What is the best credit card to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points?

There isn’t 1 card that is best for every traveler. Different types of travelers can benefit from different credit cards offering various bonuses and perks. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one card that is generally a winner for everyone. This card earns 2x points on travel and dining. These points can be transferred to Southwest, as well as other hotel and airline partners, and the annual fee is $95.

How can I earn Southwest points quickly?

Earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly is easy when you are using the right credit card. Using a credit card that offers multiple points per dollar in categories that you routinely use is the key to earning points fast. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and Ink Business Preferred card both earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases. The points from these cards can then be transferred to Southwest Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

Do Southwest points expire?

No, Southwest points do not expire.

Which Southwest credit card is best?

That depends on what you want out of the card! On the personal side, the Southwest Priority card offers the most benefits but charges the highest annual fee. The Southwest Plus card and Southwest Premier card, on the other hand, come with more affordable annual fees but don’t offer as many benefits. Consider how often you fly with Southwest, or how often you will fly Southwest in the future, and then select the card that makes the most sense for you.

The 11+ Best Credit Cards for Southwest Airlines Flyers [2023]

Southwest Airlines is more than just a low-cost carrier; it has a reputation among travelers for excellent customer service and offering low-cost flights to popular destinations. You can also fly Southwest to destinations like Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cancún, Belize, Aruba, and Hawaii.

If you love using miles to pay for flights, you are in luck. Southwest has an easy-to-use frequent flyer program called Rapid Rewards. One element of this program that stands out is that there are no blackout dates; if a seat is available on a flight, you can use miles to purchase a seat on that flight.

There are many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Not surprisingly, one of the best ways to earn points fast is with a credit card. This article will highlight all of the credit cards that will help you earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points and can help you decide what credit card might be best for you.

Table of Contents

Why Fly on Southwest Airlines?
The 11 Best Credit Cards for Southwest Flyers
- Card Summary
Southwest Credit Cards
- Recommended Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal Credit Cards
Other Chase Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
- Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
American Express Credit Cards
The Best Card To Earn Southwest Points for Every Type of Traveler
Final Thoughts

Why Fly on Southwest Airlines?

If you are a frequent Southwest Airlines customer, you know why it is a favorite among frequent travelers. If you have never flown Southwest, you might be wondering what all the hype is about and if you should give it a try.

Here are just a few reasons why Southwest is so popular among travelers:

No checked bag fees
No change fees
Great customer service
Free inflight entertainment
No blackout dates on award travel
Ability to earn a Southwest Companion Pass that allows 1 person to fly free of airline charges with you
A growing list of destinations, including Hawaii and many international destinations

The 11 Best Credit Cards for Southwest Flyers

Credit cards are the best way to earn points or miles quickly. In addition to great sign-up bonuses, many cards earn 2x or 3x in select bonus categories. Putting your everyday spending on the right credit card can ensure you have plenty of points to book your next flight.

There are 3 categories of cards that earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points or earn points that can be transferred to Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Southwest Airlines credit cards
Chase credit cards that earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that earn transferable Marriott Bonvoy points

Card Summary

Card Name	Welcome Offer and Annual Fee	Benefits for Southwest Flyers
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card	Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual fee of $149	3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases 7,500 anniversary points each year on your card renewal $75 annual Southwest travel credit 4 Upgraded Boardings per year 25% back on inflight purchases Earn Tier Qualifying Points for your spend Travel and purchase protection
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card	Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual fee of $99	3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshares 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services 6,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal 2 EarlyBird Check-In certificates per year Earn Tier Qualifying Points for your spend 25% back on inflight purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card	Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual fee of $69	2x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshares 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming 3,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal 2 EarlyBird Check-In certificates per year 25% back on inflight purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio 5x points on all travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards 2x points on all other travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $550	Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio 5x points on airfare booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards 3x points on all other travel Priority Pass airport lounge access TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS credit
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back! Annual fee of $0	When paired with a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning card, points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio 5% back on travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards 1.5% back on all other purchases
Chase Freedom Flex℠	Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	When paired with a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning card, points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card	Limited Time Offer! Earn 60,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $0	Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio; for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you will get a 5,000-point bonus 2x points on travel purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $95
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card	Earn 85,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $250 (rates and fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Earn 95,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)	Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio; for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you will get a 5,000-point bonus 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines

Hot Tip: Looking for even more ways to earn lots of Southwest Rapid Rewards points but don’t have any flights planned? Check out our guide to earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points without flying.

Southwest Credit Cards

Southwest offers 5 different credit cards — 3 personal and 2 business — backed by Chase.

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards:

These cards are subject to Chase’s unspoken 5/24 rule. If you aren’t familiar with this rule, it appears that Chase is not likely to approve you for another Chase credit card if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards, regardless of bank, within the last 24 months.
Southwest will not grant you a sign-up bonus on a personal Southwest credit card if you already are a Southwest cardholder or if you previously were a cardholder and earned a sign-up bonus within the last 24 months.
You can earn a sign-up bonus on a personal Southwest card and a Southwest business card without waiting 24 months.

Recommended Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal Credit Cards

Hot Tip: For a head-to-head comparison of Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, check out the best Chase Southwest credit cards, comparing the benefits and perks of each.

Other Chase Credit Cards

Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase Credit Cards

Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. Since the points transfer nearly instantly, this means you can earn and use your Ultimate Rewards points quickly on award travel.

Chase offers some of the best travel rewards credit cards available. The credit cards earn flexible points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners, including Southwest. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can also be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for 1 to 1.5 cents a point, depending on which Chase credit card you have.

Keep in mind a few things when looking to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines:

When you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents per point if redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards (Southwest tickets can only be purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards by calling 866-331-0773). Since this rate is slightly higher than the 1:1 ratio you get when you transfer points to Southwest, you will want to price out your trip with both Chase and at Southwest.com. Sometimes, it might be cheaper to book through Chase.
These cards are also subject to the Chase 5/24 rule mentioned above.

Recommended Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning Credit Cards

Bottom Line: Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred into Southwest Rapid Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio.

Chase’s Cash-back Credit Cards

Chase offers a line of cash-back cards that have big earning potential.

Be aware that if you have a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can turn your cash-back from these cards into transferable Ultimate Rewards points, which can be more valuable.

For example, you can earn 1.5% cash-back on non-bonuses categories with the Freedom Unlimited card. But if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you could be earning 1.5 points per dollar instead spent. These points can then be transferred to Southwest Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to many different airlines, including Southwest. Unfortunately, Marriott’s transfer ratio to most airlines is 3:1; that means that for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, you only get 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.

There is a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer, so if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you will get 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

While it might not be the best avenue to use your Marriott Bonvoy points, if you would rather have Southwest Rapid Rewards points than Marriott Bonvoy points, this can be a good opportunity to boost your Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

The following credit cards all earn Marriott Bonvoy points that can be transferred into Southwest Rapid Rewards points:

Bottom Line: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you will get a 5,000-point bonus. This means that 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points would turn into 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

American Express Credit Cards

If you are in a pinch, and really need Southwest Rapid Rewards points, you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points by transferring your Membership Rewards points with American Express.

This is not the best use for your Membership Rewards points, so this is something you would only want to do to top off your account for a specific redemption.

To do this, you would first transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. These will transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Then you can transfer those Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at the 3:1 ratio mentioned above. That means that for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer you will only get 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.

Again, this method is not ideal, but it’s always good to know all of your options in a pinch.

The Best Card To Earn Southwest Points for Every Type of Traveler

Type of Traveler	Recommended Card for Earning Southwest Points
A casual traveler who uses Southwest a couple of times a year	Chase Sapphire Preferred card: Stick with flexible points that can be transferred to Southwest, or any other Chase hotel or airline partner, any time you need them.
A frequent flyer on Southwest Airlines	Southwest Priority card: This card earns 2x on Southwest purchases and includes 4 upgraded boarding passes and a $75 Southwest credit each year.
A traveler who values perks like priority boarding, inflight drinks, and Wi-Fi discounts	Southwest Priority card: This card includes 4 upgraded boarding passes plus a 20% rebate on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases.
A traveler who rarely uses Southwest Airlines	Chase Sapphire Preferred card: This is one of the best overall travel rewards cards out there. It offers strong earning potential plus flexibility when it comes to using your points.
A business owner who only uses Southwest a couple of times a year	Ink Business Preferred card: Stick with flexible points that can be transferred to Southwest, or any other Chase hotel or airline partner, any time you need them. This card also offers lots of perks for business owners.
A business owner who flies on Southwest Airlines often	Ink Business Preferred card: This card earns 3 points per $1 spent (up to $150,000) each year on purchases in the multiple bonus categories including travel.
A business owner who wants A-List status on Southwest Airlines	Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: This card earns tier qualifying points towards A-list status.
Any traveler who wants to earn the Southwest Companion Pass	Any of the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. Points earned from any of the Southwest credit cards will count towards the 135,000 points needed to earn the Companion Pass plus cardholders get a 10,000 point boost towards Companion Pass qualification each year (these points are not redeemable points).

Final Thoughts

Southwest Airlines is a customer favorite for many reasons, like its easy-to-use Rapid Rewards program, no checked bag or change fees, and great customer service. It’s no wonder why lots of different types of travelers fly Southwest every day.

No matter how often you fly Southwest Airlines, there is a great credit card out there to help you earn lots of Rapid Rewards.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.

4 comments

Parcel World April 4, 2019

I am really happy to say this is an interesting post to read. I learned new information from your article, you are doing a great job. Keep it up!

Travellers Tom April 15, 2019

Well written and solid advice. I already do most of these things but it was a great refresher for me! Like you I value and use ultimate reward points the most. Ironic to use my sapphire reserve instead of southwest cards to earn SW points, but because they transfer so easy and fast it’s a no brainer to do that. I do the same for Hyatt!

Amber June 21, 2019

This might sound like a dumb question, but because of the family boarding Southwest enforces, we want to stick with them. So, how exactly do I transfer Chase Ultimate Reward points over to Southwest? What is the process to do that? I’m lost!

- Jarrod West June 22, 2019
  
  Hi Amber!
  
  That is not a dumb question at all! In fact, it’s one we get so often that we’ve created a guide that teaches everything you need to know about Chase Ultimate Reward points – including how to transfer them to airlines like Southwest!
  Check it out here: https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/chase-ultimate-rewards-transfer-partners/#How-To-Transfer-Ultimate-Rewards

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The 11+ Best Credit Cards for Southwest Airlines Flyers [2023]

Why Fly on Southwest Airlines?