Best Southwest Credit Cards Of March 2024 (2024)

Just because you fly Southwest the most or like Southwest the best doesn’t mean a Southwest card is the best option for you. Other great credit cards for flying offer a lot more flexibility overall. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees)
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*

All information about Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor

Southwest Airlines is somewhat unique among airlines because it still offers two free checked bags on every flight. That other airlines’ cards feature no-extra-charge checked bags as an additional “perk” may make the Southwest credit cards seem like a harder sell, but it’s a more transparent move.

The best cards were chosen for welcome bonuses, earnings rates, redemption opportunities and other perks. What is best for the majority of Southwest flyers might not be right for you. Do your research before deciding what cards will best help make your flight dreams come true.

One more important note: Rewards cards generally have higher-than-average interest rates. If you need to carry a balance, rewards cards are not the best choice for you.

Forbes Advisor rates cards both as stand-alone products (the card rating on the review) and compared to others in a specific use case (the card rating you see on a specific “Best” list). The rating for each card changes on different “Best” lists according to how a person looking for a card in that category may value certain card features.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards

All three of the personal Southwest Airlines personal co-branded cards are issued by Chase with Visa Signature or Platinum benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranties and baggage delay insurance.

The primary difference among the Southwest cards lies in the perks provided and the annual fee charged.

Southwest credit cards are a choice worth consideration only for frequent flyers of Southwest Airlines. If Southwest is your airline of choice and you use it exclusively or near-exclusively, the investment in a cache of rewards points might be worthwhile. If not, you’ll want to look elsewhere for your credit card needs.

Compared to other airline cards, Southwest-branded cards don’t offer the same sort of airline-specific perks. Southwest doesn’t offer its own lounges and the airline provides free checked bags to everyone, so some of the major airline-related benefits other cards offer aren’t relevant. Bonus points and boarding benefits are nice, but are they worth the annual fees?

Finding the best one or best combo of credit cards to earn Southwest Airlines miles or use its benefits can be overwhelming, especially with so many choices. Before applying, consider your needs and options. Here are some questions to ask:

• Will your benefits offset the annual fee? Annual fees eat into your rewards. Think about your annual spending to make sure you will earn enough rewards or cash back to offset the fee and then some.
• Will you use the card’s benefits? Some cards come with benefits such as an annual travel credit, Wi-Fi credits or discounts on in-flight purchases. Before applying for a new card, think about your actual usage patterns. Does this benefit have value to you?
• How easy are points to spend? Southwest Airlines cards are designed for those who are loyal to Southwest Airlines. If you want to travel to a destination Southwest doesn’t fly to, this becomes an issue. Unfortunately, this includes destinations outside of the U.S., except for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, so your travels on Southwest Rapid Rewards points will be limited to these destinations. If you don’t want to stay loyal to Southwest, you might prefer a cash-back or flexible rewards card.

As with most lucrative rewards cards, Southwest credit cards likely require a good to excellent credit score. FICO defines a good credit score as a range between 670 to 739. A very good score ranges from 740 to 799, while an excellent score begins at 800.

Before applying for a Southwest card, be sure to look at your credit score to see if you’re likely to get approved. Keep in mind other factors can affect your application, like payment history, other existing debt and the number of recently opened accounts. Do a brief sweep of your credit history before applying.

How Hard Is It To Get a Southwest Credit Card?

Southwest’s credit cards are likely to require a good or better credit rating, meaning applicants will likely need a score of 670 or higher on the FICO scale. The higher your credit score and better your income, the more likely you are to be approved, but no specific credit score will guarantee approval. Since all the Southwest credit cards also charge annual fees, a financial barrier to entry exists as well.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Approval for a Southwest Credit Card?

Applications for Chase-issued cards may be approved or denied immediately when an application is submitted online or over the phone, but by law an issuer must provide you reasons your application was denied in writing within 30 days.

Southwest Credit Card Rewards

Southwest’s rewards are known as fairly easy to earn because of the variety of earning options. Customers earn Rapid Rewards Points when flying, when shopping using the points portal, by using a Southwest-branded credit card or through points transfer from a partner program such as Chase Ultimate Rewards. Points may be redeemed for bookings with the airline.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Guide

Southwest Companion Pass

The Companion Pass is a highly sought-after benefit for many who fly Southwest. It allows the pass holder to bring a companion along for almost free on any Southwest flight for the remainder of the year they qualify, plus the following year. To qualify, the pass holder must either take 100 qualifying segments or accumulate 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Purchased Rapid Rewards points and points transferred from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards do not count toward qualification.

Whether a Southwest credit card is worth it for you will depend on your needs and circ*mstances. Unlike many other airlines, Southwest offers free checked bags to every traveler, so getting a credit card is unnecessary for free checked bags. There are other benefits offered by Southwest cards including upgraded boarding passes and Wi-Fi benefits. If these are benefits you think you will use, it could make sense for you to add a Southwest card to your wallet.

To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.

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