Advantages of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card [Year 2025]
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card offers a range of benefits and features that make it an attractive choice for occasional travelers looking to earn points and contribute to achieving Companion Pass status.
Benefits and Features
The card comes with several perks that can enhance your travel experience. Here's a breakdown:
- Earn Rates: Cardholders earn 2X points on Southwest Airlines purchases, 2X points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year, and 1X point on all other purchases.
- Travel Perks: Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost. Early Boarding in Group 5 is also included. Standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure, when available, is also provided.
- Other Perks: The card has no foreign transaction fees, offers travel accident insurance via Visa Signature, extended warranty and purchase protection, lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000, and reimbursement for basic items when your bags are delayed more than 6 hours by a common carrier, up to $100 per day for up to 3 days.
- Anniversary Bonus: Cardholders receive 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year after their cardmember anniversary.
- Limited-Time Offers: Typically includes a bonus points offer for new cardholders.
Companion Pass and Points Accumulation
Points earned from spending and welcome bonuses on Southwest cards count towards Companion Pass qualification. The Companion Pass allows a companion to fly with you for only the cost of taxes and fees for up to 2 years. A 10,000-point boost is given each year to Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders, reducing the required number of points to earn a Companion Pass from 135,000 to 125,000.
Additional Perks
The Southwest Plus card offers access to Chase Offers, providing card-linked deals that can save you money on everyday purchases. It also includes lost luggage reimbursement coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger. Southwest Plus cardholders can refer friends and family to apply for any Southwest credit card and earn bonus Rapid Rewards points.
The extended warranty benefit on the Southwest Plus card adds an additional year to a U.S. manufacturer's warranty when the original warranty is 3 years or less. The card also earns 1 Rapid Rewards point per dollar on up to $10,000 in balance transfers in the first 90 days after account opening.
Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening. The annual fee for the card was $69 in 2022 but increased to $99 in 2023.
With these benefits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card is a budget-friendly option for frequent travelers looking to earn points and enjoy a range of travel perks. However, note that flight redemption is limited to U.S., Caribbean, and Central American destinations.
[1] Source: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card terms and conditions. [3] Source: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card press release.
- finances: The annual fee for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card was $69 in 2022 but increased to $99 in 2023, offering a budget-friendly option for frequent travelers.
- technology: Early Boarding in Group 5, available for Southwest Plus cardmembers, can be facilitated by the airline's streamlined boarding process, utilizing technology to ensure an efficient and orderly boarding process.
