Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Top picks for Southwest Airlines from our scoring engine.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Ranked by earn rate and redemption value, statement credits minus annual fees (weighted against a typical $30,000/year in total card spend), shopping portal bonuses when we recognize the merchant, matched benefits and promotional earn boosts, co-brand fit for this brand. The ¢ per dollar column is the reward rate at Southwest Airlines, after spend caps. Order can differ from that column because ranking adds the adjustments above.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns the top spot for Southwest Airlines purchases at 9.3¢ per dollar on flights — a $395 annual fee. We ranked every card in our database against Southwest Airlines purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. See the note above the list for what drives order versus the ¢ per dollar column. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some headline earn rate for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Southwest Airlines's co-branded cards — shown here because they are not in the ranked list above.
Capital One
Amex
Chase
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 9.3¢ per dollar on flights when you shop at Southwest Airlines, the highest marginal rate in our list for this brand. At 9.3¢ per dollar, rewards cover the $395 fee after about $4,270 a year in Southwest Airlines spending. To come out ahead of Chase Freedom Flex (5.4¢), you'd need about $10,260 a year here. It's the right pick if you want maximum earn rate on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
Side-by-side view of the ranked picks.
| Card | Flights Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 7.5¢/$ | $895 | $667.50 | amex |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $795 | $360 | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.8¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 4x Wells Fargo Rewards | 5.0¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Chase Freedom FlexChase | 5x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| Bilt Palladium CardCardless | 2x Bilt Rewards | 4.4¢/$ | $495 | $100 | mastercard |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardUsbank | 4x Usbank Altitude Rewards | 4.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| BMO EscapeBmo | 4x points | 4.0¢/$ | $150 | $12.50 | mastercard |
| Citi Strata Credit CardCiti | 5x ThankYou Points | 4.8¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Statement credits or cash applied to your bill at Southwest Airlines, separate from earn rate.
Other brands in Airlines where the top picks above also earn well.
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