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Southwest Airlines isn't for everyone, but some travelers “LUV” the low-cost, open-seating, bags-fly-free airline. For those who utilize the airline, it can make sense to add a co-branded credit card to your wallet.
But how do you choose the right one? There are 5 co-branded Southwest credit cards—3 personal and 2 business—all issued by Chase bank. Each card has its own 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.
The Southwest cards feature different levels of perks and benefits, so let's take a deeper look into each card and see which is best suited to your travel goals.
Quick Review of Chase's Application Rules
Before we delve into the details of each card and how to choose the right Southwest credit card for your wallet, it's crucial to have an understanding of Chase's application rules. That will help you determine if you are eligible for a card or not.
Chase's 5/24 Rule
The first application rule that Chase bank implements is known as 5/24. In short: if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts in the previous 24 months, 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
The good news is that pretty much all other business credit accounts do not count towards 5/24. You can open up business cards, even from Chase, and not get a ding on your account. Just keep in mind, 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 5/24. Additionally, you can find out how to see what your 5/24 score is here.
Southwest-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.
This means that 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 Southwest card in the last 24 months, you won't be eligible for another one until the required amount of time has passed.
Fortunately, business cards do not fall under this rule. We'll delve more into this later.
Southwest Personal Cards
To choose the best Southwest credit card for your situation, let's look at how they're different. Each Southwest consumer credit card comes with its own benefits and perks, which can more than outweigh its annual fee. If you play your cards right, you'll get far more value than it costs to keep your card year after year.
- 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
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
This card is a no-frills card that is a great option for those not worried about elite status or priority benefits. What you will get, however, is two Early Bird check-ins per year, a 3,000 point anniversary bonus, 25% back on inflight purchases, and, most importantly, the welcome offer—which can get you much closer to earning a Companion Pass and free flights if you time your application right.
Keep in mind that this card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. So, if you plan to use it while traveling, this may not be the best option.
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 6,000 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.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Southwest Premier Card card is the mid-tier card and a step above the Southwest Plus Card. For one, you won't pay foreign transaction fees and the increased 6,000-point anniversary bonus can make this card a keeper.
Consider this card if you want a product you can use on your travels but don't want to commit to the higher annual fee of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card card.
- 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
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Southwest Priority Card card is the top-tier card of the trio. The annual fee is higher than its two counterparts. Still, it also comes with elite benefits and other perks that set it apart from the other two personal Southwest cards—including a $75 travel credit, 4 Upgraded Boardings per year, and the highest 7,500-point anniversary points bonus of the consumer cards. Heavy spenders looking to secure A-List status with Southwest can also quickly earn their way there with this card.
Southwest Business Cards
Anyone who flies Southwest even occasionally should consider one of its business cards. Not only do these cards not count against your 5/24 score (see above notes on application rules), but you can hold both business cards or one business card and one personal card. Remember that personal cards are restricted to just one.
- 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 points 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
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners
- 2X points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable and phone services
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
This is the more premium product out of the two Southwest business card options and can make sense for someone who flies Southwest often. The wifi credits alone can add up to big savings. Additionally, you'll save up to $120 a year with the four Upgraded Boardings per year. Finally, with a TSA PreCheck credit, you can breeze your way through security.
- 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
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and communting, including rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
If you are opposed to high annual fees and don't fly Southwest too often, the Southwest Premier Business Card card could be right up your alley. You can still spend your way to A-List status, and you'll also get two Upgraded Boardings each year. However, you lose out on the wifi credits and TSA PreCheck. But for just a $99 annual fee, this card is a great deal. Plus, you get a 6,000 Rapid Rewards point anniversary bonus just for holding the card and paying the annual fee each year.
How to Earn a Companion Pass for Nearly Two Full Years
One of the best reasons to grab any of these Southwest credit cards is for the super lucrative Companion Pass. For those who aren't familiar with it, 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—which starts at just $5.60 for domestic flights. International flights will cost more in taxes and fees.
To qualify for this benefit, you need to 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, as well. 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.
Better yet, if you time your applications right, you can qualify for the Companion Pass for the rest of the year in which you qualify—plus the entire year after. That's right! Any credit card bonus points that you earn on or after January 1, 2022, will count towards earning the Companion Pass for the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023. That's a lot of free flights for your companion. You can read our complete guide to the Companion Pass here.
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 if you can maximize the perks. Whichever card you do choose, though, you are still bound to get amazing value—especially if you time your strategy right and qualify for a Companion Pass.
Which Southwest Airlines credit card do you think makes the most sense for you?
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The most valuable insight in this article is rightly bolded, since the simple matterthe right timing can double your value: “Better yet, if you time your applications right, you can qualify for the Companion Pass for the rest of the year in which you qualify—plus the entire year after.”