Southwest Airlines Visa Cards: Plus vs Premier vs Priority (2026)

If you fly Southwest a few times a year, the right Southwest Airlines Visa card can stack Rapid Rewards points fast and even put a Companion Pass within reach. The catch is that there are three personal versions, and the gap between them is wider than most people expect. If you just want a quick recommendation, our pick for the best Southwest credit card breaks it down.

All of these cards are issued by Chase on the Visa network, so they work anywhere Visa is accepted, not just on flights. The real decision is which annual fee and perk set actually pays off for how you travel. Here is the full comparison with real numbers as of June 2026.

Key Facts at a Glance

There is also a Performance Business card for company spending, but this guide focuses on the three personal Visa cards most people are comparing.

Who Issues the Southwest Airlines Visa

Every Southwest Rapid Rewards personal credit card is issued by Chase and runs on the Visa network. Chase manages the credit account, billing, and customer service, while Southwest supplies the Rapid Rewards points and the airline perks.

Because these are open-loop Visa cards, you can use them anywhere Visa is accepted, not only for airfare. That is a meaningful edge over store-only cards, and it means your everyday spending earns Rapid Rewards points that count toward flights.

All three report your account to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, so on-time payments help build your credit history. As of June 2026, approval generally calls for good credit, roughly a 670 FICO score or higher based on our research across multiple sources.

How Rapid Rewards Points Work

Across the lineup you earn extra points on Southwest purchases and a smaller flat rate on everyday spending, with the higher-tier cards adding bonus categories like dining, transit, and streaming. The point that matters most is redemption value.

As of June 2026, Rapid Rewards points are worth roughly 1.3 to 1.5 cents each toward Wanna Get Away fares, with most analyses landing near 1.4 cents. So a 50,000-point welcome bonus is worth somewhere around $650 to $700 in flights, not the inflated figures some marketing implies.

Southwest does not charge fuel surcharges on award flights, and there are no blackout dates, so award seats are available whenever a paid seat is. That consistency is one of the program's real strengths.

The Plus Card: Lowest Fee, Fewest Perks

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card carries a $99 annual fee, the lowest of the three. You get 3,000 anniversary points each year, which roughly offsets a third of the fee in flight value.

The trade-off is that the Plus card charges foreign transaction fees, so it is a poor choice for travel outside the U.S. It is the most basic option, best for an occasional Southwest flyer who wants the cardholder benefits at the smallest yearly cost.

If you are aiming for the Plus card but worried your credit is not quite in the 670 range yet, it helps to have a more attainable backup. The Aspire Mastercard is a common stepping-stone: it is unsecured with no security deposit, accepts applicants around 580 FICO, reports to all three bureaus, and pays up to 3% cash back. Twelve months of on-time history on a card like that is exactly what helps you qualify for a Chase travel card later.

The Premier Card: The Balanced Middle

The Premier card sits in the middle at a $149 annual fee, and for many travelers it is the sweet spot. You get 6,000 anniversary points each year, double the Plus, which covers a larger share of the fee in flight value. Our standalone Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier review digs deeper into its earning categories.

The Premier card also drops foreign transaction fees entirely, so it holds up on international trips where the Plus card would cost you about 3% extra on every purchase. Its purchase APR runs roughly 19.24% to 27.74% variable depending on your creditworthiness, the same range across the lineup.

If the $149 fee feels steep before you know whether you will use the card enough, building credit without a credit check first is a low-stress path. The Perpay Credit Card is powered by your paycheck, with payments pulled from direct deposit, no security deposit, 2% rewards, and no credit score required to start. It is an easy way to build the on-time history a Chase card wants to see.

The Priority Card: Most Perks, Highest Fee

The Priority card tops the lineup with a $229 annual fee, but it bundles perks that can offset most of that cost if you actually fly Southwest. You get 7,500 anniversary points each year and a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, which together claw back a large chunk of the fee.

On top of that, the Priority card gives 25% back on in-flight purchases like drinks and Wi-Fi, plus reimbursement for up to four upgraded boardings per year, a perk frequent flyers value for better seat selection. Like the Premier, it charges no foreign transaction fees, which puts it alongside the best credit cards for spending abroad.

The math is simple: if you redeem the anniversary points and use the $75 credit and a couple of upgraded boardings, the Priority card can come out ahead of the Premier despite the higher sticker fee. If you fly Southwest only once or twice a year, the Premier or Plus is the better value.

The Companion Pass Angle

The Companion Pass is the headline reason many people get a Southwest card. It lets a designated companion fly with you for just the taxes and fees, often around $5.60 one way, for the rest of the year you earn it plus the following full calendar year.

To qualify in 2026 you need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, and points earned on any Southwest Visa card count toward that total. A large welcome bonus can get you a meaningful way there, though a single card bonus alone usually will not cover the full 135,000.

Welcome offers shift often. As of June 2026, the personal cards have featured bonuses in the 50,000 to 100,000 point range after meeting a spending requirement, sometimes paired with a limited-time Companion Pass promotion. Always check the live offer before applying, since these change every few months.

APR, Fees, and the Honest Cost

None of these cards is cheap to carry a balance on. As of June 2026, the purchase APR runs roughly 19.24% to 27.74% variable across the lineup, and a penalty APR can apply if you fall behind. Annual fees are not waived the first year on any of them.

The rule with airline cards is plain: pay the full balance every month. Carry a balance at a near-28% APR and the interest will quickly erase the value of any points you earn. Pay in full, and that high APR never touches you. Loyalists to another carrier might instead compare the Alaska Airlines credit card or a flexible-points option like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

For readers who want premium-style rewards without an airline annual fee at all, the Robinhood Gold Card is worth a look. It earns 3% unlimited cash back on every purchase with no foreign transaction fee, and you open it through a Robinhood brokerage account, so your cash back can flow straight into investing. It is flat cash back rather than transferable airline points, but for non-loyalists it often beats a co-branded card you rarely use.

Which Southwest Visa Should You Pick

Match the card to how often you fly. The Plus works for an occasional domestic Southwest flyer who wants the lowest fee. The Premier is the balanced default for someone who flies a few times a year and wants no foreign transaction fees. The Priority pays off for frequent Southwest flyers who will use the $75 credit, upgraded boardings, and extra anniversary points.

If you are chasing the Companion Pass, the higher welcome bonus and faster point accumulation usually make the Premier or Priority the smarter starting point. Just be honest about whether you will fly enough to justify the fee.

Whatever you choose, run the numbers against your real travel habits. A travel card only earns its fee when you actually fly that airline and pay your balance in full.

What Users Commonly Report

Many Southwest cardholders praise how easy the points are to use, pointing to no blackout dates and no fuel surcharges as genuine perks. Reviewers often say the anniversary points and the Priority card's travel credit make the annual fee easier to swallow than they expected.

A common complaint is that point values have slipped over the past couple of years, so a given number of points buys less flight than it used to. Some users also note that the Plus card's foreign transaction fees make it a poor travel companion abroad, and that the welcome-bonus spending requirements can be high during Companion Pass promotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do I need for a Southwest Visa card?

Based on our research, applicants typically need good credit, roughly a 670 FICO score or higher, to be approved for any of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa cards. Chase runs a hard inquiry when you apply, which can dip your score by a few points temporarily.

Which Southwest card is best for the Companion Pass?

The Premier and Priority cards usually make the most sense for Companion Pass seekers because their larger welcome bonuses get you closer to the 135,000 qualifying points needed in a calendar year. Points earned on any Southwest Visa count toward qualifying.

Do Southwest credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?

The Premier and Priority cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for travel abroad. The Plus card does charge them, so it is best kept for domestic spending.

Do Southwest Visa cards report to all three credit bureaus?

Yes. Because they are issued by Chase, all three Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa cards report your activity to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, so on-time payments help build your credit history. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.