Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review

Aedam Jo Written by
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review
8.53/10 MyCreditCardLab Score
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Rating & Score with Credit Cards System

Objective testing of credit cards involves conducting systematic evaluations based on predefined criteria to assess their features, benefits, fees, and overall value proposition.

For more information see our credit card score explanation here.
7

Intro APR

Intro APR credit cards offer a temporary period with low to no interest rates on purchases or balance transfers. They provide a financial break before regular rates apply.

For more information see our Intro APR score explanation here.
N/A
8.4

Regular APR

The APR is the ongoing interest rate for balances on credit cards. This is after any intro or promo periods end. It affects the long-term cost of borrowing.

For more information see our Regular APR score explanation here.
21.49% - 28.49% Variable APR
9.1

Annual Fee

Annual fee credit cards require a yearly payment for membership. They offer enhanced rewards, benefits, and services in exchange for the fee. They cater to individuals seeking premium perks.

For more information see our Annual fee score explanation here.
$69
8.4

Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonus credit cards offer a one-time reward. This could be bonus points, cashback, or statement credits. You get the reward by meeting spending goals. You must do so within a set time after opening the account. The rewards entice new cardholders with immediate benefits.

For more information see our Welcome bonus score explanation here.
30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
9.2

Rewards

Credit card rewards programs let cardholders earn points, miles, or cashback on purchases. They can redeem these rewards for things like travel, merchandise, gift cards, or credits. This gives extra value for using the card.

For more information see our rewards programs score explanation here.
2X points on Southwest purchases
8.5

Benefits

Credit card benefits include perks and features from card issuers. They include travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranties. You also get airport lounge access and concierge services. They add value and usefulness for cardholders.

For more information see our benefits score explanation here.
Southwest purchases and hotel
9.1

Recommended Credit Score

The recommended credit score is the minimum score recommended by the card issuer. It's for potential cardholders to qualify for a specific credit card. Meeting or beating this score boosts the chance of approval. It also gives access to the card's benefits and features.

For more information see our Recommended credit score Rating explanation here.
690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional)
8.8

Foreign Transaction Fee

Card issuers impose foreign transaction fees. They apply to transactions in a foreign currency or with a foreign merchant. The fees are usually 1% to 3% of the transaction amount. They may apply to purchases, withdrawals, or transfers made in a foreign currency. This raises the cost of international transactions.

For more information see our foreign transaction fees score explanation here.
3%
9

Cash Advance Fee

Each time you use your credit card for a cash advance or ATM withdrawal, the bank applies a 'Cash Advance Fee'.

For example, a Cash Advance Fee of "3% (min $10)" means the fee will be 3% of the cash advance amount, with a minimum charge of $10.

For more information see our cash advance fee score explanation here.
5% (min $10)
7.8

Balance Transfer Fee

A balance transfer fee may apply when you transfer a balance from 'Credit Card A' to 'Credit Card B'.

This fee is imposed by the credit card that gets your transferred balance. In this case, that card is 'Credit Card B.' 'Credit Card A' never charges a fee.

For more information see our balance transfer fees score explanation here.
N/A
How we rating & score here.

Best for

Discover the best credit card for your needs. Are you a student, rewards enthusiast, or cash back lover? Find the perfect fit with our thorough reviews and comparisons.
  • Travelers
  • Frequent Flyers
  • Hotel Stays
  • Foreign Travel
  • Rewards Points Enthusiasts

Considerations

Consider key factors when choosing a credit card. These include interest rates, fees, rewards programs, and more. Make an informed decision to find the right card for your financial needs.
  • Annual Fee
  • Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Sign-Up Bonus
  • Benefits (Travel Insurance, Purchase Protection, etc.)

Pros

Using a credit card has many pros. These include convenience, rewards, and building credit. They also include purchase protection and fraud security. You also get access to emergency funds and introductory offers. They help with budgeting and spending tracking. They also offer travel benefits and cash flow management. Plus, rental car insurance, extended warranties, and price protection. And online shopping security and opportunities for financial discipline.
  • No reward caps
  • No booking fees
  • Unlimited rewards seats
  • 3,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary

Cons

Using a credit card has cons. These include potential overspending, high interest rates, and fees such as annual fees and late payment fees. It can also hurt your credit score if used irresponsibly. Using a credit card can tempt you to carry a balance and incur interest charges. It also risks identity theft and fraud. It can lead to debt and reliance on credit for financial needs. And, it has limits on rewards and benefits compared to other forms of payment.
  • Very high balance transfer fee
  • 3% Foreign transaction fee
  • Annual fee
  • No introductory APR
  • Membership fees
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  • 50+ Credit Cards Ranked
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At MyCreditCardLab, we value your trust above all else. We earn it with careful, fair analysis. We are fully transparent. We stick to strict editorial standards and independence. Your confidence in our content is our top priority.

See our full methodology

In This Review

Reviews Annual Fee Welcome Bonus Rewards Benefits Comparisons APR Credit Score needed FAQs
8.5

Review: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card

Get in-depth credit card reviews covering features, benefits, fees, and rewards. Make informed decisions and find the perfect card for your financial goals.

For more information see our credit card score explanation here.

At MyCreditCardLab, we put each card to the score.

We score Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card 10 different factors that impact the benefits and rewards of the cards. scoring categories include:

Credit Cards Review Rating
Intro APR Fair
Regular APR Good
Annual Fee Very Good
Welcome Bonus Good
Rewards Very Good
Benefits Very Good
Recommended Credit Score Very Good
Foreign Transaction Fee Very Good
Cash Advance Fee Very Good
Balance Transfer Fee Good

Who can apply for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card?

We have categorized Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card 4 main useful user criteria. it's applied using the MyCreditCardcLab methodology.

How is Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Different?

On the bright side, Southwest points are very valuable. This is clear when you strictly compare them to airline points and miles.

Rewards program Value Estimated value of 30,000 points/miles
Southwest Rapid Rewards 1.5 cents $450
JetBlue TrueBlue 1.3 cents $390
Delta SkyMiles 1.2 cents $360
United Airlines MileagePlus 0.9 cents $270

 

9.1

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Annual Fee

Card type: Airline Credit Cards

Issuer Name: Chase

$69 annual fee

The card's annual fee is modest, at just $69. This is lower than many competing travel and airline cards. These anniversary points are a great deal. Their value almost covers your whole annual fee. 

8.4

Welcome Bonus

This is a limited-time offer: You can earn a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25. You can also earn 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

7

APRs: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card

Explore credit card APRs to understand borrowing costs. Learn how APRs vary for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. This is crucial for informed financial choices.

The table below shows the types of each APR brief description for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card.

Type of APR Rating
Intro APR - No intro offer available 7/10Fair
Regular APR - 21.49% - 28.49% Variable APR 8.4/10Good
Purchase - 21.49% - 28.49% Variable APR 8.5/10Very Good
Balance transfer - 21.49%–28.49% variable, plus a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater 7.8/10Good
Cash advance - 29.99% variable, plus a fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater 9/10Very Good
Penalty - Up to 29.99% 8.9/10Very Good
8.5

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Benefits

Discover the many benefits of our credit cards. They include cash back and travel perks, as well as purchase protection and fraud prevention. Explore our cards today and unlock a world of convenience and value.

Certainly! Here's a table. It shows the benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus credit card:

Benefits Score
Various protections and perks

There are enough perks to justify keeping the card year after year. The lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance can reimburse you. They give you peace of mind when traveling.

So can the extended warranty and purchase protection. The anniversary point bonus and EarlyBird check-ins also make it worthwhile.

 9.1/10Very Good
Redemption flexibility

There aren’t any blackout dates, so you can use your rewards points whenever you choose.

 9/10Very Good
25% back on inflight purchases

You’ll get a nice discount on any inflight purchases. This includes drinks, meals, and internet access.

 9.4/10Very Good
Extended warranty protection

Southwest Plus cardholders can add a year to the original warranty on eligible purchases made with the card. They can do this up to $10,000 per claim.

 9.1/10Very Good
Baggage delay insurance

This benefit provides reimbursement for emergency purchases of essential items. It applies when your baggage is delayed for over six hours. It covers up to $100 per day for a maximum of three days.

 9.3/10Very Good
2 EarlyBird check-ins each year

You’ll get a pair of credits you can use for early check-ins twice per year. This lets you check in automatically before the typical 24-hour check-in. It lets you get an earlier boarding position and a better chance to pick your seat and store your bags. EarlyBird check-in typically costs between $15 and $20.

 9.2/10Very Good
9.2

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Rewards program provides exceptional flexibility in credit currency. Redeem your earnings across a wide range of options, including:

  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 3,000 anniversary points each year.
  • Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Member FDIC

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card rewards potential

We estimate that a U.S. household that wants this card has an income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they can charge to a credit card. We used government data and other public information for this estimate. Here’s a break-down of how many rewards the average cardholder can expect to earn:

  • $2,100 in spending on flights x 2 points = 4,200
  • $1,000 in spending  on hotels x 2 points = 2,000
  • $500 in spending  on public transit x 2 points = 1,000
  • $1,200 on phone and internet x 2 points = 2,400
  • $500 on streaming x 2 points = 1,000
  • $12,000 x 1 point = 12,000

This adds up to 22,600 reward points per year.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Is it worth the annual fee?

Tell us your spending with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. We’ll estimate your rewards and say if they’ll make up for the $69 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus reward calculation
nerdwallet.com

Southwest Plus redemption options

Wanna Get Away fare = 1.6
Anytime fare = 1.1
Business Select fare = 0.9
Gift cards = 0.7
Car rentals= 0.7
International flights = 0.8
Merchandise = 0.6
Hotel = 0.2
Experiences = 0.8

Pro Tip
The card has special anniversary bonus points. After your account's anniversary each year, you'll earn 3,000 bonus points. These are worth $45 toward flights, based on a 1.5-cent point value.
9.1

Recommended Credit Score

Credit Score : 690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional)

We evaluate credit card options based on FICO credit scores. We ensure tailored recommendations that match your financial profile.

For more information see our FICO Recommended credit score Rating explanation here.

For the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card, applicants with credit scores between 690 (Fair) and 850 (Exceptional) are ideally suited. This range ensures eligibility for customized benefits and rewards that align with your credit profile. Apply now to unlock exclusive perks and elevate your credit card experience with us.

Compare The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card vs. Other Popular Cards

Compare credit cards effortlessly to find the ideal match for your financial goals. Explore features, rewards, fees, and more to make informed decisions and maximize your benefits. You might want cash back, travel rewards, or low APR. Our tool makes it easy. It lets you compare many cards at once.

You have comprehensive information at your fingertips. You can select the card that best fits your spending and preferences. Take control of your finances. Find the perfect credit card for your needs with our easy comparison platform.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card
8.5MyCreditCardLab
Score 		8.8MyCreditCardLab
Score

MyCreditCardLab Score 8.8

We've meticulously evaluated this card using MyCreditCardLab's exclusive credit card rating system. Our assessment considered various cardholder needs, ultimately assigning a rating based on the need with the highest score, currently at "." Our rating scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best possible score.

Annual Fee
9
Intro APR
7
Regular APR
9
Rewards
9.2
Benefits
8.8
Welcome Bonus
9.1
Recommended Credit Score: 9.3
Foreign Transaction Fee: 10
Cash Advance Fee: 8.6
Balance Transfer Fee: 7.9
9.3MyCreditCardLab
Score

MyCreditCardLab Score 9.3

We've meticulously evaluated this card using MyCreditCardLab's exclusive credit card rating system. Our assessment considered various cardholder needs, ultimately assigning a rating based on the need with the highest score, currently at "." Our rating scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best possible score.

Annual Fee
10
Intro APR
9.4
Regular APR
9
Rewards
8.6
Benefits
9
Welcome Bonus
9
Recommended Credit Score: 9
Foreign Transaction Fee: 10
Cash Advance Fee: 9.4
Balance Transfer Fee: 9.2
ANNUAL FEE
$69 $95 $0
INTRO APR
N/A N/A 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for first 15 months
REGULAR APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable APR 21.24% - 26.24% Variable APR 19.99% - 29.99% Variable APR
WELCOME BONUS
30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening 20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
REWARDS
2X points on Southwest purchases 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year 5X miles on hotels and rental cars
BENEFITS
Southwest purchases and hotel Small business, Travel Traveler
CASH ADVANCE FEE / APR
5% (min $10) / 29.99% 5% (min $15) / 29.99% 5% (min $5) / 29.99%
BALANCE TRANSFER FEE
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. 3% for the first 15 months, after 4% of the amount of each transfer
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional) 690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional) 690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional)
FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
3% $0 $0
BEST FOR
  • Travelers
  • Frequent Flyers
  • Hotel Stays
  • Foreign Travel
  • Rewards Points Enthusiasts
  • Travelers
  • Small Business Owners
  • Foreign Travel
  • Rewards Points Enthusiasts
  • Travelers
  • Everyday Spending
  • Hotel Stays
  • Airline Miles
More Details Compare More Details Compare

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card U.S. Trends

The numbers represent search interest relative to the chart's highest point. They are for the given region and time. A value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. A value of 50 means the term is half as popular. A score of 0 indicates insufficient data for this term.

See the latest trends in U.S. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus credit card usage. They are from the past 12 months and based on Google Trends data. Learn about consumer preferences, popular card features, and new industry trends. This will help you stay ahead in the changing credit card market.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card U.S. Trends by City

Chase Visa Login

Follow these easy steps:

Step 1. Go to the Login Chase Visa page via the official link.
Step 2. Log in using your username and password. The login screen appears upon successful login.
Step 3. If you still can’t access Chase Visa Login then see forgot your username and password option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus credit card below and get the answers you're looking for.

How many Southwest points does it take to get a free flight?

The points you need to book a flight depend on many factors. These include the destination, time of day and date, demand, and fare type. Keep in mind that flights are never entirely free, even when redeeming miles.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card's annual fee worth it?

Yes. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card costs $69 each year. But, the fee is fully covered by the value of the 3,000-point anniversary bonus. You also get two free EarlyBird Check-In® boarding upgrades each year.

You would only need to spend about $206 per month on 2X bonus category purchases. This would cover the annual fee with rewards. So, the fee is worth it for frequent Southwest flyers.

What is Rapid Rewards dining?

Rapid Rewards Dining is a rewards program within the Rapid Rewards program. This features lets members earn points from dining with select Southwest restaurant partners.

About Aedam Jo

Aedam Jo is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MyCreditCardLab.com. Khunt has scored over 50+ Credit Cards himself. He has also written hundreds of reviews about their benefits, rewards, and fees. You may want cash-back rewards, travel perks, or low APRs. Aedam Jo Credit Card Reviews is here to guide you. We'll guide you through the complex world of credit cards clearly and confidently.

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