Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review 2026: Bonus, Rewards & Benefits

Card Overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card from Chase is the entry-level card in Southwest's co-branded lineup, and at $69 per year, it is one of the most affordable airline credit cards available. Southwest Airlines holds a unique position in the U.S. airline industry: no change fees, no checked bag fees (two free bags for everyone), no basic economy restrictions, and a straightforward points system where every point has a fixed value based on the flight's cash price.

Southwest's route network covers 100+ destinations across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. If you fly domestically and value flexibility — the ability to change flights without fees, check two bags for free, and earn points that never expire — Southwest is hard to beat. The Plus card gives you an affordable way to accelerate your point earning within this passenger-friendly system.

The card's most exciting feature is its role in earning the Companion Pass, widely considered the holy grail of airline perks. The Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly with you for free (just taxes and fees) on every Southwest flight for the rest of the calendar year and the following full year. Points earned from the sign-up bonus and card spending count toward the 135,000-point Companion Pass threshold.

Sign-Up Bonus

The Southwest Plus offers 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending just $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. This is one of the lowest spending requirements among any travel credit card, making it accessible to virtually everyone. At Southwest's average point value of approximately 1.4 cents per point, 50,000 points are worth about $700 in Southwest flights.

Southwest uses a revenue-based points system, meaning points are worth a consistent amount regardless of the route. You can expect to get 1.3-1.5 cents per point on most redemptions. With 50,000 points, you can book 2-4 domestic round trips depending on the route and time of year. Short-haul flights (like Dallas to Houston or Chicago to Nashville) might cost just 4,000-8,000 points one-way, while cross-country flights run 15,000-25,000 points.

Critically, the 50,000 sign-up bonus points count toward the 135,000-point Companion Pass threshold. If you apply early in the calendar year and combine the bonus with regular spending and flying, you can potentially earn the Companion Pass within the first year of having the card.

Rewards Breakdown

2x Points — Southwest Purchases

All purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines earn 2 points per dollar. This includes flights, upgraded boarding, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages. Since Southwest does not charge change fees, you can book flights with points and change them later without losing value — a major advantage over other airline programs.

2x Points — Rapid Rewards Partners

Hotel and car rental bookings made through Rapid Rewards partners earn 2 points per dollar. This extends the card's earning beyond just flights and helps you accumulate points faster toward free flights or the Companion Pass.

1x Points — Everything Else

All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. While the base rate is not exceptional, every point counts toward the Companion Pass threshold, which gives even everyday spending strategic value. For better everyday earning rates, consider pairing with the Chase Freedom Flex (5% rotating categories) or the Wells Fargo Autograph (3x on travel, dining, and gas).

Key Benefits

3,000 Anniversary Points

Each year on your card anniversary, Southwest deposits 3,000 Rapid Rewards points into your account. At 1.4 cents per point, that is about $42 in flight value — offsetting a significant portion of the $69 annual fee automatically. These anniversary points also count toward the Companion Pass.

EarlyBird Check-In / A1-A15 Boarding

Southwest uses open seating — there are no assigned seats, and boarding position determines your seat choice. Cardholders receive upgraded boarding to positions A1 through A15 on eligible flights, ensuring you board among the first passengers and get your pick of seats. This benefit normally costs $15-25 per segment when purchased as EarlyBird Check-In, so it can save $30-50 per round trip.

Path to the Companion Pass

The Companion Pass is the most valuable perk in any domestic airline program. When you earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, you unlock the Companion Pass for the remainder of that year plus the entire following year. Your designated companion flies free (just taxes, typically $5.60 per one-way domestic flight) on every Southwest flight you take. For couples or families, this effectively doubles the value of every Southwest flight.

Credit card sign-up bonuses and card spending both count toward the 135,000-point threshold. With a 50,000-point sign-up bonus and strategic spending across Southwest cards, many cardholders earn the Companion Pass within 3-6 months of opening the account.

Two Free Checked Bags

While this is a Southwest-wide policy (not specific to the card), it is worth highlighting: all Southwest passengers get two free checked bags. This means you never pay bag fees on Southwest, regardless of whether you have the credit card. Combined with no change fees and no basic economy restrictions, Southwest offers the most traveler-friendly policies in the industry.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

The card charges no foreign transaction fees, which is useful for Southwest's growing international route network to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Annual Fee — Worth It?

At just $69 per year, the Southwest Plus is one of the easiest airline cards to justify. The 3,000 anniversary points cover most of the fee, and even one round trip with upgraded boarding puts you ahead. If you are working toward the Companion Pass, the card pays for itself many times over. The only scenario where the fee is not worth it is if you never fly Southwest.

Pros & Cons

Who Should Apply

The Southwest Plus Is Perfect For You If:

• You fly Southwest 3+ times per year
• You want the cheapest path to maintaining Southwest points earning
• You are working toward the Companion Pass
• You value flexibility — no change fees, no bag fees
• You fly domestically and to Caribbean/Mexico destinations
• You want upgraded boarding without paying $15-25 per segment

You Should Look Elsewhere If:

• You fly Delta — see the Delta SkyMiles Gold
• You fly United — see the United Explorer card
• You fly internationally (long-haul) — Southwest does not serve those routes
• You want flexible points for hotels and flights — try the Capital One Venture X
• You never fly Southwest

Related Cards & Guides

• Delta SkyMiles Gold Review 2026
• United Explorer Card Review 2026
• Best Travel Credit Cards 2026
• Best Airline Credit Cards 2026
• Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards

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