Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The lowest-cost door into Southwest's ecosystem. The 50,000-point welcome offer needs only $1,000 of spending in 3 months, and 3,000 anniversary points offset a third of the $99 fee at typical values. Earning beyond Southwest purchases is thin, so the card is more about the perks and the Companion Pass boost than everyday rewards.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 50,000-point offer with only $1,000 of spending required
- 3,000 anniversary points every year
- First checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
- Complimentary Standard seat selection inside 48 hours of departure
- 10% flight discount promo code each anniversary year
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year
- Annual fee: $99, applied to the first billing statement
- Purchase APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
- Intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable; fee: Either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance APR: 28.49% Variable; fee: Either $10 or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You fly Southwest a few times a year and want the easiest welcome offer in the lineup
- You are working toward the Companion Pass; the 10,000-point yearly boost and the offer both count
- Your gas and grocery spending covers the 2X cap without effort
- You should skip it if you fly Southwest often with a group; Priority's upgrades and richer anniversary points justify its higher fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Review
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the cheapest way to put Rapid Rewards perks in your wallet. This review looks at the low-spend welcome offer, the new seat and bag benefits, and what the $99 fee really buys.
How You Earn
Earning is modest and Southwest-centered, with a capped 2X band on everyday essentials.
- 50,000-point welcome offer after $1,000 in 3 months
- 1 point per $1 on the first $10,000 of balance transfers in the first 90 days
- 3,000 anniversary points each year
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines purchases | 2X points |
| Gas and grocery stores (first $5,000 a year combined) | 2X points |
| All other purchases | 1X points |
How You Redeem
Rapid Rewards points price roughly against Wanna Get Away fares, with no blackout dates and no expiration.
- Southwest flights at value tied to cash fares
- Points also cover upgrades, hotels and gift cards at lower value
- Companion Pass progress: card points count toward the 135,000-point requirement
Benefits and Protections
Southwest's 2026 seating changes turned the card perks into assigned-seating benefits.
- First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on your reservation
- Complimentary Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure
- Group 5 boarding for you and up to 8 companions
- 10% flight discount promo code each anniversary year
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year
Who This Card Is For
Best for the occasional Southwest flyer and for households starting a Companion Pass run on a budget. Heavier flyers outgrow it quickly.
- Occasional Southwest travelers
- Companion Pass strategists
- Budget-minded families who check bags
Comparison
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $99 | $0 intro first year, then $150 | $0 intro first year, then $99 |
| Welcome Offer | 50,000 points ($1,000 in 3 mo) | As high as 80,000 miles plus $250 credit | 50,000 miles ($2,500 in 3 mo) |
| Rewards Rate | 2X Southwest, 2X capped gas and grocery | 2x Delta, dining, U.S. supermarkets | 2x AA, restaurants, gas stations |
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None | None |
| Best For | Occasional Southwest flyers | Delta flyers | American Airlines flyers |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $99 | $149 | $229 |
| Welcome Offer | 50,000 points ($1,000 in 3 mo) | 55,000 points ($1,500 in 3 mo) | 60,000 points ($2,000 in 3 mo) |
| Rewards Rate | 2X Southwest, 2X capped gas and grocery | 3X Southwest, 2X capped grocery and dining | 4X Southwest, 2X gas and dining |
| Key Credits | 3,000 anniversary points, 10% discount code | 6,000 anniversary points | 7,500 anniversary points, seat upgrades |
| Best For | Occasional Southwest flyers | Middle-ground Southwest flyers | Frequent Southwest flyers |
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