For most folks who regularly fly Southwest Airlines, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card provides the best value and perks. It has the highest annual fee among co-branded Southwest cards, but it also lets you enjoy the highest rewards and most perks. If you prefer more flexibility with your points, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another strong option. We’ve selected the top Southwest cards to help every type of traveler maximize rewards based on their spending habits.
Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards (September 2024)
Updated: September 25, 2024
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Why You Can Trust Our Picks
To provide accurate and up-to-date recommendations, MoneyGeek’s team reviews 32 key data points for each Southwest Airlines credit card using sources like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, issuer websites and trusted partners.
Our proprietary ranking system evaluates cards based on factors that matter most to travelers, such as expected value, airline coverage, sign-up bonuses, rewards rates, foreign transaction fees and customer satisfaction. We prioritize features that maximize value for Southwest travelers, ensuring our rankings reflect the best options for various needs and preferences.
Top Credit Cards for Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is famous for its affordable fares and customer-friendly perks like free checked bags and no change fees. It offers co-branded credit cards that not only help you earn Rapid Rewards points faster but also come with valuable perks like priority boarding and travel credits. We've carefully selected the top cards based on their benefits, rewards and fees to suit different types of travelers.
| Credit Card | Rewards Summary | Intro Offer | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earn 1X–5X points | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 | |
| Earn 1X–3X points | Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $149 | |
| Earn 1X–2X points | Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $69 | |
| Earn 1X–4X points | Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | $199 |
More About Southwest Cards
The best Southwest Airlines credit card for you will depend on how frequently you fly and which perks align with your travel needs. We’ve outlined the top options, including their standout features and potential drawbacks, to help you find the right fit for your flying habits.
Best Card for Flexible Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Earning
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x o...Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variableAnnual Fee
$95Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Best Card for Regular Southwest Fliers
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rewards Earning
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X po...Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variableAnnual Fee
$149Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Best Card for Low Annual Fees
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Rewards Earning
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X po...Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variableAnnual Fee
$69Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Best Card for Business Travelers
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Rewards Earning
Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases, 3X on Rapi...Regular APR
21.49%–28.49% VariableAnnual Fee
$199Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Who Should Get a Southwest Airlines Credit Card
A Southwest Airlines credit card can be a smart choice for frequent Southwest travelers. These co-branded cards earn high points on Southwest flights and offer perks like priority boarding and, on some cards, travel credits. The generous sign-up bonuses and points-earning potential make them valuable, especially if you're aiming for A-List or Companion Pass status.
If Southwest is your preferred airline for business or leisure, here’s how a Southwest card can benefit you:
- Frequent Southwest Flyers: Regular travelers can quickly rack up Tier Qualifying Points (TQP) for award flights, reducing travel costs. These points also count toward A-List or Companion Pass eligibility, with A-List unlocking perks like priority boarding and bonus points and the Companion Pass allowing a companion to fly with you for free (exclusive of fees and taxes).
- Casual Southwest Travelers: A Southwest card can still provide value even if you only fly a few times a year. Earning points on everyday purchases and receiving anniversary bonuses can help you reach award flights faster. Priority boarding is valuable for families, especially when you want to secure overhead space.
However, if you rarely fly Southwest or prefer more flexible rewards, a general travel card may offer more versatility, with points transferable across multiple airlines and hotels.
How to Choose the Best Southwest Airlines Credit Card for You
Choosing the right Southwest Airlines credit card can help you maximize your rewards and enjoy valuable perks. Follow these steps to find the card that best fits your travel habits and financial needs.
1
Assess Your Travel Frequency
Start by considering how often you fly with Southwest. If you travel frequently for business or leisure, the Rapid Rewards Priority or Rapid Rewards Performance Business cards may be worth it. Despite their higher annual fees, they offer more points and better perks. If you only fly Southwest once or twice a year, the Rapid Rewards Plus or a general travel card might be a better fit.
2
Evaluate Annual Fees and Perks
The Rapid Rewards Plus has the lowest annual fee among Southwest cards but offers fewer perks. On the other hand, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority comes with a $149 annual fee but offers more points on Southwest flights and a $75 Southwest travel credit each year.
3
Consider Long-Term Value
Think about the card’s long-term value by looking at how the rewards rate aligns with your spending. Southwest consumer cards earn high points on Southwest flights, transit, rideshares, internet, cable, phone services and select streaming. The Rapid Rewards Performance Business offers the same bonus categories but adds social media and search engine advertising. It also has a bigger sign-up bonus, though this card is only available to business owners.
We compare the key features of the best Southwest credit cards below to help you make an informed decision:
Rapid Rewards Plus | Rapid Rewards Priority | Rapid Rewards Performance Business | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $69 | $149 | $199 |
Sign-up bonus | Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account | Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account | Earn up to 120,000 points: 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months, and an additional 40,000 points after spending $15,000 in nine months |
Points on Southwest purchases | 2X points | 3X points | 4X points |
Points on other spending | 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. 2X points on local transit, rideshares, internet, cable, phone services and select streaming services. 1X points on all other purchases. | 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. 2X points on local transit, rideshares, internet, cable, phone services and select streaming services. 1X points on all other purchases. | 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners. 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, phone services, local transit and commuting. 1X points on all other purchases. |
Anniversary bonus | 3,000 points | 7,500 points | 9,000 points |
Southwest travel credit | None | $75 per year | None |
Does it earn A-List tier qualifying points? | No | Yes, 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent, no limit | Yes, 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent, no limit |
Foreign transaction fees | 3% | None | None |
Boarding perks | Two EarlyBird check-ins per year | Four upgraded boardings per year | Four upgraded boardings per year |
Southwest Airlines Credit Card Alternatives
Southwest Airlines credit cards offer valuable perks for loyal travelers, but they may not suit everyone. Rapid Rewards points can only be redeemed for Southwest flights, which primarily focus on domestic routes and use an open seating system. This means you can’t use your points for first-class flights to international destinations like Tokyo, limiting your redemption options.
General travel cards like the Sapphire Preferred offer more flexibility, broader bonus categories and the ability to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel programs. This gives you more options for redeeming points. Notably, Chase Ultimate Rewards points have a 1-to-1 transferability to Southwest Rapid Rewards. However, you’ll miss out on airline-specific perks like priority boarding. That said, since Southwest already includes free checked bags, one of the main reasons people choose airline cards isn’t as relevant here.
One thing to keep in mind is that while general travel cards are great for flexibility, Southwest’s Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel, making their cards highly valuable for frequent Southwest flyers.
FAQ About Southwest Airline Credit Cards
How do you earn points on a Southwest credit card?
You earn points by making purchases with your Southwest credit card. Southwest purchases typically earn more points per dollar than other categories. Some cards also offer bonus points for spending in specific categories like travel, transit and more.
What is the best Southwest credit card?
The best card depends on your travel habits and what benefits you value most. Frequent travelers might prefer cards with higher rewards rates and perks like priority boarding, while occasional travelers might opt for cards with lower fees.
How do Southwest credit cards help you earn a Companion Pass?
Points earned from purchases with your Southwest credit card count towards Companion Pass eligibility. Meeting spending thresholds can significantly boost your points, helping you qualify faster.
Are the points earned from Southwest credit cards transferable to other loyalty programs?
No, points earned from Southwest credit cards are not transferable to other loyalty programs. They can only be used within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program.
Do Southwest credit cards offer lounge access or other travel perks?
Southwest credit cards do not offer lounge access. However, some cards provide perks like priority boarding, in-flight discounts and travel credits.
How much are Southwest points worth?
The value of your Rapid Rewards points varies based on how you redeem them. Typically, you can get the best value by redeeming for award flights, which will give you 1.4 cents per point.
How We Chose the Best Southwest Cards
We analyzed and ranked airline cards based on the following key features, listed in order of score impact:
- Expected Value for Travelers (40%): Measures the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for a typical traveler.
- Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to. A 5 rating indicates the widest scope.
- Offer ROI (15%): Evaluates the return on investment from the introductory bonus offers.
- Airline Rewards Rate for Travelers (10%): Measures the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
- Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study, rating the overall satisfaction with the card issuer.
- Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): Rates the cost of foreign transaction fees, where a higher rating indicates no or low fees.
- Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the accessibility of the card based on credit score requirements.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card.." Accessed September 25, 2024.
- Chase. "Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card." Accessed September 25, 2024.
- Chase. "Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card." Accessed September 25, 2024.
- Chase. "Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business." Accessed September 25, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.