What the Southwest Visa Card offers and who it suits
The Southwest Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It earns points on every purchase that you can redeem for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other travel expenses. The card comes in three versions — the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, and Southwest Rapid Rewards Business — each with different annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and earning rates.
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 a premium travel card. It also works well if you spend enough to offset the annual fee through the card's benefits, which include a free checked bag on every flight and anniversary bonus points each year.
Key Takeaways
- The Southwest Visa Card earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases and 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and at restaurants, gas stations, and hotels.
- All three versions include a free checked bag on every Southwest flight, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip compared to paying bag fees.
- The Plus version has a $69 annual fee, the Premier has a $99 annual fee, and the Business version has a $99 annual fee, each with an anniversary bonus of points.
- Sign-up bonuses typically range from 40,000 to 75,000 points depending on the version and current offer, though these change throughout the year.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and you earn or redeem at least one point every 24 months.
Earning rates and how points translate to flights
The Southwest Visa Card earns 1 point per dollar on most everyday purchases and 2 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. This means a $100 grocery trip earns 100 points, while a $100 Southwest flight purchase earns 200 points.
Points redeem directly for Southwest flights with no blackout dates, though seat availability and flight pricing affect how many points you need. A short domestic flight might cost 5,000 to 8,000 points, while a longer route could run 15,000 to 25,000 points. You can also use points for seat upgrades, which typically cost 1,500 to 5,000 points depending on the flight length.
The card also earns points on purchases made through the Southwest website, which stacks with the airline's own rewards program. If you are already a Southwest customer, you accumulate points faster than you would with a standard cash-back card.
Annual fees and benefits that offset them
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus charges $69 per year and includes 3,000 anniversary bonus points each year. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier charges $99 per year and includes 6,000 anniversary bonus points. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Business also charges $99 per year with 6,000 anniversary bonus points, designed for business owners who want to earn points on company spending.
The free checked bag benefit is the primary way the card pays for itself. Southwest charges $35 for the first checked bag on most routes and $40 for the second bag. If you take even two round trips per year, you save $140 to $160 in bag fees alone, which covers the annual fee on the Plus version and comes close on the Premier. The anniversary bonus points add another $30 to $60 in value depending on current point redemption rates.
If you do not fly Southwest at least twice a year or do not check bags, the annual fee becomes harder to justify. In that case, a flat cash-back card with no annual fee may serve you better.
Sign-up bonuses and how to time your process
Chase rotates sign-up bonuses on the Southwest Visa cards throughout the year. Current offers typically range from 40,000 to 75,000 bonus points after you spend a set amount in the first three months — usually $500 to $2,000 depending on the version and the offer date. A 75,000-point bonus is worth roughly $750 to $1,000 in flight value at typical redemption rates.
The bonus is one-time only per card version, meaning you can earn the Plus bonus once, the Premier bonus once, and the Business bonus once if you hold all three. However, Chase has rules about how soon you can open a new card after closing one, so check the current terms before explore if you have held a Southwest card recently.
Sign-up bonuses change without notice, so if you are considering the card, check the current offer on Chase's website before you explore. The bonus is often the largest chunk of points you will earn in the first year, so timing your process when the bonus is high makes a real difference.
Comparing the Plus, Premier, and Business versions
The Plus version is the entry point: $69 annual fee, 3,000 anniversary points, and the same earning rates as the other versions. It suits someone who flies Southwest occasionally and wants to keep costs low.
The Premier version costs $30 more per year but doubles the anniversary bonus to 6,000 points. It also includes a $75 Southwest travel credit each year (though you must use it within the calendar year or lose it), which effectively reduces the net annual fee to $24. The Premier makes sense if you fly Southwest at least three or four times per year and can use the travel credit.
The Business version has the same $99 fee and 6,000 anniversary points as the Premier but is designed for business spending. If you own a business and charge company expenses to the card, you earn points on those purchases. The business version does not include the $75 travel credit, so it is purely for earning points on business spending rather than personal travel benefits.
How the free checked bag stacks with Southwest's loyalty program
The free checked bag benefit works alongside Southwest's A-List frequent flyer status, not instead of it. If you hold the card and also earn A-List status through flight purchases, you get free checked bags from both benefits. This means a companion traveling with you would still pay for their first checked bag unless they also hold the card or have their own A-List status.
The card's free bag benefit applies to you and one companion on the same reservation, so if you travel with a partner regularly, both of you should consider whether holding the card makes sense. The benefit also applies to checked bags on all Southwest flights, including connecting flights, so there is no limit to how many bags you can check free per trip.
Drawbacks and situations where this card does not work
The Southwest Visa Card only earns points on Southwest flights and specific merchant categories. If you fly other airlines regularly, a general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold might give you more flexibility. Those cards earn points on any airline and often have higher earning rates on travel and dining.
The card also has no travel protections like trip delay reimbursement or lost luggage coverage that premium travel cards include. If you value those protections, you would need to pay for a higher-tier card or purchase travel insurance separately.
Points have no cash-back option, so you cannot convert them to statement credits or transfer them to other programs. You must use them for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, or other Southwest-related purchases. If you decide to stop flying Southwest, your points become worthless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Southwest points to book flights for other people?
Yes. You can book a flight for anyone using your points, as long as you provide their name and contact information. The person does not need to be a Southwest customer or have their own frequent flyer account. You can also gift points to another person's account, though there may be a small fee depending on the amount.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account even after you close the card. However, points expire if you do not earn or redeem at least one point within 24 months. If you close the card and do not fly Southwest or earn points another way, your balance will eventually expire.
Does the card charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. The Southwest Visa Card charges 3% on purchases made outside the United States. If you travel internationally and use the card abroad, you will pay this fee on top of the purchase price. For international travel, a card with no foreign transaction fees may save you money.
Can I earn points on Southwest gift cards?
Yes. Purchasing a Southwest gift card with the card earns points at the 2x rate for Southwest purchases. However, when the gift card recipient uses the card to book a flight, they do not earn additional points — the earning happens only at the purchase stage.
How do I know if the Premier's $75 travel credit is worth the extra $30 annual fee?
The credit is worth it if you spend at least $75 per year on Southwest flights, seat upgrades, or other Southwest travel purchases. If you fly Southwest fewer than twice per year or do not use the credit, the Plus version is the better choice. Check your Southwest spending from the past year to decide.