Welcome provides are often the most effective methods to distinguish between bank cards from the identical household. However what about Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards, which regularly have the very same sign-up bonus?
The next three playing cards are at present providing the identical nice welcome bonus. New candidates can earn a Companion Move 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 Move permits cardmembers to deliver any journey associate without spending a dime on as many Southwest flights by 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 Move, this supply is on par with the best offers we’ve seen on these playing cards previously. These provides finish on March 31.
Regardless of their similar-sounding names, the three playing cards have vital variations. Which one will likely be finest for you depends upon how typically you fly Southwest and what number of of those playing cards’ respective perks you possibly can maximize. This is what you should 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 supplied 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 payment | $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 automobile associate 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 every little thing else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and rental automobile associate 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 every little thing else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and rental automobile associate 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 every little thing else |
| Different perks | 2 EarlyBird check-ins per yr
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Move qualifying factors enhance annually |
2 EarlyBird check-ins per yr
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Move qualifying factors enhance annually |
$75 annual Southwest journey credit score
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Move qualifying factors enhance annually 4 upgraded boardings per yr (when obtainable) |
| Tier qualifying factors | N/A | Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-Record standing for each $5,000 in spending per calendar yr (with no cap) | Earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-Record standing for each $5,000 in spending per calendar yr (with no cap) |
| International transaction payment | 3% | None | None |
Frequent Southwest flyer? Select the Precedence
The Southwest Priority makes a really compelling case for itself.
In case you’re a frequent Southwest passenger, you will haven’t any hassle maxing out the $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, decreasing 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 Pass. That is as a result of once you e-book one ticket with both factors or money, you possibly can deliver a companion alongside — and pay simply the taxes and charges. Thus, you might argue {that a} $75 credit score is definitely value $150 for Companion Move holders, successfully chopping the annual payment on the Southwest Precedence all the way down to zero.
Even for those who’re unwilling to take that numerical leap, you will nonetheless spend much less annually with the Southwest Precedence than for those who opted for the mid-tier Southwest Premier. With the Southwest Precedence, you’ll obtain extra bonus factors in your cardholder anniversary — 1,500 greater than the Southwest Premier — which ought to get you $20 in extra rewards primarily based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.
The primary argument towards the Southwest Precedence is that you should pay the complete $149 annual fee upfront. Nonetheless, if you should use the above perks, you possibly can offset a big portion of that value.
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Cheaper annual payment? Select the Premier, not the Plus
In case you’re searching for a decrease annual payment to earn the present sign-up bonus, you possibly can decide between the Southwest Premier (with a $99 annual payment) or the Southwest Plus (with a $69 annual payment).
What does the additional $30 a yr on the Southwest Premier get you? For starters, your anniversary factors bonus will likely be 6,000 as an alternative of three,000. In line with TPG’s February 2025 valuation, 6,000 Southwest factors are value $81, greater than making up for the cardboard’s greater annual payment.
Plus, for those who go for the most affordable card — the Southwest Plus — you will additionally get hit with a 3% payment on overseas transactions. This is not an enormous downside 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 amazing excuse to make a journey to a Caribbean destination at an reasonably priced value. Because the Premier would not cost foreign transaction fees, that is one other approach its barely greater annual payment is value paying for many vacationers.
Lastly, with the Southwest Premier, you possibly can earn tier qualifying factors (TQPs) towards elite status: 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-List or A-List Preferred status pursuits you, select the Southwest Premier.
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Eligibility for Southwest bank cards
Chase’s restrictions on credit card applications preserve 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. In case you’re at (or over) your 5 slots, we advocate not losing an software on these playing cards since you’ll seemingly get declined. Keep in mind that enterprise playing cards from any issuer usually don’t count toward 5/24.
Along with the 5/24 rule, the phrases and circumstances for the sign-up bonus of every of those playing cards state:
The product will not be 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 obtained 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, for those who at present maintain one among these Southwest private bank cards or have obtained a bonus for one within the final 24 months, you’ll not be eligible for these provides.
Learn extra: The ultimate guide to Southwest credit card eligibility
Backside line
Southwest Airways bank cards proceed to be common. Anybody who flies Southwest even only a handful of instances per yr shouldn’t have any downside maxing out the journey advantages that include the Southwest Priority. After accounting for all of its perks, that is, palms down, the cardboard that can add probably the most worth to your pockets as an everyday Southwest flyer.
If the annual payment for Southwest Precedence is just too excessive for you, you will get higher worth from Southwest Premier slightly than Southwest Plus.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Southwest Priority, Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus cards.
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Study extra: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
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