Southwest Credit Cards Now Earn Up to 5 Points Per Dollar on Lyft Through 2027
Key Points
- Southwest cardholders automatically earn 2-5 bonus points per dollar on Lyft rides through December 31, 2027, with no activation required.
- The Southwest Priority and Performance Business cards earn the highest rate at 5x points per dollar, matching premium Chase cards.
- This benefit stacks with Southwest's existing bonus categories, making these cards stronger contenders for everyday spending.
Introduction
Southwest Rapid Rewards cardholders just got a valuable new earning opportunity that requires zero effort to activate. Starting now through December 31, 2027, all six Southwest credit cards earn bonus points on Lyft rides, with rates ranging from 2x to 5x points per dollar depending on which card you hold.
The best part? Unlike similar Chase promotions that require quarterly activation, this benefit works automatically once you add your Southwest card as the default payment method in the Lyft app. For anyone who regularly uses rideshare services, this update makes Southwest cards considerably more competitive for non-flight spending.
What the Southwest-Lyft Partnership Offers
Chase has extended its long-standing Lyft partnership to include Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, giving cardholders automatic bonus points on all Lyft rides through the end of 2027. The earning rates vary by card tier, with premium cards offering significantly better returns.
Here's the complete breakdown of what each Southwest card earns on Lyft purchases:
Premium Tier Cards (5x points per dollar):
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Mid-Tier Cards (3x points per dollar):
Entry-Level Card (2x points per dollar):
The benefit runs through December 31, 2027, giving cardholders nearly two full years to maximize this earning opportunity. There's no spending cap, no minimum ride requirement, and absolutely no activation needed.
How to Start Earning Bonus Points on Lyft
Setting up this benefit couldn't be simpler. Open your Lyft app, navigate to payment settings, and add your Southwest credit card as your default payment method. That's it. Every Lyft ride you take from that point forward automatically earns bonus Southwest points at your card's designated rate.
You don't need to register anywhere, click any activation links, or remember quarterly enrollment windows. The points post to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account just like any other credit card purchase.
Comparing Southwest Cards to Other Lyft-Earning Options
The Southwest Priority and Performance Business cards now match the earning rate of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve on Lyft rides. Both Sapphire cards earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft through December 31, 2027, but the Sapphire Preferred requires quarterly activation while the Sapphire Reserve activates automatically.
Here's where things get interesting for strategy-minded travelers. Southwest Rapid Rewards points typically provide better value for domestic economy flights than Ultimate Rewards points used through the Chase travel portal. If you're primarily focused on Southwest flights and the Companion Pass, earning 5x Southwest points directly might actually be more valuable than earning 5x Ultimate Rewards points.
However, Ultimate Rewards points offer transfer partners and more redemption flexibility. If you value that versatility, the Sapphire cards remain strong choices even at the same 5x earning rate.
For the Southwest Plus card at 2x points per dollar, virtually any other rewards card offers better earning on rideshare. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3x Ultimate Rewards on drugstores and dining, which often provides better overall value.
Strategic Value for Southwest Companion Pass Earners
This Lyft partnership creates an interesting opportunity for anyone working toward the Southwest Companion Pass. The Companion Pass requires earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, and every dollar you spend on your Southwest credit card generates qualifying points toward that goal.
Adding Lyft rides to your Southwest card means more everyday spending counts toward the Companion Pass. If you spend $200 monthly on Lyft rides using the Southwest Priority card, that's $2,400 annually generating 12,000 Rapid Rewards points. Those points count toward both your award balance and your Companion Pass qualifying total.
For someone planning a Companion Pass strategy that combines credit card bonuses with everyday spending, categorizing Lyft under Southwest earning can accelerate your timeline to achieving the pass.
Which Southwest Card Makes the Most Sense for Lyft Spending
The earning rates create a clear hierarchy, but annual fees and other benefits factor into the equation.
The Southwest Priority card costs $149 annually but includes 7,500 anniversary points, four upgraded boardings per year, and now earns 5x on Lyft. If you spend $100 monthly on Lyft rides, that's 6,000 points annually from rideshare alone. Combined with the anniversary bonus and upgraded boardings, the card easily justifies its fee for moderate Southwest flyers.
The Southwest Performance Business card at $199 annually earns the same 5x on Lyft plus 9,000 anniversary points and employee cards with no additional fee. For business owners who expense Lyft rides, this card becomes especially attractive since business spending generates personal Rapid Rewards points.
The Southwest Premier cards at 3x points cost $99 annually (personal) or $99 (business) and include 6,000 anniversary points. At 3x earning on Lyft, you'd need approximately $3,300 in annual Lyft spending just to match what the Priority card earns at 5x. Unless you're absolutely minimizing annual fees, the Priority card's higher earning rate and better perks make more sense.
The Southwest Plus card at 2x points for $69 annually only makes sense if you're exclusively focused on the lowest possible annual fee and plan to earn the Companion Pass through other spending categories.
How Southwest Points Compare for Rideshare Spending
Southwest Rapid Rewards points typically value around 1.3 to 1.5 cents each for Wanna Get Away fares on popular routes. That means 5x Southwest points on Lyft delivers approximately 6.5-7.5% return value, while 3x points provides roughly 4-4.5% return.
For comparison, the best flat-rate cash back cards like the Citi Double Cash earn 2% on everything. Even the Southwest Plus at 2x points (2.6-3% value) beats that, but not by enough to justify using it over a premium card earning 3x or 5x on travel.
The real value calculation depends on your redemption strategy. If you consistently get 1.5+ cents per point from Southwest redemptions and you're working toward elite status or the Companion Pass, earning Southwest points directly through Lyft beats earning cash back or even flexible Ultimate Rewards points that you'd transfer to Southwest anyway.
Important Limitations to Know
This partnership only applies to Lyft rides charged directly to your Southwest credit card. It doesn't work if you:
- Pay for Lyft through digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay (unless the underlying card is your Southwest card)
- Use Lyft gift cards purchased with another payment method
- Split rides with friends using Lyft's payment splitting feature
- Expense Lyft rides through corporate payment platforms
The points also don't count as flight purchases for Southwest elite status qualification. You'll earn Rapid Rewards points that count toward award flights and the Companion Pass qualifying threshold, but not Tier Qualifying Points for A-List or A-List Preferred status.
FAQ
Do I need to activate this benefit every quarter like other Chase Lyft promotions?
No. Unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred which requires quarterly activation, all Southwest cards automatically earn bonus points on Lyft without any activation needed. Just set your Southwest card as your default payment method in the Lyft app.
Can I use multiple Southwest cards to earn different bonus rates?
Yes, but you can only set one default payment method in Lyft at a time. If you want to maximize earnings, use your highest-earning Southwest card (Priority or Performance Business at 5x) as your default Lyft payment method and use other Southwest cards for their respective bonus categories.
Do these Lyft points count toward the Southwest Companion Pass?
Yes. Points earned from Lyft spending on Southwest credit cards count as qualifying points toward the 135,000-point threshold for earning the Companion Pass. They also count toward your redeemable points balance.
Does this work for Lyft gift cards purchased at grocery stores?
No. The bonus only applies when you charge Lyft rides directly to your Southwest credit card. If you buy Lyft gift cards at grocery stores with your Southwest card, you'll earn whatever that card's grocery store bonus rate is (typically 1x for most Southwest cards), not the Lyft bonus rate.
Is this better than using the Chase Sapphire Preferred for Lyft?
It depends on your goals. Both the Southwest Priority/Performance Business and the Sapphire Preferred earn 5x on Lyft. If you value Southwest points for domestic flights and want Companion Pass progress, the Southwest cards make more sense. If you prefer Ultimate Rewards flexibility and transfer partner options, stick with the Sapphire Preferred.
Can I still earn Lyft rewards and Southwest points on the same ride?
Yes. This is a credit card earning benefit that's separate from Lyft's own rewards program. You'll earn both Lyft rewards (if you're enrolled) and Southwest Rapid Rewards points on the same purchase.
Final Verdict
The Southwest-Lyft partnership transforms these airline cards into more competitive everyday spending options. The Priority and Performance Business cards now match premium general travel cards for rideshare earning, while the automatic activation makes this benefit more user-friendly than similar Chase promotions.
If you're already holding a Southwest card for flight purchases and working toward the Companion Pass, adding this card as your default Lyft payment method is an obvious move. The bonus points stack with your existing earning strategy without requiring any additional effort.
For those comparing cards, the Southwest Priority at 5x Lyft earning, $149 annual fee, and 7,500 anniversary points offers strong value if you regularly fly Southwest. It's not necessarily the best card solely for Lyft rides, but it's now a legitimate contender for that spending category within a broader Southwest-focused strategy.
Looking to maximize your Southwest earnings? Check out our guide to the best Southwest credit cards or learn how to earn the Companion Pass in 2025. Add your Southwest card to Lyft before your next ride to start earning bonus points automatically.
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