Southwest Airlines® is my go-to choice for domestic travel, including flights to Hawaii. I have found huge value in using Southwest® Rapid Rewards to book flights. In my opinion, you really can’t beat Southwest Airlines® for family travel. Yes, there have been changes but it is still an amazing airline. Today, I will share with you five reasons why I STILL love Southwest Airlines®. But first, let’s talk about how to earn Southwest® Rapid Rewards.  

 

How to Earn Southwest® Rapid Rewards 

The easiest way to earn Southwest® Rapid Rewards (besides flying them!) is through their credit cards.  There are three personal Southwest® credit cards and two personal Southwest® business credit cards, so every traveler is likely to find at least one card option that works for their travel and spending habits.

 

 

 

Southwest® Personal Credit Cards

 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Learn How to Apply

 

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Learn How to Apply

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There is also a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card that might be a good option to consider.

All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Travel Mom Squad. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is no longer available through Travel Mom Squad.

 

Southwest® Business Credit Cards

 

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Learn How to Apply

 

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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Learn How to Apply

 

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Why I Love Southwest Airlines®

1. Southwest® Companion Pass®

One reason why I love Southwest Airlines® is that they offer the Southwest® Companion Pass®. Once you earn 135K points in one calendar year, you are awarded a companion pass. This allows someone to fly free with you for the rest of the year in which you earn the pass and all of the following year! This is incredible! Right now, my husband and I both have a Companion Pass. For our family, that means we book six tickets but only pay for four! There is no limit to the number of times you can use this pass while you have it, and you can use it anywhere that Southwest® flies.

The easiest way to earn the pass is to earn enough Rapid Rewards by using your Southwest® credit cards. Taking advantage of high welcome offers by opening a personal and a business card (or two business cards), you can hit that 135K points. Check out this post for more information about the Southwest® Companion Pass.  

 

 

2. Southwest® Now Has Assigned Seating

Ok, this may be a super-unpopular opinion, but I actually really liked Southwest’s boarding process when they had open seating. But now that there is going to be assigned seating, other people (like my mom) are more willing to fly them. I think that for the general public, this was a smart move.

Additionally, they also have premium seats. That, too, is a smart move, as many people prefer a seat with more room. In the past, I traveled Southwest® mainly with my family. When I travel alone, I prefer more space. This change makes it easy for me to use Southwest® for all of my flying needs.

 

 

3. Southwest® Flight Change/Cancellation Policy

This is one of the biggest reasons why I love Southwest Airlines®. When I book a flight, I can cancel and get all the points I used to book my flight back (up to ten minutes before the scheduled departure time). This is huge! If I find a flight I like, I book it right then, and I figure out the details later. If it doesn’t work out, I can cancel it with no risk. When you book a flight with a credit card, Pay Pal, a flight credit, or other methods, what kind of credit you can get and when the credit expires varies depending on what type of ticket you bought.

This also works if the price changes on a flight (except for the new Basic fare class). I can log into my Rapid Rewards account, select “change flight,”and it will show me if my current flight has gone down in price. If it has, I can get the difference in points redeposited into my account with the click of a button. 

 

4.  Bags Still Fly Free With the Right Card or Right Fare

While two bags don’t automatically fly free anymore, one still can if you have the right card. Checked-baggage fees will apply to the new Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares.

The following passengers will continue to receive free checked bags:

• Choice Extra (two free checked bags)
• A-List Preferred Members (two free checked bags)
• A-List Members (one free checked bag)
• Rapid Rewards primary credit cardholders and up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation (one free checked bag each)
• Hawaii residents traveling between the islands (two free checked bags)

If a Companion Pass holder qualifies for one or two free checked bags, the benefit will also apply to their Companion. 

 

 

5. Cheap Fares

Another reason that I love Southwest Airlines® is that it offers cheap fares. When you have a big family, booking flights for these cheap fares is so awesome! When it comes to booking with Southwest®, I recommend booking as soon as they release their dates to get the best price. Remember, you can always rebook if the price drops.

 

Bottom Line

If you have a family, then I cannot recommend Southwest Airlines® enough. I love that Southwest Airlines® doesn’t always charge for bags, has competitive fares, and more. The Southwest® Companion Pass is by far the best companion pass offered by any airline, and has enabled my family to save so much on flights! I haven’t even touched on their great customer service and friendly crews, but those are fantastic as well. If you haven’t given Southwest Airlines® a try, then you may want to consider it. 

 

Related Posts

Earn the Southwest® Companion Pass with a 120K Offer

Southwest® Credit Card Overhaul: What’s Changing for Personal & Business Cardholders

How to Earn the Southwest® Companion Pass® 2026

No More “Bags Fly Free” and Other Changes to Southwest Airlines®