Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card has the bottom annual charge of any Southwest bank card available on the market, which is both a energy or weak spot, relying on the way you take a look at it. Whereas the $69 annual charge is inexpensive, the Plus card lacks the perks provided by its higher-priced counterparts to maintain you previous the preliminary welcome bonus. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐

* Card ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

In a passion that feels dominated by ultra-premium credit cards with $450-plus annual charges and laundry lists of luxurious perks, it is onerous to think about {that a} cobranded airline credit card with a $69 annual charge is perhaps precious to loyal Southwest prospects.

Nevertheless, the Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card does make sense for some flyers — in some circumstances.

Southwest isn’t any stranger to doing issues in a different way, together with providing three affordable personal credit cards.

This card has a beneficial credit score rating of 700 or above.

Let’s check out how the Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card and its perks measure up in opposition to its higher-end siblings.

New candidates for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card can earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

TPG values Southwest Fast Rewards factors at 1.4 cents every, making 75,000 factors price $1,050. That is one of many higher affords in this card’s history and hits our threshold for a superb time to use.

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Associated: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history

Earlier than you rush to use for this card, there are two software guidelines to recollect. First, the Southwest Plus card is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. In case you’ve opened 5 or extra new bank card accounts (from any financial institution, not simply Chase) prior to now 24 months, you probably will not be authorised for this card.

Another limitation applies specifically to Southwest credit cards. In case you have any private Southwest credit card — or earned a sign-up bonus on a private Southwest card within the final 24 months — you will not be eligible for the bonus on this card.

Happily, this restriction is on private playing cards and would not apply to Southwest business credit cards. This implies you possibly can open each a Southwest private and a enterprise card concurrently, which you would possibly wish to do (that will help you earn the Companion Pass when it is not included in a welcome bonus).

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

• Reimbursement for as much as two EarlyBird check-ins each card anniversary
• 3,000 bonus factors every account anniversary yr, price $45 in TPG’s valuations
• 25% again on inflight purchases of drinks and Wi-Fi on Southwest Airways flights
• Roadside dispatch gives around-the-clock availability for roadside providers, although you’ll pay for any providers offered
• Extended warranty protection provides as much as one yr added to eligible producers’ warranties of three years or much less
• Travel accident insurance for unintended demise or dismemberment whereas touring
• Baggage delay insurance of as much as $100 per day for as much as three days for bags delays of six hours or extra
• Lost luggage reimbursement of as much as $3,000 per passenger
• Purchase protection for as much as $500 of injury or theft protection for 120 days for eligible purchases you make in your card — with a restrict of $50,000 per account

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With the Southwest Plus card, you will earn 2 factors per greenback on Southwest flights and with Fast Rewards resort and rental automobile companions. This can be a 3% return on spending, primarily based on TPG’s valuations.

You may additionally earn 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing apps), 2 factors per greenback on web, cable and cellphone providers, 2 factors per greenback on choose streaming providers and 1 level per greenback on different purchases.

It is price stating that purchases outdoors the U.S. will nonetheless earn bonus factors at these similar charges, however you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee of three%. Thus, this is not a superb card for purchases in different nations.

Fast Rewards affords a couple of low-value redemption choices, together with present playing cards, merchandise, resort stays, rental vehicles and journey experiences. You possibly can even redeem for international flights on other carriers. Nevertheless, the redemption values on these choices are worse than what you will get when utilizing your factors for Southwest flights.

The airline affords 4 tiers of fares, starting from the most cost effective Wanna Get Away tickets to the dearer Enterprise Choose choice — with Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares in between.

Award pricing is tied to the money worth of the tickets. Thus, the variety of factors you want will go up or down relying on the money worth of the flight. The optimistic is that utilizing your factors for Southwest flights is sort of at all times doable.

Associated: How to redeem points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program

• If you need extra Southwest advantages with a modest charge: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has further perks to justify its $99 annual charge. These embrace 6,000-anniversary bonus factors, two EarlyBird check-ins per yr, 25% again on inflight purchases and tier-qualifying factors towards A-Checklist standing. For extra particulars, learn our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
• In case you fly Southwest often and need probably the most perks: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the premium Southwest bank card, providing 7,500-anniversary bonus factors and a $75 Southwest journey credit score annually. The cardboard has a $149 annual charge. For extra particulars, learn our full review of the Southwest Priority card.
• If you need extra factors that can be utilized with Southwest and in different methods: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is an effective selection for incomes Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll be able to redeem with Southwest but additionally with different airline and resort companions. You may additionally get quite a few journey protections, and the cardboard has a $95 annual charge. For extra data, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

For extra choices, try our full listing of the best travel credit cards and best Chase credit cards.

Associated: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards

The Southwest Plus card has the bottom annual charge of the Southwest bank cards: $69 per yr. Its 3,000-anniversary bonus factors are price $45 in TPG’s valuations. This profit alone knocks the efficient annual charge all the way down to $24. Nevertheless, one of the other two personal cards will represent better value in the event you’re loyal to Southwest.

Nevertheless, in the event you fly with Southwest usually, one of the other two Southwest cards will provide additional perks. You should definitely consider what’s greatest for you past merely wanting on the annual charge and the welcome supply.

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card