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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) is one of several co-branded credit cards that make it easy for consumers to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points that they can put toward complimentary flights, hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages and other travel-related activities.
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, you can earn bonus points on several spending categories, have peace of mind with included travel insurance all for a moderately low annual fee.
Below, Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card to help you decide if it's right for your needs.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an affordable card that makes sense for the occasional Southwest traveler.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 3,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Not especially rewarding for common expenses such as groceries or dining
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card currently allows you to earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Keep in mind that this bonus isn't available to everyone. You must not currently have a personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card and you must not have received a welcome bonus within the last 24 months. However, this stipulation doesn't apply to Southwest business credit cards.
Many travel rewards cards, including the Southwest Plus Credit Card, also come with great perks that can be used to improve your overall travel experience.
Benefits and perks
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers cardholders access to the following benefits:
- 3,000 bonus points for each account anniversary
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
Earning points for spending
When you spend on the card, you will earn:
- 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X Rapid Rewards points for every $1 you spend at grocery stores and gas stations on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Other benefits
You'll get to enjoy several benefits just by choosing to fly with Southwest Airlines, however you don't need to have a Southwest credit card to receive these perks:
- No change fees
- Rapid Rewards Points that never expire
By being a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card holder, you'll also receive these additional benefits (which are also available on many other Chase credit cards):
- Complimentary travel accident insurance and emergency assistance, reimbursement for lost luggage, auto rental collision damage waivers for car rentals, roadside dispatch service, purchase and extended warranty protection and baggage delay insurance
How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Rapid Rewards points are a solid currency to earn as Southwest Airlines continues to be one of the leading U.S.-based carriers when it comes to customer service.
While there are several ways to earn Rapid Rewards points, the two easiest ways to earn heaps of them in a hurry are by:
- Holding multiple Southwest credit cards (a personal credit card and a business credit card, for example) and earning the welcome bonuses for each one.
- Using a credit card with transferable rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which would allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which could be transferred to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
If you're thinking of adding a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card to your wallet but aren't sure if the Southwest Plus card is right for you, consider another one of the airline's co-branded personal or business credit cards:
Personal
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees)
Business
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points
After earning enough Southwest Rapid Rewards points you can redeem them for a flight. Keep in mind that you will still need to pay taxes on the flight you're redeeming points for, which ends up being $5.60 each way for a one-way flight within the United States (taxes and fees for international flights may vary).
The best part about Southwest Rapid Rewards points is how easy it is to redeem them. Simply log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and begin searching for flights by clicking where it says "points" rather than "dollars". From there, you will be able to view flights with redemption amounts and prices shown in points rather than cash. All you need to do from there is pick which flights work best for you and as long as you have enough points in your account, you will be able to purchase your ticket.
Southwest gives you the choice of three different fares*: Wanna Get Away, Anytime and Business Select. Each option offers different benefits, including whether or not you'll get priority boarding and how many points you'll earn per flight. One downside is you won't be able to choose your seat on Southwest flights since each is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Rates and fees
The card has a no foreign transaction fee and a $99 annual fee.
Late payment fees can be up to $40.
Card comparison
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a solid travel rewards card since you can earn valuable points for a modest annual fee. But is it the best card for you?
Select analyzed two other travel credit cards to see how they match up against the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is a $0 annual fee travel (see rates and fees) card that lets cardholders earn Delta SkyMiles.
The card comes with some great benefits for frequent Delta flyers, including a $0 foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees), 20% back in the form of a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases, *rental car insurance and * purchase protection, while letting cardholders earn 2X miles for every dollar spent on dining at restaurants and Delta purchases, as well as 1X miles spent everywhere else.
If you're considering both cards, it really comes down to how often you fly with each airline. Earning Delta SkyMiles can also be beneficial for travelers who fly internationally since you can take advantage of its airline alliance partners through SkyTeam. Your decision may also come down to which airline offers better routes from your home airport. Terms apply.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs. United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a no annual fee credit card that lets cardholders earn United MileagePlus miles which are redeemable for flights with the airline and its partners.
The card comes with a few benefits, including flexible spending categories and no foreign transaction fees.
Should your travel plans go awry, the card comes with a complimentary travel cancellation and interruption policy that allows you to be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for any pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares paid for with the card.
If you're torn between the two cards, consider what your personal travel priorities are. If you plan on traveling within the United States primarily, the Southwest Plus card may be the better option. However, if you enjoy traveling abroad, the United Airlines card might be the way to go since the carrier and its Star Alliance partners fly to many international destinations.
Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is best for
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a great addition for someone who enjoys flying with Southwest Airlines and wants to keep their credit card annual fee relatively low. Keep in mind that due to Chase's 5/24 rule, you may not be approved for a new credit card if you've already been approved for five or more credit cards within the last 24 months.
Additionally, cardholders who tend to spend within the different bonus categories regularly — for instance, by purchasing Southwest flights, utilizing local transit or paying for phone services — you'll have plenty of chances to earn a large amount of Southwest Rewards points.
Note that the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card does not earn tier qualifying points, which help you earn Southwest elite status, referred to as "A-list" or "A-list Preferred." The two more Premium Southwest cards offer this feature.
Bottom line
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card gives cardholders the opportunity to earn valuable Rapid Rewards points on their purchases without having to worry about paying a large annual fee.
Before you sign up for the card, it's best to know your credit score so you can evaluate your odds of approval. It's also wise to double-check your budget and figure out if having a new credit card is the best choice for your current financial situation.
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For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here.
*Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Eligibility and Benefit level varies. Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
*Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and United Gateway℠ Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
