Looking at Southwest credit cards and feeling overwhelmed by all the similar-sounding names? You're not alone. With five different Southwest cards offering various perks and annual fees, choosing the right one can save you hundreds—or cost you if you pick wrong.

Here's the thing: I've analyzed every Southwest credit card available, crunched the numbers on annual value, and tested the strategies myself. The bottom line? The right Southwest card can save you $850+ annually on flights, especially if you're targeting the legendary Companion Pass. But the wrong choice leaves money on the table.

Let's cut through the marketing speak and figure out which Southwest credit card actually makes sense for your travel style and spending patterns.

Southwest Credit Cards: Complete Comparison

Southwest offers five main credit card options, each targeting different types of travelers. The Southwest Priority charges $149 annually but includes a $75 travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points, making it ideal for frequent flyers who can maximize the premium perks like upgraded boarding positions.

The Southwest Premier sits in the middle at $99 annually, offering 6,000 anniversary points, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to earn tier qualifying points toward elite status. This card works well for moderate Southwest travelers who want solid benefits without the highest annual fee.

The Southwest Plus has the lowest personal card fee at $69 but only provides 3,000 anniversary points and charges foreign transaction fees, making it less attractive than it initially appears. For business owners, the Southwest Performance Business card charges $99 annually but offers 9,000 anniversary points and doesn't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule.

Finally, some banks offer Southwest Banking cards with varying fees and benefits depending on your banking relationship, though these typically provide fewer rewards than the main Chase cards. Learn more about these options in our Southwest Banking credit card review.

All cards currently offer 50,000-point welcome bonuses after spending $1,000 in the first three months, worth approximately $675 based on Southwest points being valued at 1.35 cents each.

The Southwest Priority: Best for Frequent Flyers

Annual Fee: $149
Effective Annual Fee After Benefits: $74 (or potentially $0)

Let's be honest about the Priority's $149 annual fee—it stings upfront. But here's why it's actually the best value for anyone flying Southwest 4+ times per year. For a complete breakdown of this card's benefits and drawbacks, check out our detailed Southwest Priority credit card review.

Annual Value Breakdown:

• $75 Southwest travel credit: Automatically reduces your effective fee to $74
• 7,500 anniversary points: Worth $101 (at 1.35 cents per point)
• 4 upgraded boardings per year: Value $100+ (A1-A15 boarding positions)
• 25% back on inflight purchases: Save $10-25 annually
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points: Helps toward elite status

Total annual value: $200-250 vs. $149 fee

Real-World Example:

Sarah flies Southwest from Chicago to Denver four times yearly. Her typical $350 roundtrip flights become:

• With Priority: 3x points = 1,050 points per trip (4,200 annually)
• Annual benefits used: $75 credit + 7,500 bonus points + early boarding
• Net cost: $74 effective annual fee
• Result: Saves $175+ annually vs. no card

Who Should Get the Priority:

The Priority card makes sense if you fly Southwest four or more times per year and can easily use the $75 travel credit. It's also ideal for travelers who value priority boarding and are working toward earning the Companion Pass. However, if you only fly Southwest once or twice annually or have a tight budget for annual fees, the Premier offers better value.

The Southwest Premier: The Sweet Spot Card

Annual Fee: $99
Why It Beats the Plus: The $30 extra gets you way more value

Here's the math that convinced me the Premier is better than the Plus for most people. If you're considering this card, our comprehensive Southwest Premier credit card review covers everything you need to know about maximizing its value.

Premier vs. Plus Annual Value:

• Anniversary bonus difference: 6,000 vs. 3,000 points = 3,000 extra points
• Extra points value: $40.50 (at 1.35 cents per point)
• Foreign transaction fees: Premier has none, Plus charges 3%
• Elite qualifying points: Premier earns TQPs, Plus doesn't

Bottom line: Pay $30 more, get $40+ extra value immediately.

The Foreign Fee Factor:

Even if you only take one international trip annually spending $1,000, the Plus card's 3% foreign fee costs you $30—exactly the difference in annual fees. The Premier saves you money from day one.

Who Should Get the Premier:

The Premier works well for travelers who want a lower annual fee than the Priority but still fly Southwest two to three times per year. It's particularly valuable if you ever travel internationally since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, and it's the right choice if you're interested in earning Southwest elite status through tier qualifying points.

The Southwest Plus: Skip This One

Annual Fee: $69
My honest take: Save your money for the Premier

The Plus looks appealing with its $69 fee, but it's a false economy. For a detailed analysis of why this card falls short, read our complete Southwest Plus credit card review. You lose:

• 3,000 fewer anniversary points (worth $40.50)
• Foreign transaction fees (costly for any international travel)
• No path to elite status
• Lower earning rate on Southwest purchases (2x vs. 3x)

The math: You pay $30 less but lose $40+ in immediate value. Only consider the Plus if you're absolutely certain you'll never travel internationally and fly Southwest once per year maximum.

Business Card Strategy: The Hidden Gem

Southwest Performance Business Card
Annual Fee: $99
Why it's better than you think: Higher anniversary bonus and business benefits

For business owners, the Southwest Performance Business credit card deserves serious consideration, especially for Companion Pass strategies.

Business Card Advantages:

• 9,000 anniversary points (vs. 6,000 on Premier personal)
• Doesn't count toward Chase 5/24 rule
• Business expense tracking
• Same 3x earning on Southwest purchases

Two-Card Companion Pass Strategy:

Here's where it gets interesting. If you're serious about the Companion Pass, consider both:

1. Southwest Performance Business (doesn't count toward 5/24)
2. Southwest Priority or Premier (personal card)

Combined welcome bonuses: 100,000+ points = immediate Companion Pass qualification.

The Companion Pass: Your Ticket to 50% Off Southwest Forever

Let's talk about Southwest's most valuable perk: the Companion Pass. Earn 125,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying flights in a calendar year, and your designated companion flies free (paying only taxes) through the following year.

How to Earn It with Credit Cards:

Method 1: Two-Card Strategy (Fastest)

• Apply for Southwest business card: 50,000 welcome bonus
• Apply for Southwest personal card: 50,000 welcome bonus
• Meet both spending requirements: 100,000 points
• Spend additional $18,500 on cards: 25,000+ more points
• Result: Companion Pass in 3-4 months

Method 2: Single Card + Spending

• Get one Southwest card: 50,000 welcome bonus
• Spend $55,500 more on the card: 75,000+ points
• Result: Companion Pass in 8-12 months

Real Companion Pass Value:

Example: Flying Chicago to San Francisco twice yearly:

• Normal cost: $400 × 2 people × 2 trips = $1,600
• With Companion Pass: $400 × 1 person × 2 trips + taxes ($11.20 × 2) = $822.40
• Annual savings: $777.60

Two-year value (Pass lasts through following year): $1,555+ in savings

Companion Pass Pro Tips:

1. Timing matters: Earn it early in the year for maximum duration
2. Business card first: Doesn't count toward 5/24, preserving personal card slots
3. Manufactured spending: Consider prepaid gift cards for faster qualification
4. Track quarterly: Southwest points expire if account inactive 24 months

Which Southwest Card Should You Choose?

Decision Tree:

Are you under Chase's 5/24 rule? (Opened fewer than 5 cards in 24 months)

• Yes: Continue below
• No: Consider Southwest banking card or wait

How often do you fly Southwest?

4+ times per year: → Southwest Priority ($149 fee)

• Best overall value for frequent flyers
• $75 credit makes effective fee $74
• Priority boarding worth it alone
• Read our full Priority card review

2-3 times per year: → Southwest Premier ($99 fee)

• Perfect middle ground
• No foreign fees for international travel
• Elite status qualifying points
• See our complete Premier card analysis

1-2 times per year: → Southwest Premier (still better than Plus)

• Extra anniversary points offset higher fee
• Future-proofs for increased travel
• Compare Premier vs Plus in our detailed review

Business owner wanting Companion Pass: → Southwest Performance Business + Southwest Priority/Premier

• Fastest path to Companion Pass
• Business card doesn't count toward 5/24
• Learn the business card strategy here

Advanced Southwest Card Strategies

The Chase Ecosystem Play:

Smart Southwest card holders also consider:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve: Transferable points to Southwest
2. Chase Freedom cards: 5x rotating categories transfer to Southwest
3. Chase Ink Business cards: Higher earning rates on business spending

Why this matters: Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 to Southwest, giving you flexibility and potentially higher earning rates on non-Southwest spending.

Maximizing Annual Benefits:

For Priority cardholders:

• Travel credit timing: Use in January for current year benefits
• Upgraded boardings: Most valuable on full flights, less useful on empty flights
• Anniversary points: Combine with other earned points for award flights

For all cardholders:

• EarlyBird check-in: Worth $15-25 per flight, included free twice yearly
• 25% inflight savings: Order drinks/snacks for actual savings
• Companion Pass boost: 10,000 qualifying points annually helps maintain status

When to Cancel:

Consider canceling if:

• Haven't flown Southwest in 12+ months
• Can't use annual benefits (travel credit, EarlyBird)
• Found better value elsewhere
• Annual fee outweighs benefits for your usage

Before canceling:

• Use any accumulated points (they expire if account inactive 24 months)
• Consider downgrading to no-fee card if available
• Check for retention offers by calling Chase

Application Strategy and Requirements

Credit Score Requirements:

• Minimum: 650+ for approval odds
• Recommended: 700+ for best terms
• Excellent: 750+ for automatic approval

Chase 5/24 Rule Impact:

All Southwest personal cards count toward Chase's 5/24 rule. If you've opened 5+ cards (any issuer) in the past 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application.

Workarounds:

• Business cards: Southwest Performance Business doesn't count toward 5/24
• Banking relationships: Some banks offer Southwest cards without 5/24 restrictions
• Wait it out: Cards fall off 5/24 after 24 months

Application Timeline Strategy:

Best approach for Companion Pass:

1. January-February: Apply for Southwest business card
2. Meet spending requirement: Earn 50,000 welcome points
3. March-April: Apply for Southwest personal card
4. Meet spending requirement: Earn another 50,000 points
5. Continue spending: Reach 125,000 total points by year-end
6. Result: Companion Pass for rest of current year + all of next year

Current Welcome Offers (Updated 2025):

• All cards: 50,000 points after $1,000 spending in 3 months
• Business card: Sometimes higher bonus (60,000+ points)
• Limited-time: Occasional 60,000-point personal card bonuses

Application tip: Check for elevated offers before applying, especially in January-March when Southwest traditionally runs promotions.

FAQ: Southwest Credit Cards

Which Southwest card has no annual fee?

Currently, no Southwest credit card offers a permanent no annual fee option. The Southwest Plus has the lowest fee at $69 annually. Some banking relationships may waive fees, but this varies by institution.

Can you have multiple Southwest credit cards?

Yes, but with restrictions. You can hold one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card simultaneously. However, Chase's 24-month rule prevents earning welcome bonuses on multiple cards from the same family within 24 months.

How long does the Companion Pass last?

The Companion Pass is valid through the end of the year following the year you earned it. For example, earn it in 2025, and it's valid through December 31, 2026. This is why earning it early in the year maximizes value.

Are Southwest points better than Chase Ultimate Rewards?

Chase Ultimate Rewards are more flexible since they transfer to multiple partners and offer portal redemptions. However, Southwest points can offer better value for domestic flights, especially with the Companion Pass. Many travelers use both systems strategically.

What happens if Southwest devalues their points?

Southwest points are generally stable compared to other airline currencies. However, no points program is immune to devaluation. The Companion Pass provides some protection since your companion always flies free regardless of point values.

Can you use Southwest points for international flights?

Southwest points work for Southwest's limited international routes (Caribbean, Mexico, Central America). For broader international travel, transferable points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards offer more options.

Is the Southwest Companion Pass worth it for families?

Absolutely, but with limitations. The Companion Pass covers one designated companion, so families with multiple children don't get universal benefits. However, for couples or families with one child, the savings are substantial.

How do Southwest cards compare to other airline cards?

Southwest cards excel for domestic travel and the Companion Pass benefit. However, they lack some premium perks found in cards from Delta, American, or United. Choose based on your primary airline and route preferences.

The Bottom Line: Which Southwest Card to Get

After analyzing every Southwest credit card and testing these strategies myself, here's my recommendation:

For most people: Southwest Premier ($99 annual fee)

• Best balance of cost and benefits
• No foreign transaction fees
• Solid anniversary bonus
• Path to elite status

For frequent Southwest flyers: Southwest Priority ($149 annual fee)

• $75 travel credit reduces effective cost
• Priority boarding saves time and stress
• Highest anniversary bonus

For business owners: Southwest Performance Business ($99 annual fee)

• Doesn't count toward 5/24
• Higher anniversary bonus
• Opens two-card Companion Pass strategy

Skip entirely: Southwest Plus

• False economy with lower benefits
• Foreign transaction fees negate savings
• Better value available for $30 more

My Personal Strategy:

I hold both the Southwest Performance Business and Southwest Priority cards. The business card doesn't count toward 5/24, and together they fast-tracked me to the Companion Pass. The Priority's travel credit and priority boarding make frequent travel more enjoyable, while the business card handles my company expenses.

Total annual cost: $248 in fees
Annual value received: $500+ in credits, points, and perks
Companion Pass benefit: $800+ annual savings

For me, it's a no-brainer. But your optimal strategy depends on your travel frequency, spending patterns, and whether the Companion Pass fits your travel style.

Ready to start earning Southwest points and working toward that valuable Companion Pass? Choose your card based on your travel frequency, apply strategically to maximize welcome bonuses, and start saving on every Southwest flight.