Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Southwest Airlines is overhauling its credit card lineup with new perks and higher fees, reflecting broader changes to its business model.
Cardholders will gain benefits like free checked bags, enhanced seat selection options and improved boarding group placement, especially on higher-tier cards.
Bonus earning categories are shifting to focus on dining, groceries and gas, while previous categories such as transit and streaming will be phased out after 2025.
Some existing perks, including EarlyBird and Upgraded Boarding benefits, will be discontinued at the end of 2025.

What to consider

Annual fees are increasing by around 50% for both new and existing cardholders, with changes taking effect on anniversary dates in 2026.
New seat selection and extra legroom benefits apply to the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation, but availability may be limited.
Bonus earning for certain categories will have annual caps, and some bonus categories will be removed after 2025.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed comparison of new versus discontinued benefits, plus a breakdown of how the changes impact different card tiers and travel styles.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

Over the past year, Southwest Airlines has made major changes to its business model, from ending open seating to adding checked bag fees and revamping aspects of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program.

Up next? A significant refresh of its credit cards lineup.

The Dallas-based carrier announced on Thursday it’s adding new perks to each of its Chase cobranded cards, effective immediately. The newly-revealed benefits include ways to earn bonus points on restaurant, grocery and gas purchases.

And, as TPG first reported in April, certain Southwest cardholders will get complimentary access to its brand-new extra legroom seats.

A retrofitted Southwest Airlines cabin interior. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

But the changes will come at a hefty price tag for new and existing cardholders. Annual fees on each Southwest card are set to rise sharply, with average fee hikes hovering around 50%.

“We believe that our existing cardmembers as well as the new cardmembers will see the real and measurable value that the benefits convey, as well as increased flexibility and increased choice,” Corbitt Burns, Southwest managing director of cobrand and payments, told TPG in an interview this week.

Here’s what to know about the overhaul to the airline’s card lineup, including new benefits, disappearing perks and the ones that are sticking around.

Higher annual fees

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Each of Southwest’s five credit cards will see an annual fee hike as part of this card suite refresh:

Credit card	Previous annual fee	New annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see )	$69	$99 (+43%)
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card	$99	$149 (+50%)
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see )	$149	$229 (+54%)
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see )	$99	$149 (+50%)
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see )	$199	$299 (+50%)

Existing Southwest Rapid Rewards Cardmembers' annual fees will adjust on their 2026 Anniversary date.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The fee hikes come as a slew of credit card issuers have raised annual dues on cards over the past year (or plan to soon), particularly at the more premium end of the spectrum. In the case of Southwest’s portfolio, Chase attributed the hikes to new benefits and the passage of time.

“This is the first time, in some cases, that we’re increasing the fee in a decade,” Chris Cracchiolo, president of cobranded cards at JP Morgan Chase, told TPG. “We believe strongly that we’re pricing for value, and we think the incremental benefits on the card products justify the modest fee increases.”

New benefits

Southwest’s card lineup will see a range of new benefits which, in most cases, have been redesigned for an airline that — by January — will look a lot different than it did a year ago.

Free checked bag

Like they do today, Southwest cardholders will get their first checked bag free on each of the airline’s cards. This benefit will apply to the primary cardholder and up to eight travelers flying on the same reservation.

For context, Southwest now charges customers $35 for their first checked bag, after implementing fees in late May.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Seating benefits

All cardholders will be allowed to select a seat in some capacity, even if they’re flying on a basic fare (which recently replaced Southwest’s well-known “Wanna Get Away” tickets). But the seating benefits improve as you look at cards with higher annual fees.

Plus, as TPG first reported this spring, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority and Performance Business cardholders will be allowed to select the airline’s extra legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no cost (if seats are available).

Card	Extra Legroom seat selection	Preferred seat selection (situated closer to the front of the aircraft)	Standard seat selection
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card	Within 48 hours of departure	At booking	At booking
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card	N/A	Within 48 hours of departure	Within 48 hours of departure
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card	N/A	N/A	Within 48 hours of departure

Like with bags, the seating benefits for each card will apply for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions flying on the same reservation.

New bonus spend categories

Southwest also made big changes to the number of points customers can earn on everyday purchases.

Bonus spend categories for local transportation, commuting and ride-hailing services will disappear for most cards in 2026. So will bonus points for purchases like internet, cable and phone services on most cards. Instead, effective immediately, you’ll see the airline reward customers more for dining, grocery and gas purchases.

Cracchiolo said this shift gives cardholders “much more utility” to earn points for their next redemption. “We’re pretty confident they’re going to resonate with both new customers and existing customers,” he said.

However, we should note: some cards have limits on how many bonus points customers can earn in these new categories. Exact details below.

Boarding perks

As Southwest revamps its boarding procedures with a process that looks a lot more like its competitors (farewell to lining up at the gate!) the airline plans to offer earlier boarding to Rapid Rewards members who carry its cards.

Those travelers will board no later than Group 5, ahead of standard boarding. Southwest’s new boarding process will include a total of eight groups.

Southwest boarding posts — A Southwest Airlines boarding post at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Faster track to A-List

Also, Southwest will give some cardholders a faster track to A-List elite status than they have today, with more Tier Qualifying Points earned on card spending.

What’s going away?

Along with phasing out some existing bonus spend categories, Southwest’s card lineup will lose some of the benefits that were specific to its outgoing open seating model and single-file boarding process, such as the EarlyBird and Upgraded Boarding perks currently offered with some cards.

Existing cardholders will have through the end of the year to use those benefits before they disappear.

A model Southwest Airlines plane. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Southwest Airlines credit card benefits

There are a handful of additional perks that Southwest and Chase are adding — or cutting — as part of this overall refresh.

Here’s the breakdown of Southwest’s new credit card benefits and fees.

Consumer cards

	Plus Card	Premier Card	Priority Card
Annual fee	$99 (up from $69)	$149 (up from $99)	$229 (up from $149)
1st checked bag free (For primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation)	√	√	√
Standard/Preferred seating benefit (For flights operating in 2026)	Standard seat selection within 48 hours, even on basic fares	Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours, even on basic fares	Standard or Preferred seat selection available at booking, when available.
Extra Legroom seating benefit (For flights operating in 2026)	N/A	N/A	Within 48 hours, pending availability
Group 5 boarding or better (For flights operating in 2026)	√	√	√
Anniversary perks	3,000 points after each card anniversary

Business cards

	Premier Business Card	Performance Business Card
Annual fee	$149 (up from $99)	$299 (up from $199)
First checked bag free (For primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation)	√	√
Standard/Preferred seating benefit (For flights operating in 2026)	Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours, even on basic fares	Standard or Preferred seat selection available at booking, when available.
Extra Legroom seating benefit (For flights operating in 2026)	N/A	Within 48 hours, pending availability
Group 5 boarding or better (For flights operating in 2026)	√	√
Anniversary perks	6,000 points after each card anniversary	9,000 points after each card anniversary
Rapid Rewards earnings	3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases NEW: 2 points per $1 on the first $8,000 in combined purchases each anniversary year at gas stations and restaurants

Bottom line

Southwest's credit card revamp will mean higher annual fees and the end of some perks that were specific to its longstanding open seating setup.

Now, a new-look airline has ushered in a new-look card lineup, with first-time rewards like extra legroom seat access.

Going forward, Rapid Rewards flyers who carry Southwest's cards will be able to sidestep some of the airline's newest hurdles, like the bag fees and seat selection limitations now facing passengers who purchase the carrier's cheapest (Basic) fare.

That's by design: Southwest leaders have said, for months, that as part of the wholesale changes at the airline, they hoped to reward A-List members and cardholders — and to entice other customers to carry a card and earn status.

How customers take to the new card tradeoffs remain to be seen, but Southwest is confident about the value proposition it's offering.

“We believe a lot of these [rewards] are unmatched in the industry, and industry-leading," Burns said.

Related reading:

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.