Southwest Credit Cards Compared: Find Your Best Fit for Travel Rewards

Why Southwest Cards Stand Out for Travelers

Southwest Airlines offers three personal credit cards, all issued by Chase: the Rapid Rewards Plus, Premier, and Priority. Each card is designed to help frequent Southwest travelers earn Rapid Rewards points and enjoy travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Because Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program is tied to these cards, they can be especially valuable if you fly Southwest regularly or hope to earn a Companion Pass.

Rewards programs matter: choosing the right card can lead to significant savings and benefits on every Southwest flight, from bag fees to boarding.

• All three cards are issued by Chase and earn Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases, with additional earning categories for everyday spending.
• Each card comes with a set of built-in travel benefits, including free first checked bag, Group 5 boarding, and 25% back on inflight purchases.
• The cards differ primarily in annual fee, earning rates, anniversary points, and premium perks like seat selection upgrades and tier qualifying points.

Sources: Southwest Airlines, Chase, The Points Guy, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Overview of the Three Personal Cards

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is the entry-level option with a $99 annual fee. It earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and on the first $5,000 combined per year at gas stations and grocery stores. You’ll receive 3,000 anniversary points each year, and you can choose a 10% discount code on flights each anniversary year.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card, with a $149 annual fee, is a middle tier that earns 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points per dollar on the first $8,000 combined per year at grocery stores and restaurants. It provides 6,000 anniversary points, a 15% flight discount code, and 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases toward A-List status.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card, the top tier at a $229 annual fee, earns 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points per dollar at gas stations and restaurants with no cap. It provides 7,500 anniversary points, premium seat benefits, and 2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

The table below summarizes the key attributes of each personal Southwest card. Note that annual fees and benefits have changed over time; this reflects the most current official information as of September 2026.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Choosing Your First Southwest Card

Start by thinking about your travel frequency and how much you value extra perks. Occasional travelers may find the Plus card sufficient, while frequent flyers might benefit from the Premier’s higher earning rate and tier qualifying points. If you want the most generous earning rates and the best seat selection perks, the Priority card delivers, but its higher annual fee means you need to use those benefits to make it worthwhile.

Also consider the annual fee versus the value of benefits you’ll actually use. All three cards include a free checked bag and Group 5 boarding, which alone can save you money on baggage fees if you check bags. For example, the Plus card’s free checked bag for a family of four can save up to $360 on a round trip, reducing the effective cost of the card's annual fee.

• If you fly a few times a year and want a low annual fee, the Plus card offers solid value with its 10% flight discount code.
• If you fly more regularly and want a balance of perks and cost, the Premier card provides 3x earning on Southwest flights and A-List progress.
• If you fly very often and want premium perks like extra-legroom upgrades and 4x earning, the Priority card may be worth the higher fee.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

How to Get More Details

This page gives you an overview to help you decide which card to explore further. Each card’s full terms—including current welcome offers, APRs, and any recent updates—are available on the official Chase product pages. You can also visit Southwest’s Rapid Rewards page for program details.

For deeper dives, see our in-depth pages on specific cards and comparisons. We also have a guide to companion pass strategies, which can help you understand how to use the 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points that all three cards provide annually.

• Chase product pages list current offers, rates, and terms.
• Southwest’s official site provides details on how to redeem points and program rules.
• Check the editorial policy and about pages to understand how we research and update content.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Comparison Overview and Criteria

To compare these cards, we used criteria that matter most to travelers: annual fee, earning rates on Southwest purchases and bonus categories, anniversary points, free checked bag, boarding, seat selection, flight discount code, and tier qualifying points. We also considered foreign transaction fees and the annual Companion Pass qualifying points boost that all three cards offer.

The table above shows the key differences. In short, the higher the annual fee, the more perks you get: higher earning, more anniversary points, and better seat selection options. The Priority card also offers the only extra-legroom upgrade benefit among the three.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

How APRs Vary and Where Readers Verify Current Terms

Credit card APRs are not fixed; they are based on your creditworthiness and can change. Because the authoritative sources we used do not list specific APR ranges for these cards, we cannot provide those figures here. To get current APR information, you should review the official Chase product pages or the cardmember agreement for each card. Remember that the APR is only one factor; the annual fee and earning rates are equally important in deciding which card fits your spending and travel habits.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Annual Fees vs. Benefits Value

The annual fee is a direct cost, but the benefits can offset it if you use them. All three cards offer a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. If you check bags on a trip with family members, this can quickly add up to significant savings.

The Plus card’s 10% flight discount code can reduce the cost of a future flight, while the Premier’s 15% discount is even larger. The Priority card doesn’t have a discount code, but its higher earning rate and premium seat benefits (including extra-legroom upgrades) can be worth more to frequent flyers.

The anniversary points also have value, as they can be redeemed for flights or other rewards. Those points, combined with the earning rates and perks, should be weighed against the annual fee to determine which card offers you the best net value.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Best Cards for Frequent Flyers vs. Occasional Travelers

Occasional travelers who fly Southwest a couple of times per year might not need the premium perks of the Priority card. The Plus card’s lower annual fee and free checked bag could be enough. However, if you plan to use the flight discount code or check bags often, the Premier card might offer better long-term value despite its higher fee.

Frequent flyers will likely benefit more from higher earning rates and elite status progress. The Premier card gives 3x on Southwest purchases and 1,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spend, helping you reach A-List status. The Priority card goes further with 4x earning and 2,500 tier qualifying points, plus extra-legroom upgrades. If you fly enough to justify the fee, the Priority card can be the most rewarding.

The right choice depends on how often you fly and what perks you would actually use. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but this guide should help you narrow down which card deserves a closer look.

Sources: Southwest Airlines, Chase

Earning rates on Southwest purchases

Each card earns Rapid Rewards points on eligible purchases. The earning rates are as follows: Plus earns 2x on Southwest purchases and 2x at gas stations and grocery stores (on the first $5,000 combined annually); Premier earns 3x on Southwest purchases and 2x at grocery stores and restaurants (on the first $8,000 combined annually); Priority earns 4x on Southwest purchases and 2x at gas stations and restaurants with no cap.

All points earned on the card are deposited into the primary cardmember’s Rapid Rewards account. If you have multiple Southwest cards, the points can be combined, as long as they are in the same Rapid Rewards account.

You can also earn extra points through shopping portals, dining programs, and partner offers, but be sure to review the program terms for any restrictions.

Sources: Chase, Southwest Airlines

Other Factors to Consider

While the comparison table covers the main features, there are other aspects to keep in mind. For example, the ability to combine points from multiple cards can be valuable; if you hold more than one Southwest card, points can be consolidated into your Rapid Rewards account because earned points are typically transferred to the primary cardmember’s account. This means you could hold both a personal and a business card and still combine all points toward rewards.

Another factor is the Companion Pass qualifying points boost. All three personal cards automatically provide 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year. This can be a significant help toward earning the Companion Pass, which lets a designated companion fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees after you reach the required point threshold. You can also earn tier qualifying points toward A-List status on the Premier and Priority cards, which may be useful if you want faster access to priority boarding and other elite benefits.

Southwest’s boarding and seating process has been evolving, with assigned seating and new boarding groups being introduced. Card benefits that involve boarding or seat selection may change, so check the latest terms before relying on them.

Sources: Southwest Airlines, Chase, Trips With Tykes