The best Southwest card depends on how much you fly Southwest and whether you are chasing the Companion Pass. The $99 Plus fits occasional flyers, the $149 Premier adds more points and no foreign transaction fees, and the $229 Priority gives a $75 Southwest travel credit and upgraded boardings. All three earn toward the Companion Pass, and the rules change on January 1, 2027: cards earn 1 tier qualifying point per $1, and welcome bonuses stop counting unless you are approved by December 2, 2026. Figures are as of 2026; confirm current terms and welcome offers at the issuer.
The best Southwest cards, compared
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Rewards Plus | $99 | 2x Southwest; 3,000 anniversary points; 2 EarlyBird check-ins a year | Occasional Southwest flyers |
| Rapid Rewards Premier | $149 | 3x Southwest; 6,000 anniversary points; no foreign transaction fees | Regular Southwest flyers |
| Rapid Rewards Priority | $229 | 3x Southwest; $75 Southwest travel credit; 7,500 anniversary points; upgraded boardings | Frequent Southwest flyers |
| Business cards (Premier and Performance) | $99 to $199 | Southwest earning plus business perks; do not add to Chase 5/24 | Business owners who fly Southwest |
Top pick: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
For frequent Southwest flyers the $75 annual travel credit and upgraded boardings offset much of the $229 fee. Figures are current as of 2026. Confirm the current welcome offer at the issuer before you apply.
Which card fits you
Advertisement
Pick the Priority if you fly Southwest often; the $75 travel credit and upgraded boardings offset much of the fee. Pick the Premier for a lower fee with strong earning and no foreign transaction fees.
Any Southwest card helps toward the Companion Pass, which lets a companion fly with you for just taxes and fees once you earn it. Delta’s version, the Delta companion certificate, comes once a year with its Platinum and Reserve cards.
Who it fits and who it does not
These cards fit Southwest loyalists, especially anyone chasing the Companion Pass. Southwest points have a roughly fixed value tied to the fare, so they suit travelers who book Southwest often rather than premium-cabin redemptions.
Risk and eligibility
Southwest cards are issued by Chase and the personal cards count toward Chase 5/24; the business cards do not. For 2026, the Companion Pass needs 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a calendar year, and each card adds a 10,000 companion-qualifying-point boost.
What changes on January 1, 2027 (announced October 15, 2026, per Southwest’s 2027 program page):
- Companion Pass qualifying points retire after December 31, 2026. In 2027, 95,000 tier qualifying points or 75 qualifying one-way flights earns 3 Companion Pass trips, and the new Platinum tier (140,000 points or 100 flights) earns unlimited trips.
- A-List becomes Silver (35,000 points or 25 flights) and A-List Preferred becomes Gold (65,000 points or 50 flights).
- Every Southwest card earns 1 tier qualifying point per $1 on purchases, with no cap. Welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, category bonus points and partner earning stop counting toward the pass.
- The exception: apply and get approved by December 2, 2026 and meet the bonus terms, and the welcome bonus still counts as 2026 qualifying points toward a pass valid through December 31, 2027, even if the spend finishes in early 2027. A pass earned under the 2026 rules stays unlimited through December 31, 2027.
Confirm current earning and thresholds at Southwest.
More best-card guides
FAQ
What is the best Southwest credit card?
For frequent flyers the Rapid Rewards Priority, because the $75 Southwest travel credit and upgraded boardings offset much of the $229 fee. Occasional flyers may prefer the $99 Plus or $149 Premier. Confirm current terms at Chase.
Which Southwest card helps earn the Companion Pass?
All three personal cards earn points toward the Companion Pass, which needs 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a calendar year. Each card also adds a 10,000 companion-qualifying-point boost. Confirm current thresholds at Southwest.
Do Southwest cards have a free checked bag benefit?
Southwest historically included two free checked bags for all passengers, but baggage policy has changed, so confirm the current checked-bag policy and any card benefit at Southwest before you book.
Do Southwest credit cards count toward Chase 5/24?
The personal Southwest cards count toward your 5/24 total. The Southwest business cards do not add to 5/24, though 5/24 still affects your approval.
Last reviewed October 2026. We verify every rule, ratio, and figure against issuer terms and current reporting, and date each one. See our editorial standards for how we research and correct guides.
We re-check these guides as issuer rules and award charts change. 2 ways to follow along, no account needed.