Here are the best credit cards available today: The Priority credit card gives you multiple ways to amplify your purchases and gain points faster. All purchases earn at least 1 point per dollar spent. Hotel and car rental partners; local transit and commuting; and streaming, internet, cable, and phone bills earn 2 points. All Southwest purchases earn 3 points per dollar spent. Every year on your Cardmember anniversary, you’ll also receive 7,500 points. Pros
7,500 anniversary points annuallyNo foreign transaction fee$75 annual Southwest creditEarn points to get A-list fasterEarn 3 points for every dollar spent on Southwest
Cons
High annual feeNo intro APRNo additional intro bonus pointsRequires good or excellent credit for approval
The Premier credit card earns 6,000 points annually on your Cardmember anniversary and is eligible for unlimited tier qualifying points to reach A-list status. Purchases made inflight get 25% cashback and Premier credit cardholders get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year. Pros
Earn the same bonus points as the Priority cardEarn 3 points on Southwest purchases6,000 annual anniversary pointsNo foreign transaction feeUnlimited TPQs
Cons
High APR$99 annual feeNo Southwest travel creditNot eligible for Upgraded Boardings
Each year, cardholders receive 3,000 anniversary points in their Rapid Rewards account. The Plus card is not eligible for tier qualifying points, so you may not get to A-list status as fast as you would with the Premier or Priority credit cards. But you’ll still earn 25% cashback when making inflight purchases and get two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year the card remains active. Pros
Earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account openingLow annual feeMultiply points in several categories3,000 anniversary points per yearTravel and purchase protection benefits
Cons
3% foreign transaction feeBlackout dates on reward travelNot eligible for TPQsNo intro APRNo higher points tier for Southwest purchases
This card comes with the highest annual fee of $199, but you can earn 80,000 points when you spend at least $5,000 in the first three months after opening the card. There are other benefits to this business credit card, including a $500 fee credit when you transfer points to an existing Rapid Rewards member, up to 365 annual credits for inflight Wi-Fi, four upgraded boardings if available on your flight, and a credit up to $100 on your application fee every four years when applying for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Points can be redeemed for travel and other options, like gift cards and shopping in the Rapid Rewards portal, and there are no blackout dates when redeeming for travel. Pros
No foreign transaction fees Earn 80,000 points for intro bonusMultiple points per dollar in several categoriesCredit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheckNo blackout dates when redeeming travel pointsEarn 9,000 annual anniversary points
Cons
High annual feeHigh initial spend for intro bonusNo intro APR5% balance transfer fee
The Premier Business card earns the same rewards points per category, except Southwest Airlines purchases earn 3 points per dollar spent. With this card, you can get 25% cashback when making purchases inflight and get up to $500 in statement credits when you transfer points to an existing Rapid Rewards member. You would also be eligible for two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year and receive 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $10,000 spent on the card. When you reach 35,000 TPQs, you can get A-list status, and earning 70,000 TPQs makes you eligible for A-list Preferred status. Pros
No foreign transaction feeEarn 60,000 intro bonus pointsLower annual fee than Performance Business cardEarn tier qualifying points towards A-list statusUp to $500 statement credit for points transferEarn 6,000 annual anniversary points
Cons
No intro APRGood or excellent credit for approvalNo application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheckPoints not multiplied for social media and search engine advertisingNo inflight Wi-Fi credits
When choosing a credit card, you should evaluate the details before applying. Consider the annual fee, APR, bonus earning requirements, and other benefits to find the card that best fits your needs. If you want a Southwest card with a low annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is your best choice. But if you want to reap the most rewards and don’t qualify for a business card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card may be a better choice. You can also check your credit score and history to determine what credit card you are most likely to be approved for. The better your credit score, the more credit card options you’ll have. But you can still get approved for a credit card if you have poor credit or are rebuilding your credit. To become an A-List Preferred Member, you need 70,000 qualifying points (see details). Additional benefits include inflight Wi-Fi on equipped planes, a 100% earning bonus on all qualifying Southwest flights, and more.
APR: The APR is the annual percentage rate, or the amount of interest you will pay on purchases. This amount varies by card and your credit history and score. Some credit cards will offer a low or 0% introductory APR for a certain length of time when you are approved for a card.Benefits and rewards: The benefits and rewards you can earn (or are already included) with a credit card vary widely by issuer and card type. Some cards earn cash back, while others earn points you can use towards travel, gas, groceries, and other purchases. Fees: Credit card companies will often charge fees as a condition of using the card for purchases. The most common credit card fees are an annual fee, billed yearly to your account as long as it remains active, and a foreign transaction fee, which is a percentage of the cost of a purchase made in a foreign country. Fee schedules vary by card and company, so be sure to review them before choosing a credit card.Introductory bonus: An introductory bonus is an incentive or group of incentives a card issuer offers when you’re approved for the card. Southwest Airlines credit cards offer bonus points if you spend a certain amount within a few months of opening the card.
Capital One Venture Rewards Card: This card earns you 2 points on every purchase and 5 points on hotels and rental cars. It comes with a 75,000 introductory bonus when you spend at least $4,000 in the first three months of card opening.Chase Sapphire Preferred: This card is a great choice for travelers who don’t have a preference in airline, hotel, or rental car company. It comes with a $95 annual fee, and you can earn 5 points for every dollar spent on travel.
