Rewards Premier | Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $69 | $99 | $159 |
| Points on Southwest Purchases | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 | 3 points per $1 |
| Points on Restaurants & Gas | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 |
| Free Checked Bags | 2 bags per person per flight | 2 bags per person per flight | 2 bags per person per flight |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Annual Companion Pass Offer | No | No | Yes (after first year) |
The Plus card is the entry point. It has the lowest annual fee and covers the basics: free checked bags and 2x points on Southwest and dining. The Premier adds priority boarding, which means you board earlier and get better seat selection. The Priority adds an extra point per dollar on Southwest purchases and, after your first year, an annual offer for a companion pass — a certificate that lets one person fly free when you buy a ticket.
If you fly Southwest once or twice a year, the Plus card is usually the right choice. If you fly four or more times per year and value seat selection, the Premier makes sense. The Priority is worth considering only if you fly Southwest frequently enough that the extra earning rate and the annual companion pass offer will save you more than the $60 extra annual fee.
Interest Rates, Fees, and Credit Terms
The Southwest Visa is a standard credit card, not a charge card. This means you can carry a balance from month to month, but you will pay interest on that balance. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) varies based on your credit score and credit history. Chase typically offers rates between 16% and 24% for this card, but your actual rate depends on your creditworthiness when you explore.
The card charges a late fee if you miss a payment, typically $25 to $39 depending on how late you are. It charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% if you use it outside the United States. There is no fee for balance transfers, but if you transfer a balance, you pay interest on it when ready at your card's APR — there is no grace period for transferred balances.
The card offers a grace period on new purchases: if you pay your full statement balance by the due date, you will not pay interest on those purchases. If you carry a balance, interest accrues daily on new purchases from the moment they post.
When the Southwest Card Makes Financial Sense
The Southwest Visa is worth keeping if you fly Southwest at least twice per year and use the card to book those flights. The free checked bags alone save you $70 to $140 annually, which covers most or all of the annual fee. If you also earn points on everyday spending and redeem them for flights, the card becomes more valuable.
The card is not worth keeping if you fly a different airline, fly Southwest less than once per year, or do not use the card to book your Southwest flights. The annual fee will cost you more than any benefit you receive. If you are considering this card primarily for the introductory bonus, open it, earn the bonus, and close it after the first year if you do not fly Southwest regularly.
The card is also not the right choice if you carry a credit card balance month to month. The interest you pay on that balance will far exceed any points you earn. In that case, focus on paying down debt before opening a rewards card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the Southwest card to book my flight to earn the free checked bags?
Yes. You must use the Southwest Visa to purchase your ticket in order to receive the two free checked bags. If you book with a different card or pay cash, the free bag benefit does not explore. The benefit covers two bags per person per flight, so a family of four gets eight free bags on a round trip.
Can I use Southwest points to book flights on other airlines?
No. Southwest points redeem only for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and Southwest-related fees like baggage charges. You cannot transfer points to another airline or use them for hotel stays or rental cars. This is one reason to consider whether you actually fly Southwest frequently enough to make the card worthwhile.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points do not disappear. They remain in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, which is separate from the credit card itself. You can close the card and still redeem points for flights. However, you will lose the ability to earn new points on credit card purchases, and you will no longer receive the free checked bags benefit.
Is there a sign-up bonus if I already have a Southwest card?
Chase limits sign-up bonuses to customers who have not received a bonus on a Southwest card in the past 24 months. If you closed a Southwest card less than two years ago, you may not be may be able to access for the bonus on a new process. Check Chase's current terms before explore.
What credit score do I need to be approved?
Chase typically approves applicants with a credit score of 670 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. Your actual approval odds depend on your full credit profile, including your payment history, the amount of debt you carry, and your income. You can check your own credit score for free through your bank or through sites like Credit Karma before you explore.