Welcome gives are normally probably the greatest methods to distinguish between bank cards from the identical household. However what about Southwest Airways client bank cards, which frequently 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 throughout the first three months of account opening:
The Companion Cross permits cardmembers to carry any journey accomplice without spending a dime on as many Southwest flights by way of February 28, 2026 (not together with taxes and costs from $5.60 one-way). Relying on whether or not you worth a better variety of bonus factors or a Companion Cross, this supply is on par with the very best gives we have seen on these playing cards previously. These gives finish on March 31.
Regardless of their similar-sounding names, the three playing cards have necessary variations. Which one shall be finest for you relies on how typically you fly Southwest and what number of of those playing cards’ respective perks you’ll be able to maximize. This is what it’s essential to know to decide on.
The data for the Southwest Fast 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 Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card | Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card | Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual payment | $69 | $99 | $149 |
| Anniversary factors bonus | 3,000 Fast Rewards factors | 6,000 Fast Rewards factors | 7,500 Fast Rewards factors |
| Incomes charges | 2 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Fast Rewards lodge 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 cellphone companies and choose streaming 1 level per greenback on every little thing else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Fast Rewards lodge 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 cellphone companies and choose streaming 1 level per greenback on every little thing else |
3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback on Fast Rewards lodge 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 cellphone companies 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 Cross qualifying factors enhance annually |
2 EarlyBird check-ins per yr
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance annually |
$75 annual Southwest journey credit score
25% again on inflight purchases 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance annually 4 upgraded boardings per yr (when accessible) |
| 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) |
| Overseas transaction payment | 3% | None | None |
Frequent Southwest flyer? Select the Precedence
The Southwest Precedence makes a really compelling case for itself.
When 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 Cross. That is as a result of while you e book one ticket with both factors or money, you’ll be able to carry a companion alongside — and pay simply the taxes and costs. Thus, you could possibly argue {that a} $75 credit score is definitely value $150 for Companion Cross holders, successfully chopping the annual payment on the Southwest Precedence right down to zero.
Even in the event you’re unwilling to take that numerical leap, you will nonetheless spend much less annually with the Southwest Precedence than in the event you 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 principle argument towards the Southwest Precedence is that it’s essential to pay the complete $149 annual payment upfront. Nevertheless, if you should use the above perks, you’ll be able to offset a big portion of that value.
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Cheaper annual payment? Select the Premier, not the Plus
When you’re on the lookout for a decrease annual payment to earn the present sign-up bonus, you’ll be able to choose 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 shall be 6,000 as a substitute of three,000. In accordance with TPG’s February 2025 valuation, 6,000 Southwest factors are value $81, greater than making up for the cardboard’s increased annual payment.
Plus, in the event you 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 drawback contemplating that the majority 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 vacation spot at an inexpensive value. Because the Premier does not cost overseas transaction charges, that is one other means its barely increased annual payment is value paying for many vacationers.
Lastly, with the Southwest Premier, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to earn from bank card spending). If A-Record or A-Record 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 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 virtually actually reject candidates in the event that they’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards (from any issuers) within the final 24 months. When you’re at (or over) your 5 slots, we advocate not losing an utility on these playing cards since you’ll seemingly get declined. Do not forget that enterprise playing cards from any issuer normally do not rely towards 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 shouldn’t be accessible to both (i) present Cardmembers of any Southwest Fast Rewards® Credit score Card, or (ii) earlier Cardmembers of any Southwest Fast Rewards Credit score Card who obtained a brand new Cardmember bonus throughout the final 24 months. This doesn’t apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Fast Rewards Enterprise Card and Worker Credit score Card merchandise
So, in the event you at the moment 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 gives.
Learn extra: The last word information to Southwest bank card eligibility
Backside line
Southwest Airways bank cards proceed to be standard. Anybody who flies Southwest even only a handful of instances per yr shouldn’t have any drawback maxing out the journey advantages that include the Southwest Precedence. After accounting for all of its perks, that is, arms down, the cardboard that may add essentially the most worth to your pockets as an everyday Southwest flyer.
If the annual payment for Southwest Precedence is simply too excessive for you, you will get higher worth from Southwest Premier relatively than Southwest Plus.
To study extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Southwest Precedence, Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus playing cards.
Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
Be taught extra: Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card
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