Southwest Airlines flies more US domestic passengers than any other carrier, so a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card pays back in real, useful ways if you fly the airline even a few times a year. The five cards in the lineup each fit a different traveler, and the Companion Pass that comes with hitting a points threshold is one of the most valuable perks in travel.
As of May 2026, Chase has increased the welcome bonuses across the lineup to 50,000 to 100,000 points and adjusted annual fees on several cards. This guide breaks down which card is the best Southwest credit card for your situation, with current pricing and bonuses verified against Chase's offer pages.
How to Pick the Best Southwest Credit Card for You
Three questions decide which Southwest Rapid Rewards card fits:
- How many Southwest flights do you take a year? Fewer than two trips and the perks may not justify the annual fee.
- Do you want to earn a Companion Pass? If yes, the cheapest entry card may be the best move.
- Are you a small business owner with business travel on Southwest? The business cards stack on top of personal cards for Companion Pass earning.
If you fly Southwest once a year and that is it, you may be better off with a no-annual-fee general travel card instead. The Southwest cards earn their keep through repeat flying.
Our Top Picks
All figures below are as of May 2026, verified against Chase's public card pages. Terms apply and bonus offers can change month to month.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. $99 annual fee. 50,000-point sign-up bonus after $1,000 spent in the first 3 months. 3,000 anniversary points each year. Best for: occasional Southwest flyers who want the lowest-cost entry to Companion Pass earning.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card. $149 annual fee (recently increased from $99). 50,000-point sign-up bonus after $1,000 spent in 3 months. 6,000 anniversary points. No foreign transaction fees. Best for: travelers who occasionally fly internationally on Southwest's partner network. Our deeper Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review breaks down whether the $149 makes sense for your usage.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. $229 annual fee. 60,000-point sign-up bonus after $2,000 spent in 3 months. 7,500 anniversary points, a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 25 percent back on inflight purchases, and up to 4 upgraded boardings per year. Best for: frequent Southwest flyers who can use the annual credits.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card. $199 annual fee. Sign-up bonus around 80,000 points after spending requirements met. 9,000 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings, in-flight Wi-Fi credits. Best for: business owners with frequent Southwest travel.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. $99 annual fee. Sign-up bonus around 60,000 points. 6,000 anniversary points. Best for: small business owners who want a lower-cost business option that still earns toward Companion Pass.
Plus vs. Premier vs. Priority: The Personal Card Breakdown
The three personal cards look similar at first glance and meaningfully different once you do the math.
The Plus card at $99 is the entry-level pick. Anniversary points are 3,000, worth roughly $42 at typical Southwest redemption values. After fees, you net negative $57 a year unless you also earn the bonus.
The Premier at $149 adds 3,000 more anniversary points (6,000 total) and removes foreign transaction fees. Worth it if you ever use the card abroad or on international partner flights.
The Priority at $229 is the only one that can net positive for occasional flyers. The $75 annual Southwest travel credit alone wipes out a third of the fee, the 7,500 anniversary points are worth roughly $105, and the 4 upgraded boardings can save $30 to $80 a year if you actually use them. If you ever feel the fee creep is too much, our guide on negotiating an annual fee waiver shows how Chase retention sometimes responds.
The Companion Pass: The Real Reason to Get a Southwest Card
The Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly free, plus taxes and fees, on every Southwest flight you take for the rest of the calendar year you earn it plus the full next year. It is the single most valuable travel perk in the consumer airline space.
You earn the Companion Pass after collecting 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Sign-up bonuses, anniversary points, and points earned from spending all count toward the threshold. This is why timing matters: earn it in January and it lasts almost two full years.
A $99 Plus card with a 50,000-point sign-up bonus gets you more than a third of the way there without a single flight.
Business Cards: Stacking Bonuses for the Companion Pass
If you have a small business, even a sole proprietorship with a side income, the business cards open up a bonus-stacking strategy. Earn the sign-up bonus on a personal card in January, then the sign-up bonus on a business card a few months later. Both bonuses count toward the same Companion Pass year if timed right.
The Performance Business card has the largest typical bonus at 80,000 points and a $199 fee, with strong inflight perks. The Premier Business at $99 is the cheaper option if you mainly want the points.
When a Southwest Card Is Not the Right Fit
Sometimes the math points elsewhere. If you fly multiple airlines, a flexible transferable-points card may earn more than any single-airline product. Our breakdowns of Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits and the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture showdown are the right reads if you do not fly Southwest exclusively.
What If You Cannot Qualify for a Southwest Card Yet
Chase Southwest cards typically require a credit score of 690 or higher. If your score is below that range, applying now will result in a denial and a hard inquiry that drops your score 5 to 10 points. If you are in that gap, our list of the best travel credit cards for bad credit covers more realistic stepping stones.
Build your score first. A starter secured card reports to all three bureaus and shows on-time payment history, which is the single biggest factor in your FICO score. Layering free credit monitoring on top means you can see the score move week by week.
Self Visa Credit Card is one of the most popular starter options. You first build savings through Self's Credit Builder Account, then unlock a secured Visa with a security deposit drawn from those savings. Both products report to all three bureaus. Read our full Self Credit Builder Card review to see if it is the right stepping stone before you apply for a Chase Southwest card.
OpenSky is another solid starting point that approves applicants with no credit check, which makes it the easiest path for someone with very thin or damaged credit. Refundable security deposit starts at $200.
Use either card responsibly for 6 to 12 months, keep utilization under 30 percent, and pay on time. Your score should climb into Southwest qualifying territory by the next year.
What Real Users Say
Southwest cardholders on Reddit's r/CreditCards consistently rate the Plus card as the best value for Companion Pass earning. One user wrote, "Got the Plus in January, hit the bonus by March, earned Companion Pass by August. Best $99 I have spent on a card." Another flagged the Priority's value depending on use, "Priority is worth it only if you actually use the $75 credit. Skipped it one year and felt the burn." Negative feedback typically targets the limited international redemption and Southwest's no-assigned-seats model, which not everyone loves.
Putting It All Together
For most Southwest flyers, the best Southwest credit card is the Plus when you are chasing the Companion Pass, the Priority once you are flying Southwest four or more times a year, or the Performance Business if you have a business and want the maximum bonus stack.
For anyone not yet qualified, start with a credit-building card from Firstcard, Self Visa, or OpenSky. The path from "no score" to "approved for a Chase Southwest card" is typically 12 to 18 months of responsible use.
Every card in this roundup is a Chase-issued product, which means 670+ FICO and the 5/24 rule. If you don't meet that yet, the Aspire Mastercard is the starter card most readers used to get there — unsecured, no deposit, 580+ FICO accepted, three-bureau reporting — so by the time you reapply for Southwest, the file Chase pulls actually approves.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for a Southwest credit card?
Chase typically approves applicants with a FICO score of 690 or higher for the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards. Higher scores increase approval odds and may unlock better credit limits. If you are below 690, build your score first to avoid a denial.
Which Southwest credit card is best for the Companion Pass?
The Plus card at $99 is the cheapest entry to Companion Pass earning, and the welcome bonus alone gets you a third of the way to the 135,000-point threshold. Pair it with a Southwest business card if you qualify, since bonuses from both count toward the same calendar year total.
Is the Southwest Priority card worth the $229 annual fee?
For frequent Southwest flyers, yes. The $75 annual travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, and 4 upgraded boardings per year typically deliver more than $229 in value. If you fly Southwest less than three times a year, the Plus is the better fit.
Can I have multiple Southwest credit cards at once?
Yes, you can hold one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card at the same time. Chase's 5/24 rule still applies, meaning you typically cannot be approved if you have opened 5 or more credit cards across all issuers in the past 24 months.
