Ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities with Southwest Airlines? If you're a frequent flyer or dream of flying Southwest often, a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card can be your ticket to incredible benefits and nearly free travel! Let's dive deep into how these cards work and how you can maximize their potential.
The Lowdown: How Does a Southwest Airlines Credit Card Work?
At its core, a Southwest Airlines credit card, issued by Chase, is a co-branded travel credit card designed to reward your everyday spending with Southwest Rapid Rewards points. These points are the currency of Southwest's loyalty program, and they can be redeemed for flights, and in some cases, other travel-related expenses.
Unlike some airline cards that have complex award charts, Southwest's point redemption is generally tied to the cash price of a ticket. This means if a ticket costs less in dollars, it will typically cost fewer points, making it straightforward and often quite valuable.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Take Flight? (Eligibility & Application)
Before we even get to the exciting part of earning points, let's talk about getting your hands on one of these cards!
Sub-heading: Understanding the Requirements
To be eligible for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, you'll generally need:
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Good to excellent credit: Chase, like most major card issuers, looks for applicants with a strong credit history. This usually means a FICO score of 670 or higher.
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A Rapid Rewards account: You'll need an existing Southwest Rapid Rewards loyalty program account. If you don't have one, it's free and easy to sign up on Southwest's website. Your credit card will link directly to this account to deposit your earned points.
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Meeting Chase's 5/24 Rule (Crucial!): This is a big one for Chase cards. If you've opened 5 or more personal credit card accounts across any bank in the last 24 months, you'll likely be denied. Business cards, in some cases, do not count towards this limit. Always check your credit report before applying!
Sub-heading: The Application Process
Applying for a Southwest credit card is similar to applying for any other credit card.
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Choose your card: Southwest offers several personal and business credit cards, each with slightly different benefits and annual fees. Research which one best suits your travel habits. (More on this in a later step!).
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Gather your information: You'll need personal details like your name, address, Social Security Number, income, and employment information.
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Apply online: The easiest way to apply is directly through Chase's website or through a link on Southwest.com.
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Instant Decision (Sometimes): You might receive an instant approval. If not, Chase might need to review your application further, which could take a few days. You can often check your application status online or by calling Chase's reconsideration line.
Tip: Watch for summary phrases — they give the gist.
Step 2: Earning Your Wings: How Points Accumulate
Once you have your Southwest credit card in hand, the real fun begins – earning Rapid Rewards points!
Sub-heading: Welcome Bonus: Your Initial Boost
Most Southwest credit cards come with a generous welcome bonus for new cardmembers. This typically involves spending a certain amount within the first few months of account opening to receive a large lump sum of points. This is often the quickest way to earn a significant number of points right off the bat, sometimes enough for several free flights!
Sub-heading: Everyday Spending: Points on Every Purchase
Beyond the welcome bonus, you'll earn points on your regular spending. The earning rates vary by card, but generally, you'll earn:
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Higher points on Southwest purchases: This includes flights, in-flight purchases (drinks, Wi-Fi), and sometimes Southwest gift cards.
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Bonus categories: Many Southwest cards offer elevated earning rates on specific categories like local transit, commuting, rideshares, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
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1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases: For everything else, you'll typically earn 1 point per dollar spent.
Sub-heading: Anniversary Points: A Yearly Gift
A fantastic ongoing benefit of Southwest credit cards is the annual anniversary point bonus. Each year you renew your card and pay the annual fee, you'll receive a set number of bonus points. These points can significantly offset the annual fee and contribute to your Rapid Rewards balance.
Sub-heading: Shopping and Dining Portals: Accelerate Your Earnings
Southwest also offers:
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Rapid Rewards Shopping®: An online portal where you can earn bonus points by shopping at hundreds of participating retailers.
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Rapid Rewards Dining®: Earn extra points by dining at participating restaurants and paying with your linked Southwest credit card.
Step 3: Soaring with Rewards: Redeeming Your Points
Tip: Don’t just glance — focus.
Now for the exciting part – using your hard-earned points to travel!
Sub-heading: Booking Flights with Points
This is the primary and often most valuable way to redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account: Head to Southwest.com and log in to your account.
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Search for flights: Enter your desired dates, origin, and destination.
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Select "Points" instead of "Dollars": Before searching, make sure you toggle the search option to "Points." You can also do this on the results page.
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Browse availability: Southwest's system will show you the number of points required for different fare types (Wanna Get Away, Anytime, Business Select). The number of points needed fluctuates with the cash price of the ticket.
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Book your flight: Once you select your desired flight, proceed to checkout. You'll only be responsible for paying the government taxes and fees, which are typically $5.60 per one-way trip within the U.S.
Sub-heading: Other Redemption Options (and why flights are usually best)
While flights offer the best value, you can also redeem points for:
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International flights on other airlines (for cardholders): Through the Southwest More Rewards platform, credit cardholders can sometimes book international flights on non-Southwest airlines.
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Hotel stays and car rentals: Also available through the More Rewards platform, though the value per point is often lower than for Southwest flights.
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Gift cards and merchandise: These options generally offer the lowest redemption value for your points. It's usually best to save your points for travel.
Step 4: Beyond Points: Unlocking Southwest's Perks
Southwest credit cards offer more than just points. They come with valuable benefits that can enhance your travel experience and save you money.
Sub-heading: The Coveted Companion Pass®
The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably the most valuable perk a Southwest credit card can help you achieve.
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What it is: Once earned, the Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees, typically $5.60 one-way) on any Southwest flight you take, for the remainder of the year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year.
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How to earn it: You need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year OR fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
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Credit Card's Role: Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card sign-up bonuses and everyday spending count directly towards the Companion Pass qualification. Many Southwest cardmembers aim for the Companion Pass by timing their credit card applications to maximize the welcome bonus towards this goal. Additionally, some Southwest credit cards offer an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points.
Sub-heading: In-Flight Savings
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25% Back on In-flight Purchases: Most Southwest credit cards offer a statement credit for 25% of your in-flight drink and Wi-Fi purchases. This is a nice little perk for those who enjoy a beverage or need to stay connected.
Sub-heading: Boarding Benefits
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EarlyBird Check-In®: Some cards offer a certain number of complimentary EarlyBird Check-In credits per year. This automatically checks you in for your flight 36 hours before departure, giving you an earlier boarding position without having to remember to check in manually.
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Upgraded Boardings: Higher-tier cards may offer credits for Upgraded Boardings, allowing you to purchase an A1-A15 boarding position on the day of travel, subject to availability.
Sub-heading: Annual Travel Credits
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Southwest Annual Travel Credit: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers an annual statement credit for Southwest purchases, which can significantly offset the card's annual fee.
Sub-heading: Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for Elite Status
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Accelerate A-List Status: For every certain amount you spend on your Southwest credit card (e.g., $5,000 or $10,000), you can earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) which count towards A-List and A-List Preferred status. These elite statuses offer benefits like priority boarding, earning bonuses on flights, and free same-day standby.
Sub-heading: No Foreign Transaction Fees
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Travel Internationally Without Extra Charges: Many Southwest credit cards (typically the Premier and Priority versions) come with no foreign transaction fees, making them a great choice for international travel.
Step 5: Managing Your Account: Keeping Your Travel Dreams on Track
Like any credit card, proper management is key to maximizing benefits and avoiding pitfalls.
Sub-heading: Online Account Management
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Track your points: Easily view your Rapid Rewards point balance and transaction history through your Chase online account or the Southwest app.
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Monitor spending: Keep an eye on your spending to ensure you're meeting any sign-up bonus requirements and staying within your budget.
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Pay your bill: Set up autopay to ensure you pay your bill on time and avoid late fees and interest charges.
Sub-heading: Understanding Annual Fees
Southwest credit cards typically come with annual fees. However, the value of the benefits you receive (anniversary points, travel credits, upgraded boardings, etc.) can often more than offset this fee if you utilize them effectively. Before applying, calculate if the benefits align with your travel habits and justify the annual cost.
Sub-heading: Customer Service
Chase handles the credit card aspect, while Southwest manages your Rapid Rewards account and flights. If you have credit card-specific questions (billing, lost card), contact Chase customer service. For Rapid Rewards points, flight bookings, or Companion Pass inquiries, contact Southwest Airlines.
Reminder: Revisit older posts — they stay useful.
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| How Does Southwest Airlines Credit Card Work |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to: Apply for a Southwest Airlines Credit Card? You can apply online through the Chase website or a dedicated link on Southwest.com. Ensure you meet the credit requirements and consider Chase's 5/24 rule.
How to: Earn Rapid Rewards Points with My Credit Card? Earn points through welcome bonuses, everyday spending (especially on Southwest and bonus categories), and annual anniversary points. Also, utilize the Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining portals.
How to: Redeem Southwest Points for Flights? Log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, select "Points" when searching for flights, and choose your desired itinerary. You'll only pay for taxes and fees.
How to: Qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass with a Credit Card? Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year. Points from your Southwest credit card sign-up bonus and all eligible spending count towards this goal. Some cards also provide an annual Companion Pass point boost.
How to: Check My Rapid Rewards Point Balance? You can check your point balance by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or through the Southwest Airlines mobile app. Your credit card statement will also show points earned.
How to: Find Out My Southwest Credit Card's Annual Fee? The annual fee varies by the specific Southwest credit card. You can find this information on the card's details page on the Chase website or in your cardmember agreement.
How to: Use My Southwest Credit Card for In-Flight Purchases? Simply use your Southwest credit card to pay for drinks or Wi-Fi on your flight. A statement credit for 25% of these purchases will typically appear on your billing statement.
How to: Benefit from EarlyBird Check-In with My Card? If your card offers EarlyBird Check-In credits, you can apply them when booking your flight or later through your reservation details on Southwest.com.
How to: Get Elite Status Faster with My Southwest Credit Card? Certain Southwest credit cards allow you to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) based on your spending, which contribute directly to achieving A-List and A-List Preferred status.
How to: Contact Customer Service for My Southwest Credit Card? For credit card-related inquiries (billing, disputes, lost card), contact Chase Bank. For Rapid Rewards program questions or flight bookings, contact Southwest Airlines directly.
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