Getting to Know the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card from Chase is a co-branded airline rewards card tailored to the frequent traveler who wants to maximize their earning with Southwest Airlines. The card earns double points on all Southwest purchases, as well as single points on all other purchases. Rapid Rewards points are applicable towards flights with Southwest, with flights to destinations across North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. New accounts also benefit from a bonus 40,000 points after spending just $1,000 in purchases within the first three months – all for an annual fee of $69.

How It Works

Cardholders can expect the following from the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:

How to Earn Rewards:

• Book Flights with Southwest: The easiest method for earning serious Rapid Rewards points is through booking flights with Southwest Airlines. Cardholders earn double points (2 points per dollar spent) on flights booked directly through Southwest.
• Everyday Purchases: Every other dollar spent on purchases with the Rapid Rewards Plus Card earns one point.
• Anniversary Bonus: Holders automatically receive 3,000 bonus points each year on their card member anniversary.
• Rewards Never Expire: Two of the many great things about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card are that there are no limits on the total number of points you can earn and points never expire!

How to Redeem Miles:

• Travel: Once you’ve earned rewards towards that dream trip you’ve been planning, you’re ready to redeem them. Points earned with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card can be redeemed to book or upgrade travel on Southwest. Rewards can be used to save on flights, towards seat upgrades, and more (including Companion Passes!).
• Hotels: With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® program, cardholders are eligible to book hotel stays with points earned from their Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card at over 70,000 hotels across the globe.
• Car Rentals: Renting a car often makes travel easier, as you’re able to move at your own pace, make pit-stops at your leisure, and take your time enjoying your destination. Points earned with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card can be used towards hiring a car rental from several different rental companies.
• Retail: Points can be redeemed with hundreds of retail partners, for products, services, and even gift cards. Shop retail options, from golf balls and electronics to home goods; or, find the right gift card from brands like Amazon, iTunes, Lowes and more to treat yourself or a friend – simply use your points to purchase!
• Buy, Gift, or Transfer: Cardholders can use their Rapid Rewards® points for a variety of purchases; they also have the option to gift points, or transfer their points to whoever they’d like, even if they are not a cardholder. All the recipient must do is enroll in the Rapid Rewards program, if they have not already. Points can even be donated to pre-selected charities; Southwest has chosen several charities that can accept points as a donation.

Today’s Bonus Offer

 The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card comes with a hefty introductory bonus offer: Cardholders who spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening their account will qualify for a special one-time bonus of 40,000 points. Not bad! Cardholders also earn an additional 20,000 points after they spend $12,000 on purchases within the first year of membership. All told, this bonus is worth up to 60,000 points!

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card, or will there be turbulence?

• Annual Fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card features an annual fee of $69, which is not terribly high when compared to other similar airline rewards credit cards; however, it’s certainly more than a card that has no annual fee. While the cost isn’t a deal breaker, a comparable card with equal rewards and a lower annual fee can likely be found elsewhere.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• Bags Fly Free: For Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card cardholders, first and second checked bags are free when flying with Southwest.
• Companion Pass: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card cardholders can earn a Companion Pass, which will allow a friend to fly with you free of airline charges for one year. Simply log in to your Rapid Rewards account and redeem your points towards the pass. Note that while airline fees are waived, you’ll be responsible for taxes and fees, beginning at $5.60 one-way.
• No Change Fees

Cardholder Protections:

• Zero Liability: Visa cardholders are automatically protected from unauthorized use of their card and their account information with Visa’s Zero Liability policy. Cardholders pay $0 for any transactions that are reported as unauthorized; cardholders must notify the issuing financial institution immediately of any unauthorized activity.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Visa’s Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ensures cardholders are protected if their rental car is lost, damaged, or stolen. All they need to do is pay the entire cost of their rental with their Visa card and waive additional insurance at the rental counter.
• Roadside Dispatch®: Visa cardholders will also benefit from Roadside Dispatch®, which is a pay-per-use roadside program.

Additional Benefits:

• Year-end Summary: Visa cardholders have access to a Year-End Summary of all the charges accrued over the fiscal year, making it easy to see where they spend most and plan for next year’s annual spending.
• Extended Warranties: Rapid Rewards Cardholders who use their Visa Signature® card for their purchases are eligible to add up to two extra years added to the original manufacturer’s warranty, when you use your card for eligible purchases. Some restrictions apply.

The Perks That Make the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Worthwhile:

What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

• A Great Intro Bonus Offer: Earn 40,000 points if you meet spending requirements within the first year. 40,000 points is a bonus of around $550, which is a great perk for just $1,000 in spending in the first three months. Even better, 40,000 points puts new accounts a third of the way towards a Companion Pass for the next calendar year, which is the ultimate in perks!
• No Blackout Dates: Cardholders will enjoy the ability to earn unlimited Rewards seats, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions (subject to availability).
• Point Redemption Options: When it comes to redeeming the points you’ve accumulated with your card, the sky is the limit. Whether you opt to redeem points towards free travel, or towards merchandise, you’ll have plenty of options.

Potential Turbulence with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:

What are some cons that take the wind from under this card’s wings?

• Annual Fee: While the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card’s annual fee of $69 is not as high as some other offers on the market, it’s sky-high when you consider that there are options out there with no annual fee at all. However, many cards that have no annual fee cannot compare when it comes to the rewards options that are attached, so weigh this carefully when deciding what card(s) to apply for. It’s also worth noting that the fee for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus card is not as high as the fee for Chase’s other offerings from Southwest.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card, while a great option for those who are looking for a basic-tier travel rewards card, may not appeal to anyone who’s willing to pay a slightly higher annual fee in order to forgo foreign transaction fees. This particular card does have a foreign transaction fee, and while other offerings from Southwest and Chase do have higher annual fees, that cost can be easily offset if you use your card often while abroad. Check out the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($99 annually), or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 annually) for rich travel rewards options that are free of foreign transaction fees.
• You Get What You Pay For: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card is the lowest tier of Southwest’s offerings with Chase. While the annual fee is admittedly lower than the fee for Southwest’s other cards, you’ll also receive significantly fewer benefits. Perhaps the biggest hiccup for folks who are looking to maximize their rewards and get the most from an airline co-branded card is the fact that with the Rapid Rewards® Plus card, you cannot earn tier-qualifying points towards A-List status while making purchases with this card. This means that you will not be able to take advantage of perks like priority boarding, priority check-in, free same-day standby, and more.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card from Chase has an annual fee of $69, once you reach altitude you’ll be cruising with all of the perks and benefits that accompany this card’s top rewards-earning potential.  For just $1,000 in spending within the first three months, new accounts earn 40,000 Rapid Rewards points – a value of around $550. While the card has a foreign transaction fee, for the most part, Southwest customers tend to stay within the confines of the United States when they travel, meaning they will likely not be affected too badly by this downside. Southwest Rapid Rewards is an excellent program that offers a great array of perks, making this entry-level airline card from Chase a great option for those who prefer to fly with Southwest, even if it is just once and a while.