What the Southwest Airlines Visa card offers and who should consider it
The Southwest Airlines Visa card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Chase that earns points on every purchase, with a focus on Southwest flights and related travel. You earn 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card comes with an annual fee (currently $69), a sign-up bonus that varies by offer, and benefits like two free checked bags per year and priority boarding on Southwest flights.
This card makes the most sense if you fly Southwest multiple times a year and want to accumulate points toward free flights without paying for premium travel cards. It's less useful if you rarely fly Southwest, prefer other airlines, or want a card with no annual fee and broader travel rewards.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and dining, 1 point per dollar elsewhere, with points redeemable for Southwest flights and other travel.
- The $69 annual fee is offset by the two free checked bags per year (worth $30 to $70 depending on your travel frequency) and priority boarding benefits.
- The sign-up bonus typically requires you to spend a set amount within the first few months; current offers range but historically have been 40,000 to 75,000 points.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and you have account activity at least once every 24 months.
- You can transfer points to a companion, but only through a will or beneficiary designation—not during your lifetime.
How points work and what they're worth
Southwest points are called Rapid Rewards points and are earned on every purchase. You accumulate them in your account and redeem them directly for flights on Southwest.com, without blackout dates. The redemption value varies: a short domestic flight might cost 6,000 to 8,000 points, while a cross-country flight could run 15,000 to 25,000 points depending on demand and the specific route.
Points can also be used for seat upgrades, standby flights, and companion passes (which let another person fly free when you book a paid flight). You cannot convert points to cash or use them with other airlines. If you want to know the exact point cost for a specific route, you check Southwest.com directly—the cost changes based on demand, similar to how airline pricing works.
Points do not expire as long as your account has activity within 24 months. Activity includes earning or redeeming points, or even just logging into your Rapid Rewards account. If your account goes inactive for two years, Southwest will close it and you lose the points.
Annual fee and whether it pays for itself
The $69 annual fee is charged once per year on your card anniversary. The two free checked bags included with the card are the primary benefit that offsets this cost. Southwest charges $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second on most routes, so if you check two bags on just two round trips per year, you've covered the fee.
Priority boarding (A-List boarding status) is the secondary benefit. This lets you board earlier and choose better seats without paying extra. If you value seat selection and prefer not to board last, this has real value on crowded flights. Combined with the checked bags, most frequent Southwest travelers find the fee justified.
If you fly Southwest fewer than twice a year and don't check bags, the annual fee is harder to justify. In that case, a no-annual-fee card with general travel rewards might be a better fit.
Sign-up bonus and how to use it strategically
The sign-up bonus is the largest point payout you'll receive from the card. Current offers typically require you to spend a certain amount (often $1,000 to $2,000) within the first three months, then award a bonus of 40,000 to 75,000 points. The exact offer changes regularly, so check Chase's website for the current promotion when you're ready to explore.
To use the bonus strategically, plan a Southwest trip you're already planning to take, then explore for the card and time your spending to hit the minimum within the window. This way you're not spending extra money just to earn the bonus—you're redirecting spending you'd do anyway. A 50,000-point bonus is roughly equivalent to one free domestic round trip, depending on the route.
The bonus posts to your account once you meet the spending requirement, usually within one to two billing cycles. You can then use those points when ready to book a flight.
Comparing this card to other Southwest and travel options
Southwest also offers the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus card and the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier card, both with higher annual fees ($99 and $149 respectively) but larger sign-up bonuses and additional perks like anniversary bonus points. The Plus card adds 6,000 anniversary bonus points each year, which is worth roughly $100 in travel value and covers much of the higher fee.
If you don't fly Southwest, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold card offer broader travel rewards (points work across multiple airlines and hotels) and may be worth more depending on your spending patterns. These cards have annual fees too ($95 and $250 respectively) but reward dining and travel more broadly.
For Southwest-only flyers who want no annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards card (no tier designation) exists but earns fewer points and lacks the checked bag benefit. It's a lower-cost entry point if you're unsure about your Southwest loyalty.
Earning rates and where you get the most points
The card earns at two main rates: 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases (flights, hotels, car rentals booked through Southwest.com) and dining, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This means your highest earning comes from Southwest flights and restaurants, while groceries, gas, and most other spending earn at the base 1x rate.
The 2x rate on dining is broad—it covers restaurants, bars, and food delivery services. This is useful if you eat out regularly and can redirect that spending to the card. The 2x on Southwest purchases is straightforward: book your flights directly on Southwest.com to earn the bonus rate.
There are no bonus categories beyond these two, and no rotating categories that change quarterly. This simplicity is a trade-off: you earn less on categories like groceries or gas than some other travel cards, but you don't have to track rotating categories or set up them.
Additional benefits and protections
Beyond points and checked bags, the card includes standard Chase benefits: purchase protection (covers items against damage or theft for 120 days), extended warranty (adds one year to manufacturer warranties), and trip cancellation/interruption insurance (reimburses prepaid trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason). These protections explore to purchases made with the card.
The card also includes roadside dispatch information and lost luggage reimbursement. Roadside information covers towing and lockout services if you're stranded. Lost luggage coverage reimburses baggage and personal items if an airline loses your bag, up to a stated limit per bag.
These protections are secondary to your travel insurance or homeowner's insurance, meaning they pay only after those policies are exhausted. Read the full terms on Chase's website to understand the specific limits and exclusions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Southwest points on airlines other than Southwest?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are only redeemable for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and companion passes. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them for non-Southwest travel. If you want flexibility across multiple airlines, a general travel rewards card may be better.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account even after you close the card. As long as you have account activity (earning, redeeming, or logging in) within 24 months, the points remain. If your account goes inactive for two years, Southwest closes it and you lose the points. You don't need to keep the card open to keep the points, but you do need to use your Rapid Rewards account periodically.
Is the sign-up bonus worth the annual fee?
Usually yes, if you plan to use the points. A 50,000-point bonus is worth roughly one free domestic round trip. After accounting for the $69 annual fee, you're still ahead if you redeem the bonus for a flight. However, if you won't use the points within a year, the fee becomes a sunk cost.
Do I have to use Southwest.com to earn the 2x points on flights?
Yes. Booking through a travel site like Kayak or Expedia, or through a travel agent, earns only 1 point per dollar. You must book directly on Southwest.com to earn the 2x rate. The same applies to hotels and car rentals booked through Southwest's travel partners.
Can I earn points on my annual fee?
No. The annual fee itself does not earn points. However, any spending you put on the card after paying the fee earns points normally at the 1x or 2x rate depending on the category.