Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of February 2026
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
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Southwest Airlines offers an array of credit cards, just like other major U.S. airlines. But Southwest operates differently from other carriers, so its cards are different, too. For instance, the airline doesn't operate a network of airport lounges, so it doesn't have cards that offer lounge access. Southwest also doesn't offer a no-annual-fee card, although holders do get at least one checked bag for free, which can help defray that cost now that Southwest charges for bags. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right Southwest Airlines credit card for you.
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NerdWallet's Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of February 2026
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for Frequent Southwest flyers
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Best for Lowest annual fee
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Best for Business travelers
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Point transfers and flexibility
Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card  Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Point transfers and flexibility | $95 | 1x-5x | 75,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Lowest annual fee | $99 | 1x-2x | 50,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Business travelers | $299 | 1x-4x | 80,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Frequent Southwest flyers | $229 | 1x-4x | 50,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card
Apply Nowon Chase's websiteon Chase's websiteAnnual fee$95Rewards rate1x-5xPointsIntro offer75,000pointsRegular APR19.24%-27.49% Variable APRRecommended credit scoreRewards breakdown
5xPoints on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.3xPoints on dining.3xPoints on select streaming services.3xPoints on online groceries.2xPoints on all other travel purchases.1xPoint on all other purchases.Card details
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't a Southwest-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to Southwest — meaning that if you use this card right, you could actually earn 5 Southwest points per dollar spent on other airlines.
Read full reviewProsYou earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Points can be transferred to Southwest or other partners, or you can use them to book travel through Chase. There's a stellar sign-up bonus and a slew of other perks.
ConsBecause this a general-purpose travel card rather than a branded card, it won't qualify you for any airline-specific perks.
Our pick for: Lowest annual fee
Apply Nowon Chase's websiteon Chase's websiteAnnual fee$99Rewards rate1x-2xPointsIntro offer50,000pointsRegular APR19.24%-27.74% Variable APRRecommended credit scoreRewards breakdown
2xPoints on Southwest Airlines® purchases.2xPoints at Gas stations and Grocery stores on first $5,000 in combined purchases per year.1xPoints on all other purchases.Card details
- 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the airline's lowest-cost card, but the benefits aren't too much of a step down.
Read full reviewProsYou'll usually earn the same bonus on this card as you would on Southwest's more expensive consumer cards. Meanwhile, you'll earn 2 points on Southwest purchases. You'll also earn 2 points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in spending per anniversary year.
ConsWhile other U.S. airlines have credit card options with no annual fee, Southwest does not. If you don't travel much, $99 a year might still be too high for the privilege of carrying a credit card.
Our pick for: Business travelers
Apply Nowon Chase's websiteon Chase's websiteAnnual fee$299Rewards rate1x-4xPointsIntro offer80,000pointsRegular APR19.24%-27.74% Variable APRRecommended credit scoreRewards breakdown
4xPoints per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.2xPoints per $1 spent on gas station and restaurant purchases.2xPoints per $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.2xPoints per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.1xPoint per $1 spent on all other purchases.Card details
- 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the closest thing this airline has to a premium card, with perks that can return solid value to business operators who frequently fly Southwest.
Read full reviewProsYou start with a great bonus offer, then earn Southwest's highest rewards rates: 4X points on Southwest purchases; 2X at gas stations and restaurants; 2X on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel; 2X on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and 1X on other purchases. You get reimbursement for the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry, as well as for four upgraded boardings a year (see description under the Priority card). The card also offers up to 365 credits a year (at $8 apiece) for in-flight wi-fi, plus a 9,000-point anniversary bonus.
ConsThe $299 annual fee is steep, at least for Southwest, but keep in mind that it can be a deductible business expense. Unlike Southwest's top-of-the-line consumer card, this card doesn't offer an annual travel credit.
Our pick for: Frequent Southwest flyers
Apply Nowon Chase's websiteon Chase's websiteAnnual fee$229Rewards rate1x-4xPointsIntro offer50,000pointsRegular APR19.24%-27.74% Variable APRRecommended credit scoreRewards breakdown
4xPoints on Southwest Airlines® purchases.2xPoints at gas stations and restaurants.1xPoints on all other purchases.Card details
- 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 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Although the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the airline's priciest card, its perks can offset the cost for a dedicated Southwest flyer.
Read full reviewProsThe card earns 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points at gas stations and restaurants. Cardholders and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation can also get one free checked bag and early boarding.
ConsEven though you're paying more than twice as much for this card as for the Plus, the standard sign-up bonus is the same on all the cards.
Heads-up: Bags don't fly free anymore
Update: 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. Other changes of note for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025:
Southwest will replace its Wanna Get Away fares with a new Basic fare that earns only 2 points per dollar and implement dynamic pricing for award redemptions.
Flight credits will now carry a one-year expiration date, or six months for Basic tickets.
The airline also plans to begin operating flights with seat assignments and extra-legroom seats in 2026, ending its open-seating policy.
Read NerdWallet's story on Southwest's changes for details.
More about our picks
Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Our pick for: Frequent Southwest flyers
Southwest Airlines' priciest card is also its best. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card doesn't offer richer rewards or a significantly better sign-up bonus than the carrier's lower-fee cards, but it comes with an annual travel credit, a great anniversary bonus and other perks that justify (and offset) its annual fee. Read our review.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Rewards
4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
2 points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Notable perks
10,000-point boost each year in Companion Pass qualifying points.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Travel perks, like a free checked bag, early boarding and extra legroom, when available.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Bonus offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Our pick for: Lowest annual fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the lowest-fee card in the Southwest portfolio, but it's not that big of a step down from the more expensive options. Key differences: a lower rewards rate on Southwest purchases and a smaller anniversary bonus. Read our review.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Rewards
2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
2 points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stories on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Notable perks
3,000 point anniverary bonus each year upon renewal.
10,000-point boost each year in Companion Pass qualifying points.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Travel perks, like free checked bag and early boarding.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Bonus offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Our pick for: Regular Southwest flyers
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a decent middle ground among the airline's consumer credit cards. You get elevated earnings on Southwest purchases and a bigger anniversary bonus compared with the Plus card, but it lacks the perks (and the higher cost) of the Priority card. Read our review.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Rewards
3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
2 points per dollar at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in spending per year.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Notable perks
6,000-point anniversary bonus each year upon renewal.
10,000-point boost each year in Companion Pass qualifying points.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Travel perks, like a free checked bag and early boarding.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Bonus offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Point transfers and flexibility
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are potentially worth more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Rewards
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase.
5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025).
3 points per dollar on dining.
3 points per dollar on select streaming services.
3 points per dollar on online grocery orders (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through Chase.
1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Notable perks
Redeem points for travel booked through Chase.
Transfer points to Southwest or a dozen other airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.
$50 in statement credit every anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase. (Note: You won't receive rewards points for the $50 in spending that gets reimbursed via this credit.)
10% annual points bonus: Each anniversary, earn points equal to 10% of your spending in the past year. Spend $10,000, for example, get 1,000 bonus points.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Our pick for: Business travelers
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the closest thing this airline has to a premium card. Benefits and perks like 4x points on Southwest purchases, upgraded boardings and a credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry can return solid value to business operators who frequently fly the airline. Read our review.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Rewards
4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
2 points per dollar at gas stations and restaurants.
2 points per dollar on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Notable perks
9,000-point anniversary bonus each year upon renewal.
Credit for 4 upgraded boardings each year (when available).
Credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus.
10,000-point boost each year in Companion Pass qualifying points.
Up to 365 credits per year ($8 per credit) for in-flight Wifi service on Southwest.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Up to $500 a year in statement credit toward fees incurred when transferring Rapid Rewards points to another member.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Business Performance Credit Card: Bonus offer
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Choosing the right Southwest Airlines credit card for you
Choosing a Southwest Airlines credit card can be tricky because differences between the three consumer cards may seem subtle at first glance. But you receive progressively more value from the cards with higher annual fees.
The trio of cards share a primary perk: free frequent-flyer points posted to your account annually. So the decision comes down to the extra value you get for the $229 annual fee of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card compared with the $99 you'll pay for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card — and then whether it's worth paying $229 to step up to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.
Annual fee
Anniversary points
Tier qualifying points
Priority benefits
Bonus offers
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.
Other options
An airline card is not your only choice. General travel credit cards offer rewards that can be used on various travel spending, not just a single airline. Redeeming rewards for credit against a Southwest Airlines purchase or other travel spending essentially "erases" it from your balance. That makes these cards a good choice for people who spread their business around.
Or consider a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns points that can be transferred to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program at a 1:1 ratio. It has an annual fee of $95, and it comes with an outstanding sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Making the decision
If you don’t care about earning elite status on Southwest, won’t use the card abroad and can’t stomach higher annual fees, go with the cheapest card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
A good middle choice is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Its higher annual fee is equalized by the extra anniversary points it offers, assuming you use the points toward a flight. It eliminates foreign transaction fees and offers minor progress toward elite status on the airline.
Avid Southwest flyers who appreciate perks on the day they fly should consider the pricier — but potentially most lucrative — Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. It lacks some of the luxury benefits you'll find some premium travel credit cards, but it still packs enough value to offset its annual fee.
Not sure if an airline card makes the most sense for you? See NerdWallet's best credit cards list here.
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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NerdWallet's Gregory Karp contributed to this article.
