20 cards ranked
Best credit card to use at Southwest Airlines.
AirlinesTravel
Southwest Airlines is the largest U.S. domestic carrier by passenger volume and the home of the Rapid Rewards program. Tickets code as airfare on every card we track, and the Companion Pass — earned by hitting an annual points threshold — is widely considered the best perk in U.S. domestic travel. Co-branded Chase Rapid Rewards cards count signup bonuses toward Companion Pass qualification, which is the main reason most travelers carry one. Southwest doesn't sell tickets through OTAs.
- #1American Express5x points on airlines (up to $500,000/year, then 1%)Booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year6.0%5x points
- #2ChaseCo-branded Southwest Airlines cardSouthwest Airlines purchases (flights, in-flight, gift cards)5.2%4x points
- #3ChaseCo-branded Southwest Airlines cardSouthwest Airlines purchases5.2%4x points
- #45.0%4x points
- #55.0%4x points
- #6FNBO5x points on travelAirlines, hotels, car rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, transit, taxis, tolls, and timeshares by merchant category code5.0%5x points
- #7US Bank Business Essentials Plusif it’s your top categoryU.S. Bank5% on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycle (up to $200,000/year, then 2%)Automatically on your top eligible spend category each month from 8 eligible (accounting & tax services, airlines, cell phone service providers, dining, entertainment, office supply stores, postal & shipping services, utilities), up to $200,000 a year5%
- #84.0%4x points
- #9PenFed Credit Union4x points on travel4x with PenFed Honors Advantage (military or Access America checking); 3x otherwise4.0%4x points
- #104.0%4x points
- #114.0%4x points
- #124.0%2x points
- #134.0%4x points
- #144.0%4x points
- #15World of Hyatt Businessif it’s your top categoryChase2x points on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycleAutomatically 2x total in your top three spend categories each calendar quarter, from dining, shipping, airline tickets bought directly with the airline, local transit and commuting, social media and search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations, and internet/cable/phone services4.0%2x points
- #163.9%3x points
- #17ChaseCo-branded Southwest Airlines cardSouthwest Airlines purchases3.9%3x points
- #18Chase3x points on travel (up to $150,000/year, then 1%)Travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising on search engines and social media (combined $150,000/yr cap)3.8%3x points
- #193.6%3x points
- #20American Express7x points on airlinesFlights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com3.5%7x points
Last updated October 23, 2026