Best Southwest Airlines credit cards of April 2024
Many travelers love Southwest Airlines, and this love only grows if you have one of the best Southwest Airlines credit cards in your wallet. The airline has a unique value proposition, including no change fees and two free checked bags for all passengers. When you pair those perks with a strong route network — including international destinations and Hawaii — and an easy-to-use Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program, it’s easy to see why Southwest has created a loyal customer base.
Check out the lineup of the best credit cards from our partners for Southwest flyers, including the current bonus offers and our expert analysis to help you choose one that best fits your spending and flying habits.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Best all-around travel card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Best for a lower annual-fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for frequent Southwest flyers
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Best for small business owners
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: Best for businesses that need a lower annual fee
| 5x | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. |
| 3x | 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. |
| 2x | 2x on all other travel purchases. |
| 1x | 1x on all other purchases. |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Pros
- You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
| 2X | Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. |
| 1X | Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
The Southwest Plus credit card is a great starter card for those who are loyal to the carrier. Earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card.
Pros
- Earn 3,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary
- Secondary car rental insurance and collision damage waiver
- Baggage delay insurance
- Up to $3,000 in reimbursement for lost luggage
- Roadside dispatch
- Travel accident insurance via Visa Signature
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
Cons
- $69 annual fee
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flight redemption limited to U.S., Caribbean and Central American destinations
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
| 3X | Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. |
| 1X | Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
While other airlines’ top credit cards have annual fees toppling over $500 per year, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card comes with just a $149 annual per year. If Southwest is your airline of choice, you’ll receive a number of perks every year: a $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 points on your cardmember anniversary. These benefits alone make up the annual fee for frequent Southwest flyers. For every $10,000 spent on this card, you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points, fast-tracking your way to A-List Status. Plus, you can currently earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card.
Pros
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- 7,500 points on each cardmember anniversary
- 20% inflight discount on food, drinks and WiFi
- Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase
Cons
- $149 annual fee
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
| 4X | Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases. |
| 3X | Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on rideshare. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services. |
| 1X | 1X points on all other purchases. |
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card is ideal for business travelers and loyal Southwest flyers interested in hitting A-List status or earning a Companion Pass. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.
Pros
- 9,000 points on each cardmember anniversary
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100)
- 4 Upgraded Boardings a year
Cons
- $199 annual fee means only those loyal to Southwest will truly benefit
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Member FDIC
| 3X | Earn 3X pts on Southwest® purchases. |
| 2X | Earn 2X pts on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. |
| 2X | Earn 2X pts on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. |
| 1X | Earn 1X pts on all other purchases. |
The Southwest Premier Business card is ideal for Southwest loyalists who value airport and inflight perks and the ability to add employee cards at no additional cost. Read our full review of the Southwest Premier Business card here.
Pros
- 6,000 bonus Southwest points every card anniversary
- Primary rental car insurance
- Lost luggage and trip protection benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $99 annual fee isn't for everyone
- Limited to redeeming for Southwest only
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
Comparing the best credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Chase's secure site | Best all-around travel card | 60,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 1 - 5X points | $95 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Chase's secure site | a lower annual-fee | Earn 50,000 points Open Intro bonus Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1 - 2X points | $69 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Chase's secure site | frequent Southwest flyers | Earn 50,000 points Open Intro bonus Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1 - 3X points | $149 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Chase's secure site | small business owners | 80,000 points Open Intro bonus Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1 - 4X points | $199 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Chase's secure site | businesses that need a lower annual fee | 60,000 points Open Intro bonus Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | 1 - 3X points | $99 |
More details on the best credit cards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 high-value airline and hotel partners. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
This card is an excellent fit for anyone new to the world of points and miles, who wants to keep their annual fee costs low or who regularly uses Chase’s travel partners.
“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has remained a top card in my wallet for years. Between the consistently strong sign-up bonus, low annual fee and continual improvements that have been made over the years, it's hard for any other mid-tier rewards card to compare. I love that I can earn bonus rewards on travel, dining, streaming and online grocery purchases — all with just one card. Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valuable and easy to use whether you're new to points and miles or an expert.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior content operations editor
If you want higher earning rates, airport lounge access and annual travel credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might be a better fit for you.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card earns bonus rewards on Southwest purchases as well as local transit, internet, cable, phone and select streaming services. It also comes with some travel protections and sports a relatively low $69 annual fee, making it an easy choice for many regular Southwest flyers. For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
If you fly Southwest regularly and want to keep your annual fee costs low, this card is a great option. It’s also good for Southwest loyalists who aren’t already earning bonus rewards on their internet, cable and phone services.
This card is an easy way to rack up Rapid Rewards points when paying for bills that don’t often earn bonus rewards. You’ll also get two free EarlyBird Check-Ins and earn an additional 3,000 points each year. These points are worth $42 according to our valuations, making your effective annual fee just $27.
If you want to be able to redeem your points with Southwest or any of Chase’s 13 additional hotel and airline programs, you’ll want to opt for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It has a slightly higher $95 annual fee but earns bonus rewards on travel and dining and gives you a wider range of redemption options.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most premium offering in the Southwest personal card lineup. It comes with valuable perks like a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary and a fast track to A-List status for a reasonable $149 annual fee. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card.
Southwest devotees will get the most value from the card since cardholders enjoy a 25% inflight discount on food, drinks and Wi-Fi, as well as the ability to earn A-List status more quickly through credit card spending.
Like the other cards in the Southwest personal card family, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card earns bonus points on Southwest purchases as well as local transit, internet, cable, phone and select streaming services. However, if you fly Southwest frequently — and can take advantage of the $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points — you’ll more than make up for your annual fee each year.
If you want Southwest perks for a lower annual fee, go with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. It has the same earning structure, inflight discount and faster path to A-List status as the Priority card for just a $99 annual fee.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card is the higher-tier option of the two Southwest business cards. It comes with 9,000 bonus anniversary points and a credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus every four years, in addition to a fast track to A-List status. It does feature a $199 annual fee, which is the highest of all the Southwest cobranded cards, but it’s well worth paying for frequent Southwest flyers who can maximize the card’s perks. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.
Business owners who frequently fly Southwest will benefit the most from this card. It comes with up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits, making it perfect for those who need to work from the air. Additionally, the credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, unlimited bonus tier qualifying points on credit card spending and no foreign transaction fees will make flying go more smoothly for frequent business travelers.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card offers the most valuable perks of any Southwest card. It has upgraded boardings, a faster path to earn A-List status, inflight discounts and 9,000 bonus anniversary points. We value the 9,000 bonus anniversary points at $126, making your net annual fee just $73. Plus, if you use 10 of the Wi-Fi credits, you’ll more than justify the annual fee with these two perks alone.
If you can’t justify this card’s $199 annual fee, you can go with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, which has a lower $99 annual fee. It comes with 6,000 bonus anniversary points and two complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, as well as 25% back on inflight purchases and a fast track to earning A-List status.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is the lower-tier option of the two Southwest business cards. It comes with 6,000 bonus anniversary points, inflight discounts and a fast track to A-List status for a $99 annual fee. Learn more by checking out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card.
The reasonable annual fee and Southwest-specific perks make this card a solid choice for business owners who regularly fly Southwest.
This is a good option if you want to earn Southwest points but don’t fly Southwest often enough to benefit from the added perks on a higher-tier Southwest card.
Business owners who frequently fly Southwest may prefer the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card since they’ll get more than enough value from the card to justify paying its higher annual fee.
Maximizing Southwest credit cards
Earn the sign-up bonus
The easiest way to build a stash of Southwest points is by obtaining the welcome bonus on a Southwest credit card.
It is worth noting that the spending requirements for these bonuses are typically a few thousand dollars, so take that into account before applying for a card and ensure you’ll be able to responsibly earn the bonus.
Get the Companion Pass
Possibly the greatest value in the Rapid Rewards program is the ability to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, which allows a companion to fly with you on unlimited flights for free (excluding applicable taxes and fees) for at least one calendar year. Typically, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to earn the Companion Pass, but you can earn it faster by spending on a Southwest credit card. You can also earn it by taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
As a cardholder, you’ll get a 10,000-point boost toward earning the Companion Pass, meaning you’ll only need to earn 125,000 points. Then, all the points you earn on your card (including your welcome bonus) count toward your Companion Pass threshold.
If you regularly travel with someone else, the Companion Pass can save you thousands of dollars each year you have it.
Take advantage of Southwest's sales
Southwest has regular sales, so you can maximize your points by taking advantage of them. If your travel dates are flexible, you can use Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar to choose dates with the cheapest flights. And even after you’ve booked, it’s easy to rebook at a lower price if you find one. The cherry on top? You won’t be charged any cancellation or change fees.
How we rate
What is Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines is a major U.S. airline. It flies predominantly domestic routes but has expanded its international routes in recent years. It’s known for being budget-friendly, with regular sales and perks — like two free checked bags per passenger. Southwest also uses more of a point-to-point route network rather than the traditional hub-and-spoke network that many airlines use, which allows it to offer more nonstop routes than many other airlines.
Types of Southwest credit cards
There are several cobranded Southwest cards on this list in addition to one that isn't cobranded with the airline. We featured a variety of cards to ensure a good fit for every type of Southwest flyer.
The airline offers two business cards: the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business credit card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business credit card. The former is ideal for small business owners who fly with Southwest, and the latter is a good fit for businesses that want to keep overhead costs down thanks to its lower annual fee.
For those who are Southwest loyalists or just happen to find themselves on Southwest flights often, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is ideal, thanks to perks like anniversary bonus points, an annual travel credit and free checked bags.
Southwest Airlines credit card benefits
A Southwest Airlines credit card will allow you to earn Rapid Rewards points on all your purchases and enjoy benefits such as inflight discounts and anniversary bonus points. Plus, spending on a Southwest Airlines credit card will help you earn a valuable Companion Pass more quickly, which can save you thousands of dollars each year if you travel with a partner regularly.
Southwest Rapid Rewards is the loyalty program for Southwest Airlines. You can sign up for the program for free and earn points by flying Southwest, booking travel through Rapid Rewards partners, making purchases through the Rapid Rewards shopping portal and, of course, using Southwest Airlines cobranded credit cards.
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable features of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. Having one allows you to bring a companion with you for free (plus the cost of applicable taxes and fees) on unlimited flights for the duration of the time you have the pass. You can get one by taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year or by earning at least 135,000 points in a calendar year.
You can expedite your earnings with a Southwest cobranded credit card, as welcome bonuses count toward qualification. In addition, all Southwest cardholders receive a one-time deposit of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points at the beginning of each calendar year — effectively lowering your qualification threshold to 125,000 points.
When you’ve met the requirement, you’ll get the Companion Pass for the remainder of the current calendar year and the entirety of the following calendar year.
All Southwest passengers get two free checked bags on each flight and a choice of seating thanks to Southwest’s open seating policy.
Southwest’s seating is first come, first served based on boarding position, which is determined by the order in which passengers check in for the flight. Southwest cardholders can ensure a better boarding position by taking advantage of complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins or upgraded boarding positions, depending on the card.
How to choose the best Southwest credit card
- Southwest credit cards offer varying sign-up bonuses across their consumer and business cards. Choose the card that best aligns with your needs and features an attainable spending minimum in order to earn the sign-up bonus.1Sign-up bonus
- Southwest offers personal and business credit cards that range from no annual fee up to $199 annual fee. This makes a Southwest card ideal for budgets at every price point.2Annual fee
- With a Southwest credit card, you can earn Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases and money spent via hotel and car rental partners in addition to other popular categories like transit, internet, cable and phone service expenses.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of airline credit cards
Pros
- Using Southwest credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score.
- Southwest credit cards can earn Rapid Rewards points (or flexible travel rewards) on every dollar you spend.
- Many Southwest credit cards provide purchase, theft and fraud protection.
- Some Southwest credit cards offer shortcuts to earning elite status — or even the carrier’s venerated Companion Pass.
- Select Southwest credit cards provide perks like travel insurance, statement credits for select purchases and more.
Cons
- Southwest credit cards can encourage overspending.
- Carrying a balance and using your Southwest card irresponsibly can damage your credit score.
- The cost of borrowing on Southwest credit cards is higher than traditional loans.
- Having too many card applications can negatively affect your credit score.
- You may not travel with Southwest Airlines enough to make a Southwest credit card worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
To earn a Companion Pass, you must take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year or earn 135,000 points in a calendar year. If you have a Southwest credit card, you get an automatic 10,000 points toward this requirement. Then, the points you earn through card spending count toward your Companion Pass, including welcome bonus points. This means the easiest way to earn a Companion Pass is by getting a Southwest credit card early in the calendar year and using that bonus toward your Companion Pass qualification.
For frequent Southwest flyers and anyone who can benefit significantly from earning a Companion Pass, a Southwest credit card is almost certainly a worthwhile card to carry.
However, if you want to maximize your earning potential and aren’t trying to earn a Companion Pass, you’ll be better off getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and transferring your points to your Rapid Rewards account, since it earns bonus points on dining and broader travel purchases than cobranded Southwest cards do.
Which Southwest credit card is best will depend on your annual fee budget and which Southwest perks you value. For the most perks, you’ll want to opt for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, since it comes with the most valuable benefits. However, if you just want to dip your toes into the world of Rapid Rewards and keep your annual fees low, you’ll want to go with the lowest-tier Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
You can request a Southwest product change by calling the number on the back of your credit card. However, we don’t recommend any product change within the first year of having a card since you’ll forfeit earning a card’s welcome bonus if you opt for a product change instead of applying for a new card.
You can access a Southwest credit card application page by clicking one of our application links or going to Chase’s website. Then, simply fill out the prompts on the application and click “Submit” when you’re done. You should know quickly whether your application is approved.
For any Southwest credit card, it’s recommended that you have good to excellent credit, or a score of at least 670, to increase your chances of approval.
To close a Southwest credit card, simply call the number on the back of your card and request to close it. However, we recommend waiting until you’ve had the card for at least a year before closing it.