Three cards tie for best at Southwest Airlines
According to Kiwii, which ranks cards by computed math rather than commissions, Costco Anywhere Visa, The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, and Wells Fargo Autograph Card tie for the best card at Southwest Airlines for a typical $1,200/year shopper, each netting about $36 per year after fees.
+$36/yr
net back per year with Costco Anywhere Visa, The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, or Wells Fargo Autograph Card
| Card | Rate hereRate | Annual feeFee | CreditsCred. | Net / yearNet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | None | — | $36 | Learn more | |
| 3% | None | — | $36 | Learn more | |
| 3% (3x pts) | None | — | $36 | Learn more |
Figures computed from issuer terms including earning caps and annual fees, at typical yearly spend for this merchant. Figures updated August 11, 2026. Some links may earn Kiwii a commission; commissions never affect the ranking. How Kiwii makes money
This math assumes $1,200/year at Southwest Airlines and an empty wallet.
Your real answer depends on everything you spend and the cards you already carry. Kiwii Match runs this same math across your actual spending and tells you which card or combo earns you the most, and what you're missing per year with the cards you have now.
Free, no account, about 60 seconds.
- Below about $4,800/year, four cards tie. Above that, Autograph Journey's 4% rate overtakes its $95 annual fee.
- Requires a Costco membership, $65 per year and up, which is not counted in the math above.
- The 3% rate at Southwest Airlines depends on how this merchant is coded by the card network, which can change.
- Point cards are valued at their cash redemption rate (Wells Fargo Rewards Points at 1¢ per point). Transfer or portal redemptions can be worth more; that upside is not counted.
- Fly Southwest Airlines often? Southwest Airlines' own cards add perks like free checked bags and elite status that this cash-back math doesn't count. Run your match to see if they win for your full spending.
Southwest Airlines is categorized as Airlines for rewards purposes, which is what determines the bonus rate most cards pay here.