If you’ve already read my refresher on what you need to know, you’re ready to apply. Here are the summaries of the five different Southwest card options you need to choose from and what the benefits and costs are with each one.

Quick reminders first:

• The names for all these cards sound distressingly similar, so double-check that you’re applying for the right one before you click. (Maybe even triple-check.)

• You can only hold one personal card at any given time, so you have to get at least one business card. (If you need tips on how to apply for a business card, Travel Freely has a great step-by-step!)

• You aren’t eligible to receive a card bonus if you’ve already received one for that card in the past 24 months.

• You need to earn 135,000 qualifying miles in the same calendar year to earn a Companion Pass. By holding at least one Southwest credit card, you’ll get the 10,000-qualifying-mile bonus. So to earn the Companion Pass, you’ll need to earn a total of 125,000 miles (and then the 10,000-qualifying-mile bonus gets you to 135,000) through the card bonuses. Whatever combination of cards you want that gets you 125,000 miles earned after January 1 will earn you the Companion Pass for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025.

The best available offers for each card are linked below. And if you need a refresher on how to time this perfectly to get the maximum value out of your Companion Pass, I’ve got you covered!

Personal cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority personal card

Bonus: 75,000 Rapid Rewards miles

Annual fee: $149

Minimum spend: $3,000 within first 90 days after approval

Benefits: 7,500 RR miles every cardholding anniversary; 4 upgraded boardings when available; $75 Southwest annual travel credit; 3x on Southwest purchases; 2x on transit or rideshare purchases; 2x on internet, cable, phone, and some streaming services; 25% back on inflight purchases (statement credit); no foreign-transaction fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier personal card

Bonus: 75,000 Rapid Rewards miles

Annual fee: $99

Minimum spend: $3,000 within first 90 days after approval

Benefits: 6,000 RR miles every cardholding anniversary; 3x on Southwest purchases; 2x on transit or rideshare purchases; 2x on internet, cable, phone, and some streaming services; 2 Early Bird check-ins per year; 25% back on inflight purchases (statement credit); no foreign-transaction fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus personal card

Bonus: 75,000 Rapid Rewards miles

Annual fee: $69

Minimum spend: $3,000 within first 90 days after approval

Benefits: 3,000 RR miles every cardholding anniversary; 2x on Southwest purchases, transit or rideshare purchases, and internet, cable, phone, and some streaming services; 2 Early Bird check-ins per year; 25% back on inflight purchases (statement credit). Note: This card DOES charge a 3% foreign-transaction fee.

Business cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance business card

Bonus: 80,000 Rapid Rewards miles

Annual fee: $199

Minimum spend: $5,000 within first 90 days after approval

Benefits: 9,000 RR miles every cardholding anniversary; 4x on Southwest purchases; 3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals; 2x on rideshare purchases; 2x on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; 4 upgraded boardings when available; up to $500 annual statement credit for fees required to transfer Rapid Rewards points to another person; 25% back on inflight purchases (statement credit); no foreign-transaction fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier business card

Bonus: 60,000 Rapid Rewards miles

Annual fee: $99

Minimum spend: $3,000 within first 90 days after approval

Benefits: 6,000 RR miles every cardholding anniversary; 3x on Southwest purchases; 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals; 2x on rideshare purchases; 2 Early Bird check-ins per year; no foreign-transaction fees