Southwest Airlines Credit Card: Score a Free Flight Today

Good news! The Southwest Airlines credit card actually has value to back up its sales pitch. We’re generally wary of cards dedicated to specific airlines, as they tend to be severely limiting. Fortunately, Southwest is pretty much universally regarded as America’s favorite. And the scrappy little airline just won a little more of our hearts with its Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.

Free flight bonus

Let’s start with the free flight because—let’s be honest—that’s why you’re reading. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus grants 25,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. When redeeming for airfare, 25,000 miles is equivalent to $250 in basic economy fare or $400 in budget “Wanna Get Away” fare. So bam, there you go. No spending minimum. No time stipulation. One purchase—jellybeans or a Rolex, whatever, doesn’t matter—and you fly free.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - FREE FLIGHT
	NOW! Earn a FREE FLIGHT after your first purchase Get 3,000 Points every year on your Card member Anniversary that can be redeemed for a $50 Wanna Get Away® Fare Now you can redeem for International Travel, Hotels, Gift Cards and more. Earn unlimited FREE FLIGHTS - 2 Points per $1 Spent on Southwest Purchases and 1 Point per $1 Spent on EVERYTHING else Your Bags Fly FREE! No Blackout Dates, Points Dont Expire, and Unlimited Reward Seats! No Change fees if you need to change your flight, you wont be charged a fee September 11th Security Fee Applies
Annual Fee Signing Promo APR, variable* Intro APR Promotions $69 25,000 Southwest Airlines Miles Bonus - after your first purchase APR: 15.24% Default APR: 29.99% Cash Adv: 19.24% Purchase: None Bal Trans: None

Ongoing rewards

Beyond the signing bonus, rewards accumulate at 2% on Southwest, Rapid Rewards Hotels and Car Rental Partner purchases. Rapid Rewards Hotels include Best Western, Choice Hotels, Hyatt, La Quinta, Marriott, Starwood, Venetian/Palazzo and Wyndham. Car Rental Partners include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty. All other purchases earn a flat and unlimited 1%.

Right now, Southwest is also offering the opportunity to earn rewards on balance transfers at a rate of 1 point per dollar transferred. Balance transfer rewards are capped at 10,000 points. And keep in mind, you will have to pay the transfer fee, which is 3% of the transferred sum ($5 minimum).

Loyal and loving, Southwest will never forget your anniversary. Every year, to commemorate your signing, Southwest will present you with a 3,000-mile gift, worth $30 in standard or $50 in budget airfare. Any of your miles, by the way, can be redeemed for gift cards, car rentals, cruises and hotel stays in addition to flights.

The Southwest card does come with a $69 annual fee, but we think the cost is justified. The signing bonus, the recurring anniversary bonus and the ongoing, unlimited rewards all work to counteract the cost. If you’re a frequent flyer (or just want that first free flight), sign up!

Why Southwest?

Out of all the existing American airlines, Southwest is the least likely to blindside flyers with hefty ancillary fees. It’s the only American airline to offer 2 free checked bags and charge no ticket change fee. Additional baggage is only 50 bucks a bag, and Southwest has one of the best military baggage discounts out there. Like we said, if you’re looking at airline branded credit cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards is your best bet. But remember, Southwest is strictly domestic. At the very least, they acknowledge this shortcoming by offering flight rewards to over 800 international locations through other airlines.

Southwest vs. Venture + Sapphire

When analyzing travel cards, we like to put them in the ring with our two reigning champs: the Capital One Venture and the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Both are general travel cards unattached to a specific airline or travel service, allowing for reward redemption through a wide variety of airlines, hotels and rental services. Here’s how the Southwest card matches up against the top contenders in its class.

While Southwest limits you to earning 2% on specific travel categories, the Capital One Venture accrues miles at a flat 2% rate on all purchases, meaning you’ll earn twice as fast on just about everything. The Venture’s $59 annual fee is waived the first year, boosting its value What’s really wonderful about Capital One’s No Hassle Miles is their versatility. You can redeem for flights on any airline, stays at any hotel, car rentals through any service, vacation packages and cruises without blackout dates or restrictions. If you’re traveling internationally, the Venture charges no foreign transaction fee. Southwest, in contrast, charges an additional 3% on every out-of-country purchase. We recommend the Venture for travelers who value their options and enjoy a high rewards rate.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is known for its staggering signing bonus. At 50,000-miles, the bonus is worth $625 when redeemed for travel. That right there may be impetus enough to give the Sapphire a whirl. Ongoing rewards accumulate at 2% on travel and dining and 1% on everything else. Similar to Southwest, the Sapphire offers an annual gift. But rather than giving you a fixed sum of points, you’ll receive a dividend equal to 7% of your total miles earned over the past 12 months. To put the icing on the cake, the Sapphire charges no foreign transaction fee, and you’ll use 20% fewer points when using Chase to book your travels. The downside? A $95 annual fee. Luckily, the fee is waived the first year, and Chase offers an unusual number of ways to maximize rewards.