Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card overview
*Card ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Southwest Airways has a legion of followers — largely resulting from its versatile change/cancellation insurance policies and providing two free checked luggage for all passengers. In contrast to different airways, Southwest does not supply lounges, premium cabins and even seating with further legroom.
Nevertheless it does supply a full suite of cobranded bank cards to assist frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest journey targets.
This card received the Finest Airline Cobranded Credit score Card award within the 2023 TPG Awards.
The Southwest Precedence card has a really useful credit score rating of 670 or above and is essentially the most premium private bank card within the Southwest lineup.
However are its advantages precious sufficient to warrant the $149 annual price? And is now the precise time so that you can apply? Let’s discover out.
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card professionals and cons
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Southwest Precedence Credit score Card welcome supply
In accordance with TPG’s November 2024 valuations, this welcome supply is value as much as $960 when together with the assertion credit score. The bonus factors may also assist you to get a lot nearer to securing a Companion Go, which requires incomes 135,000 factors in a calendar yr.
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With a view to maximize the Companion Go for 2025 and 2026, it is best to attend to use for the cardboard till December. Then, after your December assertion date, full the minimal spending requirement to obtain your bonus factors in January. This could assist you to get hold of a Companion Go for 2025 and 2026 (somewhat than the remainder of 2024 and 2025 in case your bonus factors arrive in December).
Notice that Southwest playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. In case you’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards previously 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you will not be authorized.
As well as, you’ll be able to’t open a brand new private Southwest card if in case you have one open. You additionally will not be capable to get a brand new welcome bonus from a private Southwest card if you happen to’ve obtained one previously 24 months.
Associated: 15 classes from 15 years’ value of Southwest Companion Passes
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card advantages
- Anniversary bonus: In your card anniversary every year, you may obtain 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors, value $105 primarily based on TPG’s November 2024 valuations.
- Annual Southwest journey credit score: Throughout every cardmember yr, you may obtain a $75 journey credit score that can be utilized on most Southwest purchases, together with tickets (excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases).
- 25% inflight financial savings: Obtain 25% again (as a press release credit score) after you utilize your card to buy inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
- Tier qualifying factors enhance: Earn 1,500 TQPs that rely towards A-Listing and A-Listing Most well-liked standing for every $5,000 you spend in a calendar yr.
- 4 upgraded boardings per yr
Along with the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with misplaced baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance coverage, prolonged guarantee safety and buy safety.
These perks are precious to 1 TPG reader, who stated they frequent a Southwest hub:
“Nice journey advantages and insurance coverage plus Southwest perks like free upgrades and alternatives to earn quite a lot of factors. It is the one I’ll decide so long as I stay close to a Southwest hub.” — Trisha M through a TPG Publication survey
Notice: Reader-submitted responses haven’t been edited, reviewed or authorized by the issuers nor replicate TPG’s opinions of those playing cards.
The cardboard additionally has no overseas transaction charges, so it is a good selection for spending overseas.
Associated: The right way to get airline elite standing
Incomes factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Here is what you may earn with the Southwest Precedence card:
- 3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases
- 2 factors per greenback spent with Speedy Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions
- 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing apps
- 2 factors per greenback on web, cable and cellphone companies; choose streaming
- 1 level per greenback on all different purchases
This airline bank card presents a greater diversity of bonus classes than different airline bank cards, although prime journey playing cards are sometimes much more profitable.
You may earn 4.2% again on Southwest purchases and a couple of.8% again on choose purchases (in response to TPG’s November 2024 valuations), which isn’t a foul price of return for a cobranded bank card.
Nonetheless, this will not be the very best Southwest card for you if you happen to do not e book Southwest flights typically or desire to make use of different portals for lodge and rental automotive bookings.
Associated: One of the best rewards bank cards for every bonus class
Redeeming factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Redeeming Speedy Rewards factors with the Southwest Precedence card could be very simple. Southwest award costs are immediately tied to the money worth of the ticket, that means the variety of factors you want for a flight will fluctuate, however you may hardly ever encounter instances when you’ll be able to’t use your factors. Plus, you’ll be able to redeposit your award with out penalty in case your plans change.
Whereas Southwest’s factors will not assist you to fly in first-class suites, they will present nice worth. As an example, you’ll be able to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Halfway (MDW) for as few as 4,701 factors one-way, relying on the time of yr. In the meantime, different airways typically cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming you’ll find availability).
In case you e book throughout considered one of Southwest’s flash gross sales, you may rating awards for lower than 2,500 factors one-way. You’ll be able to even fly to enjoyable faraway locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico along with your Southwest factors.
As an example, TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson just lately took benefit of considered one of these gross sales to e book a round-trip ticket between Nashville (BNA) and San Jose, California (SJC) for below 25,000 factors. In case you’re flying to considered one of Southwest’s locations, you’ll find a terrific deal on factors.
Associated: Why I select Southwest each time
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card?
Southwest Airways presents three private playing cards, so you’ll be able to select the one that matches you finest.
- If you would like Southwest advantages with a extra modest price: The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is the mid-tier card within the Southwest lineup, with a $99 annual price. Its advantages embrace 6,000-anniversary bonus factors, two EarlyBird Test-ins per yr and 25% again on inflight purchases. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Southwest Premier card.
- If you would like a Southwest card with a fair decrease annual price: The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card has a $69 annual price and an anniversary bonus of three,000 factors. You may additionally obtain two EarlyBird Test-ins yearly and 25% again on inflight purchases. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Southwest Plus card.
- If you would like transferable factors to make use of with Southwest and different airways: The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch 1:1 to Southwest and a variety of different airways for making flight redemptions. You may get quite a few journey protections, a $50 annual lodge credit score on lodge bookings made by way of Chase Journey℠ and sturdy incomes classes for a $95 annual price. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Most well-liked.
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.
For extra choices, try our full record of journey bank cards.
Associated: Evaluating the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence, Premier, and Plus Credit score Playing cards
Is the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card value it?
In case you fly Southwest at the very least a couple of instances every year, you’ll come out forward with the Southwest Precedence card. The cardboard’s on a regular basis incomes charges aren’t essentially the most profitable, however spectacular built-in perks like upgraded boardings, a $75 annual journey credit score and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus simply make up for it. Nonetheless, if you happen to fly Southwest much less typically, you may doubtless desire one other of our different favourite airline playing cards.
Backside line
The Southwest Precedence card is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards, permitting you to earn a great stash of factors and get essentially the most advantages of any of the airline’s choices. In case you fly Southwest typically, that is the very best Southwest card for you.
Nonetheless, if you happen to do not fly Southwest typically or need to preserve your annual price prices decrease, it’s possible you’ll need to go for one of many different Southwest cobranded playing cards or a card that earns transferable rewards.
Apply right here: Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
Associated: The right way to decide the precise journey bank card for you
