What the Southwest Rewards Visa card does
The Southwest 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. You also get a sign-up bonus of points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months — usually enough for a free flight if you're a new cardholder.
The card charges an annual fee, which ranges depending on which version you choose. There are two main versions: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier. Both work the same way for earning and redeeming points, but the Premier card costs more per year and comes with additional perks like a free checked bag on every flight.
Southwest points never expire as long as your account stays active, which means you can save them up over time. You redeem points directly through Southwest's website or app when you book a flight, and the points come off your ticket price at the time of purchase.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one point per dollar spent on the card, plus bonus points in certain categories like gas stations and restaurants, depending on which version you own.
- The sign-up bonus typically requires you to spend $1,000 to $2,000 within the first three months, and the bonus is usually worth between 40,000 and 60,000 points.
- Both card versions charge an annual fee — the Plus version costs $69 and the Premier costs $99, but the Premier includes benefits like free checked bags that can save you money on flights.
- Points are redeemed at the time you book, not when you fly, so you see the discount applied to your ticket price when ready.
- You can transfer points to a companion or use them for flights, seat upgrades, or other Southwest travel products.
How you earn points with this card
Every dollar you spend on the card earns you one Rapid Rewards point. On top of that, both the Plus and Premier versions give you bonus points in specific categories. The exact bonus rates vary — typically you earn extra points at gas stations, restaurants, and on Southwest purchases — but the card issuer can change these categories, so check your cardholder agreement or the Southwest website for the current breakdown.
The sign-up bonus is the biggest chunk of points most cardholders earn in the first year. You receive this bonus after you meet a spending requirement, usually $1,000 to $2,000 spent within the first three months. The bonus itself is typically 40,000 to 60,000 points, depending on which card version you choose and what promotion is running at the time you explore.
If you have a Southwest credit card and you fly Southwest, you also earn points on your ticket purchase itself through Southwest's loyalty program. This means you earn points twice on the same flight: once from the card, and once from the airline. The points stack, so frequent Southwest flyers can accumulate them quickly.
Annual fees and what they cover
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card charges an annual fee of $69. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card charges $99 per year. These fees are charged to your account once a year, usually on your account anniversary, and you are responsible for paying them as part of your credit card bill.
The Premier card's higher fee comes with additional benefits that the Plus card does not include. The most valuable is a free checked bag on every Southwest flight for you and one companion traveling on the same reservation. On Southwest, the first checked bag normally costs $35 per flight, so if you fly even twice a year, the extra $30 annual fee can pay for itself. The Premier card also includes other perks like priority boarding and a free Southwest Club pass once per year.
The Plus card does not include free checked bags, but you still earn points at the same rate and get the same sign-up bonus structure. If you rarely fly or only take one or two trips per year, the lower annual fee of the Plus card may make more sense for your budget.
When the sign-up bonus is worth the annual fee
The sign-up bonus is designed to offset the annual fee in the first year. If you earn 50,000 points as a sign-up bonus, those points are worth roughly $500 to $700 in Southwest flight value, depending on current pricing. After you subtract the annual fee of $69 or $99, you still come out ahead in year one.
The question becomes whether the card makes sense in year two and beyond. If you spend enough on the card to earn points that you would actually use, and if you fly Southwest at least occasionally, the card can continue to pay for itself. But if you sign up for the bonus and then stop using the card, you will still owe the annual fee the following year with no benefit.
Many cardholders use the card actively for a year or two to earn the bonus and accumulate points, then downgrade to a no-annual-fee Southwest card or close the account before the next fee hits. This is a legitimate strategy if you are not a regular Southwest flyer. Just be aware that closing a credit card can affect your credit score temporarily, so plan the timing carefully if your credit is important to you right now.
How to redeem points for flights
You redeem points through Southwest's website or mobile app when you search for and book a flight. Instead of paying with cash or another credit card, you select the option to pay with points. Southwest shows you the point cost for each flight option, and you can see how many points you have available in your account.
Points are deducted from your account at the time you complete the booking, not when you fly. This means if you book a flight three months in advance, your points are gone when ready, even though you do not fly until later. You cannot hold points in reserve while you decide whether to book.
Southwest does not charge change or cancellation fees, so if you book a flight with points and your plans change, you can rebook to a different flight without losing the points. The points stay in your account and you can explore them to a new flight. This flexibility is one reason Southwest points are valued by frequent flyers.
You can also use points for seat upgrades, standby flights, or other Southwest travel products, though flights are the most common use. Some cardholders save points for premium cabin seating or use them strategically on routes where point costs are lower.
Comparing the Plus and Premier versions side by side
The choice between the two cards comes down to how often you fly Southwest and whether the extra benefits justify the $30 difference in annual fees. If you fly Southwest at least twice a year, the free checked bag on the Premier card alone can save you $70 per year, which covers most of the fee difference. If you fly less frequently or do not check bags, the Plus card's lower fee makes more sense.
| Feature | Plus Card | Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $69 | $99 |
| Points per Dollar Spent | 1 point | 1 point |
| Bonus Categories | Gas, restaurants, Southwest purchases | Gas, restaurants, Southwest purchases |
| Free Checked Bag | No | Yes, for you and one companion |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes |
| Southwest Club Pass | No | One free pass per year |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 40,000–50,000 points (varies) | 50,000–60,000 points (varies) |
The Premier card makes the most sense if you are a regular Southwest flyer and value perks like priority boarding and lounge access. The Plus card is the better choice if you fly Southwest occasionally and want to keep costs down. Both cards earn points at the same rate, so the decision really hinges on whether the extra benefits are worth an additional $30 per year to you.
What happens to your credit when you open this card
When you explore for the Southwest Rewards Visa, Chase will run a hard inquiry on your credit report. This is a formal check of your credit history and score, and it can lower your score by a few points temporarily — usually between 5 and 10 points. The impact is small and fades over time, typically within a few months.
Once your account opens, the new card becomes part of your credit mix, which can actually help your score over time because it shows you can manage different types of credit. However, opening a new account also lowers your average account age, which can have a small negative effect on your score in the short term.
If you are planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit product in the next few months, you may want to wait before opening this card. The timing of a new credit card process can affect your approval odds for larger loans. But if you are not borrowing money soon, the impact is minimal and temporary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card if I do not fly Southwest?
Technically yes, but it does not make financial sense. You earn points that are only useful for Southwest flights, so if you never fly that airline, the points have no value to you. A cash-back card would be a better choice because you can use the rewards on anything. The annual fee also makes this card expensive if you are not redeeming the points you earn.
What is the difference between Rapid Rewards points and airline miles?
Southwest calls its rewards "points" instead of "miles," but they work the same way. One point equals one point of value toward a flight, regardless of distance. This is different from airlines that charge more miles for longer flights. Southwest's system is simpler because a short flight and a long flight cost the same number of points if they are in the same booking category.
Do I lose my points if I close the card?
No. Your points belong to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, not to the credit card itself. If you close the card, your points stay in your account and you can still redeem them for flights. You just will not earn new points from credit card purchases anymore. However, if your entire Southwest account goes inactive for 24 months with no activity, Southwest may close the account and you could lose the points.
Can I get the sign-up bonus again if I had this card before?
Chase has rules about how often you can earn a sign-up bonus on the same card. Generally, you must wait a certain period — often 24 months — before you are may be able to access for another bonus on the same card product. Check Chase's current rules or contact them directly before explore if you have held this card in the past.
What if I spend less than the sign-up bonus requirement?
If you do not meet the spending requirement within the time frame, you do not receive the sign-up bonus. The bonus is not prorated or given partially. This is why it is important to make sure you can realistically spend the required amount before you explore. Some people time their applications around planned large purchases like travel or home repairs to help meet the requirement.