Current offer

Earn 50,000 points

After spending $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Offer terms apply.

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The point.me verdict

4/5

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card is the entry loyalist play: one free checked bag for you and up to 8 on the reservation, a complimentary standard seat within 48 hours of departure, and an annual Companion Pass qualifying-points boost. Worth the $99 fee only if you'd otherwise buy those perks; weak 2x gas/grocery earning caps everyday spend.

What we love

  • One free checked bag for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation
  • Complimentary standard seat within 48 hours of departure, often better than you booked
  • Annual Companion Pass qualifying-points boost that eases earning the pass through spend
  • Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 on the reservation

What we don't

  • $99 annual fee wasted if you already book fares with seats and bags included
  • Weak earning outside Southwest: only 2x gas/grocery, capped at $5,000 combined per year
Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards points can only be used on Southwest-operated flights, since the airline does not maintain any partnerships with other carriers when it comes to award tickets. As a result, this program has a notable blind spot when it comes to travel outside the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, which limits its usefulness for members focused on international travel.

Rewards on this card

  • 2xSouthwest Airlines® purchases
  • 2xGas stationsCap of $5,000 is combined across gas stations and grocery stores per anniversary year; 1X thereafter
  • 2xGrocery storesCap of $5,000 is combined across gas stations and grocery stores per anniversary year; 1X thereafter
  • 1xAll other eligible purchases

Card Benefits

Discover the perks included with this card, on top of what you earn.

  • $430

    First Checked Bag Free

    Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.

  • $40

    Standard Seat Selection

    Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.

  • $36

    Anniversary Points

    Earn 3,000 bonus points each anniversary year.

  • —

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    No foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

Dollar values shown are estimates used to calculate the card’s first-year value, not the actual value of each benefit.

See what you’d earn

Set your monthly spend to see what you’d earn in year one, and what it’s worth.

Assumes caps apply per year and capped spend falls back to the base rate.

74,200 pts ≈ $890

Your first year in annual value