Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs in the United States, and for good reason. It is a revenue-based program, meaning the number of points required for a flight is tied directly to the cash price of the ticket. I value Rapid Rewards points at 1.2 cents each, so while you will not unlock dramatically outsized redemptions like you might with some partner programs, the simplicity and flexibility of Rapid Rewards make it genuinely compelling.
The biggest prize in the Southwest ecosystem is the Companion Pass, which lets a designated companion fly with you on any Southwest flight for the entire year, just paying taxes and fees, on both paid tickets and award redemptions. Earning the Companion Pass typically requires accumulating 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.
There are two paths to earning Rapid Rewards points with credit cards. The first is through Chase co-branded Southwest cards, which also count toward Companion Pass and A-List status qualification. The second is through non-co-branded cards that earn transferable points, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards, both of which transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. The catch is that transferred points do not count toward Companion Pass or A-List status, so the right approach depends on your goals.
Compare credit cards for Southwest
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Earn 100,000 bonus points
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on Dining
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually when you dine at restaurants part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $324 annually.
- Member FDIC
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 75,000 bonus points
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel purchases
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining
- 3x on vacation homes
- 3x on gas & EV charging
- 3x on top streaming services
- 3x on online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
- Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Member FDIC
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Earn 80,000 points
- Earn 4x points on Southwest Airlines purchases
- Anniversary Bonus Points
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.*
- Member FDIC
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Limited Time: Earn 90,000 bonus points
- Earn 4x points on Southwest Airlines purchases
- Earning Southwest Companion Pass
- Anniversary Bonus Points
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Limited Time: Earn 80,000 bonus points
- Earn 2x points on Southwest Airlines purchases
- Anniversary Bonus Points
- Earn Southwest Companion Pass
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Earn 60,000 points
- Earn 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases
- Anniversary Bonus Points
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Bilt Palladium Card
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status offer
- 2X points on everyday purchases
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit
Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, and 2X points on everyday spend.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
Bilt Blue Card
$100 of Bilt Cash offer
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- No Annual Fee
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, and 1 point on everyday spend.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 1X points on everyday spend.
- Welcome offer: $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
- Other benefits: No foreign transaction fees, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, Purchase Assurance, MasterRental Coverage (See Guide to Benefits)
Welcome offer: $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
Bilt Obsidian Card
Earn $200 Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- 2X points on travel
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year then 1x) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
2X points on travel
1X points on everyday spend
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
- $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
Southwest credit cards overview
Before getting into the full lineup, here’s the quick comparison:
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Anniversary bonus | A-List qualifying | Companion Pass qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Southwest Cards | |||||
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | $229 | 4x points on Southwest purchases; 2x at gas stations and restaurants; 1x on all other purchases Limited Time Welcome bonus: 90,000 points after $3,000 in the first 3 months | 7,500 points Worth approximately $90 in airfare | 2,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent | Yes |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | $149 | 3x points on Southwest purchases; 2x at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year; 1x on everything else Limited Time Welcome bonus: 85,000 points after $2,000 in the first 3 months | 6,000 points Worth around $72 in airfare | 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent | Yes |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | $99 | 2x points on Southwest purchases; 2x at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year; 1x on everything else Limited-Time Welcome bonus: 80,000 points after $1,000 in the first 3 months | 3,000 points Worth around $36 in airfare | None | Yes |
| Business Southwest Cards | |||||
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | $299 | 4x points on Southwest purchases; 2x at gas stations, restaurants, hotel direct bookings, and local transit; 1x on all other purchases Welcome bonus: 80,000 points after $5,000 in the first 3 months | 9,000 points Worth approximately $108 in airfare | 2,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent | Yes |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | $149 | 3x points on Southwest purchases; 2x at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year; 1x on all other purchases Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after $3,000 in the first 3 months | 6,000 points Worth approximately $72 in airfare | Not stated | Yes |
| Transferrable Point Cards for Southwest | |||||
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $795 | 8x points on Chase Travel℠ bookings; 5x on Lyft rides; 4x on direct flight and hotel bookings; 3x on dining Transfers 1:1 to Rapid Rewards. Welcome bonus: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $6,000 in the first 3 months | None | None | No |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | 5x points on Chase Travel bookings; 3x on dining, streaming services, gas and EV charging, select vacation rentals, and online grocery purchases; 2x on all other travel Transfers 1:1 to Rapid Rewards. Welcome bonus: 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $5,000 in the first 3 months | None | None | No |
| Bilt Palladium Card | $495 (Rates & Fees) | 2x points on all eligible purchases, plus the option to earn 4% back in the form of Bilt Cash on all spending Transfers 1:1 to Rapid Rewards. Welcome bonus: 50,000 points plus Bilt Gold status after $4,000 in the first 90 days on non-housing purchases, plus $300 in Bilt Cash upon approval (Rates & Fees) | $200 in Bilt Cash Paid as an annual anniversary bonus rather than points | None | No |
Co-Branded Southwest credit cards
All five co-branded Southwest cards are issued by Chase, and that comes with some important eligibility rules to keep in mind. On the personal side, you are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you currently hold any Southwest personal card, or if you received a new cardmember bonus on any Southwest personal card within the past 24 months. Business cards are evaluated independently, meaning you can hold both the Premier Business and Performance Business cards and earn bonuses on each. Beyond Southwest-specific rules, Chase’s general 5/24 applies, though there are increasing reports it is not being consistently enforced.
Top pick: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Of the three personal Southwest cards, the Southwest Priority Card is the one I would recommend. Yes, it has the highest annual fee of the three personal cards, but the perks justify it by a comfortable margin.
Welcome bonus
The Southwest Priority Card is currently offering a limited-time welcome bonus where you can earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. At my valuation of 1.2 cents per Rapid Rewards point, those 90,000 points are worth $1,080.
Rewards structure
The Priority Card earns 4x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at gas stations and restaurants, and 1x point on all other purchases. The card also earns 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent. Honestly, I would generally only put heavy everyday spending on this card if you are working toward Companion Pass or A-List status, since there are stronger cards for general spending. But the Southwest category bonus is excellent if you fly Southwest often.
Perks
The Priority Card earns a 7,500-point anniversary bonus each year, worth approximately $90 in airfare. It also offers 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi and drink purchases as a statement credit, no foreign transaction fees, and a solid set of travel and purchase protections including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and primary rental car coverage internationally.
The Priority Card is my top pick among Southwest personal cards. The $229 annual fee is higher than the competition, but between the anniversary bonus points, the 4x earning on Southwest purchases, and the TQP earning toward A-List status, this card clearly wins the value calculation. If you are going for Companion Pass, this is the card to do it with.
Link: Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card
Runner-up: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Premier Card is the middle tier in the Southwest personal lineup. It is a solid card, and for some people, the lower annual fee makes it more palatable than the Priority Card.
Welcome bonus
The Premier Card is offering a welcome bonus of 85,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. At 1.2 cents per point, that is $1,020 in point value.
Rewards structure
The Premier Card earns 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year, and 1x point on everything else. It also earns 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent toward A-List status.
Perks
The Premier Card earns a 6,000-point anniversary bonus each year, worth around $72 in airfare. Like the Priority Card, it offers 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi and drink purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.
The Premier Card is a fine option if you want to pay less out of pocket annually, but I think most people going for the Companion Pass or A-List are better served by the Priority Card.
Link: Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Southwest Plus Card is its entry-level personal card. It has the lowest annual fee of the three personal cards, at $99.
Welcome bonus
The Plus Card is currently offering a limited time welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That is $960 in point value at my valuation.
Rewards structure
The Plus Card earns 2x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year, and 1x point on everything else. Notably, unlike the Premier and Priority cards, the Plus Card does not earn TQPs on spending.
Perks
The Plus Card earns a 3,000-point anniversary bonus each year, worth around $36 in airfare. It also offers 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi and drinks, and no foreign transaction fees.
The Plus Card makes sense if you want the lowest possible annual fee and primarily care about the Companion Pass offer. The Plus Card is not a bad card, but most serious Southwest flyers would be better served by the Priority Card.
Link: Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
If you have a business and fly Southwest with any regularity, the Southwest Performance Business Card is exceptional. And critically, it is evaluated independently from the personal cards, so you can hold both the Priority personal card and the Performance Business card simultaneously and earn bonuses on each.
Welcome bonus
The Performance Business Card offers 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. At 1.2 cents per point, that is roughly $960 in value. Points earned from the business card also count toward Companion Pass qualification.
Rewards structure
The card earns 4x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at gas stations, restaurants, hotel direct bookings, and local transit, and 1x point on all other purchases. Like the Priority personal card, it earns 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent.
Perks
The Performance Business Card earns a 9,000-point anniversary bonus each year, worth approximately $108 in airfare. It also includes a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit (up to $120) once every four years. I would recommend using this for Global Entry rather than PreCheck alone, since Global Entry includes PreCheck while the reverse is not true. No foreign transaction fees apply.
The Performance Business Card is the best Southwest card in the entire portfolio, in my view. The anniversary bonus is terrific, and the Global Entry credit adds further value. If you have a business and fly Southwest, this card is a no-brainer.
Link: Learn more about the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
The Southwest Premier Business Card is the lower-tier business option. It is less compelling than the Performance Business Card, but still worth considering if you prefer a lower annual fee.
Welcome bonus
The Premier Business Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first three months, worth approximately $720 at my valuation.
Rewards structure
The card earns 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year, and 1x point on all other purchases.
Perks
The Premier Business Card earns a 6,000-point anniversary bonus each year, worth approximately $72 in airfare. No foreign transaction fees apply.
The Premier Business Card is worth considering if you want a lower-cost business card entry point, but the Performance Business Card is clearly the better value.
Link: Learn more about the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Best non-branded cards for Southwest Rapid Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards both transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, making them useful tools for stacking up points. There is one critical caveat: transferred points do not count toward Companion Pass or A-List status qualification. Only points earned directly through Southwest co-branded credit cards and Southwest flights count toward those thresholds. So if Companion Pass is your goal, stick with the co-branded cards. If you just want to accumulate Rapid Rewards points and already have your Companion Pass sorted, then these non-co-branded options are excellent complements.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular premium travel cards on the market, and it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Southwest Rapid Rewards.
Welcome bonus
The Sapphire Reserve is currently offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first three months. I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, so to me that is worth roughly $1,700. If you transferred those points to Southwest, you would have 100,000 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $1,200 at my Southwest valuation.
Rewards structure
The card earns 8x points on Chase Travel℠ bookings, 5x points on Lyft rides, 4x points on direct flight and hotel bookings, and 3x points on dining. Considering that I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, that 4x on direct airfare is the equivalent of a roughly 6.8% return on that spending.
Perks
The Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, up to $500 in annual hotel credits through The Edit by Chase Travel, up to $300 in dining credits, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years, and primary rental car coverage. The $795 annual fee looks steep, but the $300 travel credit effectively reduces the out-of-pocket to $495 for most people, and the lounge access and other credits can offset a great deal of that remaining cost.
If you want to earn the most Ultimate Rewards points possible to eventually transfer to Southwest, the Sapphire Reserve is the top option. However, most people earning points specifically for Rapid Rewards would be better served spending on a Southwest co-branded card, since only those count toward Companion Pass. The Sapphire Reserve is best used as a complement once your Companion Pass is secured.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel credit cards for its price point, and it earns Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.
Welcome bonus
The Sapphire Preferred is currently offering a 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. At my 1.7-cent valuation, that is worth approximately $1,275, or 75,000 Rapid Rewards points if transferred to Southwest.
Rewards structure
The card earns 5x points on Chase Travel bookings, 3x points on dining, streaming services, gas & EV charging, select vacation rentals (through Airbnb, VRBO, and more), and online grocery purchases, and 2x points on all other travel. Combined with the Sapphire Reserve or no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5x on everything) or Chase Freedom Flex (5x on rotating categories), you can build a strong Chase points-earning ecosystem.
Perks
The card offers a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit, a DashPass membership for at least one year, primary rental car coverage, and solid travel protections including trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The $95 annual fee is already largely offset by the hotel credit.
The Sapphire Preferred is one of the best mid-range travel cards on the market. For most people, it is actually a better value than the Sapphire Reserve once you factor in the lower annual fee, and the broader travel category coverage. If you are building a Chase Ultimate Rewards setup to complement your Southwest spending, this is a great anchor card.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Bilt Palladium Card
The Bilt Palladium Card is the most premium offering from Bilt, which is best known for letting cardmembers earn rewards on rent and mortgage payments. Bilt Rewards points transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, making this an interesting option for people who want to rack up Rapid Rewards points through a non-Chase card.
Welcome bonus
The Bilt Palladium Card offers 50,000 bonus points plus Bilt Gold status after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days on non-housing purchases, plus $300 in Bilt Cash upon approval (Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.) This is the only Bilt card with a substantial welcome bonus, and Bilt has historically not offered welcome bonuses at all, so this is meaningful.
Rewards structure
The card earns 2x points on all eligible purchases, plus the option to earn 4% back in the form of Bilt Cash on all spending. The Bilt Cash can be used for things like unlocking 1x points on housing payments, or to earn additional bonus points on up to $25,000 in non-housing spending per year, effectively boosting your earning rate to 3x on that spending. The card is serviced by Cardless rather than a major bank.
Perks
The Bilt Palladium Card includes a $200 annual Bilt Cash anniversary bonus, up to $400 in Bilt travel portal hotel credits per year (as a $200 semi-annual credit requiring a two-night minimum stay), and a Priority Pass membership with up to two guests. There is also a $95 annual fee per authorized user.
The Bilt Palladium Card is intriguing, particularly if you spend heavily on rent or a mortgage and want to turn that into transferable points including Rapid Rewards. The 2x earning rate on everyday spending is genuinely excellent. That said, I have some hesitations about the program’s long-term sustainability. I think it is absolutely worth trying for a year, especially with the welcome bonus, but I would evaluate the ongoing value carefully before committing long-term.
Link: Apply for a Bilt credit card (Rates & Fees)
How to choose a card for Southwest
Companion Pass changes everything
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable benefits in all of travel. The companion flies free for the remainder of the year the pass is earned plus the following year, on both paid and award tickets, paying only taxes and fees.
Transferred points do not count toward companion pass
This is the most important strategic consideration in the Southwest points world. Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, or any other program to Southwest do not count toward Companion Pass or A-List status qualification. Only points earned directly through Southwest co-branded credit card spending and Southwest flights qualify. So if you are working toward Companion Pass, you need to be spending on a Southwest card, not a Chase or Bilt card. Once you have the Companion Pass secured, transferring points from other programs is a great way to top up your Rapid Rewards balance.
Personal and business cards have different eligibility rules
Southwest personal cards are mutually exclusive for welcome bonuses: you cannot receive a bonus on any Southwest personal card if you currently hold one, or if you received a bonus on any personal Southwest card in the past 24 months. Business cards are evaluated independently of each other, meaning you can hold both the Premier Business and Performance Business cards and earn a bonus on each. Critically, having a Southwest business card does not disqualify you from a personal card, and vice versa. This creates a meaningful opportunity to pair the Priority personal card with the Performance Business card for a substantial combined bonus haul.
Chase’s 5/24 rule
Chase typically will not approve applicants who have opened five or more new credit card accounts across any issuer in the past 24 months. This is an important consideration if you are planning to apply for multiple Chase cards. That said, there are increasing data points suggesting this rule is no longer being consistently enforced, so it may be worth trying even if you are slightly over that threshold. In any case, I would recommend aiming for a credit score of 740 or higher before applying.
Rapid Rewards points do not expire
As long as your Southwest Rapid Rewards account is open, your points do not expire. That is a nice feature compared to some other programs where inactivity can cause points to disappear. It also means there is no urgency to burn through your balance, which gives you the flexibility to accumulate points over time and redeem them for higher-value flights when the opportunity arises.
Bottom line
Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of the most accessible and valuable frequent flyer programs in the United States, especially for domestic travelers. The Companion Pass remains one of the best values in travel, and the current limited-time offer makes it more attainable than ever.
Among co-branded Southwest cards, the Priority Card is my top personal pick, and the Performance Business Card is the best business option. Both offer anniversary bonuses that go a long way toward offsetting their annual fees, and both earn TQPs toward A-List status with spending.
For non-co-branded options, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great complement to your Southwest strategy if you want to earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points, especially once your Companion Pass is already secured. The Bilt Palladium Card is worth exploring if you pay rent or a mortgage and want to earn points on housing payments. Just remember that none of these transferred points count toward Companion Pass, so they work best as a supplement to a Southwest co-branded card rather than a replacement.
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