Quick Verdict

The Southwest Plus credit card appears attractive with its $69 annual fee, but it's a false economy that costs you money in the long run. Foreign transaction fees, lower anniversary bonuses, and reduced earning rates make the Premier card a better value for just $30 more annually. Only consider the Plus if you fly Southwest once per year maximum and never travel internationally.

Card Overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card sits at the bottom of Southwest's personal credit card lineup, offering basic benefits at the lowest annual fee. While $69 might seem appealing compared to the Premier's $99 or Priority's $149, the Plus card's limitations and hidden costs make it the least attractive option for most travelers.

Annual Fee: $69
Welcome Bonus: 50,000 points after $1,000 spending in 3 months
Earning Rate: 2x points on Southwest purchases, 2x on select categories, 1x elsewhere
Key Benefits: 3,000 anniversary points, 2 EarlyBird check-ins, 25% back on inflight purchases
Credit Score Needed: 650+ recommended

Key Features and Benefits Analysis

3,000 Annual Anniversary Points

The Plus card's anniversary bonus provides just 3,000 Southwest points annually, worth approximately $40.50 at Southwest's average redemption value of 1.35 cents per point. While this partially offsets the annual fee, it's significantly less valuable than higher-tier cards.

Value comparison: The Premier card's 6,000 anniversary points provide $40.50 more annual value than the Plus card—more than offsetting the $30 difference in annual fees. Essentially, you're paying $30 extra to receive $40.50 more in points, making the Premier card a mathematically superior choice.

Opportunity cost: By choosing the Plus card to save $30 annually, you're actually losing $10.50 in value compared to the Premier card, before considering other benefit differences.

Foreign Transaction Fees

The Plus card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a significant hidden cost that can quickly eliminate any annual fee savings. This fee applies to online purchases from foreign merchants, international travel, and any transaction processed outside the United States.

Real-world cost: A single $1,000 international purchase costs you $30 in foreign fees—exactly the difference between the Plus and Premier card annual fees. Even modest international spending makes the Premier card cheaper in total cost.

Hidden expense: Many travelers don't realize online purchases from foreign retailers trigger foreign transaction fees, making this cost more common than expected for domestic travelers.

Reduced Earning Structure

The Plus card earns only 2x points per dollar on Southwest purchases, compared to 3x points on the Premier and Priority cards. This lower earning rate reduces the card's value for frequent Southwest travelers.

Earning comparison: On $2,000 annual Southwest spending:

• Plus card: 4,000 points (worth $54)
• Premier/Priority cards: 6,000 points (worth $81)
• Annual difference: $27 less value with the Plus card

Compounding disadvantage: The reduced earning rate becomes more significant as Southwest spending increases, making the Plus card particularly poor for frequent flyers.

Limited Additional Benefits

Beyond the anniversary points and EarlyBird check-ins, the Plus card offers minimal additional benefits. You get 25% back on inflight purchases and the standard 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost, but no elite status earning potential or other premium perks.

Missing benefits compared to Premier:

• No tier qualifying points earning
• No foreign transaction fee waiver
• 3,000 fewer anniversary points
• Lower Southwest earning rate

Earning Structure Analysis

The Plus card's earning structure is notably weaker than its higher-tier siblings, particularly for Southwest purchases where you'd expect maximum earning potential.

Southwest purchases (2x points): All Southwest flights, EarlyBird check-in, and Southwest services earn double points, which is respectable but not competitive with other Southwest cards.

Select categories (2x points): The same bonus categories as higher-tier cards (local transit, internet/cable/phone, streaming, Rapid Rewards partners) earn double points, providing some value for everyday spending.

Everything else (1x points): Standard earning on all other purchases makes this primarily a Southwest-focused card with limited general spending appeal.

Annual earning disadvantage: The 2x rate on Southwest purchases creates a significant earnings gap compared to Premier/Priority cards that compounds over time for regular Southwest travelers.

Redemption Options and Value

Southwest's redemption system remains consistent across all cards, offering the same flexibility and value regardless of which card you hold. Points typically provide 1.35 cents average value with no blackout dates or change fees.

Redemption parity: The Plus card's points work identically to those earned by higher-tier cards, so redemption value and options remain the same.

Earning disadvantage: While redemption options are equal, the Plus card's lower earning rates mean you'll accumulate fewer points for the same spending, reducing your redemption opportunities.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Lowest annual fee: At $69, the Plus card has the smallest upfront cost in Southwest's personal card lineup.

Same welcome bonus: The 50,000-point welcome bonus matches higher-tier cards, providing equal initial value.

Basic Southwest benefits: You still get anniversary points, EarlyBird check-ins, and inflight purchase discounts.

Easier approval: Lower annual fee cards sometimes have slightly more lenient approval requirements.

Cons

Foreign transaction fees: 3% fees on international purchases can quickly exceed annual fee savings.

Lower earning rates: 2x points on Southwest purchases vs. 3x on higher-tier cards reduces value for frequent flyers.

Smaller anniversary bonus: 3,000 points vs. 6,000 on the Premier card means $40.50 less annual value.

No elite qualifying: Missing tier qualifying points earning limits Southwest elite status progression.

Poor value proposition: The combined disadvantages make this card more expensive than the Premier for most usage patterns.

The Hidden Costs

Foreign fee calculation: The 3% foreign transaction fee means any international spending over $1,000 annually makes the Premier card cheaper overall.

Earning rate impact: Lower Southwest earning rates cost frequent flyers significantly more than the $30 annual fee difference.

Opportunity cost: Choosing the Plus means missing higher anniversary bonuses, elite qualifying points, and foreign fee savings available for just $30 more.

Who Should Get This Card?

Extremely Limited Scenarios

Very occasional Southwest flyers: If you fly Southwest once per year maximum and never make international purchases, the Plus card might make sense.

Tight budget constraints: Travelers who cannot afford the Premier's $99 fee might consider the Plus, though they should factor in foreign transaction costs.

No international activity: Travelers who never shop online with foreign merchants and never travel internationally avoid the foreign fee disadvantage.

Much Better Alternatives

Most Southwest travelers: The Premier card provides superior value for virtually all Southwest travelers through higher anniversary bonuses and no foreign fees.

Frequent flyers: The Priority card offers maximum Southwest benefits including travel credits and upgraded boarding.

Business owners: The Southwest Performance Business card provides higher anniversary bonuses and doesn't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule.

Skip If

Any international travel: Foreign transaction fees quickly eliminate annual fee savings.

Regular Southwest flying: Lower earning rates cost more than the annual fee difference.

Value maximization: The Premier card provides measurably better value for just $30 more annually.

Elite status interest: The Plus card doesn't earn tier qualifying points toward Southwest elite status.

How It Compares to Other Southwest Cards

vs. Southwest Premier ($99 annual fee): For $30 more annually, the Premier provides:

• 3,000 additional anniversary points (worth $40.50)
• No foreign transaction fees (saves 3% on international purchases)
• Higher Southwest earning rates (3x vs. 2x points)
• Tier qualifying points earning potential

Mathematical comparison: Even without international spending, the Premier's extra anniversary points provide $10.50 more value than the $30 additional cost, making it the better financial choice.

vs. Southwest Priority ($149 annual fee): The Priority costs $80 more but adds a $75 travel credit, upgraded boarding, and higher anniversary bonuses. For frequent Southwest travelers, the Priority often provides better value than the Plus despite the significant fee difference.

vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited (No annual fee): For occasional Southwest travelers, a no-fee card earning 1.5% cash back might provide better value than the Plus card's limited benefits and foreign transaction fees.

How to Maximize Value (If You Must Get This Card)

Minimize Disadvantages

Avoid international purchases: Use a different card for any international transactions to avoid 3% foreign fees.

Maximize bonus categories: Focus spending on the 2x earning categories like internet, cable, and streaming services.

Annual spending strategy: Keep Southwest spending on this card despite lower earning rates, as it still beats 1x earning cards.

Upgrade Strategy

Monitor spending patterns: Track your annual international spending and Southwest travel frequency to determine when upgrading makes sense.

Anniversary timing: Consider upgrading before your first anniversary to avoid foreign fees or capture higher earning rates.

Welcome bonus maximization: Since you can only receive one Southwest personal card welcome bonus every 24 months, ensure you're getting maximum value from whichever card you choose.

Application Process and Requirements

Credit Requirements

Minimum score: 620+ for basic consideration
Recommended score: 650+ for good approval odds
Preferred score: 700+ for strong approval likelihood

Chase Restrictions

5/24 rule: Like all Chase personal cards, the Plus is subject to the 5/24 restriction preventing approval for applicants with 5+ recent card openings.

Southwest limitation: Cannot receive welcome bonus if you currently hold any Southwest personal card or received a Southwest personal card bonus in the past 24 months.

Income Considerations

Lower annual fee cards sometimes have more lenient income requirements, but Chase typically expects:

• Individual income of $20,000+
• Household income of $35,000+ when including spouse income
• Stable employment history

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Plus card worth it to save money on the annual fee?

No, for most travelers. The combination of foreign transaction fees, lower anniversary bonuses, and reduced earning rates typically costs more than the $30 saved compared to the Premier card. Only extreme occasional travelers might benefit from the lower fee.

Should I get the Plus card if I never travel internationally?

Even without international travel, the Premier card's extra 3,000 anniversary points provide $40.50 additional value for just $30 more in annual fee. The Premier remains the better financial choice for domestic-only travelers.

Can I upgrade from the Plus to the Premier card?

Chase doesn't offer direct upgrades between Southwest cards. You'd need to apply for the Premier as a new account, but Chase's 24-month restriction would prevent earning the welcome bonus if you recently received the Plus card bonus.

What if I only fly Southwest once per year?

For truly occasional Southwest travelers, consider whether any Southwest card makes sense. A general travel card or cash-back card might provide better value than any Southwest-specific card for minimal Southwest activity.

Do the foreign transaction fees apply to online purchases?

Yes, foreign transaction fees apply to any purchase processed outside the United States, including online shopping from foreign retailers. Many travelers underestimate this cost when evaluating the Plus card.

How much international spending makes the Premier card cheaper?

Any international spending over $1,000 annually generates $30 in foreign fees with the Plus card, exactly offsetting the annual fee difference with the Premier card. Combined with higher anniversary bonuses, the Premier becomes cheaper with minimal international activity.

The Bottom Line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card represents a false economy that costs travelers money while appearing to save on annual fees. The combination of foreign transaction fees, lower anniversary bonuses, and reduced earning rates creates hidden costs that exceed the modest annual fee savings for virtually all Southwest travelers.

The math is clear: the Premier card provides superior value for just $30 more annually through higher anniversary bonuses alone, before considering foreign fee savings and enhanced earning rates. Even travelers who never make international purchases benefit from the Premier's extra anniversary points, which provide $10.50 more value than the $30 additional cost.

For frequent Southwest travelers, the lower earning rates on Southwest purchases make the Plus card particularly expensive relative to its benefits. The 2x earning rate versus 3x on higher-tier cards creates an ongoing value disadvantage that compounds with increased Southwest spending.

Our strong recommendation: Skip the Plus card and invest the extra $30 annually in the Premier card. You'll receive measurably better value from day one and avoid the hidden costs that make the Plus card more expensive than it appears. For complete details on why the Premier card excels, read our comprehensive Premier card review.

If you're determined to minimize annual fees: Consider whether any Southwest card makes sense for your travel patterns. Very occasional Southwest travelers might find better value in general travel cards or cash-back options that don't require airline loyalty. Compare all your options in our complete Southwest credit cards comparison.

For business owners: The Southwest Performance Business card offers higher anniversary bonuses and doesn't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule, making it a superior choice even with the same annual fee as the Premier card.

The Plus card exists primarily to make the Premier card look attractive by comparison—and it succeeds. Choose the Premier card and enjoy genuinely better value for your Southwest travels.