Don’t believe the lie that you’re out of luck for big travel savings if you live in a small town.

Yes, it is admittedly harder to snag cheap flights if you’re not within driving distance of a major hub. There’s also the issue of limited availability for certain routes.

However, there are some savings to be found even if you live in a flyover spot. Just be prepared to get creative, have a willingness to take the road less traveled and the ability to lengthen travel times if you want to pocket some savings when departing your pocket-sized town.

Take a look at these five tips for how to get cheap flights if you live in a small town.

Get Acquainted With Your Local Airport’s Website

Third-party booking sites might not show you the whole story on the routes available out of your city. While those platforms are great when you’re comparing options for multiple airports, they’re less helpful when you already know the airport you want to fly out of for your next trip.

Why? The good flights near you might not make the front page.

It’s actually smarter to go directly to your local airport’s website to take a look at the carriers that serve your city.

Scan the list to check for budget carriers before going deeper to check out actual destinations.

Next, plug in some different dates and times to see just how low you can get the price to go based on your travel needs.

You’ll likely want to go with whatever budget carrier offers the best rates out of your airport.

Embrace Connecting Flights

You have to be realistic enough to understand that flying directly to Paris on a dime from your sparsely populated town might not be happening on the cheap.

However, an inexpensive connecting flight or two can be the next best thing to actually living near a major hub.

What’s more, connecting flights out of smaller airports can actually be less expensive than the cost of paying for a ride to an airport located a few hours away from you.

It’s also just a lot easier than asking family members or friends to shuttle you to a faraway airport.

Longer connecting flights can actually save you a surprising amount of money when you’re able to book international fares out of major hubs.

Taking a connecting flight to one of the coasts to snag a rock-bottom fare for an international departure may give you access to the cheapest flights around if you’re willing to invest just a little bit of time and money on the front end.

Consider Ground Transportation

Are you really going to let yourself pass up a $79 fare to the Bahamas? Those flash deals that you see advertised by airlines don’t have to be the exclusive bounty of those lucky enough to live near major airports. Thinking outside the box to save money on travel sometimes comes down to thinking inside the boxcar. Consider taking a train or bus to get to a major airport if connecting flights out of your area aren’t affordable.

Pivot From Airline Points to Rental Car Points

Airline rewards definitely steal the thunder when it comes to redeeming your credit card points for travel perks.

However, you might want to consider a slightly tweaked strategy if you live in a small town.

First, focus on using hubs to book rock-bottom fares without even taking into account the travel points you’ve accumulated with your favorite credit card. The savings you’ll get from booking through a hub can easily be greater than the savings you’d get from trying to make your points do anything for you when booking a pricier fare out of a smaller airport.

Next, focus on using those points you have stocked away to redeem rewards that can be used for a cheap rental car. Finally, use that next-to-nothing price for a rental car to simply drive to the hub you want to fly out of to get to your destination.

Play “Travel Agent” With Some Different Flight Combinations

Don’t be so married to using roundtrip flights for your trips.

This requires a bit of a time investment because you’ll be playing around with all kinds of different configurations to get to the right price point.

First, look for inexpensive one-way tickets from your city to a big hub that’s offering lots of cheap fares to your destination. Is it cheaper to book two flights to-and-from a departure city featuring a great deal on a trip you want to take, rather than getting a roundtrip flight from your local airport?

The perk here is that you can really choose any departure city you want because distance really isn’t an object when you’re flying before you fly.

The trick is that closer doesn’t mean cheaper. You may not mind flying an extra hour to get to a departure hub if it means saving hundreds of dollars.

The math here just needs to work out so that your cost of each connecting flight combined with your main roundtrip flight is cheaper than a roundtrip flight to your destination from your original starting point.

This can actually be really fun if you’re willing to take on the mindset that there are no rules when it comes to the where, when and why of how you travel. You’re willing to put in a little time and planning to get rates that elude others!

Bonus Tip: Consider a Different Type of Vacation

The truth is that paying more for flights is one of the most frustrating parts of living in a small town that’s several hours away from any major hubs.

This frustration might be inspiring you to think about annual vacations a little differently.

One good strategy for taking a good vacation every year without necessarily needing to do a complicated dance of the fares is to simply identify an airline serving your local airport that offers affordable flights to a spot that’s a big departure point for cruise lines.

You’ll get the benefit of booking what is essentially a cheap connecting flight while also skipping the need for a “main” roundtrip flight because you’ll be hopping on a cruise ship that bundles your costs for transport, food and hotel room in one.

Final Thoughts

Small-town living can be compatible with a jet-setting lifestyle if you’re willing to put a little more planning into how you book your trips.

Of course, it’s inevitable that you’ll simply need to pay more to get to destinations some of the time if you live in a place where flight offerings are sparse.

The first step to flying for less when you live in a small town is to start keeping up with the offerings at your local airport. Focusing on routes offered by the resident budget carrier is the starting point because this airline will become your gateway to better fares at bigger airports around the country.

Can you really get the experience of flying solo on a commercial flight?

While sharing limited space comes with the territory, there are some ways you can boost your chances of getting a row to yourself on an airplane.

People who fly a lot know that there are some unspoken rules about how seats fill up on planes. You can use these trends to get in position to snag your own row. Of course, the stars really do need to align perfectly for this to happen, but take a look at the 10 ways to maximize your chances of getting a row to yourself on your next flight.

Pick the Middle Seat When You Book Your Flight

This one requires a little faith. While claiming the middle seat on an untouched row is always a gamble, this is the easiest way to boost your chances of getting your own row. Other travelers will be more likely to skip over your row if they can get window or aisle seats without a neighbor. Taking the middle seat essentially “claims” a row unless the flight is full.

Know How to Board for Keeps in a “Wild West” Boarding Scenario

What if you’re flying on an airline that doesn’t assign seats? Make a beeline for the back. You’ll have the advantage of letting the rest of the plane fill up before the passenger traffic trickles down to you. The strategy of picking a middle seat mentioned above can also be a big help here. A middle seat located in the back of a plane boosts your odds of getting your own row more than almost anything.

Keep Your Head on a Swivel After Boarding

You have a prime opportunity for a “do-over” if you find yourself stuffed in a full row by the time the announcement is made that boarding is complete. Look around the airplane to see if any empty rows remain. Consider any empty row your eyes can see as yours to claim!

Ask the Gate Agent for a Favor

It’s actually perfectly acceptable to politely ask a gate agent about what the situation looks like for seating while you’re waiting for boarding. Most gate agents and ticketing agents will help you out with switching or upgrading seats to avoid getting stuffed into a full row. Most people don’t take advantage of the opportunity for a pre-boarding boost simply because they don’t know that you’re allowed to ask.

Don’t Travel During Peak Times

Picky passengers know to never fly during peak times. If you have a real aversion to being stuck in a full row, it’s smart to try to fly during off-peak times. It’s not unusual for empty rows to be bountiful. Midweek flights are best when jockeying for position in an unoccupied row. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the days with the lowest flight volumes. Flying on those days actually gives you the benefit of getting the lowest fares most of the time. That means you’re paying less for a more private flying experience if your schedule allows you to jet off on weekdays.

Pick Row 13 When You Book Your Flight to Get Lucky

Let the superstition of other people be your good luck! Yes, some people really are afraid to book seats in row 13 on flights. The negative connotation that goes along with the number even causes some people to subconsciously skip over it when they’re selecting rows. Grabbing a seat in row 13 when you book might be all that’s necessary to avoid seat neighbors.

Get a Good Seat Map App

While some airlines are pretty good about providing seat maps, you might want to consider a third-party app. In addition to showing you existing seat layouts, many apps will actually send alerts to your phone when new seats open up. This can help you to strategize for getting into an empty row before your flight.

Fly on Newer Routes

Passenger volume is often skimpy on new routes when they’re first introduced by airlines. Part of the reason is that passengers simply don’t know about these routes yet. Others are hesitant to try out “experimental” routes. It’s all good news for you if you want your own row. There’s also a secret perk to this. Airlines tend to really roll out the red carpet with the best service when launching new routes because they want to build customer momentum. You may end up having one of the best flights of your life if you’re one of the first people to fly on a new route. This same rule applies for booking flights with newly launched carriers. You’ll probably have good luck with getting your own row if you give a newer carrier a try.

Travel Using Smaller Airports

This hack doesn’t come with any guarantees. However, you’re less likely to get a row to yourself on a flight if you’re flying out of a big hub like Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (JFK). Check out the flight offerings out of a smaller airport that’s in your region to see what you may have been missing this whole time. Many smaller airports actually have pretty impressive routes with steady departures to popular places.

Bonus Tip: Reserving a Row for Two

What if you’re traveling with someone else? You might be wondering how the two of you can increase your odds of not having to awkwardly share your row with a third party. This hack for getting your own row on a flight is pretty foolproof. Simply take the window and aisle seats when booking your flight. This will leave the “awkward” middle seat open. Nobody will choose this seat unless the flight is absolutely full. However, you won’t necessarily be stuck sitting on either end of a stranger just because you’ve chosen to try this strategy if your flight does fill up. The third party will more than likely be happy to swap the middle seat for the window seat or aisle seat once they show up. There’s really no reason to ever book side-by-side seats as your default when traveling with another person!

Getting an Airplane Row to Yourself: Is It Really Just Luck?

Yes, getting your own row on a flight partly comes down to luck. However, smart travelers know how to make their own luck by simply being proactive about the how and where of booking their seats. The disclaimer here is that there’s really nothing you can do to get some space when a flight is booked to capacity. However, these tips will put you in position to seize the opportunity if there is room for an empty row on your flight. The final thing to say is that nobody likes an entitled airline passenger. While it will be great if you can make the stars align to get an empty row on your flight, this isn’t something you should expect every time. What’s more, it’s not the responsibility of airline staff to try to help you play airline-seat chess to get into an empty row. While asking for a little inside information before you board is fine, make sure you’re not pestering gate agents or flight attendants to do your dirty work.

Bad news turns into good news once you realize you can get paid to get bumped from a flight.

Yes, some people are making serious bank by getting bumped with payouts totaling thousands. How are they doing it?

First, you need flexibility and freedom. Trying to make money by getting bumped on your way to an important conference, work event or family wedding can quickly turn into a case of “be careful what you wish for” if you end up stranded while the festivities go off without you. Let’s talk exclusively about perfecting the skill of getting paid to chill when you have time to kill.

The Criteria for Getting Paid for Getting Bumped

It’s important to know the difference between “paying” bumps and “non-paying” bumps. Getting paid means qualifying for something called involuntary denied boarding compensation after an airline has asked you to give up your seat on an oversold flight. Here’s what’s needed:

• You have a confirmed reservation.
• You checked in for your flight on time.
• You showed up for your departure gate on time.
• The airline is incapable of getting you to your destination within an hour of your flight’s scheduled arrival time.

It’s equally as important to know when you’ll be barking up the wrong tree when you ask for compensation after getting bumped. Not every flight hiccup means a payout is coming. Here are the scenarios where you won’t quality for payment:

• Your airline had to substitute an aircraft due to some type of operational or safety reason.
• You were bumped due to weight or balance restrictions.
• You were downgraded to a lower seating class. While you won’t get special compensation, you will at least get a refund for the price difference.
• You were traveling on a charter flight that isn’t part of an airline’s regular schedule.
• You were traveling on an aircraft that maxes out at 30 passengers.

Next, take a look at the tips for increasing your odds of getting paid to get bumped. While these tips don’t offer any guarantee that a payday is coming your way, they will help to boost your chances of getting cash in exchange for a little inconvenience. Let’s power through some bump-worthy tips.

Tip #1: Fly With the Airlines That Are Notorious for Bumping Passengers

The Bureau of Transportation really does most of the hard work for you on this one.

You can look up data on “denied confirmed space” for all major carriers for the most recent year reported to see exactly where airlines stand with miscalculating room to sit.

Here’s a look at how involuntary denied boardings looked in 2020 for the five worst “offenders:

• 1. Frontier Airlines: 6.28 bumps per 10,000 passengers.
• 2. Spirit Airlines: 5.57 bumps per 10,000 passengers.
• 3. Alaska: 2.30 bumps per 10,000 passengers.
• 4. PSA Airlines: 2.29 bumps per 10,000 passengers.
• 5. American Airlines 1.95 bumps per 10,000 passengers.

It also helps to know about the “winners” for keeping passengers in their seats to avoid if you’re trying to cash in on getting bumped out.

Delta airlines actually does the best for getting you where you’re going without getting bumped by bumping just 0.02 per 10,000 passengers. Endeavor, United, and JetBlue also barely bump.

Tip #2: Make It Easier to Say “Yes” to the Bump by Clinging to Your Luggage

Checking your luggage removes some of that flexibility that’s needed for jumping at the chance for a payout by getting out.

Get in the habit of living with a carry-on bag if you’re flying with a cashing-out perspective. Of course, it’s easier to stick with this one if you’re flying on an airline that doesn’t provide a free checked bag.

Tip #3: Ask for Cash Because Cash Is Your Right

Very few airline passengers know this.

Let a woman named Allison Preiss be your inspiration for never settling for anything less than cash when you’re offered compensation from an airline.

Allison Preiss made headlines in 2018 when she was given a $10,000 voucher from United Airlines after turning down a $2,000 voucher that was offered to her after getting bumped from her flight. However, Preiss only got the $10,000 voucher because she asked for cash when she turned down the $2,000 flight voucher.

Preiss was the rare passenger who actually knew that she was entitled to ask for cash under federal law. The amount she was entitled to for this flight was around $650. Uneager to part with the cash value, United came back to her with an offer for a $10,000 travel voucher that represented the maximum payable amount under United’s compensation policy. The bottom line is that you can’t lose by asking for cash. There’s a good chance you’ll end up with a bigger voucher even if you aren’t wowed by the cash amount.

Tip #4: Relax by the Gate

Fortune favors the alert when it comes to getting bumped for money. Gate agents often make announcements for passengers willing to be voluntarily bumped once it’s determined that a flight is overbooked. You’ll only hear the offer if you’re located close enough to the gate to pay attention. Get in the habit of hanging out close enough to be seen if you want to throw your hand up to volunteer.

Tip #5: Remember That You Don’t Have to Be Sneaky About Your Intentions

There’s actually nothing stopping you from simply walking up to gate agents to let them know that you’re happy to be bumped if the need arises.

This may actually prevent the need for them to get on the microphone to open up the offer to others. While volunteering doesn’t mean your flight will actually be oversold, you can relax a bit knowing that you don’t have to be on high alert to be first in line if an announcement is made.

Tip #6: Fly at Bump-Friendly Times

When you fly can actually determine your chances of being bumped from your flight. The big bump days are holiday travel days. You can use this to your advantage if you’re flying for a casual getaway around Thanksgiving or Christmas instead of making the rush to family gatherings like 90 percent of the travelers around you.

Mondays and Fridays are also big days for getting bumped because those are big days for business travel. Travelers getting places on Mondays and Fridays may also be trying to squeeze in weekend getaways that leave no wiggle room for getting to their destinations late. That makes you a prime candidate for being the only bump-worthy passenger on a flight if you’re not eager to get back to the grind.

Lastly, once-daily and once-weekly flights without good alternatives are treasure troves for passengers wanting to get bumped.

Tip #7: Always Check Seat Availability Before Booking

If you’re flying to get bumped, this last tip is major. You can look up how full a flight is online before you book your seat. If it looks like a flight is filling up quickly, this could be a hot one to grab. You might even want to get in the habit of booking at the last minute for this reason. A flight that’s practically empty just before departure day doesn’t offer great chances for being bumped.

Final Thoughts on Getting Bumped From a Flight to Make Money

It’s important to go in with the mindset that there’s no sure thing when it comes to being asked to give up your seat. You should also remember that speaking with a gate agent once is enough. There’s no need to hover by the gate to try to get the inside scoop on overbooked flights. Gate agents have enough to worry about without managing expectations for payouts. The bottom line is that you should have fun with it. Just make sure you’re familiar with things like blackout dates and expiration dates before you agree to a new flight because there’s no “undoing the offer” once you give up your seat.

Access to thousands of airport lounges is on the table for 2021. Getting the right card in your wallet is the secret to getting your body in a plush, comfortable seat inside an airport with great runway views, hot meals, work stations, private bathrooms and much more. Which cards pull out all the stops when it comes to lounging in style for free during stopovers? As airlines vie to recapture post-pandemic travelers, the cards have definitely been shuffled around a bit since 2019. The most exciting aspect is that airlines are expanding both their lounge offerings and their lounge access. Let’s cover the best credit cards for complimentary airport lounge access in 2021!

Here’s a look at the credit cards offering the best lounge access in 2021:

• 1. The Platinum Card® from American Express: Access to the most lounges of any card! Choose from 1,200 airport lounges in 130 countries.
• 2. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Access to 1,200 VIP airport lounges around the world via free Priority Pass Select access.
• 3. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Delta SkyClub access with potential for a big status boost on your Medallion status with every purchase!
• 4. HSBC Elite Credit Card: Free and unlimited LoungeKey access with an annual fee that’s lower than other elite cards.
• 5. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Free American Airlines Admirals Club® membership with opportunities to jump to a higher status through card purchases.
• 6. Mastercard® Black Card: Automatic enrollment in Priority Pass Select for access to more than 1,300 lounges around the world.
• 7. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card: Complimentary Priority Pass Select access for entry to more than 1,200 lounges around the world when flying on any airline.
• 8. American Express Green Card: $100 LoungeBuddy Credit.
• 9. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Complimentary Priority Pass access with the bonus of complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status.
• 10. United℠ Explorer Card: Two United Club passes per year with a card that offers opportunities to earn PQPs.
• 11. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection with big potential to earn extra points and status upgrades.

The Platinum Card® From American Express

If it’s sheer volume you’re looking for, this personal credit card offers access to the largest number of airport lounges. Platinum Members enjoy totally unlimited complimentary access to Centurion Lounges with Priority Pass Lounges access. That’s a lot of luxury to be rolling your luggage into between flights! In fact, it adds up to access to 1,200 airport lounges spread across 130 countries. What’s more, AMEX is adding new lounges every year. All of that choice won’t seem overwhelming because cardholders can use the American Express app to swiftly find lounges on the go!

There’s also a really big cherry on top with this card. It is one of the rare cards to provide lounge access for a cardholder while also giving the green light for two additional guests. While most cards and lounges have been on a streak of restricting or phasing out guest perks, Platinum still rolls out a red carpet that’s big enough for two to three people every single time!

Let’s quickly cover some specifics of this card.

Yes, the limitless lounge access that goes along with this card comes with a price. The annual fee on the Platinum Card® from American Express is $695. However, a little perspective helps when justifying the decision to jump for this card. An annual Priority Pass membership costs $429. However, the AMEX Platinum is just a little more with actual AMEX-branded lounge access paired with Priority Pass membership. You’re also getting the prestige and credit boost of having this elite card.

The free lounge access is just skimming the surface of the perks offered by the AMEX Platinum. Let’s not forget that this card comes with 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels with a threshold of $500,000!

You can also make back half of your annual fee just by taking advantage of the card’s $240 digital entertainment credit that rewards you with $20 each month when you pay for select digital subscriptions using your card.

There’s also a $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 Uber cash credit, $179 CLEAR credit and $300 Equinox Credit.

Lastly, AMEX will give you an annual Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® credit. While there are simply too many perks to get into with this card, the AMEX Platinum offers dozens of “extras” that include things like upgrades to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status or Hilton Honors Gold status without qualifying stays, free flight upgrades, car rental protection, special cruise privileges and more!

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The caveat with Chase Sapphire Reserve is that you have to be looking specifically for robust Priority Pass access for this card to be worth it in terms of airport lounge access.

The Sapphire Reserve card actually mirrors many of the perks of the slightly more elite Platinum Card® from American Express for a lower annual fee of $550.

In addition, Sapphire Reserve is only slightly behind the elite AMEX card with its offering of access to 1,200 VIP airport lounges around the world via free Priority Pass Select membership. Lounge guests flashing their Sapphire membership enjoy perks like free snacks, drinks and Wi-Fi whenever they touch down! You can also bring along two guests per visit! 

Some of the other perks that pad this card include 3x points on worldwide dining and travel, 1:1 points transfers, a $300 travel credit and credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre®. There’s also a bump of 50 percent more points when redeeming airfare, car rentals, cruise reservations and hotels.

Some of the auxiliary perks of this card include $60 in DoorDash credits, a free DashPass subscription, a free year of Lyft Pink ($199 value), trip cancellation insurance, a rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel insurance and emergency medical and dental benefits. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

This card is perfect for a self-selecting group that prefers to fly with Delta. In addition to giving you free Delta SkyClub access, this card is going to catapult you to Medallion Status much faster! It’s a win-win deal.

With an annual fee of $550, this card will be a better bet for most than simply paying the $545 annual fee for Delta Sky Club membership because of all the perks and potential for earning back baked into it! In addition to complimentary Delta SkyClub access for you, this card throws in two one-time guest passes per year. While that’s not as generous as the two-guests-per-visit perk offered by both the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and AMEX Platinum, it’s still something. There’s also access to the Centurion® Lounge whenever you book flights with your card. Members with this card also get upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same level and fare class. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a nice roster of Delta-oriented perks. The big one is that you can earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases up to four times per year through the Status Boost perk. In addition, the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver waives all other requirements for Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion Status if you make at least $25,000 in purchases per year with your card. 

Purchases made on Delta flights and Delta Vacations will earn you 3x miles. Everyday purchases made with your card will earn you 1 miler per dollar with zero limits on how much you can earn.

That challenges you to reach that $30,000 annual spending threshold for your Status Boost by using your card to pay for everything from gas to groceries. Some of the additional perks built into this card include a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® credit, a baggage insurance plan, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, car rental insurance and access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline when you find yourself in a logistical or legal pinch while traveling.

HSBC Elite Credit Card

The big draw of the HSBC Elite Credit Card is free and unlimited access to LoungeKey lounges. Of course, you might not be very familiar with LoungeKey. One of the newer players in the lounge industry, LoungeKey provides lounge access at more than 1,000 locations around the world for cardholders aligned with various credit cards. Coming in with a lower-than-average annual fee of $395, the HSBC Elite Credit Card offers decent perks. The bonus breakdown for purchases made with your card breaks down to 3x travel purchase points for airfare, hotels and car rental. While you’re getting 2x dining points, it’s 1x points for all other purchases. There’s also $400 in travel credits on the table. 

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

A favorite among people who fly with American Airlines, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a free Admirals Club® membership that’s valued at $650. That’s not bad when you consider that the annual fee for this card is $450.

This next point is why this card is worth considering even if you’ve already shelled out the fee to get Admirals Club® membership. The card will actually give you a prorated refund on membership if you’re an existing Admirals Club® member. Upgrading can be a great way to maintain the membership you already love while gaining some extra perks every time you spend. 

This card provides 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. You’ll earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. You can also jet your way to elite status with American Airlines faster once you have this card in your wallet. That’s because the card gives you 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 annually. You’re getting handed an opportunity to cultivate 50,000 bonus miles. The longer list of perks offered with this card includes priority boarding, one free checked bag on domestic flights, 25 percent off airline food and beverage purchases and Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® credits.

The perks on this card are neat and easy. While Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® won’t have much value for you if you’re already invested in another airline due to years and years of loyalty, it is probably the best card for getting free lounge access every time you fly if you’re an American Airlines devotee. 

Mastercard® Black Card

Offering automatic enrollment in Priority Pass Select, the Mastercard® Black Card provides access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. If you want to bring a guest along, the fee is $32 per person.

While the Mastercard® Black Card isn’t the only card to offer free Priority Pass Select membership, it does stand out for being a card that’s geared for luxury-oriented leisure travelers while having a $495 annual fee that’s lower than many other cards.

Cardholders receive $200 in annual air travel credit that can be used for airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and other flight-based purchases. All of your credits will automatically land in your account without any maneuvers on your end.

Members also receive a $1,000 gift card for TCS World Travel jet expeditions if they spend $35,000. The other perks to go along with this card include a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ credit, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision waiver, 24/7 Mastercard Global Service, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and travel assistance. 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card

A no-brainer decision if you book stays at Marriott when flying, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card provides complimentary Priority Pass Select access for entry to more than 1,200 lounges around the world when you fly with any airline.

Also baked into this card is $300 in annual statement credits for purchases made at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

This card shines for frequent travelers by offering 6x points on hotels, 3x points on dining and 3x points on flights. There’s also a $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit. You also get one free night as a reward each year for your card anniversary. 

American Express Green Card

If you spend part of the year in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain or Switzerland, this card is designed specifically for you.

While this card does come with lounge perks, it is not a heavy hitter in terms of lounge access by any means. The American Express Green Card only offers a single $100 Lounge Buddy Credit per year. However, that could be all you need if you’re just looking for lounge access one to two times per year when you’re making a trek home.

This card also comes with 3x membership rewards at restaurants, transit and travel. There’s 1x membership reward points on all other purchases. In addition, this card comes with great classic AMEX perks like a $100 CLEAR credit, trip delay insurance, upgrades via points, car rental loss/damage insurance, baggage insurance, purchase protection and more. The annual fee on this card is just $150.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

A great card if you’ve been coveting Hilton Honors Diamond status, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card grants your wish when you sign up! Yes, this card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status.

This card also comes with Priority Pass access that opens up entry to 1,200 lounges around the globe. In addition to free entry for you, you’re getting free entry for up to two guests per lounge visit. The perks for hotel lovers keep coming with an astounding 14x points on hotels and resorts. You’re also getting 7x points on select travel and dining.

In addition, this card comes packed with credits like a $20 airline fee credit and $100 Hilton on-property credit. You’re also covered with extra cardholder perks like car rental loss and damage insurance, access to the Premium Global Assist® Hotline and a baggage insurance plan. The annual fee on this card is $250. 

United℠ Explorer Card

If you fly with United a couple times per year, this card might hit the spot. First, the disclaimer on this card is that it is not a lounge superstar by any stretch of the imagination. You’re not getting the highly generous and unlimited lounge access that’s offered by many of the elite cards on this list when you go with this card.

However, United customers who fly once or twice a year might like the added perk of getting some free lounge access on top of enjoying what is a really solid credit card. The United℠ Explorer Card comes with two one-time United Club passes per year.

While visiting a United airport lounge, you can enjoy drinks, snacks and Wi-Fi in a very posh setting. However, this card probably isn’t worth signing up for just for that perk. That’s why knowing about some of the other nice features of this card helps with making your decision.

First, you’re getting 2x points on dining, hotel stays and United purchases. All other purchases get 1x points. There’s also the perk of getting one free checked bag per trip. That adds up to about $150 saved per flight!

If you’re climbing the points ladder with United, this card offers the chance to earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) per year. Each $12,000 spent equals 500 PQPs. What makes this card really stand out is that it’s the first on the list to offer perks for no annual fee! While there’s a $0 intro annual fee for your first year of owning the card, the fee does rise to $95 per year after that.

This card also includes Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ credit.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

While personal credit cards are famed for offering better lounge access than business cards, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one card to have your eye on if you often mix business with travel. This card offers big bonuses and big rewards! Of course, the big question has to do with what it offers in terms of lounge access. This card comes with complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection. That means access to more than 1,300 beautiful lounges across more than 140 countries.

In addition to pampering you with Centurion® Lounge and International American Express Lounge access, you can also visit partner lounges operated by big names like Delta Sky Club®. 

This card comes with 5X Membership Rewards points for your flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex’s travel portal. There’s also an airline bonus of 35 percent with the potential to get up to 500,000 points back per calendar year.

Some of the other perks included with this card are a $200 airline credit fee, $179 CLEAR Credit, a credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, car rental loss insurance, a baggage insurance plan, premium car rental privileges and Premium Global Assist® Hotline access. You’re also invited to skip to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status without the need to book the number of qualifying stays needed!

Next, it’s time to get to what makes this a “business” card. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express actually rewards you for making a larger purchase by offering more points! You’re getting 1.5x points on purchases of $5,000 or more. It adds up for the potential of 1 million extra Membership Rewards® points each year! One of the priciest cards to own, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an annual fee of $595.

The official travel-booking arm of Capital One, Capital One Travel, is a portal full of flexibility, points potential and breezy bookings for cardholders.

In 2021, Capital One ensured that it would have its most exciting year ever by announcing a string of new offerings. There’s even a new 1:1 transfer tier in the mix to take loyalty to a new level!

There’s also some big news for lounge lovers that might make them consider converting over from whatever travel program they’re plugged into already.

The emerging developments with the Capital One Travel portal make it necessary to talk about the program’s long-standing setup, recent changes and the changes that are being rolled out in the months to come.

In a world of loyalty programs and booking websites, it’s time to investigate if Capital One Travel is the one.

Who is it For

First, Capital One Travel isn’t a “replacement” for Expedia, Orbitz or any other booking platforms you’ve been using to book your annual vacation. This is a program for serious spenders who do some serious spending on travel.

What’s more, the best way to really maximize your miles with this program is to take advantage of 1:1 miles transfers with partner airlines. Many of the best transfer deals are with international partners. When all is said and done, Capital One Travel if for people who trot the glob! It’s especially beneficial if you rack up tons of miles on business travel. 

The Basics of the Capital One Travel Portal

The concept behind Capital One Travel is nothing new in the credit card world.

Cardholders who sign up can reserve flights, hotel rooms and car rentals using miles, cash or a combination of miles and cash. People who use their cards the most stand to gain the most. However, where Capital One Travel stands apart is its flexibility. Let’s cover the basics of what life looks like once you’re flying, cruising and spending with Capital One.

You can book flights, hotels and car rentals using the same portal once you’re plugged into the Capital One ecosystem. However, being a Capital One Travel user hinges on the fact that you’ve already been approved for a Capital One credit card. You’ll need one of these cards to enter the Capital One Travel portal:

• Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card.
• Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card.
• Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business.
• Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business.

Owning any these cards comes with its own perks because you’re getting automatic bonuses like thousands of free miles if you spend a certain amount with the first few months of opening your card. However, the Capital One Travel portal brings the benefits to the next level by simply offering a very easy way to book your travel. It’s so easy to stay organized with your trip planning while also getting the perk of instantly applying your “free travel” in real time. No, the Capital One Travel portal isn’t really anything “brilliant” compared to most rewards sites and travel-booking platforms. However, it’s really great for what it is. 

What You’ll Really Like

Let’s start with what is probably the top reason to choose Capital One Travel over another option.

Capital One miles earned come with a fixed value.

That means you don’t constantly feel like you’re on a game show where you have to strategize to actually make your points do something for you. Capital One’s fixed-value travel miles mean that you’re never dealing with blackout dates or reward restrictions. The points you’ve earned are fully and truly yours to keep, use and enjoy! 

Yes, Capital One still has lots of catching up to do with competitors that are already firmly entrenched in the travel category. Its recent announcement about new lounges that we cover further down shows that Capital One is ready to get in the ring. While it’s still working out some kinks in terms of providing good transfer options, the strength of the Capital One Travel program rests in the strength of what you can do with your Capital One miles. Offering the ability to combine your miles transfers with fixed redemptions, Capital One Travel is worth looking at. Its increasing list of transfer partners makes this program much more attractive than it was even just a year ago.

Capital One also does something really neat with its travel miles that you don’t see a lot. Cardholders can actually redeem previous travel purchases that they’ve made within the last 90 days. Yes, that means that you can retroactively apply miles to flights, hotel rooms and general travel-related purchases. In fact, Capital One is shockingly lenient about what it will consider a travel-related purchase. If you used your Capital One card to make the purchases on the road, things like food delivery, streaming services and Uber rides can all count!

Booking Accommodations With Capital One Travel

Let’s start by talking about how you book flights. You’re simply entering your travel dates, departure destination and arrival destination to check for availability. Capital One gives you the option to search by lowest price if you prefer. Love a specific airline? Capital One will let you search by airline when displaying your results. 

The price-comparison features in the Capital One Travel portal really make you feel like you’re not getting pushed toward the most expensive option. For instance, the default is the lowest fare based on the idea that you’ll be purchasing an economy ticket. It also offers the rare perk of actually giving you a quick rundown of price difference between fares. 

Booking a hotel is equally as easy. Again, you’re just searching for available rooms based on the dates and location of your stay. This next part is where Capital One’s portal really shines as a shopper’s companion.

The platform doesn’t just display how much a room will cost you per night. It also does the math to show you the full cost of booking each room for your stay.

Next, it displays TripAdvisor ratings next to each option to help you avoid the need to leave the portal to do your “investigative” work. If you’re really serious about getting specific amenities at a hotel, Capital One gives you the option to simply turn on a filter to only see hotel rooms with specific amenities and features.

Honestly, it’s easy to forget that you’re not shopping with a “real” travel-booking website when you hunt for your hotel room with Capital One. They clearly aren’t just resting on the idea that you’re stuck in the funnel based on the fact that you want to cash in points.

Lastly, we get to car rentals. Capital One Travel starts you off by asking about where you want to pick up and drop off your rental vehicle. If you’re a visual person, you can select the option to see a list of available rental locations on a map. Everyone else can just scroll down the list that’s provided. In addition to being able to sort by lowest price, you can check off boxes to narrow your search down based on rental company, car type and car features. It’s beautifully straightforward.

Can You Book Travel Packages?

No, Capital One Travel doesn’t let you book packages.

However, there’s speculation that this is something that will be coming down the pipeline in the future as the company devotes more time and money to its travel program. This is the one area where it’s really lacking compared to options like Hotwire and Expedia.

If you use either of those third-party booking sites, you know that they often advertise amazing deals that place your whole trip just one simple click away. You also often get rock-bottom rates on last-minute getaway deals that bundle everything together with very little “planning” needed on your part. That’s something you’ll really miss if you’ve booked some little trips that ended up being some of the best experiences of your life all because you saw a hot deal come through in your email.

Does Your Elite Hotel Status Carry Over to Capital One Travel?

Here’s another category where going with Capital One Travel loses a few points. Due to the fact that it’s technically a third-party travel company, you’re not able to use your elite hotel status the way you can when you book directly with your preferred hotel. As a result, you’re losing the ability to take advantage of package deals the way you are with most third-party booking platforms while also losing the benefit of booking directly with the hotel chain you have elite status with. It’s a bit of a lose-lose situation if you happen to have status at a chain like Hilton or Marriott.

Honestly, someone who books frequent hotel stays might do better by using Google Flight Matrix to simply zone in on getting the cheapest flight that can be paired with a hotel room that’s booked directly with the hotel chain.

What’s New With the Portal in 2021

Spring of 2021 marked a big sea change for Capital One Travel. The common theme is expansion. For cardholders with the Capital® One Venture® Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Spark® Miles for Business Credit Card and Capital One Spark® Miles Select Credit Card, this is what’s coming:

• A new 1:1 transfer tier.
• Loyalty partnerships with more airlines.
• Access to new lounges.
• An updated, AI-powered booking app in partnership with Hopper.

Let’s start with that new 1:1 tier for miles transfers. What does it mean? For cardholders with Venture® and Spark® Miles cards, the living is already pretty easy with 2X miles dished out with every purchase made any day of the year. It’s about to get better. Under the updated policy, Venture® and Spark® Miles cardholders can now look forward to 2X travel loyalty points on every dollar they spend when transferring precious miles to any member on a long list of new partners.

A big piece of news for global travelers, this new 1:1 transfer ratio is good for major global brands like Avianca (LifeMiles), Etihad (Etihad Guest), Asia Miles, AeroMexico (Club Premier), Finnair (Finnair Plus) and Qantas (Qantas Frequent Flyer). In an exciting turn of events, it even applies for Wyndham Rewards.

This helps to take care of the “downside” covered earlier because it’s a nice loophole around not being able to use elite hotel points when booking through Capital One Travel due to the fact that it’s technically a third-party travel site. If you’re already a loyal Wyndham Rewards member, the news could not be bigger. 

Most of the partners on the 1:1 ratio list previously had ratios of 2 points to 1.5 points. With the new update, members are effectively getting a boost of 33 percent more miles when they choose to travel with the 1:1 partners. All of Capital One’s other hotel and airline partners will maintain their existing ratios that range from 2 points to 1.5 points to 2 points to 1 point. The way that point values and miles values work out means that these lower transfer ratios aren’t necessarily bad deals even though they don’t have the wow factor of 1:1.

New partnerships with the loyalty programs of British Airways (Avios), Choice Hotels (Choice Privileges), TAP Air Portugal (Miles&Go) and Turkish Airlines (Miles&Smiles) are making things even more exciting. If you’re already plotting some trips, here’s a glance at what ratios look like right now when you’re using hotel and airline transfer partners:

• Aeromexico Club Premier: 1:1
• Air Canada Aeroplan: 2:1.5
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 2:1.5
• Alitalia MilleMiglia: 2:1.5
• Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1
• British Airways Avios: 2:1.5
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1
• Emirates Skywards: 2:1
• Etihad Airways Guest: 1:1
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands 2:1.5
• Finnair Plus: 1:1
• JetBlue TrueBlue: 2:1.5
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 2:1
• TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go: 1:1
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: 2:1.5
• Accor Live Limitless: 2:1
• Choice Privileges: 1:1 (Pending)
• Wyndham Rewards: 1:1

The real superstars on Capital One’s list of partners are the partners that provide that 1:1 ratio while being members of major airline alliances. For instance, an airline with a 1:1 ratio like Cathay Pacific that also happens to be a member airline of OneWorld alliance opens up options for redeeming miles for flights booked with fellow OneWorld airlines like American Airlines. Similarly, a Star Alliance airline like Avianca allows you to book flights throughout the United States and Europe using sister carriers like United and Lufthansa.

How Will the Collaboration With Hopper Change Capital One Travel?

Of course, the big buzz is that Capital One is in the midst of revamping its travel portal app in collaboration with Hopper. Let’s rewind to discuss Hopper to demonstrate just how big this is for members.

Hopper is a travel-booking platform that uses data to get customers the lowest prices on flights, hotels and cars. This “smart” booking platform is also designed to help travelers make better booking decisions using data-driven insights. That means you’re more likely to get the right accommodations at the right prices if you believe Hopper’s “claim to fame” that its algorithms create a 95-percent accuracy rate for giving you the best travel choices based on your personal needs.

All of these customer-friendly perks are now coming to Capital One Travel members. In fact, Capital One has already revealed which dynamic features will be carried over once it integrates Hopper’s AI-powered tech into its own booking platform. Here’s a look:

• Price predictions.
• Price alerts.
• Dynamic pricing recommendations.
• Better integration of Capital One Travel and Capital One Rewards to make it easier to redeem rewards.
• Improved mobile app interface.
• Improved inter-app messaging and support capabilities that make it easier to change or cancel reservations.

The big takeaway is that customers are going to be able to book with more confidence. For existing customers, the temptation to “check rates” against what they can find on other platforms is likely to vanish. While it looks like lots of bells and whistles coming through, there’s really just one big point to focus on.

This new platform update that’s being done in collaboration with Hopper ultimately protects Capital One cardholders from price volatility. In an era when hotel chains and airlines are increasingly using dynamic pricing tools to adjust prices in real time based on demand, this is a big deal for giving customers peace of mind without the need to obsessively check rates before making booking decisions. 

Did Somebody Say New Capital One Travel Lounges??

Yes! Capital One is peppering its news of an expanded and redesigned Capital One Travel portal with the announcement of two new lounges in the coming months.

The first is opening at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) before the close of 2021. The second is set to open its doors at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in 2022. Designed to be state-of-the-art rest zones, both lounges will feature Wi-Fi, work spaces, private showers, luggage lockers, relaxation suites and workout rooms.

As Capital One enters the lounge arena to do battle with big names like American Express for the first time, there’s still a lot that’s not known. As of summer 2021, Capital One had not announced who would be eligible for lounge access. While all cardholders may be permitted to use the lounges, it’s possible that only elite cards will get you entry. It’s also very likely that cardholders will still need to pay to get in most of the time. The only thing that Capital One has revealed so far is that cardholders will be eligible for special entry rates based on card type. Of course, free lounge access may be a carrot that is dangled for some of the top-tier cards that charge higher annual fees. 

Tips for Using Capital One Travel to Book Trips

If you decide to jump into the Capital One Travel pipeline, it helps to know how you’ll be redeeming the miles you earn through spending for travel. Like all programs in this vein, Capital One Travel requires that you be intentional and strategic to get the best deals.

Begin by becoming familiar with the different loyalty programs you can transfer all of your points to when you want to book a trip. This isn’t as simple as just selecting an airline because it’s on the list of partners. You’ll need to look at each airline’s reward chart to see how much the value will be when you redeem your miles.

Next, search for any reward seats that might be open.

Lastly, you can transfer your Capital One points to the loyalty program you choose. Just make sure you’re verifying the price against the value of the reward miles you have to transfer. You should never transfer your miles unless you have a specific seat ready to book!

Final Thoughts

The truth is that Capital One Travel hasn’t exactly been an industry leader. While you could sometimes get the lowest price through the portal, that wasn’t something that was to always be expected.

In fact, airfare and hotel rates pretty much sat at average compared to other booking channels. However, that’s likely to change now that Capital One is revamping it usability with Hopper. As an AI-driven, predictive platform, Capital One Travel appears to be gearing up to become the savviest booking platform in terms of pricing among credit card travel portals.

The brand’s decision to ramp up partnerships really makes this a great time to hop on if you’ve been looking for a dedicated travel portal where you can easily comparison shop while easily applying your miles.

The overall consensus is that Capital One Travel is a decent product that’s rapidly getting better.

Getting super-cheap flights isn’t the only reason to stay loyal to Southwest. Home to the Rapid Rewards program, this budget airline has poured a lot into its suite of personal and business credit cards. Tens of thousands of reward points are on the table right now as part of a specific limited-time offer if you have the credit score and income in place to get approved. We’ll get to the details on that in just a minute. 

Southwest is one of the better rewards platforms out there to tie your sails to for a number of reasons. First, it’s the only program that offers unlimited reward seats that are totally unfettered. You’re not dealing with things like blackout dates and expiration deadlines for your points. There’s also tons of built-in ways to save when you make Southwest your go-to airline for earning points. Just the fact alone that your bags fly free with Southwest by default means that you don’t have to worry about applying any of your hard-earned rewards to luggage when you could be scooping up choice seats instead. Southwest also doesn’t ding you with change fees. The point being made here is simply that Southwest really makes you feel like you can dig into your rewards without tons of restrictions and red tape. Next, take a look at how you can get 65,000 to 80,000 free points if you can qualify for a Southwest Rapid Rewards card this summer.

Currently, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card are all wagging 65,000 bonus points at you if you sign up today. The points are yours as long as you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. With the Rapid Rewards points “exchange value” hovering somewhere around 1.3 cents to 1.65 cents, that’s about $1,000 in free travel. 

Let’s take a minute to break down what this sign-on bonus is really serving up before covering what you’ll need as far as credit score and income to qualify. It helps know what all of the cards that are covered in the promotion actually offer when you break down rewards versus annual fees. The good news here is that this offer covers cards that really work for people at all tiers of travel frequency. If you have what it takes to qualify combined with a need to fly frequently, you can make out really nicely with these perks-packed cards. We’ll go from least elite to most elite to help you get an idea of what you can get.

While the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card does come with an annual fee of $69, you’ll make that back many times over if you can get to that spending threshold of $2,000 in the first three months. With that breakdown working out to just over $650 in spending per month, most people are going to hit the mark to be qualified without even trying. These bonus points aren’t the only things that make this card enticing. Don’t forget that you’ll be getting 3,000 anniversary points automatically for every year that you own the card. You’re also getting two points per $1 on all direct-to-airline Southwest Airlines purchases. That two-points-per-dollar policy also applies when you make hotel and car rental partner purchases. While you’re not getting perks like 20 percent cash back on all in-flight purchases, four upgraded boardings per year, 1,500 tier-qualifying points and the 7,500 anniversary points offered by the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card card, this is a really great card with a low annual free for someone who isn’t necessarily a “super traveler.”

Before you have to worry about jumping to the Southwest Priority card that has the toughest approval requirements among the personal cards offered by the airline, you can consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card card that offers 6,000 bonus points on your anniversary with an annual fee of $99. If you want to jump to 7,500 anniversary points, $75 in travel credits, boarding upgrades and 20 percent back on in-flight purchases, the Priority card with an annual fee of $149 is still the very obvious elite choice. This is also the card to have your eye on if you want to earn the Southwest Companion Pass faster. 

For business owners, Southwest is currently offering 80,000 points if you sign up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards business credit card as long as you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first three months. While those extra 15,000 points are enticing, keep in mind that you’re dealing with a spending threshold that’s a full $2,000 more. While that shouldn’t be tough if you’re doing business spending on your card, you should also know that the annual fee jumps up to between $99 and $199 with business cards even though you’re only getting around $250 more in rewards. While it’s a little tight, this is still going to be the better deal for some people because business cards go heavy on annual perks. 

Southwest’s most elite business card, the Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa, throws 9,000 points at you every year on your cardmember anniversary. You’re also getting three times the points for every $1 you spend on Southwest purchases. Designed specifically with business owners in mind, this card also serves up two points for every dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising, cable and phone services. Every other purchase is matched with one point for each $1 you spend. This card also comes with a bunch of flyer perks like Wi-Fi credits, upgraded boarding and tier-qualifying credits. If you don’t qualify for the top-tier business card, Southwest also has another business card called the Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa that’s a little easier to qualify for today.

How to Determine the Credit Score Needed for a Southwest Card

While Southwest doesn’t publish its formula for determining who qualifies for Southwest-branded credit cards, there are a few open secrets regarding how the company qualifies cardholders. First, you should know that there’s more scrutiny as you move up to the elite cards. If your credit is a little shaky, you may still be able to get your hands on one of the basic cards in the Southwest roster. However, you also have to be prepared to appeal for manual approval to “make your case” if you don’t get approved automatically. 

Credit Range Required for Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

As a rule, Southwest only automatically approves card applicants with credit scores in the “good” range for its basic cards. That means that going in with a credit score between 700 and 850 is ideal. While there may be some wiggle room below 700 if you only need a basic card, you’ll need to hit 600 at the minimum. Once you’re going for the premium cards in the Southwest lineup, the threshold where people seem to be getting approved smoothly is around 740.

Income Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

Again, Southwest doesn’t post any requirements for income. Like most credit cards, Southwest cards use an approval process based on the CARD Act that requires credit card companies to ensure that applicants have the monthly income needed to make monthly payments without necessarily setting a specific minimum requirement for income. That means that Southwest is mostly concerned with your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio when approving you for a credit card. Your DTI is actually what any lender is looking at whenever you apply for a loan, mortgage or some type of financing product. 

DTI is a percentage expressing how much of the gross monthly income that you’re taking in goes toward paying down debt. A person with a higher income can have a much higher DTI than a person with a lower income. This is why there’s no “clear” answer about income requirements. While making six figures is going to put you in a better spot to qualify for a Southwest card than someone making $50,000, your DTI can skew things away from your favor.

In the mortgage world, lenders probably aren’t going to give you a loan if your DTI is up above 43 percent. Where it gets tricky is that there’s no standard in the credit card world. While we know that credit card companies like a lower DTI, we don’t exactly know what number they use for cutting applicants off. However, we do know that the Federal Reserve’s standards see anything above 40 percent as being a sign of stress. The Federal Reserve considers a DTI of 20 percent to be good. It’s estimated that credit cards are generally happy with applicants with DTIs of 30 percent. You can figure out your own personal DTI right now by dividing your total monthly debt by your total monthly gross income. 

Keep in mind that income isn’t just “wages” when you’re talking about credit card applications. In addition to personal income, you can submit information regarding gifts, allowances, Social Security benefits, trust distributions, scholarships and grants to boost your income. The income of a spouse or partner can also be included. 

The Chase 5/24 Rule

Before dipping your toe into the Southwest family of credit cards, you need to know about the Chase 5/24 rule. This infamous rule that is technically “off the record” is one of the biggest determining factors regarding whether or not you’ll get a credit card. It’s known that Southwest credit cards are subject to the 5/24 rule. 

The gist of the 5/24 rule is that you’ll be automatically denied for a new Chase credit card if you’ve already been approved for five credit cards within the last 24 months. That means that opening five cards or more in two years will get you cut off from new cards that come with tons of shiny perks. The reason why Chase does this is simply to knock out the “churn” problem that is so common when cards offer perks and rewards. Customers will often try to legally “scam” the system by opening tons of new credit cards with generous sign-on bonuses before closing them before the next annual fee is due. While most credit card companies don’t want to discourage people from opening multiple cards, the policy of no more than five cards every two years is in place to prevent excessive activity with opening and closing accounts. This makes searching for the right card with the right perks even more important because you don’t want to waste one of your approvals on a card that won’t serve you as well as another card.

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Visa

Let’s talk about what you need for a credit score for the baseline Rapid Rewards card. While this is a great card for someone who travels here and there, it is by no means a powerhouse travel credit card. It offers some great everyday perks that definitely make it worth considering. While you may be interested in this card if you’re only a light traveler, it’s also a good card to consider if you’re a heavy traveler without the credit score to qualify for a more elite card within the Southwest roster. The two points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases combined with one point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases will make this a great option for everyday purchases with a travel slant even though you’re not getting the cash back and travel credits packed into the other credit cards. Keep in mind that this card is the only one in the Southwest roster of personal cards to not waive foreign transaction fees.

Generally, you’ll need to be up over 600 with your credit score to even be considered for this card. Getting to the 650 range is better for an automatic approval. If you get denied with a credit score below 650, you can appeal to have your application manually approved if you’re convinced that your income and DTI will be enough to get you over the line. 

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Visa

If you want 7,500 anniversary points, $75 in Southwest annual travel credits, four seat upgrades per year and 20 percent back on all in-flight drink and Wi-Fi purchases, be prepared to show up with a higher credit score. Considered the elite card in the lineup, the Priority card from Southwest typically requires a credit score of 700 and above. While there may be some leeway if you’re up near 680 or 690, be prepared to make a case with a very high income and low DTI if you appeal your denial because you’re below 700. This is a great card for someone who travels with Southwest frequently. The 20 percent back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi is a really good catch. This is also the only card of the three to offer upgraded boardings simply because you happen to own the card. You don’t have to reach any minimum balance to get these four free boarding upgrades. It’s also the only card of the three to give an annual travel credit. Your purchases with this card also set you up for tier-qualifying travel credits. While this card comes with an annual fee of $149, the perks built into the card will more than pay for the annual fee if you travel just a handful of times in a year.

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa

A great pick if you have a small business that sees you boarding Southwest flights a few times per year, the Premier card gives you 6,000 bonus anniversary points each year on a card with an annual fee of just $99. We can see some pretty big overlaps between what this card offers and what the cards in Southwest’s personal lineup offer. The biggest similarity is that you’re getting two times the points on Southwest purchases with that consistent matching of one point for every dollar on everyday purchases. 

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Visa

A credit score of 700 to 850 is recommended when applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa. Ideal for small-business owners who make frequent trips with Southwest, this card offers a smart way to earn points and perks without a big investment. It offers quite an upgrade from the already impressive Premier business card. Just keep in mind that it comes with an annual fee of $199 that’s essentially double the annual fee of its “younger sibling.”

The 9,000 anniversary points given every year really put a bow on this card. This card also brings things up to the next level from the personal cards because it allows you to earn three points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases instead of just two. It also gives you a special category for earning two points for every $1 spent when you make purchases for social media, advertising and more using your card. That all comes on top of the one point for each $1 spent that you get for all purchases. The reason why this is a top business card for anyone who books flights frequently with Southwest is that it packs in tons of traveler perks that will only be appreciated if you actually fly with this card. Business owners who don’t fly often probably won’t appreciate these ultra-specific perks. The first notable perk is that you can earn up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits per year. The second is that you get Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ credits totaling up to $100 every four years. You’re also getting four boarding upgrades per year like you get with the Priority personal credit card.

Final Thoughts on Credit Scores Needed for Southwest Credit Cards

The big thing to remember is that required credit scores are only recommendations. Like all credit card brands, Southwest doesn’t publish or publicize its minimum requirements to qualify for cards. There’s no doubt that the company uses complicated formulas to identify low-risk and high-risk cardholders. However, we don’t know the specific cutting-off points used by the company when determining who can qualify. This is why you’ll see outliers discussing how they were approved for a credit card with a credit score below 600 even though it’s thought to be “impossible” to get a card with a score that low. In these cases, Southwest may be approving a person because they happen to have a very strong income.

What is the big takeaway when figuring out the credit score needed to be approved for a Southwest personal or business credit card? Generally, you won’t be approved for any cards in the Southwest roster without a credit score of at least 600. As you move up to the more elite cards, 700 becomes the assumed minimum. Southwest’s business cards also tend to prefer applicants in the range of 690 to 850. 

If you get denied for a Southwest credit card when you apply online, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. You can contact customer service to ask to have your application manually reviewed by someone. While this isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get your application approved once someone gives it a second glance, this can be an option if you have a high income with low a DTI even if your credit score is lagging just slightly. 

What should you do if you want to sign up for one of these cards? First, check your credit score to see where you stand. This is going to help you avoid any unnecessary pulls that are going to be done when you apply for cards that are “out of your league.” Once you’ve decided that you definitely want to get your first Southwest card, sign up for the Rapid Rewards program if you’re not already enrolled. This is actually the program you’ll be using to redeem the travel perks and rewards you earn with your Southwest credit card.