Southwest has three cards, and the best one depends on how often you fly and what you value most
Southwest Airlines offers three cobranded credit cards through Chase: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority. The main differences are the annual fee, the sign-up bonus, and the perks you get as a cardholder. If you fly Southwest multiple times a year, one of these cards will likely pay for itself through points alone. If you fly once a year or less, the annual fee may not be worth it.
The choice comes down to three questions: How much do you spend on the card each year? How many Southwest flights do you take? And do you value perks like priority boarding and checked bags, or do you just want the best cash-back equivalent on points?
Key Takeaways
- The Plus card has no annual fee and works best for occasional flyers who want to build points without paying to hold the card.
- The Premier card costs $69 per year and includes a free checked bag, making it the break-even choice for people who fly Southwest 2 to 4 times annually.
- The Priority card costs $149 per year and adds priority boarding, upgraded boarding, and a $75 Southwest credit each year, best for frequent flyers.
- All three cards earn the same points rate on Southwest purchases (3x) and other spending (1x), so the card you choose is about fees and perks, not earning power.
- Sign-up bonuses change regularly, so compare the current offer on each card before you decide — the bonus can be worth $300 to $500 in travel value.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus: No annual fee, minimal perks
The Plus card has no annual fee and no annual bonus points. You earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. There is no free checked bag, no priority boarding, and no anniversary bonus.
This card makes sense if you fly Southwest occasionally — maybe once or twice a year — and want to accumulate points without paying to hold the card. The sign-up bonus is usually lower than the other two cards, but since there is no annual fee, you are not paying to earn it. If you spend heavily on the card and never fly, you will still earn points that roll over indefinitely.
The trade-off is that you pay for checked bags ($35 for the first bag, $50 for the second on most fares) and you board in the C group, which means middle and back-of-plane seating. For a single annual trip, this is usually cheaper than paying $69 for the Premier card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: The break-even card for regular flyers
The Premier card costs $69 per year and includes one free checked bag per flight. It also gives you 6,000 bonus points on your anniversary each year — worth roughly $90 in travel value at current redemption rates. The sign-up bonus is typically higher than the Plus card.
The math works like this: if you fly Southwest twice a year, you save $70 on checked bags (two flights × $35 per bag). Add the $90 anniversary bonus, and you have $160 in value against the $69 annual fee. You come out ahead by about $91, even before counting the sign-up bonus or points you earn on everyday spending.
The Premier card is the most popular choice for people who take a Southwest trip every few months or who have a regular business route. You board in the A group, which gives you better seat selection than the Plus card. If you travel with a companion, the free checked bag applies to both of you on the same reservation.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Maximum perks for frequent flyers
The Priority card costs $149 per year and stacks the most perks. You get one free checked bag per flight, priority boarding (you board in the A group before most Premier cardholders), upgraded boarding (you board in the A-List group if you have elite status), and a $75 Southwest credit each year. You also earn 7,500 bonus points on your anniversary.
The annual value breaks down this way: free checked bags ($70 for two flights), the $75 credit, and the 7,500 anniversary points (worth roughly $112). That is $257 in value against the $149 annual fee, leaving you $108 ahead before the sign-up bonus or everyday spending.
Priority boarding matters most if you travel with luggage you want to keep with you, or if you prefer aisle or window seats over middle seats. The $75 credit can cover a seat selection fee, an early-bird check-in, or part of a future flight. This card is worth it if you fly Southwest 6 or more times per year, or if you take one or two long trips and want to maximize comfort.
How to compare the sign-up bonuses
Each card's sign-up bonus changes several times per year. The Plus card might offer 20,000 to 30,000 points; the Premier might offer 40,000 to 50,000 points; and the Priority might offer 50,000 to 75,000 points. These bonuses are worth $300 to $1,100 in travel value, depending on the offer and how you redeem.
To compare fairly, check the current offer on each card on Chase's website. Look at the spending requirement (usually $500 to $2,000 in the first three months) and ask yourself whether you will hit it naturally or whether you would have to manufacture spending. A bonus you cannot reach is worth zero.
The sign-up bonus is often the biggest reason to choose one card over another in a given month. If the Priority card is offering 75,000 points and the Premier is offering 40,000, the Priority bonus alone might be worth the extra annual fee, even if you only fly a few times that year.
Points redemption and real-world value
Southwest points redeem only for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and a few other Southwest products. You cannot transfer them to hotels or other airlines. This limits flexibility but also means the points are predictable — you know exactly what a flight costs in points because Southwest publishes the chart.
A short domestic flight typically costs 6,000 to 8,000 points. A cross-country flight costs 15,000 to 25,000 points. A flight to Hawaii costs 25,000 to 40,000 points. These prices vary by season and demand, but they do not change based on how far in advance you book. This is different from most airlines, where points are worth more when you book early.
The sign-up bonuses and annual bonuses are designed to get you one or two free flights per year if you hold the card. The everyday earning (3 points per dollar on Southwest, 1 point per dollar elsewhere) adds up slowly unless you spend heavily on the card or fly frequently.
When to switch between cards
You can hold multiple Southwest cards at once, and many frequent flyers do. Some people hold the Plus card for everyday spending and the Premier card for travel months. Others upgrade from Plus to Premier when their travel increases, then downgrade back to Plus during slower years.
Chase allows you to downgrade a card to a different Southwest card without closing the account, which means you can move from Priority to Premier without losing your account history or points. Downgrading does not trigger a new sign-up bonus, but it does let you avoid the annual fee if you decide a card is no longer worth it.
If you are considering switching, check whether you have already earned the sign-up bonus on the card you want to move to. Chase typically requires 24 months between bonuses on the same card, though this rule can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to fly Southwest to make one of these cards worth it?
No. If you spend $5,000 or more per year on the card and never fly, you will earn 5,000 points (1 point per dollar × $5,000). That is worth roughly $75 in travel value. On the Premier card, the $69 annual fee plus the free checked bag and anniversary bonus make it worth holding even if you fly only once per year and use the card for everyday spending.
Can I use these cards for flights booked through a travel agent or third-party site?
You earn points on the card itself, not on the flight. If you book through a third-party site like Kayak or Expedia, you still earn points because you are charging the card. However, you lose the ability to earn points directly from Southwest, and you may not get the same cancellation flexibility as a direct Southwest booking.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Rapid Rewards account indefinitely. Closing the card does not erase your points, but you lose the perks (free checked bag, priority boarding, anniversary bonus) immediately. You can still redeem points for flights, but you will pay for checked bags and board in the C group.
Is the Priority card worth it if I only fly once a year?
Probably not, unless the sign-up bonus is unusually high or you value priority boarding enough to pay $149 for it. The Premier card is the better choice for one or two annual trips because the free checked bag and anniversary bonus cover most of the annual fee. The Priority card makes sense when you fly 6 or more times per year or when you travel with multiple bags.
Can I earn points on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee does not earn points, and it does not count toward the sign-up bonus spending requirement. You earn points only on purchases you make with the card, not on fees charged by Chase.