Southwest Airlines has multiple Rapid Rewards credit cards that let travelers earn points and enjoy various benefits when flying with the airline. These cards cater to different types of travelers, from occasional flyers to frequent Southwest enthusiasts.
Southwest currently offers three personal credit cards:
Southwest presently offers two business credit cards:
Each card offers unique benefits, with perks increasing as the annual fee increases. Standard features include earning points on Southwest purchases, anniversary bonus points and opportunities to accelerate progress toward the coveted Companion Pass. And one thing is sure — Southwest’s credit cards provide travelers a great way to earn Southwest points and enhance flying Southwest Airlines.
Today, we’ll look closely at Southwest’s credit cards so you can decide which one is best for you.
Southwest Airlines offers the Rapid Rewards loyalty program, which lets members earn points through flights, credit card spending, and partner activities. Members are best off redeeming these points for Southwest flights. Additionally, Rapid Rewards points never expire as long as their accounts remain active.
It’s easy to book flights using points without blackout dates. As long as a seat is available on cash, it’s also available on points. Whether traveling domestically or short-haul internationally, the Rapid Rewards program offers numerous opportunities to earn and redeem points.
With so many choices, we understand how choosing the best Southwest credit card can be daunting.
First, take note of the annual fees associated with each card. You’ll have more rewards if you’re willing to spend more on your annual fee. Next, evaluate the earning potential of each card, particularly the bonus points offered on Southwest purchases, as well as points you earn through Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting expenses, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
Additionally, look for valuable travel perks such as anniversary points bonuses, upgraded boardings, in-flight purchase discounts, annual travel credits, and qualifying points for the Companion Pass.
Different cards cater to various types of travelers; for instance, occasional flyers may benefit from the Rapid Rewards Plus Card, while frequent Southwest travelers might find more value in the Rapid Rewards Priority Card.
Unfortunately, all of Southwest’s credit cards have annual fees. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee of $69.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is best for:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers the best perks for Southwest flyers looking for a modest annual fee.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is best suited for:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers the most premium travel benefits.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is best for Southwest flyers who value enhanced travel perks and can maximize the card’s benefits to offset its annual fee. This card is ideal for:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offer 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent on purchases.
As a reminder, you can qualify for A-List status with 35,000 qualifying TQPs or 20 qualifying one-way flights. You can be eligible for A-List Preferred status with 70,000 qualifying TQPs or 40 qualifying one-way flights.
It’s challenging to qualify for Southwest status entirely from credit card spending, but these cards can help earn extra TQPs from your everyday spending.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns points the fastest. You earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases. Additionally, you receive 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and select streaming services.
Although it has a slightly higher annual fee, we’re big fans of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card with its $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 7,500-anniversary points each year, 4 upgraded A1-15 boardings per year when available, and an accelerated earning structure.
Southwest has two business cards: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card. We’ll quickly review both.
Business owners will appreciate benefits like two EarlyBird Check-Ins for priority boarding and the 6,000 bonus points each anniversary from this card. Still, for more benefits, we recommend the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is an excellent choice for small business owners who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines and want to maximize their rewards. With a high earning rate of 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and valuable benefits like 4 upgraded A1-15 boardings each year, it’s ideal for those who travel often.
We’re also big fans of the ability to earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent. The annual bonus of 9,000 points and up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits provide further value. This card is perfect for businesses looking to enhance their travel experience with Southwest.
Southwest’s lineup of Rapid Rewards credit cards offers a variety of options to suit different types of travelers, from occasional flyers to business owners. With benefits like anniversary bonus points, Companion Pass-qualifying boosts, and perks such as upgraded boardings and travel credits, these cards make it easier to maximize the value of flying Southwest Airlines. Choose the card that aligns best with your travel habits.
You can change your preferences or opt out at any time by clicking on one of the hyperlinks available at the bottom of each newsletter.
If you are already a subscriber and would like to unsubscribe, you can click on the link at the bottom of any of our e-mails.
