What This Card Does

The Chase Visa Southwest Airlines Credit Card is a co-branded 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 benefits. The card comes with an annual fee, a sign-up bonus in points, and perks tied to Southwest's frequent flyer program.

This card is built around Southwest's Rapid Rewards program, which means the points you earn (called Rapid Rewards points) work only within that ecosystem. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them for cash back. If you fly Southwest regularly or plan to, the earning rate and benefits may offset the annual cost. If you rarely fly Southwest, the card will cost you money.

Chase offers three versions of this card: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Classic, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority. Each has a different annual fee, sign-up bonus, and set of perks. The differences matter — the higher-tier cards cost more but offer more benefits, and whether that trade-off makes sense depends on how much you fly and spend.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn Rapid Rewards points on every purchase, and points redeem only for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases — not for other airlines or cash back.
  • The card comes with an annual fee that varies by tier (Classic, Plus, or Priority), and you pay it whether you use the card or not.
  • New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus in Rapid Rewards points after meeting a spending requirement within the first few months.
  • Additional perks include a free checked bag on Southwest flights, priority boarding, and anniversary bonuses, but the value depends on your travel habits.
  • You can hold only one Southwest co-branded card at a time, so switching between tiers requires closing the old card first.

The Three Card Tiers and Their Costs

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Classic has the lowest annual fee and the smallest sign-up bonus. It is the entry point if you want to test whether the card's benefits justify the cost. You earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases, with no bonus categories.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus costs more per year but offers a larger sign-up bonus and an anniversary bonus (additional points each year on your card anniversary). The earning rate is the same — 1 point per dollar — but the extra annual points from the anniversary bonus can add up if you keep the card long-term.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the premium tier. It has the highest annual fee but includes perks like priority boarding on every flight, a free checked bag, and the largest anniversary bonus. It also includes a $75 statement credit toward Southwest purchases once per year, which can offset part of the annual fee if you use it.

The sign-up bonuses and annual fees change periodically. Before you open an account, check Chase's current offer to see the exact numbers for each tier. The bonus is usually worth several hundred dollars in flight value, but only if you meet the spending requirement and actually use the points.

How to Earn and Redeem Points

You earn Rapid Rewards points at a rate of 1 point per dollar on all purchases, with no bonus categories or rotating categories to track. This flat rate means the earning is straightforward — every dollar spent earns the same amount, whether you are buying groceries, gas, or a hotel room.

Points redeem for Southwest flights at a variable rate. The number of points needed depends on the flight's price, the route, and how far in advance you book. A short domestic flight might cost 5,000 to 8,000 points, while a longer route could cost 15,000 to 25,000 points or more. Southwest does not publish a fixed chart — the point value changes based on demand, similar to how airline pricing works.

You can also use points to purchase a Companion Pass, which lets a second person fly free on any Southwest flight you book for a full year. The Companion Pass is one of the card's most valuable perks if you travel with the same person regularly, but it requires a large point balance — typically 110,000 points or more depending on current pricing.

Points do not expire as long as your account remains active. However, if you close the card or your Rapid Rewards account goes inactive for 24 months, you lose all remaining points. Keep the account active by using it or logging in periodically if you are holding points for a future redemption.

Annual Fees and When They Hit Your Account

The annual fee posts to your account on the day you open the card and then again on each anniversary. You cannot avoid it by not using the card — the fee charges whether you swipe the card once or never use it. If you close the card before the anniversary date, you do not pay the second annual fee.

The fee amount varies by tier. The Classic card has the lowest fee, the Plus card is higher, and the Priority card is the most expensive. Chase's website shows the current fee for each tier when you are reviewing the offer.

Some cardholders close the card before the anniversary fee posts and reopen it later to capture another sign-up bonus. This strategy works if you can meet the spending requirement again, but it requires planning and carries a small risk — Chase may deny your new process if you have opened and closed the card multiple times in a short period.

Perks Beyond Points

All three tiers include a free checked bag on Southwest flights when you use the card to purchase your ticket. This benefit alone can save you $35 to $70 per round trip, which covers the annual fee for the Classic card on just two trips per year.

The Plus and Priority cards include an anniversary bonus — additional Rapid Rewards points deposited to your account each year on your card anniversary, separate from the sign-up bonus. The number of points varies by tier. For frequent flyers, this annual gift can be worth $50 to $150 or more in flight value.

The Priority card adds priority boarding on every Southwest flight, which means you board earlier and have a better chance of getting a seat in the exit row or near the front of the plane. Southwest does not assign seats, so boarding position matters. The Priority card also includes a $75 annual statement credit toward Southwest purchases (flights, seat upgrades, or in-flight items), which reduces the effective annual fee if you use it.

None of the cards include travel insurance, lounge access, or other premium perks common on higher-tier airline cards from other issuers. The benefits are narrowly focused on Southwest travel and Rapid Rewards earning.

How to Open an Account and Meet the Spending Requirement

You explore for the card directly through Chase's website or by visiting a Chase branch. The process takes about 15 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, employment status, and Social Security number. Chase runs a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.

You will receive a decision within a few minutes to a few days. If approved, your card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited delivery in some cases, but standard mail is the default.

Once you receive the card, you must set up it before using it. Chase sends set up instructions with the card or you can set up it through the Chase mobile app or website. set up is when ready and takes less than a minute.

The sign-up bonus requires you to spend a certain amount (typically $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the current offer) within the first three months. This spending must post to your account, not just be authorized. If you meet the requirement, the bonus points post to your Rapid Rewards account within one to two billing cycles after the important date. If you do not meet it, you receive no bonus — there is no partial credit for getting close.

Restrictions and Things to Know Before You explore

You can hold only one Southwest co-branded Chase card at a time. If you want to switch from the Classic to the Plus or Priority tier, you must close the Classic card first. This means you lose access to that card's benefits when ready, though your points remain in your Rapid Rewards account.

The card is a Visa, which means it works anywhere Visa is accepted. However, you earn points only on purchases made with the physical card or the card number — not on purchases made with digital wallet services like Apple Pay or Google Pay, even though those services use your card number behind the scenes. This is a Chase policy specific to this card.

If you close your Rapid Rewards account or let it go inactive for 24 months, all your points expire and cannot be recovered. Keeping the account active is as straightforward as logging in online or using the card occasionally, but it is straightforward to forget if you are not flying Southwest regularly.

The card does not offer purchase protection, return protection, or extended warranty coverage. It also does not include travel delay reimbursement or baggage delay coverage. If you value those protections, you may want a different airline card or a general travel rewards card.

Comparing This Card to Other Airline Cards

The Southwest card earns points only within the Southwest ecosystem, which limits flexibility compared to cards that earn transferable points or cash back. If you fly multiple airlines or want the option to use your rewards for non-travel purchases, a general travel rewards card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred) may be a better fit.

Other airlines offer co-branded cards with similar structures — American Airlines, United, and Delta all have Chase cards with annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and airline-specific perks. The choice between them depends on which airline you fly most often and which perks matter most to you (free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, etc.).

If you do not fly Southwest at all, this card will cost you money and provide no value. The annual fee and lack of cash back or transferable points make it unsuitable for non-Southwest travelers. In that case, a cash back card or a general travel rewards card is a better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the card to keep my Rapid Rewards points?

No, but your Rapid Rewards account must stay active. If your account goes inactive for 24 months (meaning no card use, no logins, no activity of any kind), your points expire. You can keep points indefinitely by logging into your Rapid Rewards account online or using the card at least once every two years.

Can I use my points on other airlines?

No. Rapid Rewards points work only for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases. You cannot transfer them to other airlines, use them for hotels, or convert them to cash. If you want flexibility to use points across multiple airlines, you need a different card.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account and do not disappear when you close the card. However, if your Rapid Rewards account becomes inactive for 24 months after you close the card, the points will expire. You can keep the account active by logging in online or using a different Southwest payment method.

Can I get the sign-up bonus again if I reopen the card?

Chase's rules allow you to earn a new sign-up bonus if you close the card and reopen it after a certain period (typically 24 months, though Chase's exact policy changes). However, Chase may deny your new process if you have opened and closed the card multiple times in a short window. There is no may provide you will be approved a second time.

Is the free checked bag benefit worth the annual fee?

For most people, yes — if you fly Southwest at least twice per year. A free checked bag saves $35 to $70 per round trip, which covers the Classic card's annual fee on just two trips. If you fly more than twice per year, the card pays for itself. If you fly Southwest once a year or less, the annual fee costs you money overall.