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There are three flavors of Southwest credit cards, all of which have Southwest-specific perks of varying quality.
The card_name is the least valuable—but least expensive—option. Currently, new cardholders will bonus_miles_full.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Valuable welcome bonus
Solid Southwest perks
Helpful for earning the Southwest Companion Pass
Cons:
$69 annual fee
Unmemorable travel benefits
This card is a good choice for those who fly Southwest once or twice per year. And, as we’ll cover, it can fast-track you to one of the undisputed best deals in travel, the Southwest Companion Pass. Here’s everything you need to know about the card_name.
TIME’s Take
The card_name is key to achieving the Southwest Companion Pass inexpensively. Its sizable welcome bonus and 10,000-point Companion Pass points boost make the Southwest Companion Pass much more attainable.
Its annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee isn’t ideal, but the card’s annual benefits (bonus points each anniversary, EarlyBird Check-In reimbursements, etc.) are enough to make the card a keeper.
Pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Valuable welcome bonus | annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee |
Solid Southwest perks | Unmemorable travel benefits |
Helpful for earning the Southwest Companion Pass |
Who is the card for?
The card_name is for people who fly Southwest once or twice per year. If you fly any less than that, you likely won’t manage to squeeze enough value from the card’s ongoing benefits to justify the annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee.
This card is also for those stretching their hands toward the Southwest Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a friend or family member with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. This is one of the most valuable deals in the world of travel, as we’ll cover shortly.
Also, Southwest doesn’t fly to as many airports as legacy carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines. Most notably, Southwest doesn’t fly to many international destinations. It’s a handy option for those interested in domestic flights (including Hawaii), the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
So, make sure you live in an area that is served by Southwest—and that it flies to destinations you’re interested in—before you pounce on this card.
Rewards
The card_name card holders will bonus_miles_full. Southwest points are generally worth about 1.4 cents each toward airfare, so this bonus should be able to net you $700 in free Southwest airfare.
Additionally, the card will earn the following for your spending:
- 2 points per dollar for Southwest purchases.
- 2 points per dollar with Southwest hotel and car rental partners.
- 2 points per dollar for local transit and commuting purchases.
- 2 points per dollar for internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming.
- 1 point per dollar for all other purchases.
There are a variety of ways to redeem Southwest points, including for merchandise, gift cards, hotel stays, rental cars, and more. But you’ll consistently get the best value by redeeming them for Southwest flights.
Southwest prices its awards in direct proportion to its cash fares. In other words, if cash prices are low, you can expect points prices to also be low.
The fine print
The card_name charges a annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee. It also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not a great card to use overseas.
Additionally, you’ll pay:
- APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type interest rates when carrying a balance month-to-month.
- Balance transfer fees: balance_transfer_fees.
- Cash advance fees: cash_advance_fee Plus, you’ll pay 29.99% APR which will accrue the same day you initiate the cash advance.
- Late/returned payments: late_payment_fee.
Additional hidden perks
Fast-track to the Southwest Companion Pass
Here’s a quick rundown of the Southwest Companion Pass—which has the potential to save you literally thousands of dollars each year, depending on how often you use it.
The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring along a companion every single time you fly Southwest for just the cost of taxes and fees—even if you fly multiple times per day. As long as there’s another flight available on the plane, your companion can come along.
The Southwest Companion Pass is valid until December 31 of the following calendar year. For example, if you were to earn the pass in November 2023, the pass would be good until December 31, 2024.
To get the Southwest Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. But if you hold the card_name, your requirement drops to 125,000 points. Even better, Southwest credit card welcome bonuses count toward the Companion Pass—meaning you’ll only need 75,000 more points after you meet this card’s $1,000 spending requirement and earn its bonus.
Anniversary bonus
The card_name offers 3,000 bonus points after each account anniversary. Think of it as a reward for paying the card’s annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee. Again, Southwest points are generally worth 1.4 cents each, meaning that you should be able to get $42 in value from it.
EarlyBird Check-Ins
Each cardmember year, your card will be reimbursed when paying for up to two EarlyBird Check-Ins. These give you the ability to automatically check in for your flight before 24 hours (which is when everyone else checks in). If you were to pay for EarlyBird Check-in, you’d spend at least $15 a pop—though they can be much more expensive depending on the route.
The big advantage here is that you’ll be one of the first to board the flight. Because Southwest doesn’t have seat assignments, this means you’ll have the ability to choose nearly any seat on the plane.
Inflight discounts
When you use your card to buy drinks or Wi-Fi onboard a Southwest flight, you’ll get a 25% rebate. This can really add up if you fly Southwest often.
Travel and purchase protections
The card_name comes with a couple of so-so travel insurances. You’ll get:
- Baggage delay insurance: When your bag is delayed by at least six hours at the fault of the passenger carrier, you’ll be reimbursed $100 per day (max three days) for common expenses. Think things like toiletries, clothing, phone charger, etc.
- Lost luggage insurance: If you or immediate family has checked or carry-on luggage that’s lost or damaged by the passenger carrier, you’re eligible for up to $3,000 in coverage per passenger.
The card_name also comes with purchase coverages:
- Purchase protection: New purchases are covered against damage or theft up to $500 per claim (max $50,000 per account) for 120 days after the purchase date.
- Extended warranty protection: Eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less can be extended by up to one year.
Temporary perks
Currently, the card_name offers a free 12-month DoorDash DashPass membership when you activate by December 31, 2024. DashPass otherwise costs $9.99 per month, meaning you’ll get nearly $120 in value from this benefit.
DashPass comes with perks like $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible orders. You’ll even get 5% in DoorDash credits when you elect to pick up your order instead of having it delivered.
What could be improved
Honestly, this card is difficult to critique. For a casual Southwest flyer, it’s a satisfactory offering.
However, the card could add better travel protections. Competing cards, such as the United℠ Explorer Card, offer primary rental car insurance and trip delay insurance—both extraordinarily valuable for air travel.
It would also be nice to see some type of award discount offered for cardholders. As an example, Delta credit card holders receive a benefit called TakeOff 15, which reduces award prices by 15% for Delta-operated flights. This would make the card_name one of the best airline credit cards on the market.
Card alternatives
| Card | Name | Bonus | APR | Annual fees | Credit score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bonus_miles_full | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | ||
bonus_miles_full | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | ||
bonus_miles_full | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | ||
bonus_miles_full | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | annual_fees | credit_score_needed |
Time Stamp: If you fly once or twice per year on Southwest, this card is hard to beat.
The card_name’s 3,000-point anniversary bonus and two EarlyBird Check-Ins are more than enough to offset the card’s annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee. But if you fly more than once or twice per year on Southwest, you’ll likely do better with a more premium option, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. It comes with improved benefits such as elite status boosts, 50% higher earning rates for Southwest purchases, and more.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Valuable welcome bonus
Solid Southwest perks
Helpful for earning the Southwest Companion Pass
Cons:
$69 annual fee
Unmemorable travel benefits
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the minimum credit limit for card_name?
The minimum credit limit for the card_name is reportedly $2,000.
What are the cons of card_name?
Compared to other Southwest credit cards, the card_name is pretty vanilla when it comes to benefits. It also charges a annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee which is difficult to recoup unless you fly Southwest at least once per year.
Is the card_name worth it?
The card_name is worth it if you can get enough value from the card’s ongoing benefits to offset the annual_fee_disclaimer annual fee. If you’re paying more than you’re saving, the card isn’t worth it.
What's the credit score for Southwest credit card?
Chase doesn’t make public the lowest possible credit score it will entertain to approve you for the card_name. However, you should have a credit score of 670, which is considered “good” by FICO, before you apply for rewards credit cards in general.
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