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Southwest Airlines isn't for everyone, but plenty of travelers still “LUV” the low-cost airline — even despite recent changes. For those who fly the airline regularly, it can make sense to add a co-branded credit card to your wallet, especially with the money-saving perks they offer.
But with Southwest’s five co-branded credit cards — three personal and two business — all issued by Chase, choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward. Each has its unique set of perks and benefits, as well as a difference in annual fees. Which one is right for you will vary from individual to individual. A limited-time welcome offer could also influence when it makes sense to apply.
To help you decide, we’ll break down each Southwest credit card and highlight which type of traveler it fits best.
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Comparing Personal Southwest Credit Cards
To choose the best Southwest credit card for your situation, let's look at how they differ. Each Southwest consumer credit card comes with its own benefits, and depending on how you travel, those perks can help offset the annual fee.
Now that Southwest is charging for bags and has assigned seating, credit cards can play a pivotal role in avoiding those fees. If you play your cards right, you'll get far more value than it costs to keep your card year after year.
$99Rates & Fees
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
$149
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
$229Rates & Fees
- 4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Southwest Plus Card is a no-frills card that is great for those not worried about elite status or priority benefits. It includes:
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure
- Group 5 boarding
- 10% discount code each year for use on a paid Southwest flight
- 3,000-point bonus each cardholder anniversary
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- 2X Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases plus restaurant and grocery purchases (up to $5,000 spent per anniversary year)
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- No foreign transaction fees
Our take: Consider this card if you want a low annual fee, a solid welcome bonus, and a handful of ongoing perks that can help offset Southwest travel costs
- 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 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Plus Card Review
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Premier Card card is the mid-tier option and a step above the Southwest Plus Card. It also includes:
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure
- Group 5 boarding
- 6,000-point bonus each cardholder anniversary
- 15% discount code each year for use on a paid Southwest flight
- Earn 3X Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases and 2X for restaurant and grocery purchases (up to $8,000 spent per anniversary year)
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Our take: The Southwest Premier Card can be a good middle-ground option if you want added seat selection flexibility without the higher annual fee of the Southwest Priority Card.
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Premier Card Review
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
The Southwest Priority Card is the top-tier card of the trio. The annual fee is higher than its two counterparts. But it comes with elite benefits and other perks that set it apart from the other two personal Southwest cards. In fact, assuming you travel a few times per year, the benefits more than offset the $229 annual fee.
This card includes:
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- Group 5 boarding
- Preferred seat at booking
- Extra Legroom seat upgrade within 48 hours of departure
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- 7,500-point bonus each cardholder anniversary
- Earn 4X Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- 2,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Our take: Despite the higher annual fee, this is the best personal card for those traveling several times a year on Southwest due to the huge cost savings on bags and seat fees. The value of the anniversary points plus the savings on seat fees can easily outweigh the annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Priority Card Review
Comparing Southwest Credit Cards for Small Businesses
Small business owners who fly Southwest even occasionally should consider one of its business cards. Not only do these cards not count against your 5/24 status (see below notes on application rules), but the “you can only have one of these cards” rule for personal Southwest cards doesn't apply to these business cards.
And before you think you aren't eligible for a business credit card, you might be surprised. Selling items online, walking dogs in your neighborhood, and other paid work you do on the side can qualify as a business.
$299Rates & Fees
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
$149Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
The Southwest Performance Business Card is the more premium product out of the two Southwest business card options and can make sense for someone who frequently flies Southwest. The benefits closely mirror the Southwest Priority Card on the personal side. This card includes:
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- Group 5 boarding
- Preferred seat at booking
- Extra Legroom seat upgrade within 48 hours of departure
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- 9,000 anniversary points
- Earn 4X Rapid Rewards on Southwest purchases
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- 2,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit
In most cases, if you're earning a Southwest Companion Pass through welcome bonuses, you'll typically need to open a business card anyway. Of the two options, the substantial perks of this card should make it a top choice.
Our take: With similar great perks as the personal Priority card, this is a top choice for small business owners who fly with Southwest fairly often.
- 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 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- Member FDIC
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Performance Business Card Review
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
The Southwest Premier Business Card card is essentially the business version of the personal Premier card. All the perks, benefits, earnings, and annual fees are the same.
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure
- Group 5 boarding
- 10% discount code each year for use on a paid Southwest flight
- 6,000-point bonus at each anniversary
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- 2X Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases plus restaurant and grocery purchases (up to $5,000 spent per anniversary year)
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases
Our take: Open this card if you want the solid benefits of a mid-tier card and want to avoid the credit hit a personal card would cause.
- 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 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Premier Business Card Review
Earn a Companion Pass With Southwest Credit Cards
One of the best reasons to grab a Southwest credit card is for the super lucrative Companion Pass. For those who aren't familiar with it, earning the Southwest Companion Pass allows you to take a companion with you on any Southwest flight, as long as there is an open seat. You'll only pay for the taxes and fees — starting at just $5.60 for domestic flights. International flights will cost more in taxes and fees.
To qualify for this benefit, you need to take 100 qualifying flights or earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Rapid Rewards earned through credit card welcome offers and credit card spending all count toward the pass.
Signing up for a Southwest credit card (or two) and getting the signup bonus is one of the fastest methods of earning a Companion Pass.
You can read our complete guide to earning the Southwest Companion Pass to learn more.
Southwest Credit Card Application Rules
Before applying for a Southwest credit card, it's crucial to have an understanding of Chase's application rules as they pertain to co-branded Southwest credit cards. That will help you determine if you are eligible for a card's welcome bonus or not.
Chase's 5/24 rule
The first application rule to keep in mind is Chase's 5/24 rule. In short, if you have opened five or more new credit card accounts in the previous 24 months (based on what's seen on your credit report), you may not be eligible to open any of the cards mentioned in this article. New accounts include the following:
- All personal credit cards from any credit card provider
- Sometimes authorized user accounts
- Business cards from Discover and Capital One if they're showing on your credit report
The good news is that pretty much all other business credit accounts do not count toward 5/24. You can open business card accounts, even from Chase, and not get a ding on your 5/24 number. Just keep in mind that if you are over 5/24, you will not be eligible for a business card.
Whew. Got that all? It's okay if you are still confused. You can read more in our comprehensive article covering Chase 5/24. Additionally, you can find out how to check your Chase 5/24 score.
Southwest card-specific limitations
The second application rule applies specifically to the personal Southwest cards. Here are the specific terms from Chase:
The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.
If you currently have any personal Southwest credit card, you cannot get another. It also means that if you have received a bonus on a personal Southwest card in the last 24 months, you won't be eligible for another one until the required time period has passed.
Fortunately, business cards do not fall under this rule.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to consider when it's time to choose which Southwest credit card is right for you: annual fee, how often you fly the airline, and whether you can maximize the perks. Now that Southwest has leaned so heavily into extra fees for things like checked bags and seat selection, having a credit card to avoid those costs is critical. Whichever card you choose, though, you are still bound to get amazing value — especially if you qualify for and maximize a Companion Pass.
Related: How the Southwest Airlines Boarding Process Works
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
