Best Southwest Credit Card Offers

It is hard to get a Southwest credit card because they require at least good credit for approval. You have the best approval odds with a minimun of 700 credit score and you have a lot of income, it will be difficult for you to get approved for a Southwest credit card credit card.

Minimum Credit Score for Notable Southwest Credit Cards

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Good credit
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Good credit
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Good credit
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Good credit

Keep in mind that while the credit score requirement is the main thing that makes a Southwest credit card credit card hard to get, there are other requirements you will have to meet to get approved. As with all credit cards, you'll need to have a steady income that's big enough to handle the card's credit limit, and you must be at least 18 years old.

Finally, it's important to note that even if you exceed all of the requirements to get a Southwest credit card, you're never guaranteed to get approved, though your odds are good.

The credit score that you need for a Southwest Airlines credit card is 700, at a minimum. This means at least good credit is required for approval. 

If your credit score is below the threshold needed for a Southwest Airlines credit card, it's best to wait and apply after you meet the credit score requirement. You can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

Southwest Airlines Credit Score Requirements by Card

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit)

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for a Southwest Airlines credit card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open credit accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status, and housing status.

The number of points you need for a free flight on Southwest Airlines can be anywhere between 6,600 and 58,000 for a one-way economy class ticket in high season.

Here are some examples of point requirements for common flights so you can have a broader idea about what to expect:

• New York to Los Angeles: about 21,000 points
• New York to Chicago: about 6,600 points
• New York to Cancun: about 33,600 points
• Los Angeles to Orlando: about 20,000 points
• Los Angeles to Cancun: about 58,000 points

For loyal Southwest flyers, a Southwest credit card can help you earn points and get free flights faster. Most Southwest credit cards are offering initial bonuses for spending a certain amount within a few months of opening an account. Such a bonus alone could get you a free flight or two. You need at least good credit to get approved for a Southwest credit card.

You can do a Southwest credit card balance transfer by making a request either online or over the phone at (800) 945-2000. Note that there is no 0% introductory APR with a Southwest credit card balance transfer. But you can earn 1 point / $1 transferred – up to $10,000 or $15,000, depending on the card. 

The Southwest credit cards' balance transfer offer is unique in that you earn rewards. Don't let that sway you too much, though. Southwest points are worth around 1.5 cents each. All in all, it is better to use a good 0% APR balance transfer credit card. This can save you much more than Southwest's balance transfer rewards.

What to know about Southwest credit card balance transfers:

• Balance transfers, including fees and interest, cannot exceed $15,000 or your available credit limit, whichever is less.
• The Southwest credit cards' balance transfer APR is 20.99% - 27.99% (V), depending on your creditworthiness.
• You earn 1 point / $1 transferred, up to $15,000 with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card. Or, up to $10,000 with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Transfers must be completed within 90 days of account opening to be eligible. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card do not offer rewards on balance transfers. 
• It may take up to three weeks to set up a new account and process any balance transfers. Keep paying your original lender in the meantime.
• The Southwest Airlines credit cards accept balance transfers from other credit cards (except those issued by Chase), car loans, student loans, personal loans, and more. 

The Southwest credit cards offer plenty of incentives for airline travelers, such as initial bonuses, free annual frequent-flyer points and rewards on Southwest Airlines purchases. But if you're interested in balance transfers with a low APR, there are cards out there better suited for that purpose.

Alternative credit card options:

If you're looking for an airline card that is ideal for balance transfers, you should consider the JetBlue Plus Card. This card has an intro APR of 0% for 12 months on balance transfers (20.99% - 29.99% (V) after that), with a 5% (min $5) balance transfer fee. 

Alternatively, you should consider a general balance transfer card, like the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. This card offers an into APR of 0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (17.99% - 29.99% Variable after that). The card's balance transfer fee is: 5% (min $5). The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card gives you an intro APR of 0% for 21 months on balance transfers (17.99% - 28.74% (V) after that), but there's a 5% (min $5) transfer fee.

You can't use Southwest points to book a hotel room at the moment. Southwest has temporarily paused the ability to redeem points for hotel stays or any of the "More Rewards" redemption options due to Covid. This includes merchandise, international flights on global carriers, rental cars, gift cards and exclusive cardmember experiences.

For now, the only way to redeem your Southwest points is for Southwest flights.

Southwest points do not expire as long as the Southwest account is open and in good standing. The only time Southwest points expire is when you or Southwest closes the account without first redeeming unused rewards.

When Southwest points will expire:

• When you close your account.
• If Southwest closes the account for you.

Even though Southwest points do not expire, it's still a good idea to avoid building up a big Southwest rewards balance because that would make you more vulnerable to rewards devaluation.

If you're trying to choose an airline rewards program and are concerned about rewards expiration policies, you can see how the Southwest points expiration policy compares to other popular companies' policies in the table below.

Southwest Points Expiration vs. The Competition 

The latest Southwest credit card signup bonus is 60,000 points plus a 30% off promo code for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. This generous bonus is currently offered by all Southwest credit cards intended for personal use, and it could be enough for at least a free flight or two.

The bonus should post to your account within 8 weeks after you meet the spending requirement. Just keep in mind that this offer is only available for new cardholders. You're not eligible for this bonus if you are a current cardholder of any of the Southwest credit cards or have received a similar bonus within the last 24 months.

Southwest Credit Card Signup Bonuses in June 2023

Initial Bonus: 60,000 points plus a 30% off promo code for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent with Southwest, 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2 points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Other Perks: 6,000 anniversary points and the option to check-in early 2 times a year

Annual fee: $99

Initial Bonus: 60,000 points plus a 30% off promo code for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases, 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2 points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Other Perks: $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 4 upgraded boardings per year, and 7,500 anniversary points each year

Annual fee: $149

Initial Bonus: 60,000 points plus a 30% off promo code for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 2 points per $1 spent with Southwest and Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2 points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Other Perks: 3,000 anniversary points and the option to check-in early 2 times a year

Annual fee: $69

It's worth noting that previous offers on these credit cards included a 75k and a 100k bonus. So, make sure to look out for future Southwest credit card promotions, as they usually increase the bonus amount from time to time.

Which Southwest Credit Card Should You Get?

If your goal is to earn points inexpensively, then you should apply for the Southwest Plus Card.

If you want more points for Southwest flights and after card anniversaries, the Southwest Premier Card might be a better option.

If you're looking for a card with many Southwest Airline benefits, then you should get the Southwest Priority Card. Although this card has a significantly higher fee, the benefits alone are easily worth it if you can use them.

Finally, don't forget that all of these cards require at least good credit for approval. If you'd like to know where you stand, you can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

To change a Southwest flight reservation:

1. Go to the Southwest Airlines "Change Flight Reservation" page.
2. Input the confirmation number and the first and last name of the person who originally booked the flight.
3. Check the box next to each flight you want to change.
4. Input the new dates and destinations, then click “Select New Flights.”
5. Look at the available options and select your new flight.
6. Review your changes and click “Continue.”
7. Click “Purchase” to complete the transaction.

You will receive a confirmation email containing new flight information after completing these steps. Alternatively, you can change your flight by calling Southwest's reservation department at (800) 435-9792 no later than 10 minutes before your original departure. The representative will ask for your confirmation number, so have it ready. You must also provide the first and last name of the person who originally booked the flight.

Southwest never charges any fee to change your flight reservation. You may be asked to pay the difference in fare if the new flight you're choosing is more expensive than your original booking. But if your new flight costs less, you'll be refunded the difference.

No, there isn't any Southwest credit card with no annual fee. More specifically, the Southwest credit cards' annual fees range from $69 to $149. For comparison, the average credit card annual fee on the market is $21.65 right now.

Southwest Credit Cards Annual Fees

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: $69
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: $99
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: $149
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: $99

Even though all of the Southwest credit cards currently have annual fees, they come with plenty of benefits to make that fee worth it for frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. Moreover, all Southwest credit cards come with good signup bonuses, and they also offer good ongoing rewards rates.

Ultimately, if you are a frequent traveler and looking for a card that doesn't charge annual fees, you're not out of luck. You can check out some great travel credit cards with no annual fee to weigh your options. 

The Southwest credit card foreign transaction fee is either $0 or 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars, depending on the card. More specifically, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card card's foreign transaction fee is 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. The other Southwest credit cards have no foreign fees.

Southwest credit card foreign transaction fees:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: $0 foreign transaction fee. $149 annual fee.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: $0 foreign transaction fee. $99 annual fee.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: $0 foreign transaction fee. $99 annual fee.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee. $69 annual fee.

A Southwest credit card with no foreign transaction fee is well-suited for international travel, but only to certain locations. While Southwest doesn't exactly operate globally, they do offer flights to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. There are over 110 destinations total.

The Southwest credit cards give 2 points / $1 - 4 points / $1 spent on purchases made directly through Southwest Airlines. If you earn points on a Southwest credit card with a foreign transaction fee of $0, they won't be wiped out by a 3% charge.

Unfortunately, though, Southwest is one of the few major airlines that is not part of a big airline alliance. That means their points can't be transferred to partner airlines that could service other international destinations.