Southwest has two main credit cards, and the right choice depends on how often you fly

Southwest offers the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. Both earn points on every purchase, both waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights, and both come with an annual fee. The Priority card costs more but gives you higher sign-up points and better perks if you fly frequently. The Plus card is cheaper and works better if you fly a few times a year or less.

The choice comes down to one question: will the card's benefits pay back more than its annual fee? For most people, the free checked bag alone saves $70 to $140 per year. If you fly at least twice a year on Southwest, one of these cards will likely save you money compared to paying bag fees out of pocket.

Key Takeaways

  • The Priority card has a higher annual fee but gives you 75,000 sign-up points and priority boarding, while the Plus card has a lower fee and gives you 40,000 sign-up points.
  • Both cards waive your first checked bag on every Southwest flight, which saves $35 per bag on most routes.
  • Both cards earn 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
  • The Priority card includes a $75 annual travel credit that can offset part of its fee if you use it on Southwest purchases.
  • You should compare the annual fee against your expected savings from free checked bags and sign-up points before opening either card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card: Higher fee, more perks

The Priority card charges an annual fee and gives you 75,000 sign-up points after you spend a set amount in the first three months. It also includes a $75 annual travel credit you can use on Southwest purchases—tickets, seat upgrades, or in-flight purchases. That credit reduces your net annual cost significantly if you use it every year.

Priority cardholders get priority boarding on every Southwest flight, which means you board before most other passengers and can pick your seat earlier. You also earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases instead of 2, and you get a free checked bag for a companion on your birthday month. These perks stack up if you fly Southwest regularly.

The Priority card makes sense if you fly Southwest at least four to six times per year, or if you value priority boarding enough to pay for it. The sign-up points alone can cover one or two round-trip flights, depending on the route.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card: Lower fee, simpler benefits

The Plus card has a lower annual fee and gives you 40,000 sign-up points after you meet the spending requirement. It does not include a travel credit, and you do not get priority boarding. You earn the same 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

The Plus card's main advantage is cost. If you fly Southwest only once or twice a year, the lower fee means you break even faster on the free checked bag benefit. The 40,000 sign-up points can cover a domestic round trip on most routes, which is substantial even though it is fewer points than the Priority card offers.

Choose the Plus card if you want a Southwest credit card but do not fly frequently enough to justify the Priority card's higher fee and annual commitment.

How sign-up points compare to what you actually need

Both cards offer sign-up points after you spend a certain amount in three months. The Priority card's 75,000 points and the Plus card's 40,000 points sound large, but Southwest point values vary by route and season. A domestic round trip typically costs 12,000 to 25,000 points depending on distance and how far in advance you book.

The Priority card's 75,000 points can cover three to six round trips, depending on the routes. The Plus card's 40,000 points can cover two to three round trips. Both are worth real money—roughly $600 to $900 in travel value, though the exact amount depends on which flights you book.

To decide which sign-up bonus matters more to you, think about whether you have a Southwest trip planned in the next few months. If you do, the larger bonus on the Priority card might be worth the higher fee. If you do not, the Plus card's bonus is still substantial enough to cover a trip later in the year.

Earning points on everyday purchases

Both cards earn points on all purchases, not just Southwest flights. You earn 1 point per dollar on most things—groceries, gas, restaurants, online shopping. On Southwest purchases specifically, you earn 2 points per dollar with either card (the Priority card bumps this to 3 points per dollar).

If you put regular spending on the card, the points add up. Spending $1,000 per month on the card earns you 12,000 points per year, which is roughly one free round-trip flight. That earning rate is the same on both cards for non-Southwest purchases, so the earning structure does not favor one card over the other unless you fly Southwest frequently.

When the free checked bag saves you the most money

Southwest charges $35 for your first checked bag on most flights. If you check a bag on a round trip, that is $70 in fees. The free checked bag benefit on either card pays for itself in two round trips per year—$140 in savings against the annual fee.

The second checked bag still costs money on both cards, so if you travel with multiple bags, you will still pay for the extra weight. But the first bag is free, and that is the most common fee travelers face.

If you never check bags, the free bag benefit does not help you. In that case, you are paying the annual fee mainly for sign-up points and earning rates. The Plus card becomes the better choice because its lower fee means you need fewer points to break even.

Comparing the Priority card's $75 travel credit

The Priority card includes a $75 annual travel credit that you can use on Southwest purchases. This credit applies automatically—you do not have to request it or enter a code. You can use it on tickets, seat upgrades, early-bird check-in, or anything else Southwest sells.

The credit reduces your effective annual fee significantly. If the Priority card's annual fee is $99, the $75 credit brings your net cost down to $24 per year. That makes the card much cheaper than it appears on the surface, as long as you actually use the credit every year.

The Plus card does not include this credit, so you pay the full annual fee with no offset. This is the single biggest financial difference between the two cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn points on flights booked with points instead of money?

No. When you redeem points for a flight, you do not earn additional points on that redemption. You only earn points when you pay with the credit card itself. However, you still get the free checked bag benefit even when you book with points.

Do these cards work for Southwest flights booked through third-party websites?

The free checked bag benefit only works for flights booked directly through Southwest.com or at the airport. If you book through a travel site or another airline's website, Southwest does not recognize the card and will not waive the bag fee. Always book directly with Southwest to get the benefit.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account even after you close the card. You can continue to use them to book flights. However, you lose all the card's benefits—the free checked bag, earning rates, and any credits—once the account closes.

Can I get both the Priority and Plus card at the same time?

Most credit card issuers allow you to hold both cards simultaneously, but you would pay two annual fees. This only makes sense if you fly Southwest very frequently and want to maximize sign-up bonuses. For most people, one card is enough.

How long do points stay in my account if I do not use them?

Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into your account. You do not need to use the credit card to keep points active.