The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is the best card for Southwest Airlines — it earns 21x (18.9% return) and 21x on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Updated June 2026
Best Credit Card for Southwest Airlines
Compare the top credit cards to maximize your rewards every time you shop at Southwest Airlines.
Choosing the right card for Southwest Airlines can meaningfully boost your overall rewards return. The difference between a 1x flat card and the best card for this category can add up to hundreds of dollars in extra rewards per year on regular spending.
How CardCurator ranks this merchant
These rankings use current earn rates, annual fee drag, reward value, and merchant-category fit. They are based on live card data, not a fixed sponsored list.
Top Pick
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Portal-Only Travel Options
These rates only apply when you book through the issuer or partner portal, not when you pay Southwest Airlines directly.
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Rewards Calculator
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Quick summary
A short version of the recommendation with the main numbers and tradeoffs.
At Southwest Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is currently our top overall pick at 21x, which works out to about 18.9% back based on CardCurator's current point valuations. 21x on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. On $500/month of spend, the top card is worth about $1134/year before signup bonuses or statement credits. Updated June 18, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/merchant/southwest-airlines
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 21x and 18.9% effective return.
- At $500/month, that's about $1134/year in rewards value before bonuses.
- No separate no-annual-fee fallback currently ranks near the top.
- Methodology uses live earn rates, annual fees, and current point valuations.
Common Questions
What is the best credit card to use at Southwest Airlines?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is currently the top pick at Southwest Airlines, earning 21x points per dollar — an effective 18.9% return. 21x on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
How many points do I earn at Southwest Airlines per dollar spent?
Top cards earn between 8x and 21x at Southwest Airlines. Leading options include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (21x), World Of Hyatt Credit Card (9x), AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (10x).
Does Southwest Airlines count as car rentals for credit card rewards?
Southwest Airlines typically falls under the Car Rentals category for credit card reward purposes. Cards with a car rentals spending bonus will earn an elevated rate here. Choosing the right card for Southwest Airlines can meaningfully boost your overall rewards return. The difference between a 1x flat card and the best card for this category can add up to hundreds of dollars in extra rewards per year on regular spending.
Is a premium card worth the annual fee for Southwest Airlines spending?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ($650/yr) earns 21x at Southwest Airlines. If you spend $287/month or more there, the category rewards alone offset the annual fee — before counting travel credits and other perks that often exceed $500 in value on premium cards.
Which card earns the most if I spend $500 per month at Southwest Airlines?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: $1134/yr, World Of Hyatt Credit Card: $918/yr, AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: $900/yr. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant earns the most at $500/month.
Also earning in Car Rentals
Need a situation-specific recommendation?
Merchant rankings are a good starting point, but the best card can change if you care more about international use, business spending, or lower-friction approval.