Southwest Credit Cards Refresh: Higher Fees, More Benefits

Southwest Airlines is changing its credit cards. These changes match the big shifts the airline has made over the past year. Now, all Southwest cards will cost more but offer new perks. The annual fees are going up by about 50% across all five card options. New benefits include free checked bags, seat selection options, and more points on everyday purchases like dining, groceries, and gas. Some cards even offer free extra legroom seats within 48 hours of departure. There’s also a limited-time offer until September 17 where new cardholders can earn 100,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first five months.

The refreshed cards also offer better boarding positions. Cardholders will board no later than Group 5, ahead of standard boarding. This is important since Southwest is changing how people board planes. Some old benefits are going away, like EarlyBird check-in and Upgraded Boarding perks. Current cardholders have until the end of this year to use these benefits before they disappear. The new annual fees won’t hit existing customers until their 2026 card anniversary.

Our Take

Our team believes these changes make sense given Southwest’s recent business model shift. The airline has moved away from its famous open seating and free bags policy, so the credit cards needed to adapt too. While nobody likes paying higher annual fees, the new benefits do provide ways to bypass some of Southwest’s new restrictions like bag fees and limited seat selection on basic fares.

We think the best value is likely in the mid-tier Premier card for most travelers. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card extra legroom benefit is nice but comes with a steep $229 annual fee. For points and miles enthusiasts, the 100,000 point welcome bonus is worth serious consideration, even with the higher fees. Just remember to do the math – make sure the benefits you’ll actually use outweigh the increased cost of holding the card. Southwest clearly wants to push more customers toward card membership as part of its new strategy.