The three Southwest cards and what sets them apart

Southwest Airlines issues three credit cards through Chase: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Card. All three earn points on every purchase, give you a companion pass after you spend enough in a year, and waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights. The main differences are the annual fee, the sign-up bonus, how fast you earn points on everyday purchases, and what perks come with the card itself.

If you fly Southwest multiple times a year and want the most premium benefits, the Priority Card costs the most but gives you the highest earning rate and the best airport lounge access. If you fly occasionally and want to minimize costs, the basic Rapid Rewards Card has no annual fee. The Plus Card sits in the middle: it costs less than the Priority Card but more than the basic card, and it's built for people who want a solid earning rate without paying for perks they won't use.

Key Takeaways

  • All three cards earn points on every purchase, waive your first checked bag, and give you a companion pass after you hit an annual spending threshold, but they differ in annual fee, sign-up bonus, and earning rates.
  • The Priority Card costs $99 per year, earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and restaurants, and includes Priority boarding and airport lounge access.
  • The Plus Card costs $69 per year, earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases only, and includes early boarding but not lounge access.
  • The basic Rapid Rewards Card has no annual fee, earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, and includes standard boarding.
  • Your best choice depends on how often you fly Southwest, how much you spend on dining, and whether airport lounge access matters to you.

Comparing annual fees and sign-up bonuses

The Priority Card charges $99 per year. The Plus Card charges $69 per year. The basic Rapid Rewards Card has no annual fee. These fees are charged every year you hold the card, so they're a real cost to factor in, especially if you're deciding between the Plus and the basic card.

Sign-up bonuses change frequently and vary based on current promotions. When you open a new card, you typically earn a large bonus of points if you spend a certain amount within the first few months. The Priority Card's sign-up bonus is usually higher than the Plus Card's, which is usually higher than the basic card's, because the issuer is trying to offset the annual fee. Before you open any card, check the current offer on Chase's website, because the bonus you see today may not be the bonus next month.

To decide whether an annual fee is worth it, do the math: if the sign-up bonus and the extra points you earn in a year add up to more than the fee, the card pays for itself. If you rarely fly Southwest or rarely spend money, the basic card's zero fee makes it the safer choice.

How earning rates differ across the three cards

The Priority Card earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, restaurants, and gas stations. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Plus Card earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases only, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The basic Rapid Rewards Card earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, with no bonus categories.

This matters most if you spend a lot on dining or gas. If you eat out frequently and carry the Priority Card, you're earning twice as fast as someone with the basic card. Over a year, that difference adds up. But if you rarely eat out and mostly use the card for Southwest flights, the Plus Card's 2x rate on Southwest purchases might be enough to justify its $69 annual fee, depending on how much you spend on flights.

One point from any Southwest card is worth roughly 1 cent when you redeem it for a flight, though the value can be higher or lower depending on the flight you book. This is not a fixed rate — it's an estimate based on average redemptions.

Boarding priority and companion pass details

The Priority Card includes Priority boarding, which means you board in an earlier group than standard passengers. The Plus Card includes Early boarding, which is one step below Priority. The basic card includes standard boarding. On Southwest, where seating is open and you choose your own seat, boarding position affects which seats are still available when you board.

All three cards give you a Companion Pass after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first calendar year. The Companion Pass lets one other person fly free on any Southwest flight you book for the rest of that calendar year and into the next. This is one of the most valuable perks across all airline cards, and it's the same on all three Southwest cards — the difference is just how much the card itself costs and what other benefits come with it.

The Companion Pass is tied to the calendar year, not to when you open the card. If you open a card in November and hit the $3,000 threshold by December 31, your Companion Pass runs through December 31 of the following year. If you open the card in January, you have the full calendar year to spend $3,000.

Airport lounge access and other perks

The Priority Card includes access to Southwest's Rapid Rewards Club lounges at certain airports, plus access to other airport lounges through partnerships. The Plus Card and basic card do not include lounge access. If you fly Southwest frequently and spend time in airports, lounge access means free food, drinks, and a quieter space to wait for your flight.

The Priority Card also waives the annual fee for an authorized user's card, while the Plus and basic cards charge $15 per authorized user. If you want to add a family member or travel companion to your account, this fee difference matters.

All three cards waive your first checked bag on Southwest flights, which saves you $35 per round trip compared to paying the standard bag fee. If you check a bag even twice a year, this benefit alone covers the annual fee on the Plus Card.

When to choose each card

Choose the Priority Card if you fly Southwest at least four or five times a year, spend money on dining and gas regularly, and value airport lounge access. The combination of higher earning rates, Priority boarding, and lounge access makes sense when you're a frequent Southwest traveler and the annual fee gets paid back through points and perks you actually use.

Choose the Plus Card if you fly Southwest two to four times a year, want to earn points faster than the basic card allows, but don't need lounge access or the highest earning rates. The $69 annual fee is easier to justify than the Priority Card's $99 fee if you're not a heavy diner or gas buyer.

Choose the basic Rapid Rewards Card if you fly Southwest once a year or less, want to earn points without paying an annual fee, or are new to credit cards and want to start straightforward. You still get the Companion Pass after spending $3,000, and you still earn points on every purchase — you're just earning at a slower rate and paying nothing for the privilege.

How to compare rewards value across cards

To figure out which card makes financial sense for you, start with your annual Southwest spending. If you spend $5,000 a year on Southwest flights, the Priority Card's 2x earning rate gets you 10,000 points instead of 5,000 points. At roughly 1 cent per point, that's $100 in extra value — which covers the $99 annual fee and then some.

Next, add your restaurant and gas spending if you're considering the Priority Card. If you spend $3,000 a year on dining and gas combined, the Priority Card's 2x rate there gets you 6,000 extra points versus the basic card. That's another $60 in value. But if you spend $300 a year on dining and gas, the extra value is only $6, which doesn't justify the higher annual fee.

The Companion Pass is the same on all three cards, so don't let that sway your choice — focus on the annual fee, the earning rates, and the perks you'll actually use. A spreadsheet with your own spending numbers is more useful than any general recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold more than one Southwest credit card at the same time?

Yes, you can hold multiple Southwest cards from Chase at the same time. Some people hold both the Priority Card and the Plus Card to maximize earning on different categories, or they upgrade from one card to another. Each card has its own annual fee and sign-up bonus, so holding multiple cards is a strategy only if the combined benefits outweigh the combined costs.

Do I lose my Companion Pass if I cancel the card?

No. Once you earn the Companion Pass by spending $3,000, it stays active through the end of that calendar year plus the next calendar year, even if you cancel the card. You can cancel the card after you hit the spending threshold and keep using the pass. However, you won't earn a new Companion Pass the following year unless you hold an active Southwest card and hit the $3,000 threshold again.

What happens to my points if I close my Southwest credit card?

Your Rapid Rewards points stay in your account even after you close the card. As long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months, your points don't expire. Account activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into your Rapid Rewards account. If your account goes inactive for 24 months, Southwest may expire your points.

How do I know which sign-up bonus is currently available?

Visit Chase's website directly and search for each Southwest card. The current sign-up bonus appears on the card's product page. Sign-up bonuses change based on promotions, so the bonus you see today may differ from the bonus next week. If you're considering opening a card, check the current offer before you explore.

Is the Companion Pass worth the annual fee on the Priority Card?

The Companion Pass alone is worth roughly $300 to $500 in flight value, depending on the flights you book. Since the Priority Card costs $99 per year, the Companion Pass pays for the fee many times over. The question is whether you'll actually use the pass by flying Southwest with a companion. If you fly solo or rarely travel with others, the pass's value to you is lower.