Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card

Southwest offers two main credit cards, and the choice between them comes down to how often you fly and what you value most. Both cards earn points on every purchase, both waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights, and both charge an annual fee. The Rapid Rewards Plus costs $69 per year and gives you 25,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. The Rapid Rewards Premier costs $99 per year and gives you 40,000 points after the same spending threshold.

The real difference shows up over time. The Premier card earns points faster on Southwest purchases (2 points per dollar instead of 1.5), gives you a $75 annual Southwest credit to use on flights or fees, and includes a higher companion pass benefit. If you fly Southwest multiple times a year and spend money on the airline regularly, the Premier's extra benefits often cover its higher fee. If you fly once or twice yearly and mostly use the card for everyday purchases, the Plus card's lower fee makes more sense.

Both cards come with the same core perks: your first checked bag flies free on Southwest, you get priority boarding, and you earn points on gas, groceries, and restaurants at the same rate as other purchases. Neither card has a foreign transaction fee, which matters if you travel internationally and want to use it abroad.

Key Takeaways

  • The Rapid Rewards Plus charges $69 yearly and earns 1.5 points per dollar on most purchases, while the Premier charges $99 yearly and earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest-specific spending.
  • The Premier card includes a $75 annual Southwest credit that you can use on flights, seat upgrades, or baggage fees, which often offsets its higher annual fee for frequent flyers.
  • Both cards waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights and include priority boarding, saving you money on every trip.
  • You earn a sign-up bonus of either 25,000 points (Plus) or 40,000 points (Premier) after meeting a $1,000 spending requirement in three months.

How the Sign-Up Bonus Works

When you open either Southwest card, you get a bonus of points after you spend a set amount in a set timeframe. For the Plus card, that's 25,000 points after $1,000 in three months. For the Premier card, that's 40,000 points after the same $1,000 threshold. These points go straight into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and never expire as long as your account stays active.

The bonus is meant to offset the annual fee in your first year. On the Plus card, 25,000 points is roughly worth $250 to $300 in Southwest travel value, so the $69 fee nets you a gain. On the Premier card, 40,000 points is worth roughly $400 to $500, which more than covers the $99 fee. The catch is that you have to spend the $1,000 within three months — this is a real spending requirement, not a minimum you can meet by putting a single charge on the card and paying it off slowly.

Earning Points on Everyday Purchases

Both cards earn points on everything you buy, but the rate depends on which card you hold and what you're buying. The Plus card earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases with no category bonuses. The Premier card earns 2 points per dollar when you spend with Southwest Airlines directly, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

This means the Premier card rewards you more heavily if you book flights, buy seat upgrades, or pay baggage fees through Southwest's website or app. If you use the card mostly for groceries, gas, and restaurants, the Premier's advantage shrinks — you'd earn 1 point per dollar on those purchases, same as the Plus card's 1.5 points per dollar on Southwest spending. The math shifts in the Premier's favor only when you're spending regularly with Southwest itself.

Points never expire as long as you keep your account open and active, even if you don't use the card for months. You don't have to redeem them all at once — you can save them up for a bigger trip or use them one at a time for short flights.

Comparing Annual Fees and Benefits

The annual fee is where the two cards diverge most clearly. The Plus card charges $69 per year with no way to waive it. The Premier card charges $99 per year, but it includes a $75 annual Southwest credit that you can use on flights, seat upgrades, checked bags, or other Southwest fees. That credit means your real out-of-pocket cost is $24 per year if you use it.

Both cards waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights, which saves you $35 per round trip. If you take just two Southwest round trips per year, you've already saved $70, which covers the Plus card's fee entirely. For the Premier card, the $75 credit plus the checked bag waiver means you're getting real value even before you earn a single point.

The Premier card also includes a higher companion pass benefit — when you reach 110,000 points in a calendar year, you get a free companion pass that lets someone fly with you for just taxes and fees. The Plus card requires 125,000 points for the same benefit. If you fly frequently and spend heavily on the card, reaching that threshold on the Premier is easier.

When to Choose the Plus Card

The Plus card makes sense if you fly Southwest occasionally — maybe once or twice a year — and you want to keep costs low. The $69 annual fee is straightforward with no hidden math. You get the checked bag waiver and priority boarding on every trip, which saves you money when ready. The 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases means you're earning steadily even when you're not flying.

The Plus card is also the right choice if you don't spend much money with Southwest directly. If you book flights through a travel agent, use a different airline for most trips, or rarely buy seat upgrades, the Premier's bonus earning rate on Southwest purchases won't help you much. You'd be paying an extra $30 per year for a benefit you don't use.

When to Choose the Premier Card

The Premier card pays for itself if you fly Southwest at least three or four times per year and book directly through Southwest's website or app. The $75 annual credit covers most of the $99 fee, and the 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases adds up quickly when you're booking flights regularly. Over a year of multiple trips, that extra earning rate can mean thousands of bonus points.

The Premier card is also worth it if you value priority boarding and checked bags enough to want the highest tier of perks. You get A-List status benefits automatically, which means you board earlier and get priority customer service. If you're someone who flies the same airline repeatedly and wants to maximize rewards, the Premier's higher earning rate and annual credit make the extra cost worthwhile.

Points Value and Redemption

Southwest points are worth roughly 1 to 1.5 cents each when you redeem them for flights, though the exact value depends on the route and how far in advance you book. A short flight might be worth 6,000 points, while a cross-country flight could cost 25,000 or more. You can also use points to buy seat upgrades, pay for checked bags, or cover change fees.

Points don't have a cash-out option — you can't convert them to cash or transfer them to another airline's program. You can only use them for Southwest travel or related fees. This means the card works best if you actually fly Southwest or plan to. If you're considering the card mainly to earn points you might use someday, the earning rate won't matter much if you never take a trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fly Southwest to make this card worth it?

No, but you need to fly at least once or twice per year to break even on the annual fee. If you never fly Southwest, the checked bag waiver and priority boarding won't save you money, and the points will sit unused. The card is designed for people who fly Southwest regularly or plan to.

Can I have both the Plus and Premier cards at the same time?

Yes, you can hold both cards simultaneously and earn points on both. However, you'd pay both annual fees, so this only makes sense if you're spending enough to justify $168 per year in fees. Most people choose one card based on their flying habits.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account even after you close the card. You don't lose them, and you can still redeem them for flights. However, your account becomes inactive if you don't have any Southwest activity for 24 months, which can cause points to expire. Keeping the account active by flying or using a card is the safest way to protect your balance.

Does the annual fee get charged right away?

Yes, the annual fee posts to your account when the card is approved, not after a year of use. You'll see the $69 or $99 charge on your first statement. This is why the sign-up bonus matters — it's designed to offset that first-year fee.

Can I use these cards for international flights?

Southwest doesn't fly international routes, so these cards only work for domestic U.S. flights. If you need a card for international travel, you'd want a different airline card or a general travel rewards card. Southwest cards have no foreign transaction fees, but that benefit only matters if you're using the card abroad for non-Southwest purchases.