Southwest Airlines threw loyal fliers for a loop in 2026 with big changes. They stopped letting passengers check two bags for free. They replaced open seating with assigned seats. They dropped the egalitarian “every seat is the same” thing and created a few rows of “extra legroom” seats in the front of the plane.
The result: Lots of longtime passengers stopped loving Southwest. Some even say they’ll never fly the airline again.
So why am I encouraging people to get a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card now?
In my experience, my Rapid Rewards credit card allowed me continue enjoying flying Southwest in 2026 (maybe even more than ever). Read on to learn why holding a Southwest credit card is the key to enjoying flying the new Southwest.
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Sign up for a Rapid Rewards Plus Credit card and get 50,000 Rapid Rewards points.
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To earn the signup bonus, you have to spend a minimum amount on the card in the first 3 months. Disclosure: If you sign up through one of these links, I could earn a points bonus!
Why Southwest credit cards are more valuable than ever in 2026
When Southwest rolled out their changes in boarding, seating and baggage fees, they also added new perks to their suite of credit cards. These perks basically make Southwest credit card holders immune to a lot of the unpleasant changes. From seat selection to boarding to onboard drinks and checking bags, having a Rapid Rewards credit card now makes every part of the Southwest Airlines experience better.
Important! Southwest credit card benefits apply to up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation. When you use your cardmember privilege to book a seat, you can also book a seat for your spouse, children, co-worker or BFF flying on your itinerary. Up to nine people total! So if you fly with a whole family, the benefits of being a card member multiply.
Southwest credit card holders can select a seat
In the before times, open seating was how Southwest distinguished itself from other airlines. When you got on the plane, you could take any open seat. Now, Southwest is squeezing more revenue out of travelers by making them pay to select a seat.
But if you have one of the Southwest credit cards, you can select a seat for free.
What seat you can choose and when depends on which credit card you hold:
- The entry-level Rapid Rewards Plus credit card allows you to select a “Standard” seat 48 hours before departure. Standard seats are the ones in the back half of the plane, behind the exit rows.
- The mid-level Rapid Rewards Premier card lets you select a “Preferred” seat 48 hours before departure. Preferred seats are the seats in front of the exit rows, except for the “Extra Legroom Seats.”
- The high-level Rapid Rewards Priority card lets you select a “Preferred” seat at booking, then upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure.
- The entry-level business card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business, and the high-level Rapid Rewards Performance Business both let you pick a free Preferred seat within 48 hours of departure.
If you don’t have the credit card, you can still get a seat assignment upon booking — even in a Preferred or Extra Legroom seat. But you have to pay for it. Here’s how
- Book a higher fare class. Basic fares don’t allow you to select a seat. Choice fares allow you to pick a Standard seat at booking. Choice Preferred lets you choose a Preferred seat at booking. And the highest class, Choice Extra, letse you choose an Extra Legroom seat at booking.
- Pay a seat selection fee. The price varies, but with a Basic fare you might pay $12 to $18 to select a standard seat, $22 to $28 to select a Preferred seat, and $52 to $63 to select an Extra Legroom seat. Those prices are per leg.
Of course, these seat selection and upgrade privileges can only be taken advantage of if there is a seat in that category available. So far, I have seen plenty of Extra Legroom seats available for selection 48 hours before takeoff.
Why seat selection matters:
- If you don’t select a seat, Southwest select seats for you and your party.
- You might end up in a middle seat in the rear of the plane.
- Your group may not be seated together — even if you have small children with you.
- The Extra Legroom are not only more comfortable — they also come with free alcoholic beverages and premium snacks!
Southwest credit card holders can check a bag free
“Bas fly free” was Southwest’s mantra for decades. Because of Southwest’s generous baggage policy, we were able to move my daughter to college across the country without paying a dime in baggage fees. (Five passengers, eight free checked bags; we could have brought even more stuff.) Clearly a lot of people were disappointed to learn that Southwest would start charging to check bags.
Fortunately, I haven’t had to pay the new $45 fee to check a bag. That’s because holders of any of the five Southwest credit cards get the first checked bag free. (And so do up to 8 people on your reservation.)
Southwest credit card holders also get a (somewhat worthless) boarding benefit
In the old days, Southwest passengers were divided up into three groups — A, B and C — and assigned a boarding number that determined exactly when it would be your turn to walk down the jetway. Now, Southwest is just like other airlines, with a seemingly endless number of boarding groups. (Actually, there are 8.)
Holders of any of the Rapid Rewards credit cards are guaranteed boarding no later than Group 5.
Why do I call that perk somewhat worthless? For one thing, Group 5 is pretty late. By the time they call Group 5, at least half the passengers are already on the plane.
The other reason I think the Group 5 boarding is worthless: Most credit card holders will qualify for a higher boarding group, so by the time they call Group 5, you’ll already be on the plane. Here are all the groups in Southwest’s current boarding protocol:
- Preboarding. Passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors.
- Priority boarding. Active duty US military and anyone who paid $10 to $75 per segment, per customer.
- A-List Preferred.
- Group 1. A-List members and anyone who bought a Choice Extra fare.
- Group 2. Anyone sitting in an Extra Legroom seat. (This is when I board, since my Priority credit card always gets me a free upgrade to ELR.)
- Groups 3-4. People who bought a Choice Preferred fare who aren’t sitting in an Extra Legroom seat.
- Group 5. Any Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers who haven’t yet boarded.
- Groups 6-7. Anyone who bought a Choice fare.
- Group 8. Anyone who hasn’t boarded yet (i.e., you don’t have the credit card or status and you bought a Basic fare).
Why does boarding order matter? In the old Southwest, boarding order mattered more than anything. The person with the A1 boarding number got their choice of seats, and if you were in C group, you’d be stuck in a middle seat. Now that seats are assigned, boarding order is less of a big deal. Except for one thing: Ever since Southwest started charging for checked bags, bin space has been a problem. If you aren’t in the first few groups to board, you will probably be forced to check your carry-on due to full overhead bins.
Value of Southwest credit cards: Savings vs. cost
The value of holding a Southwest credit card, in terms of flight perks, boils down to how much money you save with it vs. how much you pay for it.
How much being a Southwest credit cardmember saves you depends on a number of factors:
- how much you fly
- how many people you fly with
- how often you check a bag
- how much you care about where you sit
- how much you like to drink on the plane
How much the card costs depends on which one you get:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: $99 per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card: $149 per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: $229 per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: $149 per year
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card: $299 per year
I think it’s worth it to have a Southwest credit card if you fly Southwest a few times a year. If you fly Southwest frequently, it would be silly not to have one of the Southwest cards.
A few example scenarios:
You fly two round trips per year, with a connection each way, with your spouse.
Your estimated extra costs with no credit card:
- You pay $60 each way for seat selection. ($15 per segment, per person, to select Standard seats so you can sit together.)
- You pay $90 each way to check one bag each.
- Total cost on top of airfare: $600 per year ($150 each way for two round trips.)
Worth it? Yes! In this scenario, having the $99/year Plus credit card would get you the same flying experience for $500 less.
You fly five round trips per year, direct, with your family of five. You are 6’2 and need leg space. You all want to sit together.
Your estimated extra costs:
- You pay $275 each way to select Extra Legroom seats. ($55 x 5 people)
- You pay $225 each way to check one bag each ($45 x 5 people)
- Total cost on top of airfare: $5,000 ($500 each way for five round trips)
Worth it? Obviously! You’d be crazy to fly Southwest without holding a credit card at this point. If you paid $229 per year for the Priority Card (the one that comes with upgrades to ELR seats), you’d save $4,771 per year.
How much I have saved by being a Southwest cardmember in 2026 (so far)
I have the Priority credit card, for which I pay $229 a year. While I don’t always check a bag when I fly, most of my flights so far this year have been ski trips. I brought my skis and boots, which count together as my one free bag.
With the 6 segments I have flown as a cardmember since the new rules took effect, here is the value of the benefits I received:
- 5 checked bags: $225
- 11 upgrades to Extra Legroom for myself and my companion: about $600
Worth it? You bet! My Southwest credit card has already saved me $596 — and I will fly several more times in the second half of the year!
So that’s why I think Rapid Rewards Visa cards are more valuable than ever with the new Southwest rules. Most people who fly Southwest will save money by getting one of the Southwest credit cards.
(Besides, getting a couple of Rapid Rewards credit cards is the easiest way to get a Southwest Companion Pass fast!)
Southwest credit card perks FAQ
New rules bring confusion! Here are some of the questions I see people asking about the new Southwest regime and the value of the Southwest credit cards.
Q: Do I have to use my Southwest credit card to pay for the flights in order to get the benefits?
A: No. You can pay with any credit card and still receive the benefits of being a Southwest credit card holder.
Q: Will I get the credit card benefits if I pay with miles?
A: Yes. It doesn’t matter how you pay for your flight. As long as you’re a cardholder, you’ll get your free bag and seat selection benefits because you’re a cardmember.
Q: If my spouse is the primary cardmember and I have a user card with my name on it, can I enjoy their cardmember benefits when flying without them?
A: No. Southwest’s credit card benefits apply to the primary cardholder and anyone flying on the same reservation with them. Having an authorized user card with your name on it does not make you a cardmember. If you want to enjoy the same benefits when flying without your spouse, you can get a Southwest credit card in your own name.
Q: Does the cardmember have to book the flight in order for everyone on the itinerary to receive benefits?
A: No. Everyone on the reservation should receive benefits even if the flight is booked through someone else’s account.
However, there’s an extra step to using the seating benefits if the primary cardmember doesn’t book the flight from their account. You can only use the benefit when logged into your own account. So you have to book first, then select seating after. For example, recently I wanted to use my son’s Rapid Rewards points to pay for a flight for me. First, I booked the flight from his account. Then, I logged into my own account, where I was able to select a preferred seat. 48 hours before the flight, I was able to log in again and upgrade myself to Extra Legroom, using my Rapid Rewards Priority card benefit.
At the airport, I had no trouble adding my free bag, even though the flight had been booked for me by someone else.
Q: What about companions flying on a companion pass? Companions have a separate record locator, so they’re technically flying on a separate itinerary. If I’m a cardholder, will my companion be able to use my benefits.
A: Yes, companions share their sponsor’s credit card benefits. Once you add your companion to your flight, they should be able to log in (or call) and select a seat based on your cardmember benefits. So if you’re Preferred, they can select a Preferred seat and upgrade to ELR at 48 hours.
For the luggage benefit, it doesn’t actually matter at this point! Why? Because as of now Southwest is still allowing Companions to check two bags for free! Even if their sponsor doesn’t have a credit card! Why? No one knows if this was an oversight, or if Southwest has some reason for keeping the two free bags benefit for Companions. We’re just happy it’s happening!
(Hot tip: If you don’t have a Southwest credit card but you do have a Companion Pass, check your bags in the Companion’s name, not yours. That way you can get up to two free checked bags.)
Q: When I upgrade to ELR, will I receive drink coupons for my free alcoholic beverages?
A: No. Southwest flight attendants are not supposed to ask for payment or a coupon for alcoholic drinks ordered by ELR passengers. And there is no limit to how many you can get. (Although for most flights, time constraints and propriety will probably prevent you from ordering more than two.)
Q: I’m flying tomorrow. Do I still have time to apply for the credit card and get the perks in time for my flight?
A: Maybe! Officially, Southwest says “Cardmembers should allow up to 14 days for card status to be updated in their Rapid Rewards account.” But I have one friend who applied for the card, got accepted immediately, and was able to use her seat selection perk within hours. She was also able to check her family’s bags free.
You can see that your credit card has been connected to your Rapid Rewards account online. On the app, it will say which card you hold right at the top, under your first name and Rapid Rewards points total.
On the website, you’ll see a little penannt that says “Cardmember” to the left of your name at the top right corner of the screen. Then on the “My Account” screen, it will say which card you hold, at the top under your name and Rapid Rewards number.
Q: What should I do if I am having trouble getting my credit cardholder benefits to apply?
A: Call Southwest! Their customer service is generally very helpful in getting things to apply properly if the website is acting up.
Q: Do the credit card benefits stack with other benefits, like status or fare class perks? For example, an A-List member, I already get one checked bag free. If I have a Southwest credit card, can I use my credit card benefit to get a second bag free?
A: No. A-List members with the credit card still get just one free checked bag. If you buy a Choice Preferred fare, you get two free checked bags — but having the credit card won’t get you a third free bag.
Q: If I have a Southwest credit card, is there any reason to pay extra for Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fares?
A: Maybe. From what I understand, the main reason to buy an upgraded fare is for flexibility. If you cancel a Basic fare, you get a non-transferable credit back that expires in 6 months. Buy Choice and you get a transferrable credit that’s good for a year. Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fares are fully refundable back to your original form of payment.
The other benefit of buying an upgraded fare, even as a credit card holder, is that you could get seating benefits that aren’t available with your particular credit card. For instance, with Choice Extra, you can pick an Extra Legroom seat at booking, while with the top credit card, you can only upgrade to those seats 48 hours before the flight.
Q: Which Southwest Airlines credit card should I get?
A: If all you care about is getting a free checked bag, it doesn’t matter which card you choose. They all offer that perk.
The only thing that really differentiates the five cards is seat selection. If you care a lot about where you sit, get the highest level — the Priority card. In my experience so far, Priority card holders nearly always end up sitting in Extra Legroom seats near the front of the plane. But if you don’t mind where you sit, you just want an assigned seat before you arrive at the airport? Any level card will do.
Just remember to log on 48 hours before the flight to select your seat!
Q: I already have a few credit cards. Will adding a Southwest card hurt my credit score?
A: Unlikely. See my post on how playing the credit card game affects your credit score.
If you like Southwest tips and tricks, check out my post about how to stop Southwest travel funds (flight credits and vouchers) from expiring! And this post on how to get miles or points back when the price of your Southwest flight drops!