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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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I was anti-Southwest until I got one of their credit cards — now I’m a convert
Matt Moffitt is a contributing editor and expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points (he carries at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time). Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won the Green Card Lottery and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years before relocating to Spain in 2025.
June 15, 2024 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Southwest Airlines offers a broad domestic network, making it convenient for travelers based in cities with significant Southwest operations.
The airline's flexible policies, including no cancellation or change fees, provide added peace of mind for those with shifting travel plans.
Southwest's loyalty program features fixed-value points, making it easy to understand redemption value for flights.
Certain airline credit cards offer perks like priority boarding and bonus anniversary points, which can enhance the travel experience.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Southwest's open-seating policy means seat selection is not preassigned, though select card perks can improve boarding position.
Bonus anniversary points are valued at $126 for 9,000 points as of October 2025 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how various Southwest credit card perks and policies can maximize flexibility and value for frequent flyers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I've been living in the U.S. for almost a decade, and one of the strongest opinions I encounter among travelers here is about Southwest Airlines. It seems that the only people more vocal than the airline's haters are its loyal fans.
I think there are valid arguments on both sides of the coin. And, indeed, I was more of a Southwest hater for most of my time living here — until I got one of its cobranded credit cards.
At TPG, we don't push credit cards just for fun; we promote the ones that offer the best value to our readers. An airline credit card can make your travels more comfortable — and save you money in the process.
So, if you live near an airport with a Southwest presence, it might be worth getting one of its credit cards. Here's how I became a Southwest convert after opening the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) in 2023.
Huge domestic route network
First of all, Southwest has a broad domestic network, making it easy to fly across the country.
The airline has a particularly strong presence in the eastern half of the U.S., Texas and California, covering a large portion of the country's population. It also flies to Hawaii and a number of destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
FLIGHTCONNECTIONS.COM
Since I live in Austin, Southwest is an easy choice for me; it operates almost 40% of flights in and out of the airport. Plus, it's just a short hop to Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Southwest's fifth- and seventh-largest hubs, respectively, for easy one-stop connections throughout the carrier's network.
Unparalleled flexibility
Southwest prides itself on having no cancellation or change fees, which can come in handy for award travelers and those who change plans at the last minute.
SOUTHWEST.COM
Case in point: This summer, I am taking a break from the heat in Texas to spend June in Chicago, July in Europe and August somewhere else in the U.S. I'm not 100% sure where I want to be for my final month, so I have booked several Southwest reward flights to spend time in either Chicago or Portland, Maine.
I can cancel any flight up to 10 minutes before departure, which is an extremely generous policy, giving me the power to adjust my flights as my plans firm up.
Easy-to-redeem flights
I aim to get at least 2 cents in value out of each frequent flyer point or mile I redeem across various programs. This is approximately the value that we peg the major issuers' currencies at, including Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Capital One miles.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points' fixed redemption value of 1.3-1.5 cents per point may not offer outsize value, as the redemption rate is tied to the cost of a revenue fare. However, it's easy to understand, and I appreciate knowing that I will almost always get the same value out of my Southwest points, no matter which flight I use them on.
Priority boarding
One of the main gripes travelers have when flying on Southwest is the uncertainty about which seat they will be in. The carrier has an open-seating policy with no preassigned seats. However, every Southwest credit card allows you to board a select number of flights early each year.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The lower-tier Plus card, Premier card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) each offer two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year through Dec. 31, 2025. These allow you to automatically reserve your boarding spot 36 hours before your flight. They also mean you don't have to remember to check in right at 24 hours before departure.
The higher-tier Priority and Performance Business cards offer four upgraded boardings each year through Dec. 31, 2025. I find this perk to be valuable because even if I forget to check in right at 24 hours before departure, I can still get an A1-A15 boarding position (when available), which increases my chances of snagging one of the best seats on the plane.
Frequent sales
Southwest is pretty generous when it comes to flash sales for both cash and award flights.
Most flights I book with Southwest cost 10,000-15,000 points each. However, by keeping an eye on the Southwest website and app, as well as deal alerts on TPG, I can often get a discount on new flights — and even ones I've already booked.
For example, I originally booked one of my flights to Portland mentioned above for 8,021 points plus $5.60 in taxes. Then, a week later, Southwest announced its 50%-off birthday sale. The route and date I had booked were eligible for the discount, so I canceled my original flight and then immediately rebooked it for the lower price, saving myself almost 4,000 points to use on a future flight.
Bonus anniversary points
Apart from the large 80,000-point welcome bonus I received when opening my Performance Business card and meeting the minimum spending requirement, I think it's worth holding on to a Southwest card into future years — if you fly Southwest at least a few times yearly. Currently, the Performance Business is offering 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
JESSICA PUCKETT/THE POINTS GUY
In addition to all the perks mentioned above, I receive 9,000 bonus anniversary points each year I hold the card; those points are worth $126, according to TPG's October 2025 valuations. That covers a little less than half of the card's $299 annual fee.
The other four cards offer 3,000-7,500 bonus anniversary points.
If you're thinking about applying for a personal card, these are their current welcome offers:
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The information for the Southwest Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Sometimes, it's important to admit you were misguided and make a correction. I am so happy I finally applied for a Southwest credit card, as it's proven to be very useful in booking flexible flights and upgrading my travel experience with Southwest.
If you want a Companion Pass, the best time to apply is in February-March, when the issuer tends to offer bonus points plus a temporary Companion Pass, or in the last quarter of the year, when you can time your application to maximize your points earning for the Companion Pass the following year. If you just want bonus points, the middle of the year (May-June) is your best bet.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
