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Southwest Airlines is more than just a low-cost carrier; it has a reputation among travelers for excellent customer service and offering low-cost flights to popular destinations. You can also fly Southwest to destinations like Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cancún, Belize, Aruba, and Hawaii.
If you love using miles to pay for flights, you are in luck. Southwest has an easy-to-use frequent flyer program called Rapid Rewards. One element of this program that stands out is that there are no blackout dates; if a seat is available on a flight, you can use miles to purchase a seat on that flight.
There are many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Not surprisingly, one of the best ways to earn points fast is with a credit card. This article will highlight all of the credit cards that will help you earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points and can help you decide what credit card might be best for you.
Why Fly on Southwest Airlines?
If you are a frequent Southwest Airlines customer, you know why it is a favorite among frequent travelers. If you have never flown Southwest, you might be wondering what all the hype is about and if you should give it a try.
Here are just a few reasons why Southwest is so popular among travelers:
Credit cards are the best way to earn points or miles quickly. In addition to great sign-up bonuses, many cards earn 2x or 3x in select bonus categories. Putting your everyday spending on the right credit card can ensure you have plenty of points to book your next flight.
Limited Time Offer! Earn up to 100,000 Bonus Points. 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening. Plus an additional 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24.
Annual fee of $0
Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio; for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you will get a 5,000-point bonus
Up to 125,000 Bonus Points: Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on your first 6 months and 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through January 31, 2024.
Southwest offers 5 different credit cards — 3 personal and 2 business — backed by Chase.
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards:
These cards are subject to Chase’s unspoken 5/24 rule. If you aren’t familiar with this rule, it appears that Chase is not likely to approve you for another Chase credit card if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards, regardless of bank, within the last 24 months.
Southwest will not grant you a sign-up bonus on a personal Southwest credit card if you already are a Southwest cardholder or if you previously were a cardholder and earned a sign-up bonus within the last 24 months.
You can earn a sign-up bonus on a personal Southwest card and a Southwest business card without waiting 24 months.
Recommended Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal Credit Cards
Hot Tip: For a head-to-head comparison of Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, check out the best Chase Southwest credit cards, comparing the benefits and perks of each.
Other Chase Credit Cards
Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase Credit Cards
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. Since the points transfer nearly instantly, this means you can earn and use your Ultimate Rewards points quickly on award travel.
Chase offers some of the best travel rewards credit cards available. The credit cards earn flexible points that can be transferred to the Chase travel partners, including Southwest. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can also be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for 1 to 1.5 cents a point, depending on which Chase credit card you have.
Keep in mind a few things when looking to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines:
When you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents per point if redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards (Southwest tickets can only be purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards by calling 866-331-0773). Since this rate is slightly higher than the 1:1 ratio you get when you transfer points to Southwest, you will want to price out your trip with both Chase and at Southwest.com. Sometimes, it might be cheaper to book through Chase.
These cards are also subject to the Chase 5/24 rule mentioned above.
Bottom Line: Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred into Southwest Rapid Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio.
Chase’s Cash-back Credit Cards
Chase offers a line of cash-back cards that have big earning potential.
Be aware that if you have a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can turn your cash-back from these cards into transferable Ultimate Rewards points, which can be more valuable.
For example, you can earn 1.5% cash-back on non-bonuses categories with the Freedom Unlimited card. But if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you could be earning 1.5 points per dollar instead spent. These points can then be transferred to Southwest Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to many different airlines, including Southwest. Unfortunately, Marriott’s transfer ratio to most airlines is 3:1; that means that for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, you only get 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.
There is a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer, so if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you will get 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
While it might not be the best avenue to use your Marriott Bonvoy points, if you would rather have Southwest Rapid Rewards points than Marriott Bonvoy points, this can be a good opportunity to boost your Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
The following credit cards all earn Marriott Bonvoy points that can be transferred into Southwest Rapid Rewards points:
Bottom Line: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you will get a 5,000-point bonus. This means that 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points would turn into 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
This is not the best use for your Membership Rewards points, so this is something you would only want to do to top off your account for a specific redemption.
To do this, you would first transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott is an Amex hotel partner at a 1:1 ratio. Then you can transfer those Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at the 3:1 ratio mentioned above. That means that for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer you will only get 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.
Again, this method is not ideal, but it’s always good to know all of your options in a pinch.
The Best Card To Earn Southwest Points for Every Type of Traveler
Type of Traveler
Recommended Card for Earning Southwest Points
A casual traveler who uses Southwest a couple of times a year
Chase Sapphire Preferred card: Stick with flexible points that can be transferred to Southwest, or any other Chase hotel or airline partner, any time you need them.
A frequent flyer on Southwest Airlines
Southwest Priority card: This card earns 2x on Southwest purchases and includes 4 upgraded boarding passes and a $75 Southwest credit each year.
A traveler who values perks like priority boarding, inflight drinks, and Wi-Fi discounts
Southwest Priority card: This card includes 4 upgraded boarding passes plus a 20% rebate on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases.
A traveler who rarely uses Southwest Airlines
Chase Sapphire Preferred card: This is one of the best overall travel rewards cards out there. It offers strong earning potential plus flexibility when it comes to using your points.
A business owner who only uses Southwest a couple of times a year
Ink Business Preferred card: Stick with flexible points that can be transferred to Southwest, or any other Chase hotel or airline partner, any time you need them. This card also offers lots of perks for business owners.
A business owner who flies on Southwest Airlines often
Ink Business Preferred card: This card earns 3 points per $1 spent (up to $150,000) each year on purchases in the multiple bonus categories including travel.
A business owner who wants A-List status on Southwest Airlines
Any of the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. Points earned from any of the Southwest credit cards will count towards the 135,000 points needed to earn the Companion Pass plus cardholders get a 10,000 point boost towards Companion Pass qualification each year (these points are not redeemable points).
Final Thoughts
Southwest Airlines is a customer favorite for many reasons, like its easy-to-use Rapid Rewards program, no checked bag or change fees, and great customer service. It’s no wonder why lots of different types of travelers fly Southwest every day.
No matter how often you fly Southwest Airlines, there is a great credit card out there to help you earn lots of Rapid Rewards.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Southwest Airlines
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn’t 1 card that is best for every traveler. Different types of travelers can benefit from different credit cards offering various bonuses and perks. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one card that is generally a winner for everyone.
This card earns 2x points on travel and dining. These points can be transferred to Southwest, as well as other hotel and airline partners, and the annual fee is $95.
Earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly is easy when you are using the right credit card. Using a credit card that offers multiple points per dollar in categories that you routinely use is the key to earning points fast.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and Ink Business Preferred card both earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases. The points from these cards can then be transferred to Southwest Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
No, Southwest points do not expire.
That depends on what you want out of the card! On the personal side, the Southwest Priority card offers the most benefits but charges the highest annual fee. The Southwest Plus card and Southwest Premier card, on the other hand, come with more affordable annual fees but don’t offer as many benefits.
Consider how often you fly with Southwest, or how often you will fly Southwest in the future, and then select the card that makes the most sense for you.
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
4 comments
Parcel World
April 04, 2019
I am really happy to say this is an interesting post to read. I learned new information from your article, you are doing a great job. Keep it up!
Travellers Tom
April 15, 2019
Well written and solid advice. I already do most of these things but it was a great refresher for me! Like you I value and use ultimate reward points the most. Ironic to use my sapphire reserve instead of southwest cards to earn SW points, but because they transfer so easy and fast it’s a no brainer to do that. I do the same for Hyatt!
Amber
June 21, 2019
This might sound like a dumb question, but because of the family boarding Southwest enforces, we want to stick with them. So, how exactly do I transfer Chase Ultimate Reward points over to Southwest? What is the process to do that? I’m lost!
![The 11+ Best Credit Cards for Southwest Airlines Flyers [2023]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Southwest-Airlines-plane-on-tarmac.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
4 comments
Parcel World
April 04, 2019
I am really happy to say this is an interesting post to read. I learned new information from your article, you are doing a great job. Keep it up!
Travellers Tom
April 15, 2019
Well written and solid advice. I already do most of these things but it was a great refresher for me! Like you I value and use ultimate reward points the most. Ironic to use my sapphire reserve instead of southwest cards to earn SW points, but because they transfer so easy and fast it’s a no brainer to do that. I do the same for Hyatt!
Amber
June 21, 2019
This might sound like a dumb question, but because of the family boarding Southwest enforces, we want to stick with them. So, how exactly do I transfer Chase Ultimate Reward points over to Southwest? What is the process to do that? I’m lost!
Jarrod West
June 22, 2019
Hi Amber!
That is not a dumb question at all! In fact, it’s one we get so often that we’ve created a guide that teaches everything you need to know about Chase Ultimate Reward points – including how to transfer them to airlines like Southwest!
Check it out here: /credit-cards/chase-ultimate-rewards-transfer-partners/#How-To-Transfer-Ultimate-Rewards
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