Fly Southwest at least twice a year? Here’s why the Southwest Plus makes sense for you
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big proponent of getting at least one airline card, even if you aren't loyal to a particular brand.
Many points and miles fans stick to cards that earn transferable rewards; while those are great, avoiding an airline card means you could be losing out on helpful benefits.
Take the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees), for example. If you fly Southwest Airlines just twice each year, you can get positive value out of this card's $99 annual fee.
Here's how.
Welcome offer
Currently, new Southwest Plus cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's February 2026 valuations, those 50,000 points are worth $650.
These bonus points will help you get more value than this card's annual fee in your first year, since Southwest flights can cost as few as 6,000 points one-way.
If you play your cards right, you should be able to stretch this welcome offer quite far. Plus, if you place significant value on Southwest's Companion Pass, this welcome offer will help you on your way to earning one. To get one, you need to either fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in one year.
Some may consider paying a $99 annual fee year after year worth it solely because of the value they get out of the welcome bonus. I'm big on finding more ways to get your money's worth than just that first big stash of points.
Thankfully, the Southwest Plus comes with a few extra perks that more than justify its annual price tag.
Free first checked bag
For many years, Southwest attracted loyal flyers because of its day-of-flight perks, like no assigned seating and free checked bags. With the recent decision to toss those benefits out the plane door, Southwest travelers must turn to other methods to get these features.
The Southwest Plus offers cardholders their first checked bag free. Up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation can also check their first bag free, so this perk can be extended quite far.
Couples, families and travelers with friends can get far more value out of their card than its $99 annual fee.
Even if you're a solo traveler, checking a bag on one round trip or two one-ways will bring you close to breaking even on this card's annual fee. Southwest charges $35 for your first checked bag, so using this benefit twice will save you $70.
Fortunately, there's another benefit that, when paired with this perk, will ensure you're in the green with this card.
Anniversary bonus points
Each year, Southwest Plus cardholders will receive 3,000 bonus points on their card anniversary. Per our valuations, these points are worth roughly $41.
Whether you're traveling solo or not, the value you get from checking a bag twice each year and using these anniversary points will net you more value than the card's annual fee.
If you really want to optimize your strategy with the Southwest Plus, you can achieve all of this in just one trip by booking a round-trip flight or two one-way flights using your anniversary points and checking your bag in each direction.
If your anniversary points don't give you enough rewards to cover an entire ticket, remember that Southwest offers an option to pay for your fare with both cash and points.
Other notable perks
While receiving your first checked bag free, anniversary bonus points and the chance to earn a welcome bonus are the best ways to get significant value out of the Southwest Plus, they aren't the only benefits worth noting.
Cardholders and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation will receive priority boarding. With limited overhead bin space, getting on the plane earlier than you otherwise could is a small way to ease travel stress.
Plus, as the primary cardholder, you can select a Standard seat within 48 hours of departure, when available.
Lastly, the Southwest Plus provides cardholders with a boost of 10,000 qualifying points each year. When combined with the welcome bonus, you'll only need to earn an additional 25,000 qualifying points to receive a Companion Pass.
This may not be the most useful benefit after the first cardholder year, but it's a great way to get extra value out of your welcome bonus.
Bottom line
You don't need to be a Southwest loyalist to make this card work for you. As long as you fly at least twice with Southwest in a year, you'll be able to get positive value out of the Southwest Plus's annual fee.
Thinking outside of the box when it comes to credit cards and their benefits is crucial if you want your wallet to take you and your travels as far as possible. Don't shy away from opening an airline card just because you're an infrequent traveler or you prefer to fly with different airlines.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Southwest Plus.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.