Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and the Chase Sapphire Preferred are issued by Chase, cost nearly the same annual fee, and target travelers who fly domestically. But they serve fundamentally different purposes. The Southwest Plus is a brand-locked card — every dollar you earn goes toward Southwest flights, and the card's benefits are Southwest-specific. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a flexible travel card whose points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio, plus 13 other partners, plus strong everyday earning categories and travel protections the Southwest card can't match.
For most Southwest flyers who also travel internationally or on other airlines, the CSP is the objectively better card. The Southwest Plus earns its place only in specific scenarios — particularly if you're aggressively chasing the Companion Pass.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
|---|
| Annual Fee | $99 | $95 ✓ |
| Welcome Bonus | 50,000 pts after $1,000/3 mo | 75,000 pts after $5,000/3 mo ✓ |
| Points Currency | Southwest Rapid Rewards only | Chase Ultimate Rewards — 14 partners ✓ |
| Southwest Redemption | Yes — direct | Yes — via 1:1 transfer to Southwest ✓ |
| Other Airline Partners | None ✗ | United, JetBlue, British Airways, Air Canada, Singapore, and more ✓ |
| Hotel Partners | None ✗ | World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG ✓ |
| Travel Earn Rate | 2x Southwest · 2x gas/groceries (up to $5K/yr) · 1x else | 5x Chase Travel · 3x dining/streaming/online groceries · 2x other travel ✓ |
| Primary Rental Car Insurance | No ✗ | Yes — primary coverage ✓ |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | Limited | Up to $10,000/trip ✓ |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% ✗ | None ✓ |
| Free Checked Bag | Yes — cardholder + 8 companions ✓ | No |
| Companion Pass Boost | 10,000 qualifying pts/yr toward Companion Pass ✓ | No Southwest-specific perks |
| Anniversary Bonus | 3,000 Rapid Rewards points (~$42) | 10% of prior year's spend in bonus points ✓ |
| Annual Credits | None | $50 hotel credit (Chase Travel) ✓ |
| Inflight Discount | 25% back on SW inflight purchases ✓ | No airline-specific perks |
The Companion Pass: The Southwest Plus's Best Argument
The Southwest Companion Pass — Worth Understanding Before You Choose
The Southwest Companion Pass lets you designate one person to fly with you free (paying only taxes from ~$5.60 one-way) every time you buy or redeem points for a Southwest flight. To earn it, you need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. The Southwest Plus card provides 10,000 qualifying points every account anniversary year — progress toward the Pass.
The big opportunity: if you earn the welcome bonus (50,000 points) in year one on the Southwest Plus, plus the 10,000 anniversary boost, and earn additional points through spending, you can potentially push toward the 135,000 threshold. Many cardholders accelerate this by holding both a personal and business Southwest card simultaneously.
If you fly Southwest with a regular companion (partner, family member), the Companion Pass is worth $500–$2,000+ per year in saved fares. That single benefit can make the Southwest Plus the more valuable card for dedicated Southwest flyers.
The Southwest Plus Card Charges a 3% Foreign Transaction Fee
Southwest is almost entirely a domestic U.S. airline (with some Caribbean and Central America routes), which explains why the card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases. If you ever travel internationally — even just to Canada or Mexico — the 3% fee erases your rewards on those purchases. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fee and is far better suited to any international travel.
Why Most Southwest Flyers Should Get the CSP Instead
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards — and Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1:1. This means every point you earn on the CSP can become a Southwest point. But it can also become a Hyatt point, a United mile, a JetBlue point, or points in 11 other airline and hotel programs. The CSP gives you Southwest value plus everything else. The Southwest Plus only gives you Southwest.
Beyond flexibility: the CSP's 3x dining rate, primary rental car insurance, strong trip cancellation insurance, $50 hotel credit, and no foreign transaction fee make it a materially better travel card than the Southwest Plus in every category that isn't Southwest-specific.
The Best Strategy: Get Both
Many frequent Southwest travelers hold both cards. Use the Southwest Plus for Southwest-specific perks: free checked bag, Companion Pass qualifying points, Group 5 boarding, inflight credits. Use the CSP for all other everyday spending (dining at 3x, travel bookings) and transfer points to Southwest when you need more Rapid Rewards. The combined fee is $194/year — justified if you fly Southwest 4+ times per year with a companion and can use the free checked bag benefit.
Our Verdict
Choose Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if you...
- Are aggressively chasing the Southwest Companion Pass and want the 10,000 qualifying points boost each year
- Fly Southwest frequently with companions and want free checked bags for up to 8 people on the same reservation
- Fly exclusively domestically on Southwest routes and never need international redemptions or hotel transfers
- Already have the CSP or another flexible travel card — using the Plus for Southwest-specific perks while using CSP for everything else
Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® if you...
- Want maximum flexibility — CSP points transfer to Southwest 1:1 but also to 13 other programs
- Travel internationally, even occasionally — the Southwest card's 3% foreign transaction fee is a dealbreaker
- Rent cars frequently and want primary (not secondary) rental car insurance — the biggest practical difference between these cards
- Dine out regularly and want 3x on restaurants — significantly more rewarding than the Plus's 1x on dining
- Are new to points and miles and want one card that works for all travel, not just Southwest
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
50K pts bonus · free bag · Companion Pass boost · $99/yr
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† Terms apply. We may earn a commission.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
75K pts bonus · 14 transfer partners · primary rental car · $95/yr
Full Review →
† Terms apply. We may earn a commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Chase Sapphire Preferred points to Southwest?
Yes. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. A 75,000-point CSP welcome bonus becomes 75,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after transfer — more than the Southwest Plus welcome bonus of 50,000 points. Transfers are instant and permanent.
Does the Southwest Plus help with A-List status?
No. A-List status (Southwest's elite tier) requires qualifying flights or points, but the Southwest Plus does not directly contribute tier-qualifying points toward A-List. It does contribute qualifying points toward the Companion Pass, which is a separate program.
Which card is better if I'm new to travel cards?
For most new cardholders, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger first travel card. It teaches you how transferable points work, earns well on dining and everyday spending, and gives you the flexibility to use points on Southwest or other programs as your travel habits evolve. The Southwest Plus is better as a second card once you've already established your Southwest loyalty and are targeting the Companion Pass specifically.
