Comparing the Top 5 Southwest Airlines Credit Cards: Examining Advantages and Bonuses
Maximizing your Southwest Rapid Rewards points using Chase co-branded credit cards requires a mix of everyday card usage, strategic spending, and taking advantage of ancillary earning opportunities. Here’s a structured approach for 2025:
Leverage Card Bonuses and Everyday Spending
- Maximize Sign-up Bonuses: Apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card that best fits your needs, aiming to qualify for the introductory bonus. This is the quickest way to accumulate a large number of points and potentially fast-track Companion Pass qualification.
- Optimize Bonus Categories: Use your card for Southwest purchases and, depending on the card, prioritize grocery, gas station, and restaurant purchases to earn 2x–3x points per dollar spent. For all other purchases, use your Southwest card to earn 1x points per dollar, steadily building your balance for reward flights and Companion Pass qualification.
Stack Points with Ancillary Programs
- Rapid Rewards Dining: Register for the Rapid Rewards Dining program, link your Southwest card, and opt in to emails for bonus opportunities. Dine at participating restaurants to earn up to 3x points per dollar—these points count toward Companion Pass qualification.
- Shopping Portals: Book hotels, rental cars, and activities through Southwest’s partners like Rocketmiles, which offer accelerated earning rates on travel expenses and everyday purchases. Always select Southwest as your loyalty program when booking through these portals.
- Lifestyle and Retail Partners: For eligible online shopping, use Southwest’s shopping portal for bonus points on purchases with partners like 1-800-Flowers, Laithwaites, and Harry & David.
Utilize Referral Bonuses
- Refer Friends: Earn up to 20,000 points per successful referral for Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, up to 100,000 points per year. This is a substantial boost if you have friends or family who are interested in the cards.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfers: If you also hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, transfer Ultimate Rewards points to your Rapid Rewards account at a 1:1 ratio for additional flexibility.
Card-Specific Benefits
| Card Type | Annual Fee | Key Benefits for Points Earning | Perks | |--------------------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Rapid Rewards® Plus | $99 | 2x on Southwest, gas, grocery (up to $5k/year), 1x all else | 10,000 CP qualifying points, Group 5 boarding | | Rapid Rewards® Premier | $149 | 3x on Southwest, 2x on grocery, restaurants (up to $8k/year) | 15% promo code, Group 5 boarding | | Rapid Rewards® Priority | $149 (approx.) | Similar to Premier, with enhanced perks | Seat selection privileges (starting 2026) |
- Tip: For the Plus Card, focus on reaching the $5,000 cap for grocery and gas; for Premier, maximize up to $8,000 on grocery and restaurants. After hitting these caps, consider using another card for better earn rates in bonus categories.
- Future Perks: Starting in early 2026, some Southwest cardholders will get assigned seat selection privileges, which could be valuable as the airline rolls out new seating options.
Points Toward Companion Pass
- Companion Pass Qualification: All points earned via card spend, dining, shopping, and referrals count toward the Companion Pass. The Companion Pass is one of the most valuable benefits in US airline loyalty programs, so optimize all earning streams to reach the 135,000-point threshold faster.
Summary Table: High-Impact Strategies
| Strategy | How to Do It | Points Potential | |--------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Sign-up Bonus | Apply for a new card | 50,000+ (varies by offer) | | Everyday Card Spend | Maximize bonus categories, then 1x general | Steady accumulation | | Rapid Rewards Dining | Eat at participating restaurants | Up to 3x per dollar[1] | | Shopping Portals & Partners | Use Rocketmiles, Southwest shopping portal | Varies by merchant | | Referral Bonus | Refer friends for new cards | 20,000 per referral (up to 100k/yr)[3] | | Chase Transfer | Transfer Ultimate Rewards from Sapphire | 1:1 ratio[2] |
Key Recommendations
- Apply for the card(s) that match your spending patterns and meet the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus.
- Stack points by combining card spend, dining, shopping portals, and referrals.
- Track your progress toward Companion Pass and adjust your strategy as you get closer.
- Stay informed on program changes, as Southwest is updating its fare classes and seating policies, which may affect cardholder perks[2].
By combining disciplined spending on your Southwest card, leveraging all available bonus opportunities, and maximizing referrals and partner programs, you can efficiently accumulate Rapid Rewards points and unlock the most valuable Southwest benefits[1][2][4].
Additionally, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers a bonus of 6,000 Rapid Rewards points every year you keep the card.
It is important to remember that the Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be used for over 100 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, making them a valuable asset for travel within these regions.
Lastly, business owners who fly Southwest often can earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
For those looking to maximize their points, it is recommended to apply for the card(s) that best fit their spending patterns and needs, aiming to qualify for the introductory bonus, and to optimize all earning streams to reach the Companion Pass threshold faster. By stacking points through card spend, dining, shopping portals, and referrals, and staying informed on program changes, Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be efficiently accumulated and used to unlock valuable benefits.
- To supplement your personal-finance through investing, consider allocating funds towards the banking-and-insurance sector, as it constitutes a significant portion of the finance industry.
- Stay updated on news about the latest gadgets and technology in the market, as these advancements often revolutionize the business sector, offering unique opportunities for growth and investment.
- Keep an eye on business-related news related to Southwest Airlines, as understanding their strategies and performance can help in making informed decisions when it comes to investing in their co-branded credit cards.
- In 2025, bear in mind that technology-driven innovations in banking, travel, and finance sectors could drastically change the landscape, providing potential benefits for those who are prepared and proactive.
- Furthermore, by being mindful of opportunities such as Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card rewards, bonus categories, shopping portals, and referral bonuses, you can maximize your earnings not only in travel but also in personal-finance and investment.
