Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card: Is It Worth It for Companion Pass & 2026 Flight Savings?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card: Is It Worth It for Companion Pass & 2026 Flight Savings?

If you fly Southwest even a few times a year — especially as a family — the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Cardis a unique tool that many travelers overlook.

This is not a credit card. There’s no credit check, and yet it offers real travel value, including:

• A Companion Pass qualifying points boost

• A 20% off Southwest flight coupon (works on cash and points)

• Southwest travel credits in multiple years

Let’s break down exactly how it works, the current offer, and why — for me — it’s absolutely worth it.

What Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card is a checking account debit card that earns Rapid Rewards points on everyday spending.

Unlike most debit cards:

• The points you earn count toward the Southwest Companion Pass

• You get annual flight discounts and credits

• There’s no credit score impact

This makes it a great option for families, beginners, or anyone strategically working toward Companion Pass.

Current Southwest Debit Card Benefits

✈️ Companion Pass Qualifying Points

• You receive 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points

• These points post each calendar year when you hold the card

• You will receive 7,500 points in 2025 and another 7,500 points in 2026, as long as the account is open and in good standing

• All points earned from spending on the card also count toward Companion Pass

This is huge because Companion Pass normally requires 135,000 qualifying points in one calendar year.

💳 Points You Earn From Spending

• 1 point per $1 on:

  • Southwest purchases

  • Dining

  • Eligible subscriptions (phone, internet, streaming, utilities)

• 1 point per $2 on all other purchases

Every point earned with this card helps push you closer to Companion Pass.

🎟️ 20% Off Southwest Flights (Cash and Points – 2026)

Each January, cardholders receive a 20% off promo code valid for:

• Paid Southwest flights

• Award flights booked with points

• Valid for most of the year

✨ This is a huge win because many airline discounts do not apply to award bookings, but this one does. This discount applies to Southwest flights throughout 2026, making it valuable whether you pay with cash, points, or a mix of both.

💵 Southwest Travel Credits

• $35 Southwest statement credit in 2025

• Another $35 Southwest statement credit in 2026

• Applies to Southwest flight purchases

That’s $70 total in Southwest flight credits, assuming the account remains open.

⚠️ Important Highlight: Monthly Fee (And Why I’m Still Opening It)

Here’s the part you must know before opening this account.

Monthly Fee Details

• $6.99 monthly fee if you:

  • Don’t keep a $2,500 average balance, or

  • Don’t set up direct deposit

There’s no way around this fee unless one of those requirements is met.

💡 My Strategy (And Why It’s Still Worth It)

For me, the math still makes sense.

Example Strategy:

• Open the account by December

• Keep it open through January

• Close it in February

What you get:

• ✅ 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points in 2025

• ✅ Another 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points in 2026

• ✅ 20% off Southwest flights (cash or points) for all of 2026

• ✅ $35 Southwest travel credit in 2025

• ✅ $35 Southwest travel credit in 2026

What it costs:

• Paying the $6.99 monthly fee for 2–3 months

• Total out-of-pocket cost: about $14–$21

💰 Real-Life Savings Example: Family of Four

Let’s say a family of four books a roundtrip Southwest flight in 2026.

Scenario 1: Paying Cash

• Average roundtrip ticket: $350 per person

• Total for 4 people: $1,400

With 20% off:

• Savings: $280

• New total: $1,120

Then apply the $35 Southwest credit:

• Final out-of-pocket: $1,085

👉 Total savings: $315 on just one trip.

Scenario 2: Booking with Points

• Award cost: 20,000 points per person

• Total: 80,000 points

With 20% off award pricing:

• New cost: 64,000 points

👉 You save 16,000 points, which can easily be another one-way flight or put toward Companion Pass progress.

Who This Card Is Best For

This debit card is especially useful if you:

• Are working toward Southwest Companion Pass

• Fly Southwest at least once a year

• Travel as a family

• Want a low-risk, short-term strategy for long-term savings

• Are building a two-player strategy with a spouse

Final Thoughts: Is the Southwest Debit Card Worth It?

For me — yes.

Paying a small monthly fee for a few months in exchange for:

• 15,000 Companion Pass qualifying points across two years

• A 20% discount on Southwest flights (cash or points) for 2026

• $70 in Southwest flight credits

• Potential hundreds of dollars in family travel savings

…is a trade-off I’m happy to make.

This card isn’t flashy, but it’s strategic — especially for families who want to stretch points, save cash, and fly Southwest more affordably.

✅ Action Steps: How to Maximize This Offer

1️⃣ Open the Account Before the Deadline

Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card directly at SouthwestDebit.com.
To be safe, I recommend opening the account by December 20th, or at the very latest before December 31st, so your account is active in time to qualify for the 20% off flight coupon that is typically issued in January.

Opening before year-end is key if you want to capture both the Companion Pass boost and the flight savings.

2️⃣ Set January Check-In Reminders

Once January arrives, add a calendar reminder to log into your account and confirm that:

• ✅ Your 20% off Southwest flight coupon has posted

• ✅ Your 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points have been deposited

• ✅ Your $35 Southwest travel credit is available

This step is important so nothing slips through the cracks and you can address any issues early.

3️⃣ Plan Your Exit to Avoid Extra Fees

If you’re using this as a short-term strategy (like I am), set a February reminder to:

• Transfer any remaining funds to another bank

• Officially close the account

Doing this helps you avoid paying unnecessary monthly fees beyond the initial 2–3 months, while still keeping the 20% discount valid for the rest of the year.