The best Southwest Airlines credit cards of June 2023
Travelers around the country love Southwest Airlines for its no-fuss attitude, family-friendly seating policy, strong route network (which even includes international destinations and Hawaii), included two free checked bags, absence of change fees and its easy-to-use Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program. And that’s not even to mention its Companion Pass. Here is the current lineup of the best credit cards from our partners for Southwest flyers, their bonus offers and our ranking of which one is the best fit for different types of Southwest flyers.
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Personal Credit Cards
- 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x 3x on dining.
- 2x 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Why We Chose It
Pros
- You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- 3X Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit.
- 7,500 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- 20% inflight discount on food, drinks and WiFi.
- Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $149 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 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.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Why We Chose It
Pros
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit.
- 7,500 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- 20% inflight discount on food, drinks and WiFi.
- Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $149 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 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.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit.
- 7,500 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- 20% inflight discount on food, drinks and WiFi.
- Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $149 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 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.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 2X Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- 2X Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
- 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 1X Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- Earn 3,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary.
- Secondary car rental insurance and collision damage waiver.
- Baggage delay insurance.
- Up to $3,000 in reimbursement for lost luggage.
- Roadside dispatch.
- Travel accident insurance via Visa Signature.
- Extended warranty and purchase protection.
Cons
- $69 annual fee.
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flight redemption limited to U.S., Caribbean and Central American destinations.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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 Chose It
Pros
- Earn 3,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary.
- Secondary car rental insurance and collision damage waiver.
- Baggage delay insurance.
- Up to $3,000 in reimbursement for lost luggage.
- Roadside dispatch.
- Travel accident insurance via Visa Signature.
- Extended warranty and purchase protection.
Cons
- $69 annual fee.
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flight redemption limited to U.S., Caribbean and Central American destinations.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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
Pros
- Earn 3,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary.
- Secondary car rental insurance and collision damage waiver.
- Baggage delay insurance.
- Up to $3,000 in reimbursement for lost luggage.
- Roadside dispatch.
- Travel accident insurance via Visa Signature.
- Extended warranty and purchase protection.
Cons
- $69 annual fee.
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flight redemption limited to U.S., Caribbean and Central American destinations.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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
- 2X Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 6,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $99 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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 Chose It
Pros
- 6,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $99 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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
Pros
- 6,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
Cons
- $99 annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 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
Business Credit Cards
- 4X Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- 3X Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- 2X Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 2X Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X 1X points on all other purchases.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 9,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100).
- 4 Upgraded Boardings a year.
Cons
- $199 annual fee means only those loyal to Southwest will truly benefit
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 9,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100).
- 4 Upgraded Boardings a year.
Cons
- $199 annual fee means only those loyal to Southwest will truly benefit
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit.
Pros
- 9,000 points on each cardmember anniversary.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100).
- 4 Upgraded Boardings a year.
Cons
- $199 annual fee means only those loyal to Southwest will truly benefit
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit.
- 3X Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- 2X Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- 2X Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1X 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 6,000 bonus Southwest points every card anniversary.
- Primary rental car insurance.
- Lost luggage and trip protection benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- $99 annual fee isn't for everyone.
- Limited to redeeming for Southwest only.
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn unlimited tier qualifying points towards A-List status.
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 6,000 bonus Southwest points every card anniversary.
- Primary rental car insurance.
- Lost luggage and trip protection benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- $99 annual fee isn't for everyone.
- Limited to redeeming for Southwest only.
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn unlimited tier qualifying points towards A-List status.
Pros
- 6,000 bonus Southwest points every card anniversary.
- Primary rental car insurance.
- Lost luggage and trip protection benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- $99 annual fee isn't for everyone.
- Limited to redeeming for Southwest only.
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn unlimited tier qualifying points towards A-List status.
The best Southwest Airlines credit cards of June 2023
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| Card | Best for | Welcome Offer/Sign Up Bonus | Earning Rate | Annual Fee |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Best for lower annual fee | Earn 60,000 points |
|
$69 |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | Best for businesses that need lower annual fee | 60,000 points |
|
$99 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Best for frequent Southwest flyers | Earn 60,000 points |
|
$149 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Best for Southwest flyers | Earn 60,000 points |
|
$99 |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | Best for small-business owners | 80,000 points |
|
$199 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best all-around travel card | 60,000 bonus points |
|
$95 |
Frequently asked questions Heading
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When deciding which Southwest credit card is right for your family, be sure you are eligible to receive the card you want. It can get tricky with Chase’s general application restrictions, including the issuer’s infamous 5/24 rule and the terms on each specific card.
The terms on the three personal Southwest credit cards state:
“The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapids Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.”
In practical terms, this means you cannot get approved for a new Southwest personal credit card if you currently hold one and/or received a new cardmember bonus for one in the last two years. This only refers to primary account holders, so if you were just an authorized user on someone’s Southwest card, that should not hurt your chances of getting your own card.
Note that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card are viewed differently than the personal cards: Having one of them now, or in the past, does not disqualify you from getting a personal Southwest credit card. Additionally, having one of the small-business cards does not disqualify you from having or getting the other.
You do need a small business to open a Southwest business card, but keep in mind that this doesn’t have to be a huge small business. Your legit side hustle may need a credit card to keep expenses separate.
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The best Southwest credit card depends on your personal situation. If you are a loyal Southwest flyer, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card will likely offer the best benefits. Priority cardmembers enjoy exclusive perks like an annual $75 Southwest travel credit. On the other hand, more casual Southwest flyers may find the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card to be a better fit for their wallet.
Southwest also offers two business credit cards. If you faithfully fly Southwest over other airlines for your business needs, it could be a good idea to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card over the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. The Performance Business card offers a higher sign-up bonus, increased points-earning rates on Southwest purchases, a larger anniversary-point bonus and more.
Related: Performance or Premier: Which Southwest Business Credit Card Is Right for You?
And if you want to cover all your travel bases or find that you are rarely loyal to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the best all-around travel card for Southwest flyers. The Sapphire Preferred earns 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase and 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases. Chase points can be transferred to 11 airline partners, including Southwest, and three hotel partners, which means gives you flexibility to redeem your points with the airline or hotel program of your choice.
Related: Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
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There are several really good reasons to get a Southwest credit card. Anyone who wants a nice shot of Southwest bonus points in their Rapid Rewards account is a good candidate. In addition, you could use a Southwest card’s sign-up bonus plus spending to put the Companion Pass within reach.
Finally, Southwest credit cards offer some great perks for regular, and even occasional, Southwest flyers. Wi-Fi passes, A1-A15 boarding positions, travel credits, discounts on inflight purchases and more go a long way toward making flying Southwest even better.
Or, if a more flexible credit card makes the most sense for you, you can get a Chase Sapphire Preferred card that allows you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points into Southwest points without committing 100% to the Rapid Rewards program.
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Southwest is one of the few airlines not part of an airline alliance, which makes point redemptions less flexible since the primary redemption option is Southwest flights. Southwest Rapid Rewards follows a simple pricing model: award tickets are based on the ticket’s cash value which means the more expensive a ticket is, the more points you will need.
Typically, Southwest points are used for Southwest flights, but other redemption options also include hotels, merchandise, gift cards and more.
Points used on Southwest flights will have the best redemption values. TPG currently values Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents per point.
Related: 10 easy ways to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
The Southwest Priority card comes with a $149 annual fee. That’s the highest annual fee of the personal Southwest cards, but the card’s annual $75 Southwest credit drops that to $74 if you make full use of it. At that price, it’s cheaper than the Premier credit card and has the best perks of the bunch, making it my top pick of the personal cards for those who actively fly Southwest.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card awards 7,500 bonus Rapid Rewards points at each account anniversary (worth $112.50 by TPG calculations); an annual $75 annual Southwest travel credit; 25% back on inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies; and four Upgraded Boardings in the A1–A15 position each year (worth up to $50 each).
Note that upgraded boarding is only available the day of travel, and is not the same thing as Southwest’s EarlyBird Check-In which sells for $15+ per person per flight.
Read our full review of the Southwest Priority Card.
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Official application link: Southwest Priority Card.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a more flexible option for Southwest travelers and comes with a very manageable annual fee of $95. This card earns 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Those Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. This means that the 60,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening can effectively become 60,000 Rapid Rewards points (if you choose). Alternatively, you can use your points directly through the Chase Travel portal to book flights at a value of 1.25 cents per point. (Just note that you’d need to call customer service to do so on Southwest-operated itineraries.)
This card is a solid all-around travel rewards card for those who find themselves on a variety of airlines.
Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
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Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier is also offering 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
This is a solid, middle-of-the-road Southwest card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and can help you earn tier-qualifying points for A-List status, but keeps the annual fee under $100. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card awards 6,000 bonus points at each account anniversary (worth $90 by TPG valuations). It’s a very solid choice, especially while it has the same sign-up bonus as the higher annual fee card.
Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.
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Official application link: Southwest Premier Card.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
The more entry-level Southwest Plus card also offers: 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. This card does not come with nearly as many perks as the others, but the annual fee is lower and right now the sign-up bonus is the same.
Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
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Official application link: Southwest Plus Card.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
If you are after more points out of your sign-up bonus, then you may decide that the Southwest small-business cards have better bonuses and perks than the personal cards. If you are eligible to open a small-business card, this is the one to get. The Southwest Performance Business Card is offering 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. It also awards 9,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points after each account anniversary and comes with a $199 annual fee.
With the card, you’ll also get four A1–A15 boarding passes per year, up to 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year (covers all day), a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years (Up to $100), 4 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases and more.
The 80,000 bonus points alone can get you pretty close to earning the 135,000 points needed to earn the coveted Companion Pass both in the year you earn it and the entire next year, too!
Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.
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Official application link: Southwest Performance Business.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The Southwest Premier Business awards 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. It also comes with 6,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points awarded after each account anniversary and a $99 annual fee.
TPG values Southwest Rapid Rewards points valued at 1.5 cents apiece, so by those calculations, 60,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points are worth $900.
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Official application link: Southwest Premier Business.
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Southwest Companion Pass factor
Families, couples and others considering a Southwest credit card should absolutely factor earning and using the Southwest Companion Pass into their calculations. A Southwest Companion Pass allows the passholder to designate one person to fly for free with them (excluding taxes and fees) for the life of the pass.
Having the Southwest Companion Pass basically turns your Southwest tickets into buy-one, get-one deals for you and your designated companion. To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to earn 135,000 eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards points or take 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar year.
Not all Rapid Rewards points count toward earning the Companion Pass.
For example, purchased points and transfers to Southwest Rapid Rewards from the Chase Ultimate Rewards program (and cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card) do not count toward earning the Companion Pass.
However, the sign-up bonus points and the points earned from everyday spending on the five Southwest cobranded credit cards do count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. This — coupled with some regular Southwest travel in a year — could put the Companion Pass within reach.
And yes — the Companion Pass works to bring a friend or family member to Hawaii.
Bottom line
Every family’s travel needs, goals and budget are unique, so there will never be a one-size-fits-all credit card.
However, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card gets my vote as the personal card offering most perks and benefits for those who fly Southwest. Meanwhile, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is a great choice for travelers in the market for a small business card.
For those who just occasionally find themselves on Southwest, a more flexible card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card might be ideal.
Additional reporting by Daniel Ross and Benét J. Wilson.
Featured photo by Ryan Patterson for The Points Guy.
