Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card — Full Review [2023]

Great Card If

• You like to fly on Southwest Airlines
• You want a simple way to earn more Rapid Rewards points
• You’ll take advantage of Companion Pass

Don’t Get If

• You prefer luxury rather than budget airlines
• You don’t have a Southwest hub nearby
• You won’t spend enough to cover the $69 annual fee

Southwest Plus Card — Is It Worth It?

If Southwest is your airline of choice and you’re looking for a way to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points both on your flights and everyday purchases, then the Southwest Plus card would likely be worth it for you.

Since the card offers 4 separate 2x point categories, it is a great way to help you rack up Southwest Rapid Rewards points, plus you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points each year you renew the card.

To get you more value on your Southwest flights, you’ll also receive 2 free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year to help you land a better boarding position and 25% back on all of your inflight purchases.

Southwest Plus Card — Top Benefits

3,000 Bonus Points Each Year

When you renew your card and pay the annual fee, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points for doing so. We value Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents per point, making 3,000 points worth about $39.

EarlyBird Check-In

To help you score a better boarding position, giving you access to a better seat and more overhead bin space, you will receive 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year for free as a perk of being a Southwest Plus cardholder.

Discounts on Inflight Purchases

Receive a 25% discount on Wi-Fi, drinks, or other items on your Southwest flight when you pay with your Southwest Plus card.

Card Protections

• Baggage Delay Insurance: If you checked a bag and it’s delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll receive $100 per day your bag is delayed for coverage of essential items.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If the items inside of your luggage are lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Extended Warranty Protection: On eligible warranties of 3 years or less, your warranty coverage will be extended by 1 additional year.
• Purchase Protection: Items you purchase with the card are covered against theft or accidental damage with up to $50,000 in coverage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

Using a credit card such as the Southwest Plus card isn’t the only way to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Read our dedicated guide to the best ways to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

When it comes to redeeming rewards, Southwest is a fixed-point currency, meaning you will pretty much always get somewhere around 1.3 cents per point when you redeem your points for a Southwest flight. That said, the Southwest route map offers redemption flights to some great destinations that you might not have thought of!

Alternative Cards to the Southwest Plus Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Those who want a card with a similar annual fee but the ability to earn transferable rewards should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

With it, you can transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to various Chase transfer partners, including Southwest, and you can redeem points for a 25% bonus through the Chase travel portal.

Read our full comparison of these 2 cards here: Southwest Plus card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Southwest also offers an upgraded version of the Southwest Plus card: the Southwest Premier card. It offers a couple of benefits not found with the basic version of the card.

With the Southwest Premier card, cardmembers earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for every $10,000 in purchases (up to 15,000 points each calendar year).