The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card: Is It the Missing Link in Your Chase Travel Strategy?
Hey everyone, Phillip here from Points of Philip! If you're already using Chase cards like the Sapphire Preferred or Freedom Unlimited to rack up Ultimate Rewards points, you know the power they hold. But if you're someone who loves transferring those Chase points to Southwest for flights, there's one card that can make that setup even better: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card.
Today, we'll discuss how this $99 card can be the missing link, making your Chase setup even more rewarding when flying Southwest.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card: A Booster Card for Your Chase Ecosystem
So, before we dig in, the Plus card currently comes with a 50,000-point welcome bonus after spending just $1,000 in the first 3 months. While this bonus is solid and worth around $675 in Southwest flights, it's important to note that the Southwest cards recently had a 100,000-point bonus, so if you're not in a rush, it might be worth waiting for a higher offer.
Standalone Earning Power
By itself, the Plus card earns:
2x points on Southwest purchases
2x points on gas and groceries
1 point per dollar on everything else
Not super exciting, right? That's why it shines when paired with Chase cards.
The Chase Synergy
Your Chase Freedom Unlimited can rack up 1.5x on everyday purchases, and your Sapphire Preferred can earn:
2x on general travel (any kind of travel purchase)
3x on dining
3x on online groceries
And here's the key: as long as you have a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, you can transfer those Chase points to Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Now, add the Southwest Plus card, and suddenly those transferred points become way more useful.
Benefits and Travel Perks
This card's best features include things that you may be missing, like free check bags, seat selection within 48 hours, priority boarding, and even two early bird check-ins per year through the end of this year!
On top of the Chase synergy, here's what you get day of travel just for holding the card:
Free Checked Bag: Free for you and up to eight companions on your reservation. With Southwest's increased fees, this alone makes the card worthwhile.
Complimentary Seat Selection Within 48 Hours: While Southwest does allow you to change your seat, you can select any standard seat with ease.
Two EarlyBird Check-Ins (through 2025): This gets you on the plane earlier, giving you a better chance to get your carry-on stowed away and get situated.
Priority Group 5 Boarding (starting 2026): This puts you ahead of the economy flyers and will make sure you can board before many.
25% Back on Inflight Drinks and Wi-Fi: A nice little perk if you like to indulge during your flight.
These are the kinds of things your Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Unlimited can't give you, but the Plus card absolutely can.
Other Perks
But wait, there's more!
3,000 Anniversary Points Every Year: Worth approximately $41 in free flights, helping you top off your balance for your next trip.
10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points Annually: This inches you closer to the holy grail of Southwest travel: unlimited free airfare for a companion.
Downsides
Before you sign up, here are a few considerations. One important thing to remember is, the Southwest Plus card get you 2x Southwest points per purchase or per dollar on this purchase, right? So, you could put this Southwest flights on your Southwest card, but you could also get if you have, say, the general travel card of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, that can get you 2x on Chase Olden Reward points, which I might actually value a little bit higher than Southwest points in general because you could transfer them to Hyatt or any other kind of program as well. So, that's something to consider. Also, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I would definitely use that because that will get you 4x on um any airfare purchase. And so, that's going to be important to note. So, while you may hold the Southwest card for the perks, it may not make sense to actually use to pay for your Southwest points.
Is the Fee Worth It?
The Southwest Plus card has a $99 annual fee. Here's how you can beat it:
Even for now, with just one early bird check-in, that can be up to $100 value.
Add in the free checked bags and factor in the 3,000 anniversary points and inflight savings, then the card becomes pretty easy to justify.
Southwest Plus Card: The Verdict
Do you need this card to fly Southwest comfortably? Not on its own. But if you already use Chase Sapphire Preferred or Freedom Unlimited, this card turns those Chase points into more comfortable, more affordable Southwest flights.
It's not about the earning power. It's about the travel perks and discounts you unlock when you redeem. For me, the Southwest Plus is a booster card that completes a Chase setup. It's the difference between just booking Southwest flights with points and actually enjoying the Southwest experience for less money and fewer points.