Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus have an annual fee?

Yes — $99 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.

What does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus earn?

2% on Southwest Airlines Purchases, 2% on Gas Stations, 2% on Grocery Stores, and 1% on other purchases.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus worth it in the first year?

Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Gas Stations), the first year comes out around $751 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $700. Year two drops to about $51 before credits.

Do the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus's credits cover the annual fee?

The listed credits add up to $40 a year at face value against a $99 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember one needs enrollment.

What credit do I need for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus?

Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus. Chase makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Chase

$99

Annual Fee

visaGoodairlinecash-back5 months ago

Welcome Offer

50,000 pts(≈ $700)Spend $1,000 within 3 months

Check issuer terms ↗

OpenCard analysis

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card right for you?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is a $99-a-year cash-back card from Chase. Its strongest everyday earning is 2% on Gas Stations, with 1% on most other purchases. It needs to earn at least $99 more a year than a no-fee alternative to justify the fee.

Who it's for

✓ People who spend steadily on Gas Stations, where it earns 2%

Who should skip it

— Heavy spenders outside Gas Stations — everything else earns 1%
— Anyone who won't earn at least $99 a year more than a no-fee card

First-year value estimate

Welcome bonus

$700

Rewards on spending

$150

Annual fee (year 1)

−$99

Year 1, before credits

$751

Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $51 before credits ($150 in rewards minus the $99 fee).

Assumptions

$3,000 a year in Gas Stations (2%) and $9,000 on everything else (1%) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1.4¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $700.
Annual fee of $99 in year one and every year after.
Recurring credits are listed separately below and are not counted here.

An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-04-29.

How the fee is offset by credits

Even at face value the listed credits ($40 a year) cover 40% of the $99 fee, so rewards and benefits have to make up the rest.

Credit	Terms	Per year (face value)
DoorDash Non-Restaurant Credit	$10 per quarter, enrollment required	$40
Total face value		$40

How it compares

Blue Cash Everyday →

American Express, lower fee ($0 vs $99); earns 3% on gas.

AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays →

Barclays, lower fee ($0 vs $99); earns 3% on gas stations and drugstores.

Navy Federal cashRewards →

Navy Federal Credit Union, lower fee ($0 vs $99); earns 2% on Gas Stations.

Compare side by side →

Rules and gotchas

The welcome bonus requires $1,000 in 3 months — roughly $333 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.
One of the listed credits requires enrollment before it works.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus have an annual fee?: Yes — $99 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.
What does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus earn?: 2% on Southwest Airlines Purchases, 2% on Gas Stations, 2% on Grocery Stores, and 1% on other purchases.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus worth it in the first year?: Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Gas Stations), the first year comes out around $751 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $700. Year two drops to about $51 before credits.
Do the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus's credits cover the annual fee?: The listed credits add up to $40 a year at face value against a $99 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember one needs enrollment.
What credit do I need for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus?: Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus. Chase makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Earning Rates

2×Southwest Airlines Purchases

2×Gas Stations

2×Grocery Stores

1×All Other Purchases

Benefits & Credits

$10

DoorDash Non-Restaurant Credit

Up to $10 off one qualifying non-restaurant DoorDash order each calendar quarter (DashMart, 7-Eleven, CVS, Safeway, etc.). Requires active DashPass enrollment. Per Chase cobrand-doordash terms.

/quarter

Other Benefits

Complimentary Boarding

Complimentary standard seat within 48 hours of departure when available

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Use card internationally without FTF

Earn Qualifying Points

Card spend counts toward Southwest A-List status (1 qualifying point per $1 on Southwest purchases)

Insurance

Trip Cancellation

Trip Delay

Rental InsuranceSecondary

Purchase Protection

Extended Warranty

Sources

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2026