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3 Excellent Southwest Credit Cards from Chase

Chase credit cards are known for great rewards — including both sign-up bonuses and generous rates on spending — and a fantastic points program. Chase issues some of the best co-branded airline, hotel and store credit cards on the market. Its own Chase-branded products, described here, include outstanding travel, cash-back and small-business cards.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

on Chase's website

4.2

NerdWallet rating 

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$69

Rewards rate

1x-2x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

Pros

  • Anniversary perk
  • No reward caps

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • Rewards have limited flexibility
  • 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
Annual fee

$69

Rewards rate

1x-2x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

Pros

  • Anniversary perk
  • No reward caps

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • Rewards have limited flexibility
  • 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
WHY WE LIKE IT?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card isn't the flashiest of the three co-branded Chase cards in the Rapid Rewards family, but that doesn't mean it's the black sheep of the clan either.

Frequent Southwest flyers will find a lot to love about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card because it offers so many of the same benefits as its higher-end siblings, but the $69 annual fee is relatively low for an airline card with a healthy sign-up bonus and ongoing bonus rewards on airline purchases. Plus, you'll benefit from perks like extra anniversary points.

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

on Chase's website

3.9

NerdWallet rating 

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$99

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

Pros

  • Anniversary perk
  • No reward caps

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • Rewards have limited flexibility
  • 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
Annual fee

$99

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

Pros

  • Anniversary perk
  • No reward caps

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • Rewards have limited flexibility
  • 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
WHY WE LIKE IT?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card succeeds where most budget airline credit cards fail: it gives you reasons to stay loyal.

This card’s ongoing benefits, including a generous anniversary bonus, let you earn free flights faster. If you spend a lot on Southwest flights, it could help you qualify for A-List status and the airline’s coveted Companion Pass faster, too. And unlike its cheaper sibling card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. That makes it an excellent pick for international travel. Though Southwest mostly flies domestic, it does offer service to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (and, of course, you're free to take the card with you abroad regardless of which airline you fly). Another goodie for globe-trotters: You can use Southwest’s More Rewards platform to book international flights to other destinations through partner airlines with points.

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