Keep your free checked bag benefit and earn Rapid Rewards points

Southwest Airlines (LUV) has long been a standout airline for many Americans, thanks to its great customer service, budget-friendly fares, Companion Pass perk, and more.

Despite a recent decision to reverse some of its best-known policies — including for all customers and introducing assigned seating on flights — Southwest still offers big savings for travelers. If you frequently fly the airline’s routes across the U.S. and abroad, a Southwest credit card could make a valuable addition to your wallet.

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There are two primary paths you can take to find the best credit cards for Southwest rewards: a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card or a general travel credit card that earns points you can transfer to the airline program.

The cards below are our favorite — and highest rated — options from both categories:

Why we like it: While it’s not specifically a Southwest credit card, the can be incredibly useful for Southwest flyers. You’ll earn points on travel spending as well as everyday expenses like dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services. Then, you can transfer those points from Chase to Southwest Rapid Rewards, to redeem for Southwest flights and more. You can also book Southwest flights through Chase Travel℠; use points to get a 25% boost on redemptions or pay with your card for 5x rewards.

has an annual fee, but it also comes with a great welcome bonus, up to $50 in annual hotel credits for stays booked through Chase Travel, and travel protections that can be incredibly valuable in case of emergency.

Why we like it: If you prefer flying Southwest when you travel, you’ll likely get a lot of value from the . For the annual fee price, you’ll get a boosted rewards rate (3x) on Southwest spending, plus 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each cardmember anniversary and two Early-Bird Check-Ins every year.

Unlike the lower-priced card in Southwest’s trio, you can also use the to earn tier-qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status. For every $5,000 you spend, you’ll get 1,500 TQPs — with no limit to how many you can earn. A-List requires at least 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year. So while you may not get all your points toward status this way, it can be a big boost.

Why we like it: The has the lowest annual fee among Southwest credit cards, but it’s not lacking in benefits. You’ll still earn rewards on a combination of Southwest and everyday rewards categories and can take advantage of some perks while flying. These include two Early Bird Check-In opportunities each year, 25% off in-flight purchases, and free checked bags. Plus, each account anniversary, you’ll bank 3,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points.

This could be a good option if you don’t fly very often (and may not be able to justify a higher annual fee), but you prefer to earn and redeem rewards toward Southwest flights when you do travel.

Why we like it: The is the most premium of the airline’s co-branded credit cards, and it comes with an annual fee to match. In exchange, though, you can get plenty of savings and perks when you fly. This is the only Southwest card that offers an annual credit for Southwest purchases. Each account year, you’ll get up to $75 in credits for Southwest purchases (not including upgraded boardings or in-flight purchases). That alone can make up half the cost of the card’s annual fee.

With a card, you’ll also be eligible for four upgraded boardings per year and 7,500 Rapid Rewards anniversary points each year. That’s in addition to the benefits you’ll get with other Southwest credit cards, including a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year, 25% off in-flight purchases, and the ability to earn tier-qualifying points when you spend a certain amount on your card.

Why we like it: The is another general travel card that you can use to indirectly earn rewards toward future Southwest flights. This card has a pricey annual fee, but frequent travelers can make up the cost with a long list of annual benefits. To start, you’ll get up to $300 in annual travel credits for any travel purchases you make with your card — which includes Southwest flights booked through the Chase Travel portal or directly with Southwest. And when you’re at the airport, you’ll have lounge access via Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club as well as Priority Pass.

You can transfer your points to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program at a 1:1 value or use them to book flights (including Southwest flights) through Chase Travel. When you redeem points with Chase, you’ll get a boosted 1.5 cents per point redemption value.

Why we like it: The has a significant annual fee, but it also offers valuable savings for Southwest business travelers. When you make purchases with Southwest Airlines, you’ll earn 4x points per dollar — a higher rewards rate than Southwest’s other personal and business credit cards. You can also earn rewards in some other travel categories and eligible business spending.

Collect more Rapid Rewards points with 9,000 bonus points each account anniversary as well as 1,500 tier-qualifying points for each $5,000 in purchases on your card. Other benefits when you fly Southwest include up to four upgraded boardings per year, up to 365 $8 in-flight Wi-Fi credits each year, and a statement credit every four years toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees.

Make sure you consider these details before you open a new Southwest credit card.

Opening a new with a great welcome bonus is a great way to jump-start earning points and miles toward your next trip.

Southwest credit card welcome bonuses can vary; they often offer a significant number of Rapid Rewards points when you meet a certain spending requirement within the first few months. At least once per year, though, we typically see a limited-time offer for new cardholders that includes Companion Pass for several months after opening.

You can’t always time your application around the highest-value bonus, but the current offer is a factor to consider when you’re choosing between the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards.

And remember to always make sure the spending requirement is within your budget before you apply. You don’t want to to score a welcome bonus and take on a balance you can’t pay off. The you’ll incur can be much more costly than the value of those rewards.

When you’re comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, you’ll find they have the same rewards categories. The biggest difference among the three personal cards is that the Plus card only earns 2x points with Southwest, while the Priority and Premier both earn 3x points on Southwest purchases.

Aside from that, you’ll earn:

• 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners

• 2x points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares)

• 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services

• 2x points on select streaming services

• 1x points on all other purchases

The Southwest Rapid Rewards business cards have slightly different rewards categories, which are geared more toward .

Rewards can be an important factor in the long-term value of your Southwest card. Don’t just look at the bonus rewards you’ll get on Southwest flights, but also compare the other bonus categories to your regular spending. You can quickly increase your rewards balance by setting up automatic payments for your eligible monthly bills (utilities, streaming, transit) and collecting points on expenses you would make regardless.

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Added are a huge reason to open a co-branded airline credit card. With a Southwest Rapid Rewards card, you’ll get some great benefits like free checked bags, in-flight discounts, annual bonus points, upgraded boarding, early check-in, and more.

Remember to choose the airline card with benefits that best fit how you actually travel.

For example, if you’re not interested in gaining A-List status with Southwest, you might not need a card that earns tier-qualifying points after you spend a certain amount. But maybe you do like to secure Early Bird Check-In when you fly Southwest, so the opportunity to get that perk free a few times per year is more valuable to you.

You should consider the of any new credit card you open. Make sure the rewards and benefits you’ll gain are valuable enough to offset the cost year after year. If, for instance, you’ll only recoup that fee the first year thanks to the card’s sign-up bonus, it might not be a great option for long-term savings.

Each of the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards have relatively modest annual fees, but it’s still worth comparing the value you’ll get for the price. Look at your regular spending and how often you travel each year with Southwest to help decide how much you’re willing to pay.

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If you fly often and choose Southwest whenever possible, a Southwest credit card can make a great addition to your wallet.

As the airline continues to this year, a co-branded credit card is a great way to continue getting some of the perks you may be used to when you fly Southwest. That includes getting one free checked bag every time you fly.

These cards can also be helpful for frequent flyers chasing A-List status or the Companion Pass perk. Not only can you earn more rewards when you fly Southwest, but you’ll get opportunities to earn tier-qualifying points and annual Companion Pass qualifying points that can help boost you closer to status.

Southwest Rapid Rewards cards are not for everyone, though. While you can earn points on non-Southwest spending, the rewards rates are relatively low compared to what you may find from other or . Because these cards also carry annual fees, you should make sure you’re getting enough value each year to more than make up for the cost.

You’ll also earn Rapid Rewards points with a Southwest card, which can be useful if you fly Southwest often. But if you don’t travel at least a few times per year — or if you do, but you’re not loyal to a single airline, you may find more flexible rewards to be a better option.

General travel rewards work much differently from co-branded airline cards, but they can still be a great option for saving on future travel.

If you’re a frequent Southwest flyer, you can use a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn rewards that are transferable to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. If you’re a small business owner, you can also transfer points using a Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn with these cards transfer at a 1:1 ratio, so you won’t lose any value converting them to Southwest points. But they’re also much more flexible than that.

Say, for example, you’re to a destination not serviced by Southwest. You may not be able to use your Rapid Rewards points toward that trip, but you could still use your Chase rewards points. In that case, simply transfer your Chase points to another travel loyalty program or book through the Chase Travel portal.

These general travel cards also come with their own benefits for travelers, but you will forfeit the Southwest-specific benefits you could get with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Card — including boosted points toward A-List status and Companion Pass, upgraded boarding, and free checked bags.

Nevertheless, if you want some added rewards flexibility while still saving on Southwest flights.

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Southwest Airlines recently changed several of its longstanding policies, so the airline may operate a little differently in the coming months.

Here’s more information about what’s changing:

• Assigned seating: Instead of the previous open seating plan, you’ll now be able to choose where you sit and opt for premium seating options. Southwest plans to start offering these options in the second half of 2025 and implement assigned seating in 2026.

• No more free checked bags: Starting with flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, Southwest will start charging checked baggage fees. If you have A-List Preferred status or fly Business Select fare, you’ll still get two free checked bags. A-List and other select customers — including Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders — will get one free checked bag.

• New fare classes: Southwest recently changed the number of Rapid Rewards points earned per flight depending on the fare you choose — increasing rewards from Business Select fares and lowering them on other fare classes. Starting May 28, 2025, there will also be a new Basic fare with fewer options for changes and a lower rewards rate.

• Flight credits expire: Previously, Southwest flight credits never expired. Under the airline’s new policy, flight credits you earn from reservations made or changed on or after May 28, 2025, will have an expiration date of up to one year. You’ll need to complete your travel by that date when using a flight credit.

With Southwest’s Companion Pass, you can designate one person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees (starting at $5.60 one way). Companion Pass applies to both flights you purchase and those you redeem points for, and it’s valid from when you earn it through the next full calendar year.

There are two ways to earn Companion Pass in a calendar year:

• Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights OR

• Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points

If you want to earn Southwest’s Companion Pass with qualifying flights, you’ll need to take at least 100 one-way flights with Southwest Airlines. As of 2025, flights purchased with dollars, gift cards, flight credits, and a combination of cash + points all count toward the 100 qualifying flights. Reward flights and Companion Pass travel won’t count toward qualifying flights.

You can, alternatively, earn the 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points by flying with Southwest, booking a hotel or rental car with Southwest partners, making purchases on a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (plus the 10,000 bonus points you’ll get with a Rapid Rewards card each year), and more. Points you purchase, points you transfer from partners, and reward flights will not count toward Companion Pass.

Southwest has two elite status tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred. A-List will get you perks like priority boarding, bonus points on qualifying flights, a dedicated check-in lane, and one free checked bag. With A-List Preferred, you’ll get those benefits plus free in-flight Wi-Fi, up to two complimentary premium drinks on eligible flights, and two free checked bags.

Here’s a look at how to earn both A-List and A-List Preferred:

A-List status

• Fly 20 one-way qualifying flights OR

• Earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points

A-List Preferred status

• Fly 40 one-way qualifying flights OR

• Earn 70,000 tier-qualifying points

Just like for Companion Pass, qualifying flights for A-List status are Southwest Airlines flights booked with dollars, gift cards, flight credits, or cash + points. They don’t include flights booked fully with rewards points or Companion Pass travel.

To qualify for A-List status with points, you’ll need to earn tier-qualifying points. You can earn these points on flights booked through Southwest or when you make purchases with an eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (at a rate of 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 you spend). Purchasing points, transferring points from other programs, tier and flight bonus points, reward travel, Companion Pass travel are some examples of points that do not count toward your tier-qualifying points balance.

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