{"id":207812,"date":"2025-04-28T23:59:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T23:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=207812\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:14:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:14:40","slug":"credit-card-benefit-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/credit-card-benefit-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Bags, Seats, and More: 3 New Southwest Card Benefits to Debut as Soon as May 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Update: Some of the changes mentioned below have started taking effect. To learn more about Southwest Airlines' new bag fees, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-baggage-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps you've heard that <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-adds-basic-fares-bag-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">big changes are coming to Southwest Airlines<\/a>. The &#8220;Bags Fly Free&#8221; policy is on the way out, and basic fares \u2014 along with assigned seating\u2014 are on the way in. But to help ease the pain, new Rapid Rewards credit card benefits are also rolling out, and they can help you skirt the worst of the changes.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an overview of the new <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest credit card<\/a> benefits and the timeline for when they\u2019ll take effect.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Airlines_Adding_Three_New_Credit_Card_Benefits\">Southwest Airlines Adding Three New Credit Card Benefits<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Check_your_first_bag_for_free\">Check your first bag for free<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Pick_a_seat_at_no_cost\">Pick a seat at no cost<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Complimentary_early_boarding\">Complimentary early boarding<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Southwest_Airlines_Adding_Three_New_Credit_Card_Benefits\">Southwest Airlines Adding Three New Credit Card Benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The rest of Southwest Airlines is updating, and the Rapid Rewards credit card lineup is, too. Three new cardholder benefits are coming, and they will debut as soon as <strong>May 28, 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/357\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207819 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits.png\" alt=\"New Southwest airlines credit card benefits.\" width=\"900\" height=\"357\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits.png 2324w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits-1024x406.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits-768x305.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits-1536x609.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Card-Benefits-2048x813.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Check_your_first_bag_for_free\">Check your first bag for free<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Starting <strong>May 28<\/strong> \u2014 the day <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-adds-basic-fares-bag-fees\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest will begin charging for checked bags<\/a> \u2014 the first of three new cardholder benefits will take effect. And that's getting your first checked bag for free.<\/p>\n<p>While one free checked bag isn\u2019t as generous as two, this new perk will cover not just the cardholder but also up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. It will apply to Basic, Choice (Wanna Get Away Plus), and Choice Preferred (Anytime) fares. Choice Extra (Business Select) tickets will include two free checked bags as part of the fare.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207832\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/208\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207832 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags.png\" alt=\"Southwest bag benefits by fare.\" width=\"900\" height=\"208\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags.png 2324w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags-300x69.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags-1024x237.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags-768x178.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags-1536x356.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Southwest-Fare-Bags-2048x474.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Even better, this benefit will apply to all Southwest credit cards, including the $99 annual fee <a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-plus\/\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/a>  (<a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=53ffc447d8a4c6a5a273ecc90b4c658c&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>One thing we still don\u2019t know is how much Southwest will charge for that first checked bag. But if you plan to check a bag on Southwest even a few times a year, the Southwest Plus Card (or any Rapid Rewards card for that matter) could easily pay for itself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-chase\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPlusCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"qs-learn-more\" data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-plus\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$99<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=53ffc447d8a4c6a5a273ecc90b4c658c&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPriorityCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"qs-learn-more\" data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-priority\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$229<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005153&type=3&u1=7c615fb52b8f6ff565ccc3035f9ccdfe&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/93\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/CardArt-SouthwestRapidRewardsPerformanceBusinessCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"qs-learn-more\" data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/performance-business\/\">Learn More<\/a>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$299<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005149&type=3&u1=295ccbf442a21ca6eaa0c6f29a81f966&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>4X points per $1 spent on Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points per $1 spent on rideshare<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Pick_a_seat_at_no_cost\">Pick a seat at no cost<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-assigned-seats\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Assigned seating is coming to Southwest<\/a>, and you\u2019ll have three ways to avoid getting stuck in a middle seat: earn A-List or A-List Preferred elite status, purchase a non-basic fare, or hold a Rapid Rewards credit card.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not exactly clear when assigned seating will officially launch, but Southwest estimates it will begin assigning seats <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/customer-enhancements\/assigned-seating\" rel=\"noopener\">in the third quarter of 2025 for flights taking off in early 2026<\/a>. This will coincide with brand-new cabins.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207833\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/469\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207833 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin.png\" alt=\"New Southwest cabins.\" width=\"900\" height=\"469\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin.png 2500w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin-1024x533.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin-768x400.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin-1536x800.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/New-Southwest-Cabin-2048x1067.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>This long runway gives you plenty of time to brush up on how the new seat selection benefits, which vary depending on which card you have, can impact your future travels.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-1050\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-1050 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Card Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Seating Benefits<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong><a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-plus\/\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Plus Credit Card<\/a><\/strong>  (<a data-ccid=\"520080\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005150&type=3&u1=53ffc447d8a4c6a5a273ecc90b4c658c&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) and <strong>Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Business Credit Card<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Select a Standard seat within 48 hours of departure on any fare, when available.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong><a data-ccid=\"2000147\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-premier\/\" =_blank>Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Premier Credit Card<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a data-ccid=\"4048107\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/premier-business\/\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Premier Business Credit Card<\/a><\/strong>  (<a data-ccid=\"4048107\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005152&type=3&u1=c8120e969346172cbbd468cf61b5c0e9&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours of departure on any fare, when available.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong><a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-priority\/\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/a><\/strong>  (<a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005153&type=3&u1=7c615fb52b8f6ff565ccc3035f9ccdfe&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) and <strong><a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/performance-business\/\">Southwest<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Performance Business Credit Card<\/a><\/strong>  (<a data-ccid=\"4048165\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005149&type=3&u1=295ccbf442a21ca6eaa0c6f29a81f966&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking on any fare and\/or upgrade to Extra Legroom within 48 hours of departure, when available.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<h3><span id=\"Complimentary_early_boarding\">Complimentary early boarding<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Last but not least, a new complimentary early boarding benefit is coming to the Southwest credit card lineup. Like the new seat selection perk, this one won\u2019t roll out until Southwest formally introduces assigned seating.<\/p>\n<p>When that happens, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards<\/a> cardholders will have boarding positions automatically reserved for themselves and other passengers on the same reservation, even if they\u2019re flying on a basic fare. Unfortunately, details beyond that are still slim.<\/p>\n<p>But what's interesting about this is that two Southwest credit cards, including the <a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-priority\/\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Priority Credit Card<\/a>  (<a data-ccid=\"4048122\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005153&type=3&u1=7c615fb52b8f6ff565ccc3035f9ccdfe&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), already include an annual allotment of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-upgraded-boarding\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Upgraded Boardings<\/a>. Right now, it\u2019s unclear whether the new early boarding benefit will replace Upgraded Boarding or if both will coexist in some form.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_121132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-121132 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured.png\" alt=\"a Southwest heart-shaped logo inside the plane\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Lukas-Souza-Southwest-Airlines-cabin-featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Lukas Souza\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Southwest Airlines has taken a lot of heat in recent months for its planned policy and operational changes. The traveling public isn't thrilled about the elimination of the &#8220;Bags Fly Free&#8221; policy, the introduction of basic fares, or the move to seating assignments.<\/p>\n<p>But if you flew Southwest before these changes were announced \u2014 and plan to keep flying after they roll out \u2014 a Rapid Rewards credit card will be a key to saving money and making the new Southwest experience a little better. And really, that\u2019s the whole point of a co-branded airline credit card, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Big changes are coming to Southwest Airlines. The &#8220;Bags Fly Free&#8221; policy is on the way out, and basic fares are on the way in. But to help ease the pain, new Rapid Rewards credit card benefits are also rolling out, and they can help you skirt the worst of the changes. Here&#8217;s an overview of the new benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":207813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12520,12757],"coauthors":[36432],"class_list":["post-207812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-card-benefits","tag-southwest-rapid-rewards"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207812"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256949,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207812\/revisions\/256949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=207812"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=207812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}