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London Underground Tickets & Travelcards

The Travelcard is a transport pass for London that gives you unlimited travel in London within certain zones . The prices vary according to the number of zones you need to travel through. Central London is in zone 1.

Travelcards are valid for 1 day, 7 days, 1 month or 1 year.

The passes are valid for travel on all types of transport in London including:

• the Underground (the tube)
• the local suburban trains within London
• the Elizabeth Line (not west of West Drayton)
• the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
• the London Overground
• the buses all over London. A Travelcard for any zone allows you to use the buses in all zones (zones 1-6)

The 3 Day Travelcard, weekend Travelcard, Zone 1-2 & 2-6 One Day Travelcards are no longer available.

Visiting London for 1-7 days? See our guide to London’s transport tickets & passes . The Travelcard may not be the best ticket for your stay.

Single Underground Tickets

Single paper tickets on the London underground are expensive if you buy them from a tube station ticket machine:

• £6.70 for one journey in zone 1 (central London) and between zone 1 and zones 2 to 6
• See single ticket prices for all zones .

One Day Travelcards: 2024 prices

Using a Pay as you go Oyster card or a contactless card are the cheapest ways to pay for travel if you’re in London for 1-5 days. The daily cap is £8.50 per day for zones 1-2

If you really don’t want to use an Oyster card or don’t have a contactless card, the One Day Travelcard is the next best money-saving pass.

The paper Off peak One Day Travelcard for zone 1-6 is  £15.90. This is expensive, but still cheaper than paying the full cash fare for 3 underground trips in central London (3 x £6.70 = £20.10 ).

One Day Travelcard fares from 3 March 2024

Peak v anytime travelcards.

One Day Travelcard prices are different if you travel during peak or off-peak times:

Anytime Travelcard Valid for travel at anytime. Off-Peak Travelcard For travel after 9.30am Monday–Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

Top Tip: An Off-Peak One Day Travelcard for zones 1–6 costs  £10.40 with a Railcard .

Weekly Travelcards: 2024 prices

If you stay in London for 6–7 days and use the underground, trains, and buses every day, the weekly Travelcard is the most cost-effective travel pass.

The one-week pass including central London (zones 1-2) is  £42.70.

• It can start on any day of the week
• It’s valid for travel at anytime; there is no peak or off-peak rate.

Most places sell weekly Travelcards loaded onto a plastic Oyster card. There’s a £7 fee for the Oyster card.

Your fare on an Oyster card will automatically cap at the weekly Travelcard fare (this is already available on contactless cards). The cap starts on Monday and ends Sunday, so it mainly benefits Londoners or those working in London.

Weekly Travelcard fares from 3 March 2024

• See weekly Travelcards prices for all other zones (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Monthly Travelcards: 2024 prices

For longer stays in London, monthly Travelcards are available. You won’t save much compared to buying 4 x weekly Travelcards – but you’ll save time renewing it. Like the weekly Travelcard, it can start on any day of the week and is valid for travel at any time. See monthly Travelcard prices for all other zones (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Monthly Travelcards from 3 March 2024

Where to buy travelcards.

One day, weekly and monthly Travelcards are available from:

Underground stations

Travelcards are available from all underground station ticket machines (there are no longer any underground tickets offices). The busier stations in central London have staff to help you use the machines.

Local shops and newsagents

Travelcards are also available from Oyster ticket stops . These are newsagents and local shops licensed to sell London transport tickets and Oyster cards. One Day Travelcards are not available from Oyster ticket stops.

London train stations

One Day Travelcards are available from all London train station ticket offices and ticket macines. Paper weekly and monthly Travelcards are no longer available from train stations . They are available to buy, but they are loaded onto an Oyster card and may only be available from ticket machines, not ticket offices.

London Transport Visitor Centres

TfL Visitor Centres at Victoria train station, Kings Cross/St Pancras International station, Heathrow Terminal 2 & 3 tube staion, Liverpool St station & Piccadilly Circus tube station.

How to use a Travelcard

On the underground.

If you have a paper One Day Travelcard or single ticket from a ticket machine, insert the card into the slot on the front of the ticket barrier. The barrier opens when you take the ticket from behind the yellow reader, on the top.

If you have a paper One Day Travelcard, just show it to the driver when boarding the bus.

See How to use an Oyster card if you have a weekly Travelcard on an Oyster card.

Top Tip: Do you want a cheaper way to travel around central London? If you only travel by bus , it costs £5.25 per day or £24.70 per week.

Related pages

• Guide to London’s transport tickets
• Weekly and monthly Travelcards for zones 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
• Oyster card
• How to use a contactless card to pay for transport
• Bus tickets & passes
• London Transport zones

Last updated: 22 February 2024

Transport tickets & passes

• Guide to London's transport tickets
• One day & weekly Travelcards
• Zone 2–6 weekly Travelcards
• Bus tickets & passes
• Oyster single tickets
• Oyster card refunds
• Contactless cards
• Child tickets & passes
• Local train tickets

Useful information

• Plan your journey
• London transport zones

Popular pages

• Left luggage offices
• Congestion Charge
• 2 for 1 discounts at London attractions
• Oyster cards
• Top free museums & galleries
• Cheap eating tips
• Heathrow to London by underground

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Pass Description:   Staying in the South East or just wanting to day trip out of London?...then the London Plus Pass is for you!

Valid to travel on rail services in the South East of England the BritRail London Plus pass is ideal for short journeys outside of London, this pass covers more than you might think including boundaries up to Stratford-Upon-Avon and Bath and also includes the London Overground network too.

Class of travel : First (1st) and Standard (2nd) class passes available

Discounts :  Child (plus any promotional offer that might occur on this pass)

Validity : Flexible – 3 Day, 4 Day, 8 Day (within 1 month)

Boundaries : Harwich, Kings Lynn, Huntingdon, Bedford, Long Buckby, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester Foregate, Bedwyn, Salisbury, Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth

Exclusions : BritRail Passes are valid for travel on all National Rail services. However, some exclusions do apply: 

BritRail London Plus Passes are not valid on Eurostar services, road links between airport and railway stations, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Tram lonks, privately owned railways, steam services, London Underground trains and buses, boats, hovercraft, nor any other services that are not run by National Rail.

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London Pass + Visitor Oyster Card

The London Pass does not entitle you to free use of public transport. But you can book a Visitor Oyster Card at the Visit Britain Shop, which allows you to use all public transport in London. This includes the London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway, River Boats and local trains.

Instead of paying in full for each journey, your Oyster Card is loaded with credit which should be sufficient for your journey to London if you travel in the city centre (zones 1 + 2).

You can set the amount of credit yourself (£10 - £50). When you order the Oyster Card, you pay for the credit and an activation fee.

A portion of the credit is deducted for each trip, but there is a daily limit, which is usually reached after the third trip. Further journeys on the same day are then free of charge. When the credit is used up, you can top it up at a ticket machine.

If you want to order the Oyster Card by post, you must do so at least two weeks before your trip.

Here writes: Patrick

Patrick has visited various metropolises such as Rome, Paris, Barcelona and London. He has been writing about city passes since 2018. Here, the author focuses on the most important London City Passes. His aim is to provide balanced and up-to-date information.

Explore London with a Visitor Oyster card

The Visitor Oyster card is your ticket to exploring the city and covers all your transport needs. It’s simple, easy to use, and activates upon entry at any ticket barrier. Just tap in on the circular yellow card reader and tap out again when you finish your journey.  

What are the perks of purchasing a Visitor Oyster card?

You'll have access to all London transport networks.

       ✔ London Underground (Tube)        ✔ Buses        ✔ Docklands Light Rail        ✔ Overground Trains        ✔ River Boat         ✔ Elizabeth Line

You can travel at any time of day, on any day of the week, around Central London.

It's the cheapest and most flexible travel around the city.

It saves the hassle of buying daily tickets: the Visitor Oyster card is your all-inclusive travel card.

You won’t be charged after your first three journeys thanks to its daily cap. 

Please note: children under 11 years of age can travel for free on London Transport with an adult holding a valid Visitor Oyster card.

Using your Visitor Oyster Card

The Visitor Oyster card is not stamped with a start or expiry date which means you can start using it whenever you want and any remaining credit can be used during any future trips to London. You can also easily top it up with cash or card at any TFL ticket counter.

Download the London Underground map

Plan your London tube journey in advance with a handy  London Underground map.

How much is a Travelcard?

A Visitor Oyster Card costs £5. You can then pre-load the card with pay-as-you-go credit, in quantities of £10, £15, £25, £40 or £50.

The Visitor Oyster card is the cheapest way of getting around London as the maximum daily charges mean you travel free after you reach the 'daily cap'.  

London Travel Zones

While London has a total of 9 zones expanding outwards from its center, most attractions on The London Pass can be found in  Zones 1–3 . The more zones you travel through, the more money is likely to be deducted from your Oyster credit. If you prefer a time based card, check out the  travel card prices . It's a good idea to check what zones you plan to travel between before you set off exploring.  Check out this handy tool here . Some visitors prefer to just be taken around. That's where our  Hop on Hop off Big Bus or Golden Tours  offer comes in handy.  

Visitor Oyster card FAQs

Below is an example itinerary of where you could go with your credit while visiting the wide range of London attractions included in The London Pass®.

Day 1: Zones: 1 – 2 Stay within central London for your first day and visit  Tower of London ,  Tower Bridge  and  Westminster Abbey  to discover the rich history and heritage of the capital. Then hop on a  River Cruise  at the end of the day to watch the sun go down from the Thames.

Day 2: Zones: 1 – 6 Travel further afield to the sprawling estate of  Hampton Court Palace , the former home of King Henry VIII. See the huge Tudor Kitchens, impressive gardens and maze and learn about the fascinating history of the British Royal Family between the 14th-18th centuries.

Day 3: Zones: 1 – 2 Spend the morning in the picturesque Royal Borough of Greenwich visiting the  Royal Observatory  and  Cutty Sark  before heading back into central London to see more royal attractions –  Kensington Palace .

Even in just three days you can travel across all of London's main zones and visit an impressive eight top London attractions. Thanks to the daily caps, your Visitor Oyster card will save you money.

If you need to add more credit to your Visitor Oyster card you can simply 'top up' at one of the machines in the stations, or by going to one of the Transport for London ticket desks. Any credit you don’t use can be kept on the Visitor Oyster card for use at a later date. If you want to claim a refund on any unused credit, visit a Transport for London ticket desk.

London’s transport network is broken into nine main zones, and each zone has a separate charge rate. But no matter which zone you travel across, any journeys after your third journey that day will not be charged – helping your credit last even longer.

Over 40 attractions included in the London Pass are in Central London Zone 1-2 but the Visitor Oyster card is valid to use across all London Zones 1-9.

This includes travel to and from Heathrow Airport and London City Airport. If you have chosen to get your Visitor Oyster card sent out to you before you arrive, you can use it to get into London.

Travel to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted Airports is not included.

Travelcard prices

View a price breakdown for the Visitor Oyster card per London Pass duration. Learn more

London transport zones

Plan ahead and determine which zones you'll need to visit. Plan your trip

Buy with confidence

Free cancellation.

Plans can change, we get it. All non-activated credits packages are eligible for a refund within 90 days of your purchase date.

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London Travelcard prices for public transport pass in 2024

Transport pass for 1 day, 7 days, 1 month or much longer for buses, trains & underground.

The London Travelcard is the original pass for public transport in London. It is very simple to understand. You pay up front for a ticket which gives you unlimited rides for a stated number of calendar days. These days are consecutive, the pass ends 7 days after the first journey.

You can currently buy Travelcards for periods of 1 day, 7 days, 1 month or 1 year.

Unless you are going to make just one single journey on public transport in London then you should really be looking to either purchase an Oyster card , contactless payment card or a London Travelcard transport pass, and not pay for single tickets.

For example, paying cash for a single Underground journey in central London is more than double the price of the same journey with an Oyster Card.

Where can you use Travelcards   Fare zones   Peak & off-peak   Where to buy   Prices 2024   Benefits   Concessions   Child fares   Groups

Where you can use a Travelcard

The Travelcard pass covers:

- The London Underground network

- The London red local bus network

- The railway network in Greater London

- Docklands Light Railway, TFL Railway and Overground Railway

- 33% discount on many scheduled river services .

You cannot use your Travelcard on the Heathrow Express train as the group are not part of the Transport for London network.

You can use your Travelcard on the London Underground, TFL Rail Heathrow and London red bus services from Heathrow.

Other airports

Gatwick, Southend, Stansted and Luton airports are outside London beyond the scope of London public transport so the buses and trains from these airports are not covered by Travelcard (though you can use Oyster cards from Gatwick & on Heathrow Express. City Airport is serviced by the Docklands Light railway (DLR) and is covered.

The London public transport system is divided up into zones that radiate from the centre. Nearly all the hotels and the main sights are in Zone 1.

Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 and the furthest zone out is Zone 9.

For the vast majority of visitors you will only travel in the two most central zones 1 and 2. The Underground map (link below) has the stations and their zones marked.

Some stations like Turnham Green are in two zones. You use whichever zone for these stations is most beneficial in working out your fare.

Although with a Travelcard you have unlimited journeys for a flat fee, the price you pay for your Travelcard is determined by the fare zones you want to travel in. The more fare zones you want covered, the more expensive the Travelcard.

London's red buses do not have zones. In fact with a Travelcard if you have a Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 you can travel in all the other zones as well using London's red buses.

London Underground Map & Rail Network Map with price zones (PDF)

Use our links below to see the London price zone maps for both the Underground and Rail network. You will be able to clearly see the zones marked across the map and then look where your station of interest sits within which zone. This is an easy way to work out the potential price of travel in London, by looking at the places you want to visit and seeing which London zone they sit within.

Most major attractions sit within zone 1-2 but there are other attractions further out from central London you may want to visit, as an example Hampton Court (zone 6) or Wimbledon (zone 3).

Peak & off peak travel for 1-day Travelcards

A 1 day Travelcard comes in a choice of peak and off peak variants, the price differential is substantial.

The peak travel period is if you travel between 4.30am and 9.29am Monday to Friday.

For a 1 day Travelcard only, if you want to travel during this time you need to purchase the 'Peak' period 1 day Travelcard product, otherwise the much cheaper off peak Travelcard will do.

Note: For 1 day, an Oyster card is often much cheaper than a 1 day Travelcard, never more expensive.

Travelcards for 7 days or longer are valid at all times.

Travelcards are valid for calendar days, not 24 hours from when you first use. However you can use your Travelcard the day after the last day if your journey departs before 4.30am.

Where you buy, photo ID & varying formats of Travelcards

If you buy Travelcards from a railway ticket office (not Underground) they come on card and will have a rail logo on (just like the image at the top of the page). If you buy a 7 Day Travelcard (child or adult) or a longer duration Travelcard you will need a rail photocard. This is made up on the spot and is free of charge, but you have to bring your own passport size photo. You cannot use the rail photocard as ID at non-rail ticket outlets.

If you buy Travelcards in advance online from TfL (see banner link below) the Travelcards also come as card tickets but you do not need photo ID both for children and adults.

If you buy Travelcards from anywhere else, including Underground and DLR stations, 1 day Travelcards come on a card, but all other Travelcards come loaded on an Oyster card. Children between 11 and 17 years require an Oyster ID Photocard to buy Travelcards at concession fare rates for 7 day durations or longer. Adults do not need photo ID.

Best place to buy Travelcards

The most convenient place to buy Travelcards for visitors are Underground stations, including Heathrow Airport. You can pay cash or credit card.

However there are no longer manned ticket offices at Underground and DLR stations. You have to buy from a ticket machine.

If you prefer a person to serve you there are also many Oyster Ticket Stops all over London in neighbourhood stores, newsagents etc that display a sign in their window or stations run by the railways (not the London Overground, Underground or TFL Rail Stations).

If you feel nervous purchasing a public transport pass from a ticket machine after entering a strange country, you can buy Travelcards online from TfL (see link below) and have them delivered to your home address internationally.

BUY VISITOR OYSTER CARD & TRAVELCARD FOR LONDON

Visiting London? Save time and money on London public transport

• Visitor Oyster Card • Travelcard for 1 day anytime / off-peak or 7 days anytime • Group day travelcards available

London Travelcard Prices until March 2024

London travelcard vs oystercard - what is the difference.

Travelcards are a flat rate travel pass where you have unlimited rides in the selected zones for the time period purchased. You can use your travelcard across the London Network (with a few exceptions), so the travelcard covers your complete travel for a set time period and for a set fee paid up front.

Oyster / Contactless payment cards are charged on a per journey basis but there is a daily maximum you can be charged. This is called the price cap. Once you hit this 'price cap' through all the individual fares adding up, you are no longer charged for any subsequent journeys made that day.

A good example is the daily Oyster/Contactless payment cards price cap is less than the cost of a 1 day Travelcard, so travel over one day is cheaper. Over longer periods Travelcards can work out cheaper depending on your travel. For instance a 7 Day Travelcard is less expensive than an Oyster or Contactless payment card if you travel 3 or more times each day for 6 days or more in a 7 day calendar period.

This is a detailed area and can be confusing, so we created a dedicated page Comparing Travelcards and Oystercards , this page looks in detail at the difference between a travelcard, Oystercard and contactless payment cards to help you find the best fit for your visit.

Benefits of using Travelcards with Oyster card

Most visitors will just travel in the central zones 1 and 2. If you are staying more than 5 days in Central London then a 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 is probably going to be cheaper than just an Oyster card. However a Travelcard on its own with fixed travel zones is not very flexible for the occasional trip outside these zones.

7 day Travelcards can be loaded onto your Oyster card and be used in combination with Oyster on a Pay As You Go basis for a single journey.

Note this flexibility is not available on Visitors Oyster cards or contactless payment cards and is not available for Travelcards purchased from railway stations and online.

A typical example is someone arriving and departing at Heathrow Airport in zone 6 and spending say 6 days in the centre of London (zones 1-2) before flying out.

By purchasing an Oyster card at Heathrow Airport Underground Station and buying a 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 (electronically loaded onto the Oyster by the ticket machine) plus a minimal amount of Oyster cash both Oyster card and Travelcard will will work seamlessly together.

The 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 will cover all travel in the central zones 1 and 2. Then on the Underground airport transfer journeys the Travelcard still covers the section of the journey in zones 1 and 2 but the Oyster will kick in automatically to cover the section of the journey in zones 3 to 6 at the lowest cost using the cash on the Oyster. You do not physically have to do anything it is all automatic.

Similarly, if you are staying in London for 9 days you might buy an Oyster card and use it on a PAYG basis for 2 days and have a 7 day Travelcard loaded and use that for the remaining 7 days.

Seniors concessions

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are of pensionable age you can get a Freedom pass giving free travel. If you are 60+ and live in London the Seniors Oyster ID Card that makes free bus travel available. You can apply online or get a form from your local Post Office.

Anybody with an English National Concessionary bus pass can use that on London's red buses too and travel free of charge.

If you have a railways Seniors Railcard you can get your 1/3 discount on off-peak Oyster fares. You have to ask a member of staff to load the concession onto a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitors Oysters card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a railways Seniors Railcard you can also buy 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcards at with the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a very complex subject and is covered in detail in the table below.

In crude terms a child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

Children under 11 can travel free on the London Underground, DLR and buses without a ticket. If a child is between 11 and 15 years old you require an Oyster 11-15 Photocard (which has a fee see below). This allows 11 to 15 year olds to travel at child fares on the Underground, DLR, Overground and some trains, free on the buses.

A child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

You can only buy child Travelcards on-demand universally for 1 day Travelcards. You cannot load child Travelcards onto an Oyster without an Oyster ID card. You can buy 7 day child Travelcards at the Visit Britain online shop, TFL's online shop , and at railway stations (who require a passport photo).

If you are a short term visitor (in London for up to 14 days) with kids between 11-15 you can take advantage of the Young Visitor Discount. This means you can get half price fares on an Oyster card on a temporary basis for your child without going through the hoops and expense of getting an Oyster ID card. You do need to read carefully the rules of this scheme though.

Children's Fare Concessions

Group tickets - 1-day group travelcard for groups of 10 or more.

This in scope is the same as a 1-day off-peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 and 1-9 providing unlimited travel on all services after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

The pricing is particularly attractive if you have kids in the group and those staying in one of the outer zones, however if you are staying in the centre of London zones 1 to 3 it will be cheaper to purchase individual Oyster cards.

If you are a group of 10 or more then do check out this product. Click through on the blog link right for more details.

Qualifying for the Railways 2 for 1 promotion by using Travelcards

The railways sponsor a hugely popular and long running promotion that allows those people using the train to visit leading attractions to get two people admitted for the price of one.

When visiting London you can you can get 2 for 1 admission to many of London's major sights including the Tower of London. The full list is very long and covers all of Great Britain. If you have train tickets to London and you are doing some sightseeing its a very worthwhile promotion to look into.

If, like many visitors, you are not using the national train services to get to London but are using a Travelcard to ride the London Underground to get around then there is a loophole in the scheme whereby if you buy your Travelcard from a railway station ticket office you qualify for the 2 for 1 promotion. There are a few further hoops to jump through, but the rewards can be significant, so its worth checking out.

Railways 2 for 1 promotion more details

Using your travelcard to gain access to trains

To gain access to the trains of all types, and again to exit a station you have to pass through automatic barriers (pictured right). There is always one wide ticket barrier for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with large suitcases.

If you have a card Travelcard you insert the Travelcard into the ticket slot, the barrier will check that your Travelcard is valid for both date and zones travelled and then return it to you and open the barrier.

If you have a Travelcard loaded onto an Oyster card you swipe the Oyster card over a bright yellow pad, the barrier will check validity and then open the barrier. This process is repeated at the destination station.

On buses there are no ticket barriers. Inspectors may check the validity of your Travelcard at any time.

Travel Cards and Attractions – 1+1, Oyster, London Pass

Many people wonder if they should buy an Oyster card or a Travelcard when traveling by public transport in London. We will try to explain the differences between the different cards including the weekly 1+1 (2For1) card that allows cheaper entrance to many London attractions.

London Public Transport Concepts

London attractions tickets, national rail 2 for 1 deals at london attractions, pros and cons of the weekly travelcard 2for1 offer, tickets in london – frequently asked questions, what is the difference between a travel card with offers and london pass with travel.

Oyster Card – A contactless card the size of a credit card, needs to be topped up with money (at shops or ticket machines) and is used to pay for your journey. The card itself costs £5 (this is refundable once you return the card after your last trip).

Paper Ticket – A paper ticket with a magnetic strip on one side, this was the original way to travel before the introduction of the Oyster card, but can still be used. These tickets can be used for single, daily, or weekly journeys, For a single journey, it cost about twice what the same journey will cost using an Oyster card.

Travel Card – A card used for traveling for a period of one day, one week, or one month. You can buy this either in a paper ticket form or load it onto an Oyster card, either in a shop or at the automated ticket machines at every underground and train station.

Underground / Tube – The two common names for the underground trains throughout London.

DLR / District Light Rail – A driverless train as an extended part of the underground connecting east London.

Cap – When using an Oyster card only, all your journeys within one day are combined and there is a cap to how much you will be charged (currently in 2018 – £6.80 per day for zone 1 and zone 2). When you reach the cap (around 3 journeys) you will not be charged any more for any additional journeys that day. You can see the exact cap rates for all the zones in tfl website .

London Pass – A ticket that includes travel and free entrance to many London attractions, these can be found with different durations, offers for kids, and more. Full details can be found on the London Pass website .

Merlin’s Magical London The best package that combines attraction tickets today in London is Merlin’s Magical London that call also London Big Ticket.  This card give you tickets for the most 5 wanted attraction: -The London Eye -Madame Tussauds -DreamWorks Tours Shrek’s Adventure -The SEA LIFE London Aquarium – The London Dungeons This ticket can be found in Expedia .

The Ultimate London Experience

The Ultimate London Experience is an extension for the 5 attraction tickets by Golden tours. You get the Merlin’s Magical London pass (tickets for the 5 attractions) plus 24 hour Hop on Hop off tour with over 60 stops on 3 different routes and Free walking tour and free 24 hours River Thames hop-on hop-off boat ride ticket. This deal can be find in Golden tour .

More about London attraction can be find in our page “ London tourist attractions 2022 “

This is an offer that allows you to get 2 tickets for the price of 1 for many London attractions if you have a Travelcard (paper ticket) that was bought at a National Rail train station, or if you arrived in London using the National Rail and kept your paper ticket for the journey.

To receive this offer you need to buy a paper travel card with the 1+1 offer, you will need to go to the ticket shop at one of the national rail train stations in London and bring a passport-sized photo with you and ask for a “Travelcard 2 For 1” ticket.

You can find these tickets at one of these stations: Charing Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Marylebone, Paddington, St Pancras, Victoria, and Waterloo.

Make sure you go to the Train Station Ticket Office and not the Underground ticket office.

To fully enjoy the offer, each person needs to have a valid travel card or a ticket from the train to London for the day you want to use the discount. The card should be with the National Rail Logo:

You will need to fill in a separate form for each attraction you will be visiting.

You will not be able to buy it in London underground stations.

National Rail Ticket – If you are arriving in London the same day, you can take advantage of the 1+1 discount by simply showing your train ticket and filling out the forms. If you are traveling by train, we would recommend you book your tickets early, which you can do with omio website , you will then be given a code to print out your tickets at the station to speed up the process. You will not need a photo if you are coming by rail. More about National rail you can find in our London transportation page.

• If there are two of you, you can buy two tickets for attractions for the price of 1.
• No need to return your card at the end of your last journey as there is no deposit (remember, the Oyster has a £5 deposit).
• You need to find a large National Rail train station to buy the 1+1 ticket (if you are not already at a train station, remember your journey could cost £4.90 if you use a paper ticket for a journey in Zones 1-2).
• You need to queue up to buy your ticket at each attraction, you can’t buy your ticket online.
• You need to fill in a form at each attraction you visit (remember to bring your ticket and form to each attraction and have enough forms, as you will need one form per attraction).
• If you buy a paper ticket for Zone 1-2, if you then travel outside Zone 2 you may have a problem exiting the station and you may need to pay the full price of a paper ticket for that journey (with an Oyster, your card will simply go to a negative balance).
• If you lose the ticket, you lose the money on the ticket. If you lose an Oyster and it is registered, you can simply cancel it and get a full refund online, assuming you registered the card, which you can do here.
• Will you be in London a full 7 days, will you be doing 2 or more journeys a day? Does the card really cost beneficial to you?
• It may not be worth it for families as kids under the age of 11 travel for free on London underground and many attractions have discounted child tickets anyway.

I will be travelling alone and in London for 7 days, should I buy a weekly travel card?

This depends on how many journeys you plan to make on public transport. If you have an Oyster card and take 2 off-peak journeys a day within zones 1 and 2 this will cost you £33.60 (£4.80 being an average journey cost), this is less expensive than a weekly travel card which costs £35.10. Remember that using an Oyster card there is a cap of £7 a day, so if you do more than 2 journeys a day it will be more expensive, although if you don’t use public transport every day, it might be cheaper to get an Oyster card.

I will be traveling alone and in London for 4 days, should I buy a weekly travel card?

The answer is no If you buy an Oyster card and travel within zones 1 and 2 you will have a maximum cost of £7 per day for a total of £28 which is cheaper than a weekly card at £35.10.

I will be traveling with a 10-year-old child, is it worth it to get the paper weekly ticket with the 1+1 offer?

The answer is no, children under 11 travel for free on public transport when accompanied by an adult, so children do not need to buy tickets to travel. Although the attractions normally cost money, many have cheaper child tickets. You can see some attractions on our London attractions page.

I will be traveling with a 12-year-old child, is it worth it to get the paper weekly ticket with the 1+1 offer?

The answer is not simple, but probably not. As the 1+1 requires you to buy the first ticket at full price and must be purchased at the attraction, you may find it cheaper to buy an adult and a child ticket online, that way saving some money and time for queueing.

You can find some offers at our London attraction page .

Can I use the zone 1-2 weekly travel card to travel to Heathrow airport?

Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6, so you will need to pay more than the weekly travel card for that journey.

If you have a weekly travel card on an Oyster card, it will charge you £2.80 more during peak time and £1.50 at all other times, this will deduct from your deposit (remember the card had a £5 deposit paid).

If you have a paper weekly ticket, you will need to buy a separate paper ticket for zones 3-6 and this is £5.90 (a full-price ticket from central London to Heathrow, if you didn’t have a weekly card, is £6).

We are 3 adults, should we get the 1+1 travel card?

The 1+1 provides 2 tickets for the price of 1, so you will effectively need to pay 2 full-price tickets you will get 1 free for each attraction.

Are the Travel Cards and Oyster Cards good for Bus travel in London?

Yes, both Travel cards and Oyster cards work on all London buses, buses have fixed fares and there are no zones, so your card will work.

What attractions are part of the 1+1 (2 for 1) tickets?

You can see the full list of attractions here:  https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children, is the 1+1 card for us?

This all depends on the age of the children, if they are under 11, then they do not need travel cards as they can travel for free so it is not worth it. If they are over 11 years old, then it depends on which attractions you plan to visit, so you should check the costs of each attraction.

We are a family of 5 staying in a Central London hotel, should we use taxis instead of using public transport?

It could be a good idea for a short trip. Black Cabs in London are very expensive, you can always pre-book a minicab, which is much cheaper than a black cab, and if you are traveling short distances this might be cheaper than using the tube. we recommend minicab to check prices and order your minicab, or you can use applications like Uber.

The Travel card gives you 2 tickets for the price of 1.

London Pass  is a ticket for multiple attractions without needing to buy a specific ticket for each attraction, you just turn up. You don’t need two people in order to get the discount. The travel ticket that comes with it is an Oyster card for the number of days you need.

With the Travelcard , you need to fill out a form at each attraction and stand in line to buy one full-price ticket.

The London Pass saves you time as you don’t need to queue to buy tickets at each attraction, you just walk up.

To get your discounted Travel Card with 1+1 remember you need to buy it at large National Rail stations.

The London Pass is more flexible in terms of the number of days its available for, so if you plan on seeing all the attractions in a small number of days it could be very worthwhile, and you can buy it ahead of time.

With the Travel Card you need to buy a full price ticket for each attraction.

The London Pass has discounted children’s prices and in addition, we have a special extra 10% off with the code ASKALOCAL

Still not sure what is best for you? You can always ask us a question via our app, or by private message on our Facebook page.

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London pass review — is the london pass worth it.

Wondering if the London Pass is worth the price? Read our in-depth review of the London Pass and analysis of its value.

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London is a bit of an oddity when compared to other major European cities—its world-class government-funded museums are free but other attractions are shockingly expensive. Because of this, the London Pass  can be a great deal for a majority of travelers. That said, some people are better off skipping the pass. In this London Pass review we’ll break down the value of the pass, what sights/attractions the pass covers, and who should and shouldn’t buy the pass.

In short, the London Pass is usually a good deal for travelers who want to see more than just the free museums, but it may not be worth it for other travelers. In this London Pass review, we break down the costs of the pass and explain who should buy and who should skip buying the pass.

London Pass Price

The London Pass comes in two variants — the London Pass and the London Pass with Oyster Card .

• 1 Day: £75/£55
• 2 Days: £99/£75
• 3 Days: £125/£89
• 6 Days: £169/£125
• 10 Days: £199/£149
• 1 Day: £90/£64.30
• 2 Days: £119/£93.60
• 3 Days: £155/£116.90
• 6 Days: £224/£157
• 10 Days: £254/£204

UPDATE 1/2022: They tend to raise the price of the London Pass every year around February. Check the London Pass website for the latest prices.

Price Breakdown: London Pass vs. Buying Tickets Separately

The London Pass includes entry to many of the major sights, attractions in London, and tours — most notably the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Windsor Castle. Take a look at the prices to start seeing what you might want to see and how much it would cost to visit them. 

We’ve listed most of the best attractions that are included in the London Pass but you can view the full list on the London Pass website .

Key Attractions 

Below are the key attractions/highlights that most travelers want to visit.

• The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses, and it’s soaked in bloody history. It is also home to the Crown Jewels (which are also on display). We HIGHLY recommend getting a free 60-minute tour from the Yeoman Warder (they run every 30 minutes) — they are awesome. You do get to skip the ticket line with the London Pass, but the biggest line will be inside for the Crown Jewels exhibit (this line can get super long in the summer).
• Dating back to 960, Westminster Abbey is steeped in history, and this magnificent building shouldn’t be missed. They offer free guided tours and free audio tours. Unfortunately, your pass doesn’t allow you to skip the line, so it is advisable to get there early if you’re visiting during the summer.
• This beautiful cathedral is where Princess Diana was married, so you know it is going to be impressive. Visitors can climb to the top of the dome and enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of London. They offer free audio guides and a few free guided tours. The London Pass allows you to skip the ticket lines.
• Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of The Queen. This huge estate covers over 13 acres of land and is over 1,000 years old. The London Pass allows you to skip the lines which can be super long.
• Hampton Court Palace is the former home to King Henry VIII who decorated it with fabulous furnishings, tapestries, and paintings. It also features an impressive 60 acres of formal gardens that feature many different plants and flowers from all over the world. It is located about 35 minutes outside the city by train.
•  The Shard is a giant 72-story skyscraper that offers amazing views from the top. This was recently added to the London Pass and it’s a nice (and expensive) addition if you want an epic view of the city.
• Kensington Palace — £20.00
• Tower Bridge Exhibition — £9.80
• Royal Albert Hall — £14
• Royal Mews — £12

Places of Interest

The London Pass includes entrance to many popular places of interest — many of which are expensive so the pass pays for itself quickly if you plan on visiting these sights.

• If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you’ll probably want to check out the famous Globe Theatre. The tours are limited to when there are performances, so you’ll want to check out their website before planning your visit.
• London Zoo — £29.75
• London Bridge Experience — £27.95
• HMS Belfast — £17
• Kew Gardens — £17
• Chelsea Physic Garden — £9.50

Private Museums and Art Galleries

While the state-run museums are free, there are still a few great private museums included in the London Pass.

• The Queen’s Gallery — £12
• The Household Cavalry Museum — £8.50
• London Transport Museum — £18.00
• Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum — £13
• Twickenham Rugby Museum & Stadium Tour — £25

London Tours and Cruises

The London Pass also included a number of tours and cruises that are expensive if booked individually.

• A lot of people love these hop-on-hop-off bus tours since it’s an easy way to get a good overview of the city’s highlights. We find they’re a great way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.
• Thames River Boat Cruise — £18.75
• Wembley Stadium Tours — £25
• Jason’s Original Canal Boat Trip — £10
• Arsenal Stadium Tour — £22
• London Bicycle Tour — £25
• Wimbledon Tour Experience — £25
• Chelsea FC Stadium Tour — £22

Special Offers

The London Pass also gives you discounts on a handful of other London activities and shopping. Most things on the list aren’t too exciting, but there are a few decent discounts. I suggest at least checking them out to see if anything interests you.

Oyster Card Option Vs. Buying Single Tickets

As mentioned before, you can get the London Pass with or without an Oyster Card.

The public transportation in London is excellent. That said, it is a little expensive and the ticket pricing can be a little confusing.

We recommend getting the London Pass without the Travel Option because you pay a premium for it. That’s because if you buy your own Oyster Card in London you’ll never pay more than £7/day for travel within central London (read below).

London Transportation Prices

The City of London offers three ways to pay for travel on the Tube and buses within central London (between zones 1 – 2).

• Note: The Oyster card that comes with the London Pass is an unlimited pass.
• 2 Day Adult – £25.40
• 2 Day Child – £12.60
• 3 Day Adult – £38.10
• 3 Day Child – £18.90
• Single-Ticket Cash Fare: £4.90 per ride.

Calculating the Value of the London Pass

To calculate the value of the London Pass, it’s best to create a sample itinerary and then crunch the numbers. However, in general, if you do two or three paid attractions a day, then the pass pays for itself.

The first step is to determine the per day cost of the pass:

• 2 Days: £99 (£49.5/day)
• 3 Days: £125 (£42/day)
• 6 Days: £169 (£28/day)
• 10 Days: £199 (£20/day)

Ok, so now you know how much you need to spend each day on attractions before you break even.

If you look at the prices of the attractions above, you’ll see that some attractions can be as high as £30 but most major sights are around £15-£20. This should give you an idea of how much you would need to do in a day for the pass to make financial sense.

The next thing I would do is choose which museums, sites, and attractions look interesting to you. Remember that all the major museums in London are free, so you can easily fill your days up with visits to the free museums — that said, many of the attractions on the London Pass are amazing, too.

Sample Itinerary Price Comparison

One-Day London Pass:

Our goal is to get £75 worth of value from the pass.

If you did Tower of London (£27), Westminster Abbey (£22), and View From The Shard Skyscraper (£32) in a single day it would cost you £81. You could easily fit in something like a Thames River Boat Cruise (£18.75) and you’d be saving a lot of money.

Of course, we can’t forget about the free museums. We suggest either batching those museums together so you don’t waste one of your Pass days.

Or you can do one free museum + a few London Pass attractions on the same day.

Is the London Pass Worth It?

In general — yes. A majority of visitors find that the pass is worth the price and it can be a really good deal if you’re smart about how you use it.

Who Should Consider the Pass?

Travelers with Children  — If you’re traveling with children, you might find that being able to skip some lines makes your trip go smoother. Also, many kid-friendly (and usually expensive) attractions like the London Zoo, Tower of London, Hop-On Bus tour, etc, are included in the pass. 

Travelers Who Want to Do Extra Activities  — If you want to do a lot of the activities on the pass, then it’s definitely worth it. It will easily pay for itself quickly if you see a lot.

People Who Want to See a Lot in a Few Days  — If you’re in London for only a few days and you want to see all the major attractions, then the pass will be a good deal.

Travelers Who Want to See London at Their Own Pace  — If you’re not too worried about the price, the London Pass is a nice option just for the fact that you can hop in and out of attractions at your own pace. Don’t like something? Leave and don’t feel bad for wasting your money.

Convenience — If you simply don’t want to worry about purchasing tickets when you’re in London, the pass is a nice option. You just have to get your pass delivered to your home and you’re all ready to go once you arrive.

Who Should Skip the Pass?

Budget Travelers — If you’re on a strict budget, I’d skip the pass or just buy a one-day pass and cram in all the super-expensive sites in a single day.

Travelers Staying in London for Longer Periods  — If you’re spending a long time in the city, you’ll probably want to spread your visits to the attractions over a longer period of time. As mentioned before, consider buying a one-day pass to see a bunch in a day and then spread out the rest of your sightseeing.

Travelers Who Just Want to See a Few Places  — If you just want to see a few attractions over the course of your trip, then the pass isn’t worth it.

Tips For Getting the Most Value Out of the London Pass

Get A Shorter Pass If You’re On a Budget  — If you want to see the sights on the London Pass, you can arrange your visit so that you see all the major sites on the pass in a day or two. This way, you can buy a shorter-duration pass and then fill your remaining days with free museums.

Check Hours and Days  — Be sure to check the hours of the sights as many close down around 4:30 pm. That’s why we recommend getting started early and hitting the sights when they open. If you don’t get started until noon then you might only have a few hours to squeeze everything in before things start closing. Plus, getting started early will help you beat the crowds. 

Group Your SIghtseeing:  Get a map and plot out where things are so you can group your sightseeing by location. Don’t waste your time traveling from one side of the city to the other if you don’t have to.

Download The App: The app goes a nice job of helping you plan where to visit. It also has a handy map feature so you can plan your route easier if you’re not familiar with the city. It’s also handy for seeing things spur of the moment as you’re walking around.

Night Activities  — Since most museums and sights are only open during the day, you should see what activities are open later and do those after the other attractions are closed.

Don’t Waste the First Day  — The time on the pass starts the first day you use it, so if you use your pass for the first time at 8 pm, it will count as a full day.

Check Out the Discounts  — The London Pass also gives you discounts on some other participating companies. Most are junk, but there are a few good ones. London Walks gives a £2 discount on their walking tours, which are really great. They have a Haunted London walking tour that runs at night that we really enjoyed.

Where to Buy the London Pass

The easiest way to get the pass is to buy it online from the London Pass website and have it mailed to your home. This way it is all ready to go once you arrive in London — you can also use the Oyster card to get into the city on the train.

You can also purchase it online and then pick it up in London — but we suggest getting it mailed if you have enough time since you won’t have to track down the ticket office.

More London Travel Advice

• London Budget Travel Guide : Tips for visiting London on a budget.
• Best Hostels in London : Our favorite budget hostels.
• London Price Guide : How much to budget for visiting London.
• Europe Packing List : What to pack when you visit London.
• Travel Insurance 101 : Tips for choosing the best travel insurance for your trip.
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What is a travelcard.

A Travelcard gives you unlimited travel within London zones 1-4 or 1-6 on the Underground, Overground, TfL Rail, Docklands Light Railway, buses, trams, and most National Rail services in London*.

You can also use your Travelcard to get discounted fares on the Emirates Air Line and a third off River Boat fares on selected services.

Which Travelcard is right for me?

Anytime day travelcard.

Use for the date issued all-day on the ticket right up until 04:30 the next day.

Off-Peak Day Travelcard

Use for the date issued from 09:30 (Monday to Friday), anytime on weekends or public holidays right up until 04:30 the next day.

Group Day Travelcard

Travelling as a group of 10 or more? Use for the date from 09:30 (Monday to Friday), anytime on weekends or public holidays right up until 04:30 the next day.

Travelcard season tickets

Your Travelcard season ticket can start any day of the week and you can travel right up until 04:30 on the day after your Travelcard expires.

Choose a seven-day, monthly, three-month, 6-month, custom or annual Travelcard season ticket.

How do I get a Travelcard?

Travelcards can be sold with an Anytime , Off-Peak , Super Off-Peak , Advance  or season  (except Flexi Season ) train ticket to London on our website, app or at your local station.

You can add London Travelcards to your SWR touch smartcard , making it easier for you to tap in and out across the capital.

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Best Southwest Airlines credit cards of 2024

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

Southwest Airlines is a top choice among budget-conscious travelers, and we’re here to help you pick the best Southwest credit card for your lifestyle and flying habits. 

The airline's unique blend of affordable pricing, straightforward rewards and a generous baggage policy makes it a hit among individuals, families, and business travelers. With more than 4,000 daily flights to 121 airports across 11 countries, there's a reasonable chance Southwest Airlines flies to your favorite destinations. 

There are three co-branded personal Southwest credit cards and two Southwest business credit cards, all issued by Chase. The bank also offers general travel rewards cards that earn flexible rewards you can transfer at a 1:1 rate to Southwest Rapid Rewards®.

Best Southwest Airlines credit cards

• Best overall: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Learn more
• Best for occasional Southwest flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Learn more
• Best for a low annual fee: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Learn more
• Best for flexible travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card | Learn more

Best overall: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card charges the highest annual fee among personal Southwest cards, but it also offers the best (and most valuable) benefits with the airline to more than offset the yearly cost for Southwest loyalists. 

Why we like this card: If you frequently fly on Southwest Airlines, there's no better card than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card to earn rewards and access benefits with the airline. 

At first glance, the Southwest Priority earns the same bonus rates as the mid-tier Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. But it's the Priority card's benefits that set it apart from other Southwest cards. 

Cardholders receive a $75 Southwest® annual travel credit each year good towards eligible Southwest Airlines purchases using their card. 

Because of Southwest's open seating policy, many travelers choose to purchase upgraded boarding, allowing them to board in positions A1-A15. The Premier card reimburses cardholders for the purchase of up to four upgraded boardings per anniversary year. Also, you'll receive 7,500 anniversary points each year. 

Other airline-specific perks include 25% back on in-flight purchases and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually (earning the Southwest Companion Pass requires 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year).  

That said, while there’s a lot to love about the Southwest Priority card, it comes with just a couple travel protections—lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance—a less robust list than one might expect from a card with a $149 annual fee. 

Check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card .

Best for occasional Southwest flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

For casual travelers who fly Southwest up to a few times annually, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card offers moderate Southwest perks and high earning power with a reasonable $99 annual fee.

Why we like this card: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card earns the same bonus rates as Southwest Priority but with a lower annual fee, which is easily covered through its benefits. It's a great option if Southwest is just one of the airlines you enjoy flying or you only book a few flights per year.

Cardholders receive 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year, which automatically check you in for flights before the airline's 24-hour check-in period for an earlier boarding position. Also, every card anniversary, Southwest drops 6,000 points in your Rapid Rewards account. 

And, for every $5,000 you spend using your Priority card, you'll earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status (A-List status requires 20 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year.) This status includes perks such as priority boarding, a dedicated lane at the Southwest check-in counter and a special A-List customer service phone line.

You also enjoy 25% back on in-flight purchases and a boost of 10,000 Companion Qualifying points per year. 

Check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card .

Best for a low annual fee: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers entry-level airline perks and rewards with a $69 annual fee, the lowest among all Southwest credit cards.

Why we like this card: If you enjoy flying Southwest but don't want to pay an expensive annual fee, like those charged for Chase's higher tier Southwest cards, consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. 

The Southwest Plus offers a lower rewards rate on Southwest purchases and fewer benefits than the other personal Southwest credit cards, but there's still enough value to offset the smaller annual fee and warrant a look. As a cardholder, you receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. It still comes with 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year, 25% back on in-flight purchases and a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually. 

However, if you travel internationally, beware this card’s 3% (of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars) foreign transaction fee—a particularly unfortunate fee for an airline card to levy.

Check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card . 

Best for flexible travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card earns flexible rewards good toward travel bookings through the issuer’s portal, cash back, and other redemptions—including transfers to Southwest Airlines and other airline and hotel partners.

Why we like this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a frequent flyer on "Best Of" lists and for good reason. While it's not the most luxurious travel rewards card, it offers an incredibly valuable blend of flexible rewards, card benefits and travel protections, all for a  $95 annual fee. 

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you gain entry into Chase Ultimate Rewards®, the issuer's versatile rewards program. The card earns above-average rates in categories like travel, dining and streaming services. Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back, but use your Sapphire Preferred redeem points for travel bookings through Chase Travel and you’ll get 25% more value per point.

Though the Sapphire Preferred doesn't come with any Southwest-specific benefits, you can transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to 14 airline and hotel partner programs, including Southwest Rapid Rewards. 

This card also comes with a more robust list of travel protections than the co-branded Southwest cards do: trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car coverage. 

Finally, cardholders can receive up to $50 in statement credits each anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠. 

Check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card .

What is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® program?

Southwest Rapid Rewards is the airline's loyalty program. Through Rapid Rewards, you can earn points on qualifying flights and other select purchases. Rapid Rewards points are redeemable for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, merchandise experiences, events and statement credits to reimburse eligible expenses. 

Rapid Rewards members receive benefits like no blackout dates and unlimited rewards seats. Points earned through the program don’t expire, so you can use them as they’re earned or save them up until the time is right for that big trip you’ve been looking forward to.  

As a member, you can unlock additional airline perks through the program's two elite status tiers, which are A-List and A-List Preferred. Rapid Rewards status comes with benefits like priority boarding, free same-day standby and same-day changes, dedicated A-List member support and access to Priority Lanes and Express Lanes at the airport. 

Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably the most coveted companion pass offering available. With the companion pass, you can designate one person to fly with you free of charge when you purchase or redeem rewards for a flight (though you’ll still have to pay taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 one way).

Timing is everything with the Southwest Companion Pass. Once you earn the pass, it is good for the remainder of the current year plus the next full calendar year. Earning the pass as early in the year as possible gives you the highest potential value. 

Southwest offers a few ways to earn a companion pass. The most challenging path to a companion pass is booking 100 qualifying one-way flights. Another option is to earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Welcome bonuses count towards this total, making getting a new card and earning the bonus one of the quickest ways to qualify for a companion pass. 

How to choose the best Southwest credit card

Finding the best Southwest card from the range of choices depends largely on your travel and spending habits. If you regularly fly Southwest and want access to the airline's best benefits, one of its top-tier cards makes the most sense. If not, the entry-level Rapid Rewards Plus card is probably a better choice. Southwest personal cards earn points in the same spending categories, though the Plus card has a less generous earning rate than its bigger siblings on Southwest purchases.

Another factor to consider is the card's annual fee. Paying an annual fee isn't a bad thing, especially if you can squeeze considerable value out of the card through rewards and benefits. Annual fees range from $69 to $149 for Southwest Airlines personal cards and $99 to $199 for Southwest Airlines business cards. 

Alternatively, if you like flying Southwest but aren’t exclusively loyal to the airline, a travel card that lets you transfer points to Southwest may be the sweet spot for your travel habits. Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you’re an occasional traveler, or its big brother the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you’re a frequent traveler in need of extensive perks.  

How to maximize the value of your Southwest credit card

Follow these tips to get the most out of your Southwest Airlines credit card. 

• Use your card for daily spending: Use your card for Southwest and other purchases to earn more Rapid Rewards points. 
• Earn the welcome bonus: The quickest way to boost your Southwest points balance is to plan ahead and ensure you can meet the spending requirement needed to earn your new card's welcome bonus. 
• Qualify for a companion pass: If you frequently travel with the same person, earning the Southwest Companion Pass is a great way to save money on flights. 
• Redeem your points for flights: Rapid Rewards points are redeemable in several ways, but award flights will almost always offer the most value. 
• Use your card benefits: Southwest cards offer incredible value through the card benefits included, but they are only valuable if you use them every year you own the card. For example, making an eligible Southwest purchase (such as a ticket) on your Priority card and triggering the $75 Southwest® annual travel credit each year effectively recoups half your annual fee in one fell swoop.   

Frequently asked questions

Is a southwest credit card worth it.

Having a Southwest credit card is a great option if you regularly fly Southwest and the airline offers flights out of your home airport and to your preferred destinations. Each Southwest card offers enough value to offset its fee, provided you use it to earn rewards and take advantage of card benefits. If you don't fly Southwest, or typically don't fly when you travel, a different airline rewards card or a hotel card may be more useful to you.

Which banks issue Southwest credit cards? 

Chase is the credit card issuer for all Southwest co-branded credit cards. It's also the primary issuer with cards that earn rewards that transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards, thanks to its famous Sapphire family of travel rewards cards. (Points can also be transferred from a Marriott credit card to Southwest Rapid Rewards, and some Marriott cards are Chase-issued while others are by American Express.)

How do you transfer Chase points to Southwest Rapid Rewards? 

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest and other travel partners through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Navigate to the "Transfer to Travel Partners" section within your online account, select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards from the list of travel partners, enter the number of points you want to transfer in increments of 1,000 and complete the transfer. 

Does my Southwest credit card pay for Global Entry?

Not if you have one of the personal Southwest cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the only Southwest credit card that offers an application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. The benefit reimburses cardholders up to $100 every four years for application fees for one of these three trusted traveler programs. 

Can you have multiple Southwest credit cards?

You could technically have all five Southwest co-branded credit cards, but it doesn't necessarily make sense to have that many, especially if you lose out on welcome bonuses. Southwest bonus guidelines for personal cards state that "this product is available to you if you do not have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months." 

You're also subject to Chase's 5/24 rule—an unwritten by widely known rule which essentially boils down to the fact that Chase will reject your application for one of their cards if you have opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months. 

Having one personal and one business Southwest card could make sense if you want more than one Southwest card and you operate a small business of some kind.

Does Southwest offer free checked bags?

Yes. Whereas many other airlines will charge you to check a bag, unless you have a co-branded card that specifically offers a free checked bag as a benefit, Southwest offers travelers two free checked bags—provided your bags don’t exceed the weight and size limits.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com