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Southwest® is making sweeping changes to its lineup of personal and business credit cards, with higher annual fees, new perks, and the removal of several benefits. Some updates are already live, and more will roll out into 2026 as Southwest introduces assigned seating.

We’ve put together this full guide to help you understand what’s new, what’s going away, and whether it’s still worth keeping your card after this Southwest® credit card overhaul.

 

Quick Take

• Annual fees are increasing by an additional $30 to $100 on all cards.
• New perks: free checked bags for cardholders + up to 8 companions on the same reservation, anniversary flight promo codes, and complimentary seat selection/priority boarding in 2026.
• Going away: EarlyBird check-in credits, upgraded boarding credits, inflight WiFi credits, fee credits for points transfers, and annual travel credits. 
• Bottom line: These changes are mostly negative, but some travelers will still find value if they take advantage of the new perks.

 

All Changes at a Glance

 
Here’s our helpful chart outlining the Southwest® credit card overhaul and how the differences compare between cards:
 

Card	Current Annual Fee → New	New/Improved Perks (Effective Now)	Effective for Flights Starting in 2026	Removed (Jan 1, 2026)	Staying the Same
card_name	$69 → $99	10% flight promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fare); 2X on gas & groceries (first $5K per year); free checked bag for cardmember + 8 companions; no foreign transaction fees	Complimentary Standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure, when available; cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5	2X points on Southwest Cruise purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partner purchases, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, or local transit and commuting (now 1X); 2 EarlyBird Check-ins per year	3K anniversary points; 10K-point Companion Pass® boost; 2X points on Southwest purchases; 1X points all other purchases; 25% back on inflight purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card	$99 → $149	15% flight promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fare); 2X on groceries & restaurants (first $8K per year); free checked bag for cardmember + 8 companions	Complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure, when available; cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5	2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partner purchases, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, or local transit and commuting (now 1X); 2 EarlyBird Check-ins per year	6K anniversary points; 10K-point Companion Pass® boost; 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually; 3X points on Southwest purchases; 1X points all other purchases; 25% back on inflight purchases; no foreign transaction fees
card_name	$149 → $229	4X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points at gas stations & restaurants; free checked bag for cardmember + 8 companions; 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually	Complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking, when available; Unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available; cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5	4X points on Southwest Cruise purchases; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partner purchases, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, or local transit and commuting (now 1X); 4 Upgraded Boardings per year; $75 Southwest annual travel credit	7.5K anniversary points; 10K-point Companion Pass® boost; 1X points all other purchases; 25% back on inflight purchases; no foreign transaction fees
card_name	$99 → $149	15% flight promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fare); 2X at gas stations & restaurants (first $8K per year); free checked bag for cardmember + 8 companions; 2,000 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually	Complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure, when available; cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5	3X points on Southwest Cruise purchases; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partner purchases or local transit and commuting (now 1X); $500 fee credit for points transfers per year; 2 EarlyBird Check-ins per year	6K anniversary points; 10K-point Companion Pass® boost; 3X points on Southwest purchases; 1X points all other purchases; 25% back on inflight purchases; no foreign transaction fees
card_name	$199 → $299	2X at gas stations, restaurants, and hotels booked directly; free checked bag for cardmember + 8 companions; 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually; 25% back on inflight purchases	Complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking, when available; Unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available; cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5	4X points on Southwest Cruise purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partner purchases; 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, or phone services (now 1X); 4 Upgraded Boardings per year; $500 fee credit for points transfers per year; inflight wifi credits	9K anniversary pts; up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS fee credit; 10K-point Companion Pass® boost; 4X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on local transit and commuting; 1X points all other purchases; no foreign transaction fees

 

Coming in 2026: Seat Selection & Boarding Groups

Starting with flights on January 27, 2026 and beyond, all Southwest cardholders will get:

• Complimentary Standard or Preferred seat selection (timing varies by card).
• Group 5 boarding for cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• card_name and card_name cardholders also get unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available.

 

Why Are These Changes Happening?

Southwest is introducing assigned seating in 2026, which makes perks like EarlyBird check-in credits and upgraded boarding credits obsolete. The new benefits aim to provide value in other ways, like seat selection, priority boarding, and free checked bags.

 

Should You Keep Your Card?

Keep if You:

• Travel with family and benefit from free checked bags.
• Value complimentary seat selection and priority boarding.
• Earn or maintain Companion Pass® with the annual 10k boost + referrals.

Consider Downgrading or Canceling if You:

• Relied heavily on EarlyBird Check-Ins, upgraded boardings, or bonus categories that are disappearing.
• Can’t justify the higher annual fees with the perks you use.

 

Bottom Line

For most cardholders, this Southwest® credit card overhaul will feel like a net devaluation. However, the new seat perks and free checked bags may still justify keeping a card, especially for families who fly Southwest® often or who earn Companion Pass® through spend and referrals.

If your annual fee renewal is coming up, evaluate whether the new benefits align with your travel habits. 

 

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