Comparing the personal Southwest credit cards: Priority, Premier and Plus

Welcome presents are often probably the greatest methods to distinguish between bank cards from the identical household. However what about Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards, which frequently 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 Cross plus 30,000 bonus factors (price $405, in line with TPG’s February 2025 valuations) after spending $4,000 inside the first three months of account opening:

The Companion Cross permits cardmembers to carry any journey companion without cost on as many Southwest flights by means of February 28, 2026 (not together with taxes and costs from $5.60 one-way). Relying on whether or not you worth the next variety of bonus factors or a Companion Cross, this provide is on par with the best offers we’ve seen on these playing cards up to now. These presents finish on March 31.

Regardless of their similar-sounding names, the three playing cards have necessary variations. Which one shall be finest for you is dependent upon how typically you fly Southwest and what number of of those playing cards’ respective perks you may maximize. Here is what it’s essential to 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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The Southwest Priority makes a really compelling case for itself.

In the event you’re a frequent Southwest passenger, you may don’t have any bother maxing out the $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, lowering your efficient out-of-pocket value for this card from $149 to $74.

Bear in mind, each greenback (or level) you spend on Southwest tickets stretches twice as far after you have the Companion Pass. That is as a result of once you ebook one ticket with both factors or money, you may carry a companion alongside — and pay simply the taxes and costs. Thus, you possibly can argue {that a} $75 credit score is definitely price $150 for Companion Cross holders, successfully reducing the annual charge on the Southwest Precedence all the way down to zero.

Even for those who’re unwilling to take that numerical leap, you may 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 further bonus factors in your cardholder anniversary — 1,500 greater than the Southwest Premier — which ought to get you $20 in further rewards based mostly on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

The principle argument in opposition to the Southwest Precedence is that you should pay the total $149 annual fee upfront. Nevertheless, if you need to use the above perks, you may offset a big portion of that value.

Associated: Why I choose Southwest every time

In the event you’re in search of a decrease annual charge to earn the present sign-up bonus, you may choose between the Southwest Premier (with a $99 annual charge) or the Southwest Plus (with a $69 annual charge).

What does the additional $30 a 12 months on the Southwest Premier get you? For starters, your anniversary factors bonus shall be 6,000 as a substitute of three,000. In keeping with TPG’s February 2025 valuation, 6,000 Southwest factors are price $81, greater than making up for the cardboard’s greater annual charge.

Plus, for those who go for the most cost effective card — the Southwest Plus — you may additionally get hit with a 3% charge 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 a terrific excuse to make a journey to a Caribbean destination at an reasonably priced value. Because the Premier does not cost foreign transaction fees, that is one other method its barely greater annual charge is price paying for many vacationers.

Lastly, with the Southwest Premier, you may earn tier qualifying factors (TQPs) towards elite status: 1,500 TQPs per $5,000 spent on purchases in a calendar 12 months (with no restrict on what number of TQPs you may earn from bank card spending). If A-List or A-List Preferred status pursuits you, select the Southwest Premier.

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Chase’s restrictions on credit card applications maintain 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 the event you’re at (or over) your 5 slots, we suggest not losing an software on these playing cards since you’ll possible 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 certainly one of these Southwest private bank cards or have obtained a bonus for one within the final 24 months, you’ll not be eligible for these presents.

Learn extra: The ultimate guide to Southwest credit card eligibility

Southwest Airways bank cards proceed to be widespread. Anybody who flies Southwest even only a handful of occasions per 12 months should not have any drawback maxing out the journey advantages that include the Southwest Priority. After accounting for all of its perks, that is, fingers down, the cardboard that may add probably the most worth to your pockets as an everyday Southwest flyer.

If the annual charge for Southwest Precedence is simply too excessive for you, you may get higher worth from Southwest Premier fairly than Southwest Plus.

To be taught extra, try our full evaluations of the Southwest Priority, Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus cards.

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Be taught extra: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

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