Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of September 2025
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Written by
Jason Steele
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
I’ve earned and redeemed miles with dozens of airlines around the world, and I’ve found Southwest’s Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program is one of the easiest to use. And while you can always earn Rapid Rewards points from buying flights and making other purchases from Southwest, I find that the fastest and easiest way to earn free trips is through the right travel credit card.
I’ll show you all of the top credit cards that you can use to earn Rapid Rewards points from your spending, including several co-branded Southwest airline credit cards that come with extras like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Quick Overview: Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Die-Hard Southwest Loyalists |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$229 |
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Occasional Southwest Flyers |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$99 |
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Frequent Southwest Flyers |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$149 |
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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| Travel |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$95 |
Incredible rewards redemption value and a welcome bonus worth up to $1,312 in Travel Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your points are worth up to 75% more when you redeem them through Chase Travel, making this bonus worth up to $1,312.50.
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Premium Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$795 |
Luxury travel card with airport lounge access & a bonus worth up to $2,500 in Travel Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your points are worth up to 100% more when you redeem them through Chase Travel, making this bonus worth up to $2,500.
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Rewards on Rent |
Excellent/Good
670-850*
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$0 |
Charge your rent with no transaction fee
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Detailed Overview: Best Southwest Credit Cards
Top Feature
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.49% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers will love this card for its generous rewards, no foreign transaction fees and travel protection benefits. It’s easy to justify the $229 annual fee with perks like an anniversary bonus of 7,500 points, a free first checked bag, seat upgrades when available, and an earlier boarding position. There’s a lot to like about this card, especially if you are already using your Southwest points and want to earn rewards faster.
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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
Top Feature
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.49% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
You’ll sacrifice a few benefits you enjoy with the Priority card, such as seat upgrades and tier-qualifying points toward A-List status. But you’ll still earn a generous welcome bonus and up to 2x points on purchases, and receive other travel perks.
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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
Top Feature
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.49% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, 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
Top Feature
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.24% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- 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
Top Feature
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Top Feature
Earn 1x points on rent without the transaction fee.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
See Terms
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn 1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- $0 Annual Fee
- Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
- Earns 3x points on dining
- Earn 2x points on travel
- Earn 1x points on other purchases
- Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
- Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
- Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
- Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
- See Rates & Fees
How To Choose the Best Southwest Card for You
Just like any other credit card, you need to weigh the costs and benefits of all of the Southwest Airlines cards to find the best one for your needs. This includes the value of the cardholder benefits and the annual fee.
You’ll also want to consider whether you prefer a co-branded airline credit card versus a general travel credit card that earns points you can use to book Southwest flights.
Benefits When You Fly Southwest
The thing that I enjoy most about having an airline credit card is the day-of-travel perks I receive when flying on that carrier. Southwest has historically offered many of those benefits, such as free checked bags, to all passengers.
However, the airline recently announced major updates to its business model, including the introduction of assigned seats and checked baggage fees. Fortunately, all three personal Chase Southwest credit cards can take the sting out of these changes.
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card, you’ll receive a complimentary preferred or standard seat (depending on the card) and Group 5 priority boarding once assigned seating takes effect in early 2026:
- With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, you’ll be able to choose a standard or preferred seat at booking, and upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, when available
- Those with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card can choose a standard or preferred seat within 48 hours of departure, when available
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card holders can select a complimentary standard seat assignment within 48 hours of departure, when available
All Southwest cardholders now receive a free first checked bag, along with up to eight companions traveling together on the same reservation. Southwest currently charges $35 for a first checked bag, so the savings can add up fast if you fly the airline often, especially as a group.
Other Cardholder Benefits
Beyond the benefits you may receive while flying Southwest, most cards offer a host of other travel insurance and purchase protection policies. This can include lost luggage reimbursement, car rental insurance and baggage delay coverage. And when shopping, your card may have extended warranty protection and a purchase protection policy that covers your eligible new purchases against theft and damage for 120 days.
New Account Bonuses
Before you apply, check if the welcome offer can help you maximize your credit card rewards.
For example, all three Southwest co-branded cards have the same welcome offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Cards that earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve, come with compelling bonuses as well. You can convert the rewards you earn with these cards into points or miles with Chase’s transfer partners, including Southwest Rapid Rewards.
Points Earned From Spending
Welcome offers are great, but you’ll earn even more points by using your card to make purchases. Choosing a credit card that awards bonus points in categories where you spend the most, such as dining, travel, groceries or gas, can accelerate your rewards earning and get you that much closer to your next trip.
Fees
Many top rewards credit cards, including the Chase Southwest Airlines cards, charge annual fees. The key is to choose a card with benefits that outweigh your out-of-pocket cost. Consider perks such as free checked bags and statement credits that can save you money, as well as the value of the rewards you earn.
You should also be aware of foreign transaction fees, which can add up to 3% to international purchases. A card with no foreign transaction fees is important when you travel abroad or make purchases in a foreign currency. None of the top Southwest credit cards we’ve chosen charge these pesky fees.
Pros and Cons of a Southwest Airlines Credit Card
There are several advantages to having a Southwest Airlines credit card, both when you’re flying and when you’re trying to earn rewards.
Pros:
- Co-branded cards offer benefits specific to Southwest Airlines
- Earn a valuable new account bonus
- Get Rapid Rewards points for your spending
- Enjoy travel insurance and purchase protection benefits
Cons:
- Travel cards that earn flexible points don’t come with Southwest-specific benefits
- Most cards charge an annual fee
- Rewards cards may have higher interest rates than similar cards that don’t offer rewards
- Co-branded cards that earn Rapid Rewards points offer limited flexibility for non-Southwest redemptions
Alternatives To Consider
Outside of the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards offered by Chase, and cards that offer the ability to transfer points to Southwest, you have a few other options if you want to earn rewards to book Southwest flights:
- Chase credit cards: No-annual-fee Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, don’t allow transfers to partners. However, you can redeem your points through Chase Travel℠ at a rate of 1 cent each to book Southwest flights.
- Capital One miles: Cards that earn Capital One miles, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, allow you to book travel (including flights) with your card, then “erase” the charge from your statement with miles within 90 days of purchase. Your Capital One miles are worth 1 cent each when you redeem them this way.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points equals 1 Southwest point). Plus, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 Southwest points. You can earn Marriott points directly from co-branded credit cards, or by transferring American Express Membership Rewards® points from cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card, both advertising partners.
What Credit Score Do You Need?
To have the best chance to be approved for travel rewards credit cards, including Southwest cards, you should have at least a good credit score, which is considered to be 670 or higher on the FICO scoring range.
Most card issuers will consider a range of factors, including your credit score, income, payment history and the number of cards you’ve applied for in the past.
The information related to Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Bilt Mastercard®** was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Southwest Credit Cards
Which is the best Southwest credit card to have?
There is no one best credit card to have, and the best Southwest Airlines credit card for you will depend on your needs and your budget. That said, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card has the most airline-specific benefits, albeit with the highest annual fee of the personal Southwest co-branded cards.
How much are 75,000 Southwest points worth?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points don’t have a specific value, and awards are priced dynamically, with values ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 cents each.
How do I earn 80,000 Southwest points?
Southwest credit cards offer new applicants a welcome bonus for meeting spending requirements, but the offers vary depending on the specific card and the time of year.
Are Southwest credit cards worth it?
A Southwest credit card can be well worth it if you fly Southwest, even a few times per year. Co-branded cards can save you money with perks like free checked bags and earn you rewards you can use to book more trips. However, if you tend to fly other airlines too, a travel card that earns flexible points you can transfer to Southwest and other airlines may be a better option.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.