Benefits of Southwest Airlines Credit Cards
There are three consumer cards to choose from, and while many of their basic features are similar, you'll get more perks the more you pay.
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Southwest Airlines, in partnership with Chase, offers three consumer cards, aimed at steadfast Southwest flyers hoping to accelerate their Rapid Rewards points earnings:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: $99 annual fee.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: $149 annual fee.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: $229 annual fee.
The names and some of the basic features of the cards are similar, but in general you'll get more rewards and perks as you step up in price. Here are the benefits of Southwest Airlines credit cards.
★ LIMITED TIME OFFER
Heads up! For a limited time, select Southwest Airlines credit cards are offering a 100,000-point sign-up bonus for new cardholders. The offer, which rolled out in conjunction with an update to the Southwest card portfolio, is good only through Sept. 17, 2025. Get the full details and apply here.
1. Ongoing rewards
In addition to the bonus, all three cards earn points for spending.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2 points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined spending each anniversary year; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants with no yearly cap; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Plus, through Dec. 31, 2025, all three cards also earn:
2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
2. Welcome bonus
The welcome offer for all three Southwest cards is the same: Our best points offer this year, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening.
You can also redeem Rapid Rewards points for hotels, rental cars, travel experiences, gift cards and merchandise (point values may vary).
NerdWallet values Southwest points at 1.3 cents each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.3 cents or more in value from your Southwest points.
3. Move closer to A-List status and a coveted Companion Pass
Southwest’s Companion Pass allows you to designate a travel buddy who can fly with you for nearly free (just the cost of taxes and fees) whenever you buy yourself a ticket with cash or Rapid Rewards points. You need to earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year to get a Companion Pass, which is good for the rest of that year plus one additional calendar year.
The sign-up bonus for all three Southwest cards will help you get closer to this much-beloved benefit. Plus, all three Southwest cards come with 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card gets you 2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend per year, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card earns up to 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend per year. This will help you gain A-list status — you need to earn 35,000 tier qualifying points or have 25 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year to qualify. A-List status gets you:
Priority boarding, check-in, and security lane access.
25% more Rapid Rewards earned whenever you fly.
Free same-day standby.
A dedicated A-List member phone line.
4. Annual bonus points
Each of the Southwest cards earns additional anniversary bonuses each year you keep it in your wallet:
3,000 anniversary points per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
6,000 anniversary points per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.
7,500 anniversary points per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.
5. No foreign transaction fees
None of the three Southwest consumer cards charges a foreign transaction fee, saving you money on every overseas purchase. As Visa cards, the Southwest credit cards are accepted worldwide.
6. Free checked bags
All three cards offer a free checked bag for cardholders and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. Southwest charges $35 for the first checked bag, which means this benefit can save a group of eight passengers on the same reservation up to $280.
On March 11, 2025, Southwest announced that two bags will no longer fly free for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, ending a longstanding and popular policy that had defined the airline. The first checked bag will cost $35, and the second checked bag will cost $45. However, select Southwest flyers — including those with elite status, Business Select flyers and Rapid Rewards credit cardholders — will still get at least one free bag. Read NerdWallet's story on Southwest's changes for details.
7. Upgraded boardings, early check-ins
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, get reimbursed if you buy up to four upgraded boardings each anniversary year, when available. That will get you a coveted spot in positions A1-A15 during boarding, and you can buy the upgrade at the ticket counter or gate the day you travel. Upgraded boardings cost $30-$50, depending on your itinerary, making this benefit worth $120-$200 if you take full advantage. (Note: This benefit is going away after Dec. 31, 2025.)
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you get two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year. That doesn't guarantee an A boarding position, but it improves your seat selection options to help you get your favorite seat, Southwest says. EarlyBird Check-In usually cost $15 to $25 one-way per passenger. (Note: After Jan. 27, 2026, EarlyBird Check-In will no longer be available for purchase.)
Plus, all three cards come with a seat selection perk within 48 hours prior to departure (when available and for flights operating in 2026) and Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
8. In-flight discounts
With all three Southwest cards, you’ll receive 25% back in the form of a statement credit for in-flight purchases of drinks and Wi-Fi access. You’ll also get 25% back if your authorized users make in-flight purchases.
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