Best Southwest credit cards 2026
Six picks for the Chase Southwest portfolio — built around the Companion Pass strategy (free flights for a designated companion all year). Updated for Southwest’s January 2026 assigned-seating transition. Best overall, best premium, best entry-level, best Performance Business, and the two business companions. Plus honest framing on the Companion Pass math: how to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year through card spending alone.
Why Southwest cards are unique in U.S. airline rewards
Southwest credit cards offer something genuinely different from any other U.S. airline co-brand: the Companion Pass. Earn it once, and your designated companion flies free (taxes/fees from $5.60 one-way) with you for the rest of the calendar year you earned it AND the full following calendar year. The math is uniquely favorable: every dollar of credit card spending earns Companion Pass qualifying points, meaning you can effectively earn the Companion Pass through card spending alone — no actual Southwest flying required. This is structurally impossible with Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, or even AAdvantage Loyalty Points (where status acceleration exists but actual free-companion benefits don’t).
The honest editorial position: Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth approximately 1.4¢ each — competitive with United MileagePlus (1.3¢) and better than Delta (1.1-1.2¢). Unlike traditional airline programs with fixed award charts, Southwest uses revenue-based redemption: points have a near-fixed cash-equivalent value tied to the actual flight price. No fuel surcharges, no fixed peak-pricing tricks, no fluctuating value. What you see is what you get — refreshingly transparent for an airline program. The signature 2026 change: Southwest implemented assigned seating starting January 27, 2026, ending the iconic 50-year open-seating tradition. Credit cards now provide specific seat-selection benefits (Standard, Preferred, Extra Legroom) tied to card tier.
Before applying: Chase 5/24 and Southwest’s 24-month rule
All Southwest cards are Chase products and count toward the Chase 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened 5+ credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, Chase will typically decline your Southwest card application. Additionally, Chase enforces a Southwest-specific 24-month welcome bonus rule: you cannot earn a Southwest personal card welcome bonus if you’ve received any Southwest personal card bonus in the previous 24 months. However, business cards are evaluated independently — earning a Southwest personal welcome bonus does NOT preclude earning a Southwest business welcome bonus simultaneously.
The strategic implication for Companion Pass earning: the classic dual-card strategy — open a Southwest personal card + a Southwest business card in the same calendar year, hit both welcome bonuses, and earn 95,000-160,000 Companion Pass qualifying points + 20,000 in qualifying boost bonuses (10K from each card) = enough to earn the Companion Pass for the remainder of the current year AND all of the following calendar year. Timing matters: open cards in January-February to maximize Companion Pass duration. See our Chase 5/24 Rule Explained guide for strategic sequencing.
How we rank Southwest credit cards
Every Southwest card was evaluated against four criteria: (1) Companion Pass qualifying points earning — how efficiently does the card help you reach the 135,000-point Companion Pass threshold. (2) Effective annual fee — annual fee minus anniversary points, EarlyBird credits, and other realistic credits. (3) Southwest-specific value — free checked bag (only Priority + Business cards), seat selection benefits (post-2026 assigned seating), A-List status acceleration. (4) Rewards earning structure — 2x-4x multipliers on Southwest + dining + groceries.
We explicitly evaluate each Southwest card against alternatives: Sapphire Preferred ($95) for transferable Ultimate Rewards (transfers 1:1 to Southwest), Chase Freedom Unlimited ($0) for general spending. The unique strategic note for Southwest: Ultimate Rewards transfers to Southwest at 1:1, meaning Sapphire Preferred points can be redeemed for Southwest flights at full value. However, transferred points do NOT count toward Companion Pass qualifying points — only points earned directly on Southwest-branded credit cards or through actual Southwest flying qualify. This makes the Southwest cards essential for Companion Pass earning, not optional.
Best overall Southwest card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
Why it wins
The Southwest Premier delivers the strongest value-to-fee ratio in the Southwest portfolio. $99 annual fee, paired with 3x points on Southwest purchases + 2x at grocery stores and restaurants (on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year) + 1x on everything else. 6,000 anniversary points automatically deposit each year — at our 1.4¢/point valuation, that’s $84 of value, nearly offsetting the entire annual fee. Add the 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually + 1,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spent (toward A-List status), and the Premier earns its 5.0 rating.
The strategic advantage over Plus ($99 → identical fee, lower earn rate) is significant: 3x on Southwest vs. 2x on Plus, 2x grocery/dining cap of $8,000 vs. Plus’s 2x gas/grocery cap of $5,000, and 6,000 anniversary points vs. 3,000 on Plus. The Premier is the right starting point for most Southwest flyers who don’t need free checked bags (Southwest already offers 2 free bags to all passengers regardless of card — see callout below) or seat-selection benefits. For occasional flyers wanting Companion Pass earning power without higher fees, this is the clear winner. Counts toward Chase 5/24.
- $99 annual fee — accessible mid-tier
- 3x on Southwest + 2x grocery/dining (up to $8K cap)
- 6,000 anniversary points ($84 value) annually
- 10,000 Companion Pass boost qualifying points annually
- $0 foreign transaction fees + 25% inflight rebate
Best entry-level Southwest card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Why it wins (with honest caveats)
The Southwest Plus is the lowest-fee personal Southwest card that still earns the critical 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually. $69 annual fee, paired with 2x on Southwest purchases, 2x at gas stations and grocery stores (on the first $5,000 in combined purchases), 3,000 anniversary points ($42 value), and the 10,000 CP boost. For users primarily focused on earning the Companion Pass without committing to higher annual fees, the Plus delivers nearly all the Companion Pass-earning value of more expensive Southwest cards.
The honest assessment: for most Southwest flyers, the Premier ($99) is a better value than the Plus ($69) despite the higher fee. The Premier’s 3x Southwest earning vs. Plus’s 2x means even $3,000 of Southwest spending generates 3,000 extra points ($42 value), which already exceeds the $30 annual fee premium. Add 6,000 vs. 3,000 anniversary points ($42 extra value), and the Premier delivers $50-100+ MORE annual value than Plus despite the higher fee. The Plus is the right answer for: users who’ll spend less than $3,000/year on the card (where the Premier’s higher earn rate doesn’t pay back the fee difference), OR users in their final year of Companion Pass earning who plan to downgrade after.
- $69 annual fee — lowest Southwest personal card fee
- 2x on Southwest + gas + groceries (up to $5K cap)
- 3,000 anniversary points ($42 value) annually
- 10,000 Companion Pass boost annually
- Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure
Best Performance Business Southwest card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business
Why it wins
The Southwest Performance Business is the strongest Companion Pass-earning vehicle in the Southwest portfolio. $199 annual fee delivers 4x Rapid Rewards on Southwest purchases (matching Priority), 3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 2x on social media and search engine advertising, internet/cable/phone services, 1x on everything else. 9,000 anniversary points annually ($126 value) — highest in the portfolio. Plus 4 EarlyBird Check-Ins annually ($100+ value), 25% off inflight purchases, the 10,000 CP boost, and 1,500 TQP per $5,000 spent toward A-List status.
The strategic value for Companion Pass earning: business card welcome bonuses are evaluated separately from personal card bonuses, meaning the classic dual-card Companion Pass strategy uses Performance Business + a Southwest personal card simultaneously. Combined Year 1 welcome bonuses (typically 50K-80K from Performance Business + 30K-50K from personal Premier/Priority) easily exceed the 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying point threshold. Add the 10K boost from each card = 20K bonus = total 100K-150K+ in qualifying points from welcome bonuses ALONE. Business credit reporting means Performance Business doesn’t show on personal credit reports, protecting Chase 5/24 status for premium personal Chase cards. Add up to 99 employee cards at $0 each.
- 4x on Southwest + 3x on hotel/car partners
- 9,000 anniversary points ($126 value) annually
- 4 EarlyBird Check-Ins annually (~$100 value)
- 10,000 CP boost annually
- Business credit reporting — protects personal Chase 5/24
Best Premier Business Southwest card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business
Why it wins
The Southwest Premier Business mirrors the personal Premier’s structure with business-specific additions: 3x Rapid Rewards on Southwest purchases, 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 1x on everything else, plus 6,000 anniversary points annually ($84 value) and the 10,000 CP boost. At $99 annual fee, this is the optimal Companion Pass-earning vehicle for small businesses that don’t need the Performance Business’s full premium benefits.
The strategic combination: Premier Business ($99) + personal Premier ($99) = $198 total annual fees, vs. Performance Business ($199) alone. The dual-card approach delivers TWO sets of welcome bonuses (typically 60K-100K combined), TWO 10K CP boosts (20K total), and earning from both personal and business spending all counting toward Companion Pass. The Premier Business is the right answer for small business owners who want to maximize Companion Pass earning at moderate annual cost without the Performance Business’s higher fee. Add up to 99 employee cards at $0 each + 25% inflight rebate + EarlyBird Check-In benefits per cardmember.
- $99 annual fee — accessible business tier
- 3x on Southwest + 2x on hotel/car partners
- 6,000 anniversary points ($84 value) annually
- 10,000 CP boost annually (additive to personal card boost)
- Business credit reporting — protects personal Chase 5/24
Best Plus Business Southwest card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Business
Why it wins (and honest caveats)
The Southwest Plus Business is the lowest-fee Southwest business card option. $69 annual fee, 2x on Southwest purchases, 1x on everything else, 3,000 anniversary points annually, and the 10,000 CP boost. For small business owners wanting Companion Pass-earning capability without the higher business card fees, this is the entry option.
The honest assessment: most small business owners are better served by the Premier Business ($99) — the $30 fee premium delivers 3x vs. 2x Southwest earning + double the anniversary points (6K vs. 3K = $42 extra value). Plus Business is the right answer for: very small businesses with limited card spending ($2,000-3,000/year), OR users primarily seeking the welcome bonus + 10K CP boost for Companion Pass earning without significant ongoing card use. Business credit reporting protects personal Chase 5/24 status, making this useful as a “throwaway” Companion Pass earner that can be downgraded or canceled after CP qualification without affecting personal credit.
- $69 annual fee — lowest business card fee
- 2x on Southwest purchases
- 3,000 anniversary points ($42 value) annually
- 10,000 CP boost annually
- Employee cards at $0 each
The Companion Pass strategy
The Companion Pass is Southwest’s signature loyalty benefit and the single biggest reason to hold Southwest credit cards. Here’s the complete strategic framework:
How the Companion Pass works
Qualification: Earn 135,000 qualifying points OR 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. Credit card spending counts toward qualifying points (unlike most airlines where elite status requires actual flying).
Benefit: Once earned, you can designate one companion who flies free (paying only taxes/fees from $5.60 one-way) with you on any Southwest flight for the rest of the year you earned it AND the entire following calendar year. You can change the designated companion up to 3 times per calendar year.
What counts as qualifying points:
- Base points from Southwest flights (excluding flight bonus points)
- Base points earned on Rapid Rewards credit cards (Chase Southwest cards)
- Bonus points earned on Rapid Rewards credit cards from Chase (including welcome bonuses + category multiplier bonuses)
- 10,000 boost per calendar year from being a cardmember
- Base points from Rapid Rewards partners (e.g., hotel partner bookings)
What does NOT count: Purchased points, points transferred between members, points converted from hotel/car loyalty programs, points from Rapid Rewards enrollment, points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire Preferred transfers count toward redemption but NOT qualification).
The classic dual-card strategy
The most efficient path to Companion Pass earning combines a Southwest personal card + a Southwest business card opened in the same calendar year. Here’s the typical math:
- Step 1: Open Southwest Performance Business in January-February. Hit welcome bonus (typically 50,000-80,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months).
- Step 2: Open Southwest Premier or Priority personal card in February-March. Hit welcome bonus (typically 30,000-50,000 points after $1,000-4,000 in 3 months).
- Step 3: Receive 10,000 CP boost from EACH card (20,000 total) deposited by January 31.
- Step 4: Continue normal spending on both cards through year — each dollar earns at least 1 qualifying point.
Realistic outcome: Combined welcome bonuses (80K-130K) + 20K boost + 10K-20K from ongoing spending = 110K-170K qualifying points in Year 1 = Companion Pass earned. Optimal timing: Open cards in January-February to maximize Companion Pass duration. If you earn Companion Pass in February, you have it for the rest of THAT year (11 months) AND all of the NEXT year (12 months) = up to 23 months of Companion Pass coverage.
The honest math: for couples or designated companions flying Southwest 4+ times together per year, the Companion Pass typically delivers $1,500-4,000+ in value over a 23-month period. At our 1.4¢/point valuation, even just 10 one-way companion flights at ~$200 each = $2,000 in savings. For Southwest-loyal travelers, the Companion Pass is the single most valuable airline loyalty benefit in the U.S. industry — no other airline offers a comparable structural benefit.
Fee justification math
Each Southwest card’s annual fee can be offset through anniversary points alone, plus credits and bag benefits where applicable. Here’s the realistic math:
Premier $99 — fee justification
Couple making 3 Southwest round trips per year with moderate card spending
| Benefit | Realistic Use | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Owed annually | $99 |
| 6,000 anniversary points | Auto-deposited each anniversary × 1.4¢ | -$84 |
| 3x Southwest earning | $3K Southwest × 2 extra points × 1.4¢ | -$84 |
| 2x grocery/dining | $8K cap × 1 extra point × 1.4¢ | -$112 |
| 10K CP qualifying boost | Value if pursuing CP (irreplaceable) | Critical |
| Net benefit value | Typical couple use case | +$181 value |
Priority $229 — fee justification
Frequent Southwest flyer (6+ trips/year) using premium seat benefits
| Benefit | Realistic Use | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Owed annually | $229 |
| 7,500 anniversary points | Auto-deposited × 1.4¢ | -$105 |
| $75 Southwest travel credit | Auto-applied to Southwest purchases | -$75 |
| 4x Southwest earning | $4K Southwest × 3 extra points × 1.4¢ | -$168 |
| 2,500 TQP per $5K spent | Value toward A-List status if pursuing | Variable |
| Preferred seat selection | $25-40/flight × 6 trips × 2 directions | -$300 |
| Net benefit value | Frequent flyer use case | +$419 value |
Performance Business $199 — fee justification
Small business owner pursuing Companion Pass + frequent Southwest travel
| Benefit | Realistic Use | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Owed annually | $199 |
| 9,000 anniversary points | Auto-deposited × 1.4¢ | -$126 |
| 4 EarlyBird Check-Ins | $25 × 4 (pre-assigned-seating value) | -$100 |
| 4x Southwest earning | $5K business Southwest × 3 extra × 1.4¢ | -$210 |
| 10K CP qualifying boost | Critical for CP earning | Critical |
| Net benefit value | Small business owner use case | +$237 value |
The honest takeaway: all Southwest cards can deliver positive net value — but the Companion Pass earning power dwarfs all other fee justification math when you’re actively pursuing it. If you’re pursuing the Companion Pass, the dual-card strategy (personal + business) creates $1,500-4,000+ in companion flight value over 23 months — far exceeding ALL annual fees combined. If you’re NOT pursuing the Companion Pass, the Premier ($99) is the strongest value-to-fee ratio. The Priority ($229) requires actively using Preferred seat selection + travel credit to justify. The Plus ($69) makes sense only for very low spenders or “throwaway” Companion Pass earners.
Full comparison of all 6 Southwest cards
Side-by-side comparison — all 6 Chase Southwest cards by annual fee, key benefits, and rating:
Southwest credit cards at a glance
All 6 cards in the Chase Southwest portfolio (2026 updated for assigned seating)
| Card | Annual Fee | SW Earn | Anniv. Points | CP Boost | Seat Selection | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Plus | $69 | 2x | 3,000 | 10,000 | Standard | ★ 4.0 |
| Southwest Premier | $99 | 3x | 6,000 | 10,000 | Standard | ★ 5.0 |
| Southwest Priority | $229 | 4x | 7,500 | 10,000 | Preferred | ★ 4.5 |
| Plus Business | $69 | 2x | 3,000 | 10,000 | Standard | ★ 4.0 |
| Premier Business | $99 | 3x | 6,000 | 10,000 | Standard | ★ 4.5 |
| Performance Business | $199 | 4x | 9,000 | 10,000 | Standard | ★ 5.0 |
Southwest card mistakes to avoid
These mistakes cost Southwest cardholders hundreds to thousands of dollars over time. All are preventable:
Earning Companion Pass too late in the year
If you earn the Companion Pass in February, you get it for the rest of that year (11 months) + all of next year (12 months) = up to 23 months of free companion flights. If you earn it in November, you only get 1 month + 12 months = 13 months — almost a full year of benefit lost. Strategic timing: open both Southwest cards (personal + business) in January-February to maximize Companion Pass duration. The earlier in the calendar year you qualify, the more value you extract. Welcome bonuses post within 4-6 weeks of meeting the minimum spending requirement, so plan accordingly.
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards thinking it counts toward Companion Pass
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Southwest at 1:1 for actual flight redemptions — but transferred points do NOT count toward Companion Pass qualifying points. Only points earned directly through Southwest credit card spending, actual Southwest flying, or Rapid Rewards partner bookings count toward CP qualification. Practical implication: if you’re pursuing the Companion Pass, focus card spending on Southwest cards (not on Sapphire Preferred), even if categorical multipliers would be better elsewhere. The Companion Pass value far exceeds the marginal earning rate difference. Once Companion Pass is earned, switch spending priorities — Sapphire Preferred’s 3x dining + 5x travel beats Southwest cards in most categories.
Missing the December billing cycle cutoff
For Companion Pass qualifying points, only points POSTED to your Rapid Rewards account within the calendar year count. Spending after your December credit card statement closes posts in January — which is the NEXT calendar year for Companion Pass purposes. Critical implication: if you’re 3,000 qualifying points away from Companion Pass in mid-December and your statement closes December 15, you must hit those points BEFORE December 15. Spending December 16-31 won’t post until January and won’t count for the current year’s Companion Pass qualification. Best practice: identify your December statement closing date in your Chase account dashboard. Plan major qualifying-points spending earlier in December to avoid the cutoff.
Choosing Priority without using Preferred seat benefits
The $130 premium between Premier ($99) and Priority ($229) is justified by Preferred seat selection (post-2026 assigned seating) + $75 travel credit + 1,500 extra anniversary points. If you don’t value Preferred seat selection (won’t book front-of-cabin seats anyway, often travel solo without needing seats together), the Priority is overspending vs. Premier. Practical evaluation: after one year on Priority, count how many flights actually used the Preferred seat benefit. If under 4-6 uses, drop to Premier and save $130/year. The 4x Southwest earning vs. Premier’s 3x recovers only ~$84/year on $4K Southwest spending — not enough to justify the fee premium alone.
Closing Southwest cards mid-Companion Pass year
Closing a Southwest card during the calendar year you’ve already earned the Companion Pass does NOT cancel the Companion Pass — once earned, it’s yours through the end of the following calendar year regardless of card status. However: closing the card removes the 10,000 CP boost for the FOLLOWING year, making it harder to re-qualify for Companion Pass in the next cycle. Better approach: downgrade to a lower-fee Southwest card (Plus at $69) rather than closing entirely if you want to reduce annual fees while preserving Companion Pass earning capability. Product changes don’t trigger new welcome bonuses but maintain your account history.
Forgetting Chase 5/24 implications
Southwest personal cards count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’re at 4 cards already and want both a Southwest personal card AND want to pursue Chase’s premium personal travel cards in the next 24 months, the Southwest application pushes you over 5/24. Strategic implication: open Sapphire Preferred + other premium Chase personal cards FIRST while well under 5/24, then add Southwest cards as your portfolio matures. Southwest BUSINESS cards do NOT count toward 5/24 (business credit reporting) — useful for Companion Pass pursuit without burning personal 5/24 slots. The Companion Pass dual-card strategy works well with Performance Business + an existing Southwest personal card for users already managing 5/24 carefully.
Which Southwest card is right for me?
Walk through these four questions to identify your right Southwest card:
Four questions to find your card
Match your situation. The first matching question is your starting point.
Do you have a travel companion + plan to fly Southwest 4+ times together/year?
If yes → Pursue the Companion Pass via dual-card strategy. Open Southwest Performance Business ($199) + Southwest Premier ($99) in January-February. The combined welcome bonuses + 10K boosts will easily exceed the 135,000 CP qualifying point threshold. Companion Pass earned in February = up to 23 months of free companion flights.
Solo Southwest flyer with 3-6 trips per year + moderate card spending?
If yes → Southwest Premier ($99). The 3x Southwest earning + 6,000 anniversary points + 10K CP boost (useful if you later add a travel companion) delivers the strongest value-to-fee ratio. Better than Plus ($69) for anyone spending $3,000+ annually. Better than Priority ($229) unless you’ll use Preferred seat selection extensively.
Frequent Southwest flyer (6+ trips/year) + value Preferred seats?
If yes → Southwest Priority ($229). 4x Southwest earning + 7,500 anniversary points + $75 travel credit + Preferred seat selection at booking. $300+ in Preferred seat value alone justifies the fee for users who consistently book front-of-cabin seats post-2026 assigned seating transition.
Small business owner with Southwest travel for business purposes?
If yes → Southwest Premier Business ($99) for moderate business spenders OR Performance Business ($199) for high spenders pursuing CP. Business credit reporting protects personal Chase 5/24 — useful for users building diversified Chase portfolios. Pairs excellently with a personal Southwest card for the dual-card Companion Pass strategy.
The universal Southwest card answer
For most Southwest flyers with a travel companion, the answer is clear: pursue the Companion Pass through the dual-card strategy. Performance Business ($199) + Premier ($99) in January-February of a target year delivers $1,500-4,000+ in companion flight value over 23 months — by far the highest ROI of any U.S. airline credit card strategy.
For users without a travel companion or unwilling to pursue dual cards, the Southwest Premier ($99) is the universal answer. 3x Southwest + 6,000 anniversary points + 10K CP boost (banked for future use if a companion enters your life) at the strongest value-to-fee ratio in the portfolio. If you’re new to airline credit cards generally, start with a Sapphire Preferred ($95) as your general travel card — Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 to Southwest for actual redemptions, providing flexibility before committing to a Southwest-specific card.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Southwest Rapid Rewards points worth?
Our editorial analysis values Rapid Rewards points at approximately 1.4¢ each. Unlike traditional airline programs with award charts, Southwest uses revenue-based redemption: the point cost of a flight is tied to the cash price of the flight, typically delivering 1.3-1.5¢ value across most redemptions. This is structurally better than dynamic-pricing airlines like Delta and United because there are no fuel surcharges, no fixed peak-pricing tricks, and no fluctuating value. What you see is what you get. The honest framing: Rapid Rewards are best treated as cash-back-equivalent, with near-fixed conversion to dollar value. Don’t expect outsized “sweet spots” — but don’t fear surprise devaluations either.
Do Southwest Rapid Rewards points expire?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire, regardless of account activity. Southwest removed expiration in 2013 and has maintained the no-expiration policy since. The honest caveat: while points don’t expire, “no expiration” doesn’t protect against devaluations — Southwest can change point-to-dollar conversion rates over time. The current ~1.4¢ value is stable but not guaranteed forever. For long-term point hoarders, the lack of expiration is helpful, but plan to redeem within 1-2 years to mitigate devaluation risk. For active Southwest flyers, the no-expiration policy simply removes anxiety about losing points between trips.
What changed with Southwest’s assigned seating in 2026?
Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest ended its iconic 50-year open-seating policy and implemented assigned seating across all flights. This was a major change: the legendary “boarding-position” system (A, B, C boarding groups + sequential boarding numbers determining seat choice on the plane) is no longer the primary seat-selection method. Credit cards now offer specific seat-selection benefits: Standard seats (within 48 hours of departure) for Plus + Premier + Plus Business + Premier Business, Preferred seats (at booking) for Priority + Performance Business, Extra Legroom (within 48 hours) for Priority cardmembers. The Companion Pass benefit remains unchanged — your designated companion still flies free regardless of seating policy changes. EarlyBird Check-In, previously valuable for open-seating, is largely obsolete in the assigned-seating era.
Can I have multiple Southwest credit cards?
Yes, but with Chase’s family rules. You can typically hold ONE Southwest personal card + ONE Southwest business card simultaneously. Holding two personal Southwest cards (e.g., Plus + Premier) is generally not allowed — Chase will require you to product-change between cards rather than hold both. However: the personal + business combination is the classic Companion Pass dual-card strategy. Earning a Southwest personal welcome bonus has a 24-month cooldown period — Chase enforces this rule strictly. Business card welcome bonuses are evaluated independently. For users who held Southwest cards 24+ months ago and downgraded/closed, you may be eligible for new welcome bonuses again — verify via Chase’s pre-qualification tool.
Does Southwest have a free checked bag benefit on cards?
Important context: Southwest historically gave all passengers 2 free checked bags, regardless of card or status. This was a defining feature of the airline. However, Southwest announced changes to this policy in 2025 — passengers without elite status or premium cards may now face checked bag fees. Credit card benefits: the Priority Card provides the cardholder + up to 8 companions on the same reservation with first checked bag free (a substantial benefit as bag fees roll out). The Plus, Premier, Plus Business, and Premier Business cards do NOT include free checked bags — verify the latest Southwest bag policy on the Southwest website before flying. For travelers checking bags regularly, the Priority card’s free bag benefit alone may justify the $229 annual fee.
How do I transfer points TO Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Southwest Rapid Rewards has one major transferable-points partner: Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Southwest at 1:1. This means Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, and other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards can transfer points directly to Southwest for redemptions. Critical caveat: transferred points count toward redemption but NOT toward Companion Pass qualification. No other major transferable-points program transfers to Southwest — Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Points all lack Southwest partnerships. The strategic implication: Sapphire Preferred is the only valuable non-Southwest card for Southwest flyers — it provides general travel rewards earning + Southwest redemption capability via point transfers.
Should I get a Southwest card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Depends on your travel patterns. Southwest cards win for Southwest-loyal travelers: provide direct Companion Pass earning capability (impossible with Sapphire Preferred), free checked bag (Priority), Preferred seat selection (Priority + Performance Business), and Southwest-specific perks. Sapphire Preferred wins for flexible travelers: 3x dining + 3x travel + transferable points to 13 partners (including Southwest 1:1), trip cancellation/insurance, primary rental car coverage. The strategic answer for most Southwest flyers: hold BOTH — Southwest Premier ($99) for direct Southwest spending + Companion Pass earning, and Sapphire Preferred ($95) for everything else. Combined annual fees: $194, easily justified by the combined benefits.
Is the Companion Pass really worth pursuing?
For most couples or families with a designated traveler companion, yes — substantially. The math: Companion Pass holders save approximately $200-400 per round-trip flight × however many trips you take together. Typical couples flying Southwest 6+ round trips per year together save $1,500-3,000 annually in companion flight costs alone. Over the maximum 23-month Companion Pass duration, total savings often exceed $3,000-5,000. The cost to earn: $268-298 in combined annual fees (Performance Business + Premier in Year 1, then either both or downgraded versions in Year 2). Net ROI: typically 5-15× the cost. The Companion Pass is the single best loyalty benefit in U.S. airline credit cards when leveraged correctly. For solo travelers without companions, the math doesn’t work — focus on Premier alone.