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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Chalabala/Getty Images March 29, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Before we explain more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards anniversary bonus, here’s a rundown of the card’s rewards rate, welcome offer and benefits: Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Rewards: 2X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Southwest hotel and car rental partner purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares), 2X points on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services and 1X points on all other purchases Annual fee: $69 annual fee Variable APR: 17.49 percent to 24.49 percent Major benefits: Two EarlyBird Check-Ins with the airline, 25 percent back on in-flight purchases and an anniversary bonus of 3,000 points When it comes to earning points in the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, there are some serious benefits to be aware of. For starters, Southwest has one of the most flexible cancellation and rebooking policies of all major airlines. Plus, they are one of the few airlines that don’t impose any blackout dates or capacity controls for award tickets. Southwest Airlines also offers two free checked bags per passenger on their flights, and this rule applies whether you book your fare with cash or points. Finally, it’s worth noting that points earned with this card count toward This allows a chosen companion to fly for free with the passholder regardless of whether they pay with cash or book a flight with points. The flight companion is only responsible for paying airline taxes and fees on their flight, which work out to $5.60 one-way for domestic flights and usually less than $100 each way for international itineraries to destinations in the Caribbean or Mexico. What is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card s anniversary bonus
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus bonus is worth 3,000 points, and it will be automatically applied to your account each year on your cardmember anniversary. This bonus is extended as a basic “thank you” for renewing your card and paying the annual fee for another year. How much is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus anniversary bonus worth
According to our , rewards earned in the are worth up to 1.5 cents when redeemed for travel. This means the anniversary bonus on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus can be worth up to $45, depending on how you redeem your points. While 3,000 points may not sound like a lot, keep in mind Southwest may offer one-way fares for as little as 4,000 points (and sometimes less) during their famous sales. Given that, this card’s anniversary bonus could be almost enough to get you from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Tampa, Florida, or from Chicago, Illinois, to Dallas, Texas. How do I find my Southwest Rapid Rewards account anniversary date
If you’re curious about when you’ll receive your Southwest anniversary bonus, you’ll have to look back to find the date you originally signed up for the card. According to the fine print from Southwest and Chase, you’ll receive this bonus on your account anniversary year, which is “the year beginning with your account open date through the anniversary of your account open date, and each 12 months.” If you originally signed up for your card on May 12 of any given year, for example, you’ll receive your anniversary bonus after May 12 of the following year. Other cardholder perks that make up for the annual fee
While the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus bonus is worth up to $45, a few other cardholder benefits help make up for this card’s $69 annual fee. For starters, consumers who choose this card get two EarlyBird Check-Ins with Southwest every year. These upgrades are worth $15 to $25 one-way, so the two you receive every year as a cardholder have a retail value of $30 to $50. Cardholders also get 25 percent back on in-flight purchases of food, drink or Wi-Fi access, and these savings can add up quickly for those who fly with Southwest often. The bottom line
If you’re hoping to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points with a reasonable annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is worth considering. When you add up the value of the Southwest anniversary bonus, the two EarlyBird Check-Ins and the discount on in-flight purchases, you can more than make up for this card’s $69 annual fee each year. That said, you can also consider other Southwest credit cards, and don’t forget Southwest is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. This means you can use a like the to earn points on everyday purchases, then transfer them to your Southwest account once you’re ready to redeem. SHARE: Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Related Articles