Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Plus Card charges the lowest annual fee of any Southwest credit card, making it a tempting option for travelers that enjoy flying Southwest.

In exchange for the modest $99 annual fee, cardholders will get 25% back on inflight purchases on Southwest Airlines, plus get 3,000 bonus points each card anniversary as well as free checked bags for the cardholder and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation who can check their first bag at no additional cost.

For a family of 4 this would be a savings of up to $280 roundtrip ($35 per bag per trip).

Cardholders earn 2 Southwest points per dollar spent in spending categories including Southwest purchases (including inflight purchases) as well as 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.

Points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. However, Southwest Plus Credit cardholders won’t get Tier Qualifying Points toward earning A-List Status. If you want to earn Tier Qualifying Points, you’ll need to get the Southwest Priority or Premier Credit Card instead.

There are no longer any foreign transaction fees on this card.

Frequent Southwest flyers should consider the Southwest Priority Credit Card instead. Although it charges the highest annual fee of any Southwest credit card, the card offers 2,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually, 4 points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines^®purchases, and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus. That card also gives you a complimentary Preferred seat at booking, when available, and unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available.

Lastly, this card is great for getting a large piece of the to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer, since the points earned from the signup bonus count. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.

Although the Southwest Priority Card charges the highest annual fee of any of the personal Southwest credit cards, we argue that it should be the go-to card for frequent Southwest flyers. That’s because the perks of this Southwest credit card easily justify the $229 annual fee.

Cardholders get access to boarding with group 5, preferred seats, when available, at booking and access to extra legroom seats, when available, for themselves and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation 48 hours before the flight.

The card also offers the 1st checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 companions, 7,500 bonus points every cardmember anniversary (worth about $94), and 25% back on inflight purchases.

If you fly Southwest just a couple of times per year, these perks should easily save more than the $229 annual fee.

In addition to the sign-up bonus, cardholders earn 4x points on Southwest purchases. In addition, cardholders also earn 2x points on at gas stations and on dining. All other purchases earn 1x points.

All points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, cardholders will earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List and A-List Preferred Status for every $5,000 spent per year and there is no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn. And you don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees with the Southwest Priority Card.

The only downside to Southwest Airlines credit cards is that Rapid Rewards points are only valuable for flying Southwest. If you want to earn flexible points, consider a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, so you’ll still be able to top off your Rapid Rewards account when you need points for your next redemption, but you can also transfer them to any of Chase’s other airline or hotel transfer partners.

Lastly, this card is great for getting a good chunk of the way to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.