Southwest Rapid Rewards Cards
Southwest's credit card lineup is one of the more interesting in the points game - not because the cards themselves are especially premium, but because of where they can take a Hawaii-based traveler.
For kamaʻāina, Southwest is a genuinely useful airline. They fly inter-island, & they connect Hawaii to a strong list of West Coast & inland-West cities that Hawaii travelers actually want to reach (some of which are otherwise underserved). On top of that practical value, Southwest cards can earn one of the most valuable benefits in the points world: the Companion Pass. That's the headline reason my Ohana Program members pursue Southwest cards, but the route network is what makes it land for households here.
The Card Lineup
Southwest offers a small family of personal credit cards (tiered by annual fee & benefits) plus a business card. Each one earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points, comes with a welcome bonus, & contributes toward Companion Pass qualification.
The cards differ in: - Annual fee - Welcome bonus size - Bonus categories & ongoing earning rates - Anniversary points - Travel & purchase protections
Picking the right Southwest card for your situation depends on how often you fly Southwest, what other cards are in your wallet, & what the current welcome bonus offers look like. When the timing's right for Southwest in your sequence, I'll walk you through which one fits. (More on the Companion Pass dynamic in the dedicated Companion Pass FAQ.)
The Companion Pass: The Real Reason to Care
The Companion Pass is one of the most valuable benefits in the points world, full stop. Here's the short version:
When you earn enough qualifying Southwest points (or take enough qualifying Southwest flights) in a calendar year, you unlock the Companion Pass. With a Companion Pass:
You designate one companion (spouse, family member, friend - your choice)
That companion flies free with you on any Southwest flight you book - paid OR award booking
You only pay taxes & fees on the companion ticket (typically $5.60 each way for domestic)
The pass is good for the rest of the year you earned it PLUS the entire next calendar year
Translation: depending on when you earn it, you can get up to two years of free companion flights on Southwest. For households where two people regularly travel together, that's enormous value.
The full mechanics (how to qualify, the strategic timing, what counts toward the threshold) live on the Companion Pass FAQ - it's worth its own dedicated read.
When Southwest Cards Make Sense
For most members in my Ohana Program, Southwest enters the picture in one of two situations:
1. You & your spouse genuinely fly Southwest a lot. If your travel patterns regularly include Southwest flights - whether for mainland trips, inter-island flights when Southwest serves your route, or specific Southwest hubs you like - the Companion Pass changes the math meaningfully. Two years of free companion flights for one earner is hard to beat.
2. The Companion Pass timing aligns with your year. Companion Pass earning has a calendar-year structure that creates strategic windows for capturing maximum value. Hitting the threshold late in one year means the pass is good through the end of the FOLLOWING year. Hitting it early in a year means most of the value sits in that same year. Sequencing card applications to hit the threshold at the right time is part of my Ohana Program strategy.
If neither situation applies - you don't fly Southwest, or the timing doesn't work - Southwest cards usually don't earn a place in the sequence.
When Southwest Cards Probably Don't Make Sense
A few honest carve-outs:
You rarely or never fly Southwest. The Companion Pass is only useful if Southwest is actually flying where you're going.
Southwest doesn't serve your home airport's most important routes. Southwest's network is strong but not universal. From Hawaii, Southwest serves all five major airports - Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG), Lihue (LIH), Kona (KOA), & Hilo (ITO). On the mainland side, the current gateway cities for non-stop Hawaii service include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, & Phoenix. Outside that footprint - whether for a destination Southwest doesn't reach or routes that would require connections - the program loses a lot of utility.
You're early in your card sequence & still building transferable-currency foundation. Southwest is a branded program - same trade-off as any branded card. The points only book Southwest flights. For households still building a flexible points foundation, Southwest typically waits. Worth noting: Chase points transfer 1:1 to Southwest, & Southwest flights often appear with a Points Boost in the Chase travel portal. So even before pursuing Southwest cards directly, your Chase points stack still gives you flexible access to Southwest flights.
How Southwest Fits in My Ohana Program
Southwest is rarely the first card I'd recommend. It's more often a layered addition once your foundation is solid, & only when the math on the Companion Pass actually works for your household's travel patterns.
If you're at the point where Southwest makes sense, the right approach involves more than just one card application - it's a coordinated sequence designed to land the Companion Pass at the right moment. (Walk-through of that strategy on the Companion Pass FAQ.)
When the timing's right, you'll see Southwest in my recommendation. Just follow the lead.
Related Questions
Important Disclosures
Educational guidance only - not financial, credit, or tax advice. Individual results vary based on card approval, spending habits, redemption choices, & timing. Approval for any credit card is subject to issuer criteria.
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This is how this free program is funded. Compensation does not influence guidance. Opinions are the author's alone & have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any bank, card issuer, or other entity.
