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Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of February 2026

Updated: Feb 10, 2026
Take a look at our top picks, then let us walk you through making the decision.
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Erin Hurd
Reviewed by
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NerdWallet's Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of February 2026

Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards From Our Partners

Credit card
Rating
Annual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more
2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ImageChase Sapphire Preferred® Card
4.7/5
Best for Point transfers and flexibility

$95

1x-5x

Points
75,000
points
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ImageSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
3.9/5
Best for Lowest annual fee

$99

1x-2x

Points
Companion Pass + 20,000 Points
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ImageSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
5.0/5
Best for Business travelers

$299

1x-4x

Points
80,000
points
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ImageSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
3.9/5
Best for Frequent Southwest flyers

$229

1x-4x

Points
Companion Pass + 40,000 Points

  • 2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card

    Annual fee
    $95
    Rewards rate
    1x-5x
    Points
    Intro offer
    75,000
    points
    Regular APR
    19.24%-27.49% Variable APR
    Recommended credit score
    Rewards breakdown
    5x
    Points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
    3x
    Points on dining.
    3x
    Points on select streaming services.
    3x
    Points on online groceries.
    2x
    Points on all other travel purchases.
    1x
    Point 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. On the other hand, most of the value of a Southwest-branded card is wrapped up in the airline-specific perks that a general-purpose card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can't offer.

    Pros

    • Rewards: 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase; 2 points per dollar on other travel. 3 points per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and on select streaming services; 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

    • Bonus offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

    • Up to $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase.

    • Annual points boost equal to 10% of total purchases made in the previous year.

    • Primary rental car coverage.

    • Multiple transfer partners, including Southwest.

    • No foreign transaction fee.

    Cons

    • You won't get the free checked bags, priority boarding or seat selection benefits offered by Southwest-branded cards.

    • There's a $95 annual fee.

    Read full review

  • Our pick for: Lowest annual fee

    Annual fee
    $99
    Rewards rate
    1x-2x
    Points
    Intro offer
    Companion Pass + 20,000 Points
    Regular APR
    19.24%-27.74% Variable APR
    Recommended credit score
    Rewards breakdown
    2x
    Points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
    2x
    Points at Gas stations and Grocery stores on first $5,000 in combined purchases per year.
    1x
    Points on all other purchases.
    Card details
    • Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 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. In fact, this card has gotten even more valuable relative to the others since Southwest changed its operating model to add checked luggage fees and assigned seating. The free checked bags and priority boarding offered by this card are the same benefits as on the more expensive Southwest cards.

    Pros

    • Rewards: 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases; 2 points per dollar at gas stations and restaurants, on the first $5,000 in combined spending each anniversary year; 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

    • 3,000 points every anniversary.

    • Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • 10% flight discount each anniversary year (excluding Basic fare, the lowest-priced fare option).

    • 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points boost per calendar year (learn more about Companion Pass).

    • When available: Standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Bonus offer: Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

    • 25% back on in-flight purchases.

    Cons

    • While 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.

    • The 2X bonus rewards at gas stations and grocery stores are capped at $5,000 a year in spending, a ceiling many households are likely to hit.

    Read full review

  • Our pick for: Business travelers

    Annual fee
    $299
    Rewards rate
    1x-4x
    Points
    Intro offer
    80,000
    points
    Regular APR
    19.24%-27.74% Variable APR
    Recommended credit score
    Rewards breakdown
    4x
    Points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
    2x
    Points per $1 spent on gas station and restaurant purchases.
    2x
    Points per $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
    2x
    Points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
    1x
    Point 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.

    Pros

    • 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 other purchases.

    • 9,000 points every anniversary.

    • Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points boost per calendar year (learn more about Companion Pass).

    • Fee credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.

    • When available: Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking and unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours prior to departure. These benefits apply to the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Bonus offer: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

    • Spending on the card earns points toward the airline's "A-List" elite status (2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent annually).

    • 25% back on in-flight purchases.

    Cons

    • The $299 annual fee is steep, at least for Southwest, but keep in mind that it can be a deductible business expense.

    • Unlike other airlines' higher-priced cards, this one doesn't come with lounge access or an annual companion certificate or discount fare.

    Read full review

  • Our pick for: Frequent Southwest flyers

    Annual fee
    $229
    Rewards rate
    1x-4x
    Points
    Intro offer
    Companion Pass + 40,000 Points
    Regular APR
    19.24%-27.74% Variable APR
    Recommended credit score
    Rewards breakdown
    4x
    Points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
    2x
    Points at gas stations and restaurants.
    1x
    Points on all other purchases.
    Card details
    • Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 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

    The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the airline's priciest card, but it pays the highest rewards rate on Southwest purchases, offers a meaningful boost toward A-List status and provides some benefits that make the travel experience more comfortable. If you're spending a lot of time on Southwest flights, it's a great option. Up until 2025, this was the runaway winner among Southwest cards because of its boarding benefits and a now-discontinued annual travel credit. But changes to Southwest's operating operating model — most notably the elimination of open seating and the addition of checked bag fees — have boosted the relative value of other cards in the Southwest portfolio.

    Pros

    • Rewards: 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases; 2 points per dollar at gas stations and restaurants with no yearly cap; 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

    • 7,500 points every anniversary.

    • Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points boost per calendar year (learn more about Companion Pass).

    • When available: Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking and unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours prior to departure. These benefits apply to the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.

    • Bonus offer: Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

    • Spending on the card earns points toward the airline's "A-List" elite status (2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent annually).

    • 25% back on in-flight purchases.

    Cons

    • The $229 annual fee is the highest of any Southwest consumer credit card, but depending on your travel style, the additional benefits might not be worth the extra cost.

    • Unlike other airlines' higher-priced cards, this one doesn't come with lounge access, a credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry or an annual companion certificate or discount fare.

    Read full review

More about our picks

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Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Our pick for: Frequent Southwest flyers

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card used to be the runaway winner among Southwest Airlines' credit cards, even though it's the priciest of the bunch. But changes in the Southwest operating model — particularly bag fees and assigned seating — have boosted the relative value of other Southwest cards while blunting this one's longtime advantages. Still, if you spend a lot of time and money on Southwest flights, this card could be your best bet. It earns the highest rewards rate on Southwest purchases, provides a meaningful boost toward A-List elite status and offers a list of benefits that make travel more enjoyable. Read our review.

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 points of difference are a lower rewards rate on Southwest purchases and a smaller anniversary bonus. However, it comes with the same checked-bag and boarding benefits of the higher-priced options. For occasional travelers, it might be right in the sweet spot. Read our review.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Our pick for: Regular Southwest flyers

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card stakes out a decent middle ground among Southwest credit cards. It gives you a higher earnings rate on Southwest purchases and a bigger anniversary bonus than the lowest-fee Plus card, but the additional benefits aren't as robust as they are on the highest-fee Priority card. Regular-but-not-heavy Southwest fliers looking for free checked bags, priority boarding and other incentives should give it a look. Read our review.

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.

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.

Choosing the right Southwest Airlines credit card for you

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Choosing a Southwest Airlines credit card has always been a bit tricky because the differences between the cards can seem subtle at first glance. For example, prior to 2026, all three consumer credit cards in the Southwest portfolio usually had the same bonus offer, which is a common point of differentiation for credit cards from other airlines. And once Southwest did away with its "Bags Fly Free" and open seating policies in 2025-26, all three cards added identical checked-bag and priority-boarding benefits. The three cards all have anniversary bonuses and seat selection benefits, although the extent of those benefits increases as you go up in price.

The decision comes down to the extra value you get for the $149 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.

Let's start with the bonus offers and then dive into key points of similarity and difference.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

What's the same about these cards

Free checked bags

All three cards include a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. Now that Southwest is charging for checked bags, this is a significant benefit — one that could make up for the cost of the card, depending how much you travel and how often you check luggage when you do travel.

Priority boarding

All three cards provide Group 5 boarding to the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. This gives you a head start on claiming overhead bin space. This is another area where policy changes at Southwest, namely the elimination of open seating, added value to the airline's credit cards.

Companion Pass qualifying points

Each card gives a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points per calendar year (learn more about Companion Pass).

In-flight discounts

You get a 25% discount on in-flight purchases with each card.

All three cards include a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. Now that Southwest is charging for checked bags, this is a significant benefit — one that could make up for the cost of the card, depending how much you travel and how often you check luggage when you do travel.

All three cards provide Group 5 boarding to the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. This gives you a head start on claiming overhead bin space. This is another area where policy changes at Southwest, namely the elimination of open seating, added value to the airline's credit cards.

Each card gives a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points per calendar year (learn more about Companion Pass).

You get a 25% discount on in-flight purchases with each card.

Key points of difference

The three Southwest consumer cards each earn extra rewards on Southwest purchases, with the rewards rate rising along with the cards' annual fees. The Plus card earns 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest. The Premier card earns 3 points per dollar. The Priority card earns 4 points per dollar.

All three cards also earn 2 point per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores. However, the Plus card caps cuts off the bonus rewards after $5,000 a year in gas and grocery spending. The Priority card has a cap of $8,000 a year. The Priority has no cap.

All other spending on all cards earns 1 point per dollar.

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 major differences are discussed below:

Annual fees

The annual fees aren't exorbitant for any of these three cards when compared with some premium travel cards, but you’ll have to decide whether the higher fee is worth it for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. There isn't a no-fee option.

Bonus offers

As mentioned, all three of these cards had identical bonus offers for a long time. That changed in early 2026 when a limited-time promotion featured different bonuses for the cards, so it's best not to assume either way. See the current bonus offers for these cards above.

Anniversary points

This is a primary difference. Every year on your account anniversary, you get a points bonus. Considering the value of a Rapid Rewards point, the extra anniversary points could go a long way toward making up the difference in annual fees.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: 3,000 points each year.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: 6,000 points each year.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: 7,500 points each year.

» Learn more: How to Refer-a-Friend and get more Southwest points

Seat selection benefits

As the annual fee on these cards increases, you get more flexibility in choosing your seat — the type of seat you can select (Standard or Preferred), when you can select it (at booking or within 48 hours before departure), and whether you can upgrade to Extra Legroom seats.

» MORE: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program: The complete guide

Tier qualifying points

The short story here is that it's a minor benefit unless you're a huge spender. For most, it shouldn't sway the decision. The two pricier cards allow you to earn tier qualifying points, which count toward A-List and A-List Preferred elite status. (Note that some of the primary benefits of that status, including free checked bags and priority boarding, come with Southwest credit cards.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card earns 1,500 tier qualifying points for each $10,000 spent on the card annually. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns 2,500 tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent on the card annually.

» READ: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

Flight discount

The two lower-priced cards give you a promo code each year that's good for a one-time discount on a Southwest flight, excluding Basic fares. On the Plus card, the discount is 10%. On the Premier card, it's 15%. Notably, the highest-priced card, the Priority, offers no such discount.

The annual fees aren't exorbitant for any of these three cards when compared with some premium travel cards, but you’ll have to decide whether the higher fee is worth it for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. There isn't a no-fee option.

As mentioned, all three of these cards had identical bonus offers for a long time. That changed in early 2026 when a limited-time promotion featured different bonuses for the cards, so it's best not to assume either way. See the current bonus offers for these cards above.

This is a primary difference. Every year on your account anniversary, you get a points bonus. Considering the value of a Rapid Rewards point, the extra anniversary points could go a long way toward making up the difference in annual fees.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: 3,000 points each year.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: 6,000 points each year.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: 7,500 points each year.

» Learn more: How to Refer-a-Friend and get more Southwest points

As the annual fee on these cards increases, you get more flexibility in choosing your seat — the type of seat you can select (Standard or Preferred), when you can select it (at booking or within 48 hours before departure), and whether you can upgrade to Extra Legroom seats.

» MORE: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program: The complete guide

The short story here is that it's a minor benefit unless you're a huge spender. For most, it shouldn't sway the decision. The two pricier cards allow you to earn tier qualifying points, which count toward A-List and A-List Preferred elite status. (Note that some of the primary benefits of that status, including free checked bags and priority boarding, come with Southwest credit cards.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card earns 1,500 tier qualifying points for each $10,000 spent on the card annually. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns 2,500 tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent on the card annually.

» READ: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

The two lower-priced cards give you a promo code each year that's good for a one-time discount on a Southwest flight, excluding Basic fares. On the Plus card, the discount is 10%. On the Premier card, it's 15%. Notably, the highest-priced card, the Priority, offers no such discount.

Making the decision

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For many travelers, the primary value in an airline credit card lies in the free checked bags and early boarding. For years, that didn't apply to Southwest because bags flew free and boarding was a free-for-all. That's no longer the case, which makes Southwest credit cards all the more valuable. If you aren't a heavy traveler and don't care about earning elite status, go with the cheapest option, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.

A good middle choice is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Its higher annual fee is counterbalanced by the extra anniversary points it offers, a higher rewards rate with the airline itself, better seat-selection options and a boost toward A-List.

Frequent Southwest flyers 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.

Other options

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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.

» MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Methodology

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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.

Frequently asked questions

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Does Southwest Airlines have a credit card with no annual fee?

Unlike the other big U.S. airlines, Southwest does not offer a credit card with no annual fee. The least expensive card in the carrier's lineup is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, which has an annual fee of $99.

What credit score do you need to get a Southwest credit card?

Southwest Airlines credit cards require good to excellent credit to qualify. Generally speaking, that equates to a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores aren't the only thing that credit card issuers look at when evaluating applications. They may also take into account your employment status and income, your other debts and how many credit cards you've been approved for recently.

What benefits do you get with a Southwest Airlines credit card?

Among the perks offered by Southwest Airlines credit cards:

  • You receive an anniversary bonus each year when you renew. Depending on the card, that bonus can range from 3,000 to 9,000 points.

  • Each card also gives you a 10,000-point head start each year toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass. (Usually you have to earn 135,000 points in a year to get the pass; carrying a Southwest card effectively reduces that requirement to 125,000.)

  • Some of the higher-priced cards allow you to earn credit toward "A-List" elite status with the airline by hitting certain spending thresholds.

  • Now that Southwest has dropped its "bags fly free" and open seating policies, the consumer cards provide a free checked bag (for you and up to eight companions on your reservation) and early-boarding privileges

  • All cards give you 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases.

One benefit that's not available: lounge access, since Southwest doesn't operate airport lounges.

How much are Southwest Airlines points worth?

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.

Does a Southwest credit card give you a Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass is essentially a buy-one, get-one-free perk. When you book a flight, you can take someone with you for just the cost of taxes and fees (starting at $5.60). To get the Companion Pass, you have to earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Once you earn it, it's good for the rest of the year and the next calendar year.

The Companion Pass is not a standard perk on any of Southwest's credit cards. From time to time, however, the airline has included a short-term version of the pass in the bonus offers on its credit cards. In early 2023, for example, new cardholders who spent $4,000 in their first three months not only got a 30,000 point bonus, but also earned a Companion Pass that would be valid through February 2024. (This offer expired in March 2023.) Similar offers were made for short periods in both 2022 and 2021.

Carrying a Southwest credit card can get you closer to a Companion Pass, though. Points earned on the card count toward the 135,000 needed for the pass, and that includes the sign-up bonus. Additionally, each year, cardholders get a 10,000-point bonus toward qualifying for the pass. (Those 10,000 points can't be used to book flights, but they effectively reduce the threshold for earning the pass to 125,000 points.)

• • •

NerdWallet's Gregory Karp contributed to this article.

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