If you’re a frequent flyer, you likely have a preferred airline — and a credit card to match. These cards offer significant value, from free checked bags and intro bonuses to points that add up to free flights.
To identify the best airline credit card reward program, we asked you to rank them in an online survey for the 2026 Kiplinger’s Readers’ Choice awards conducted over the winter. Over 4,000 readers participated in the survey, ranking airline credit card reward programs on three factors: Customer service, most recommended and overall satisfaction.
For the third consecutive year, Southwest Airlines won the best overall award for airline credit card programs. Here are three reasons our readers recommend them, along with some recent changes Southwest made that impact your travel.
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1. Tailored rewards: A Southwest card for every traveler
(Image credit: Getty Images)
You can get three different Southwest credit cards. The Rapid Rewards Plus card gives you 3,000 points on your cardmember anniversary. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card has a 6,000-point anniversary bonus, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card offers a 7,500-point anniversary bonus.
|
Card Name |
Annual Fee |
Anniversary Bonus |
|
Rapid Rewards Plus card |
$99 |
3,000 points |
|
Rapid Rewards Premier card |
$149 |
6,000 points |
|
Rapid Rewards Priority card |
$229 |
7,500 points |
On top of that, each card offers cash-back incentives (in the form of points) for purchases made with Southwest. The Priority card earns you the most, with four points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
It is also the quickest way to obtain A-List status. A-List status is Southwest’s tier-based loyalty program that offers perks such as priority boarding, a dedicated check-in line and bonus points on flights.
To earn A-List status, fly 20 one-way routes or earn 35,000 qualifying points in a year. Cardholders earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent.
2. The fastest route for free travel for two
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Companion Pass is among the most valuable travel benefits, as it allows you to bring a companion on your flights for free, excluding taxes and fees. Each Southwest card offers you a 10,000-point bonus every year.
One reader said, “By timing the bonus offer correctly, you can get a companion pass for almost two years – well worth the effort to concentrate spending on this card!”
This bonus is a major reason why readers cite these cards as the fastest route to free travel for two. By maximizing your Southwest purchases and using these annual boosts, you’ll reach the 135,000 points needed for the pass. You can also qualify with 100 one-way flights in one calendar year.
3. Responsive service and tech that makes travel easy
(Image credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
One reader summed up their experience perfectly: “I have called customer service many times, and they are VERY helpful.” This also correlates with a recent J.D Power airline satisfaction survey that ranked Southwest highest in customer satisfaction in the economy/basic economy section for the fifth consecutive year.
Along with customer service, having an easy-to-use app is integral if you encounter delays or cancellations. I’ve flown a few times with Southwest this year, and even with delays, I find changing my flights through the app a quick way to get travel back on schedule without standing in a theme park-sized line to speak with customer service.
Keep in mind too that Southwest made some pretty significant policy changes. Now, you have assigned seating like any other airline. Also gone are free checked bags. Southwest charges $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second. However, if you have a Southwest credit card, your first checked bag remains free.
While our readers ranked Southwest the highest airline, other airlines also made our rankings:
Overall, Kiplinger readers favor Southwest for its responsive customer service, diverse card offerings and bonuses that make it easier to obtain a Companion Pass. While some of the recent changes (doing away with free luggage and assigned seating) might perturb some passengers, if you have a Southwest card, your first bag will still fly for free, making the card’s perks even more valuable.
Want to see how our readers ranked your favorite airline? Visit our Kiplinger Readers’ Choice best airline credit card rewards programs to see our full ranking and what our readers liked about each one.
