Welcome gives are normally among the finest methods to distinguish between bank cards from the identical household. However what about Southwest Airways shopper bank cards, which regularly have the very same sign-up bonus?
The next three playing cards are at the moment providing the identical nice welcome bonus. New candidates can earn a Companion Cross plus 30,000 bonus factors (value $405, in keeping with TPG’s February 2025 valuations) after spending $4,000 inside the first three months of account opening:
The Companion Cross permits cardmembers to convey any journey accomplice at no cost on as many Southwest flights by means of February 28, 2026 (not together with taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way). Relying on whether or not you worth the next variety of bonus factors or a Companion Cross, this supply is on par with the greatest gives we have seen on these playing cards prior to now. These gives finish on March 31.
Regardless of their similar-sounding names, the three playing cards have necessary variations. Which one can be greatest for you is determined by how typically you fly Southwest and what number of of those playing cards’ respective perks you possibly can maximize. This is what that you must know to decide on.
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
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Southwest bank cards overview
| Profit | Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card | Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card | Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $69 | $99 | $149 |
| Anniversary factors bonus | 3,000 Speedy Rewards factors | 6,000 Speedy Rewards factors | 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors |
| Incomes charges | 2 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and rental automotive accomplice purchases 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing apps) 2 factors per greenback on web, cable and telephone providers and choose streaming 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and rental automotive accomplice purchases 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing apps) 2 factors per greenback on web, cable and telephone providers and choose streaming 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and rental automotive accomplice purchases 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing apps) 2 factors per greenback on web, cable and telephone providers and choose streaming 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else |
| Different perks | 2 EarlyBird check-ins per yr
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors increase annually |
2 EarlyBird check-ins per yr
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors increase annually |
$75 annual Southwest journey credit score
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors increase annually 4 upgraded boardings per yr (when obtainable) |
| Tier qualifying factors | N/A | Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-Listing standing for each $5,000 in spending per calendar yr (with no cap) | Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-Listing standing for each $5,000 in spending per calendar yr (with no cap) |
| International transaction price | 3% | None | None |
Frequent Southwest flyer? Select the Precedence
The Southwest Precedence makes a really compelling case for itself.
For those who’re a frequent Southwest passenger, you will haven’t any hassle maxing out the $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, lowering your efficient out-of-pocket value for this card from $149 to $74.
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Keep in mind, each greenback (or level) you spend on Southwest tickets stretches twice as far after getting the Companion Cross. That is as a result of while you guide one ticket with both factors or money, you possibly can convey a companion alongside — and pay simply the taxes and charges. Thus, you possibly can argue {that a} $75 credit score is definitely value $150 for Companion Cross holders, successfully reducing the annual price on the Southwest Precedence right down to zero.
Even if you happen to’re unwilling to take that numerical leap, you will nonetheless spend much less annually with the Southwest Precedence than if you happen to opted for the mid-tier Southwest Premier. With the Southwest Precedence, you’ll obtain further bonus factors in your cardholder anniversary — 1,500 greater than the Southwest Premier — which ought to get you $20 in further rewards primarily based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.
The principle argument towards the Southwest Precedence is that you could pay the total $149 annual price upfront. Nevertheless, if you should use the above perks, you possibly can offset a big portion of that value.
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Cheaper annual price? Select the Premier, not the Plus
For those who’re on the lookout for a decrease annual price to earn the present sign-up bonus, you possibly can choose between the Southwest Premier (with a $99 annual price) or the Southwest Plus (with a $69 annual price).
What does the additional $30 a yr on the Southwest Premier get you? For starters, your anniversary factors bonus can be 6,000 as a substitute of three,000. In response to TPG’s February 2025 valuation, 6,000 Southwest factors are value $81, greater than making up for the cardboard’s increased annual price.
Plus, if you happen to go for the most affordable card — the Southwest Plus — you will additionally get hit with a 3% price on international transactions. This is not an enormous drawback contemplating that almost all of Southwest’s community is home flights, however Southwest’s low cost fares, low charges and above-average customer support make for an important excuse to make a journey to a Caribbean vacation spot at an inexpensive value. For the reason that Premier does not cost international transaction charges, that is one other manner its barely increased annual price is value paying for many vacationers.
Lastly, with the Southwest Premier, you possibly can earn tier qualifying factors (TQPs) towards elite standing: 1,500 TQPs per $5,000 spent on purchases in a calendar yr (with no restrict on what number of TQPs you possibly can earn from bank card spending). If A-Listing or A-Listing Most popular standing pursuits you, select the Southwest Premier.
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Eligibility for Southwest bank cards
Chase’s restrictions on bank card purposes hold most individuals from making use of for Southwest bank cards.
The issuer’s 5/24 rule applies to all three of those playing cards. Chase will nearly actually reject candidates in the event that they’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards (from any issuers) within the final 24 months. For those who’re at (or over) your 5 slots, we suggest not losing an utility on these playing cards since you’ll doubtless get declined. Keep in mind that enterprise playing cards from any issuer normally do not depend towards 5/24.
Along with the 5/24 rule, the phrases and situations for the sign-up bonus of every of those playing cards state:
The product is just not obtainable to both (i) present Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards® Credit score Card, or (ii) earlier Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards Credit score Card who acquired a brand new Cardmember bonus inside the final 24 months. This doesn’t apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Speedy Rewards Enterprise Card and Worker Credit score Card merchandise
So, if you happen to at the moment maintain one in all these Southwest private bank cards or have acquired a bonus for one within the final 24 months, you’ll not be eligible for these gives.
Learn extra: The last word information to Southwest bank card eligibility
Backside line
Southwest Airways bank cards proceed to be widespread. Anybody who flies Southwest even only a handful of instances per yr should not have any drawback maxing out the journey advantages that include the Southwest Precedence. After accounting for all of its perks, that is, fingers down, the cardboard that may add essentially the most worth to your pockets as an everyday Southwest flyer.
If the annual price for Southwest Precedence is simply too excessive for you, you will get higher worth from Southwest Premier slightly than Southwest Plus.
To study extra, try our full critiques of the Southwest Precedence, Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus playing cards.
Apply right here: Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
Be taught extra: Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Apply right here: Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card
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