Will Southwest Become More Travelers’ Preferred Choice for Credit Card Airline Incidental Reimbursements?

Southwest Airlines unpacked the big news last week that it will soon end its signature “Bags Fly Free” policy. Customers — with a few exceptions — will pay for each and every checked bag.

That got me thinking: could it now be worth selecting Southwest as your preferred carrier for incidental statement credits?

$200 Airline Incidental Reimbursement

Holders of two classic travel rewards cards can earn up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year for eligible incidental purchases.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (and their cobranded corporate versions) members may select one eligible airline each year. Certain charges made to their cards will be reimbursed in the form of statement credits.

Eligible airlines include:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Spirit Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

Per Amex, the below charges should credit back:

• Airline fee charge billed after airline selection
• Airport lounge day passes and annual memberships
• Change fees
• Checked baggage fees
• Early check-in fees
• In-flight amenity fees (beverages, food, pillows/blankets, and so on)
• In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless Internet)
• Overweight/oversize baggage fees
• Pet flight fees
• Phone reservation fees
• Seat assignment fees
• Unaccompanied minor fees

Here’s what is explicitly prohibited:

• Airline tickets
• Award tickets
• Duty–free purchases
• Gift cards
• Mileage points purchases
• Mileage points transfer fees
• Upgrades

Card members also earn applicable Membership Rewards points for their purchase. (The Amex Platinum is particularly generous here, as it earns 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). In my experience, most charges made directly with any airlines — not just flights booked — earn the 5X.

Great. What’s the Big Whoop About Southwest and the Amex Platinums?

Checked bag fees are a big sell for recouping the $200 airline incidental credit (assuming you don’t have an airline’s cobranded credit card and/or elite status).

Southwest, of course, famously waived fees on passengers’ first and second checked bags. (Flights booked on or after May 27, 2025, will be subject to the new rules.) Southwest doesn’t offer premium food or amenities on board. Their wireless internet isn’t an eligible charge. They have open seating (for now). There aren’t any Southwest Airlines airport club lounges.

The only major reasons you’d choose Southwest as your Platinum card’s airline is for purchases of Early Bird check-in or (many, many) adult beverages.

I never met anyone who picked Southwest for their $200 reimbursement. I’d snicker when I saw Southwest offered as an eligible airline.

But it’ll soon make sense.

We know Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card holders (and up to eight others on their reservation) will get one free checked bag. So, a Platinum Card’s reimbursement credit could be handy there.

Plus, Southwest is moving from open seating to an assigned seating model featuring extra-legroom seats for an additional cost. (Again, we don’t know when. It’s simply been announced.) Who knows if an “upgrade” will code as a seat assignment fee?

Plenty of airports have Southwest Airlines and lounges that Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardholders can access, too, via Centurion Lounges, Escape Suites, or Priority Pass Select. Las Vegas, JFK, Chicago Midway, Oakland, and Los Angeles instantly coming to mind.

Could the Amex Platinum make sense for Southwest flyers?

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.