Airlines

Southwest Efficiency vs. Premier: Which is best for you?

Attempting to resolve which Southwest Airways enterprise bank card deserves a spot in your pockets? The Southwest Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges) and the Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges) each pack useful perks, however every is constructed with a unique form of traveler in thoughts.

Southwest has rolled out main modifications, together with assigned seating, a revamped boarding course of and bag charges. A cobranded Southwest bank card can supply loyalists extra sensible worth amid these new changes.

This is a side-by-side comparability of each playing cards that can assist you select the one which most accurately fits your small business wants.

Southwest Efficiency Enterprise vs. Premier Enterprise overview

Southwest Fast Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card
Annual payment $299 $149
Welcome bonus Earn 120,000 factors after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Earn 60,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes charges
  • 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases
  • 3 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions*
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing providers)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on lodge lodging booked straight with the lodge
  • 2 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations and eating places
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on social media and search engine promoting, web, cable and telephone providers*
  • 1 level per greenback spent all over the place else
  • 3 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases
  • 2 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per anniversary 12 months
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions*
    2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing providers*
  • 1 level per greenback spent all over the place else
Anniversary bonus factors 9,000 6,000
Elite qualifying advantages Earn 2,500 tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 in purchases yearly Earn 2,000 tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 in purchases yearly
Perks and assertion credit
  • Reimbursement for as much as 4 A1-A15 upgraded boarding passes per anniversary 12 months when out there*
  • As much as 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credit per 12 months (covers all-day passes)*
  • As much as $120 each 4 years to cowl enrollment charges for International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
  • Free checked bag for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation
  • Precedence boarding**
  • Most popular seat choice at reserving**
  • Limitless further legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of departure**
  • $500 payment credit score for factors transfers yearly*
  • 25% again on inflight purchases

 

  • Two EarlyBird Verify-Ins every anniversary 12 months*
  • 15% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Primary fares)
  • Free checked bag for you and as much as 8 companions on the identical reservation
  • Precedence boarding**
  • Most popular seat choice inside 48 hours of departure**
  • $500 payment credit score for factors transfers yearly*
  • 25% again on inflight purchases

*Advantages or incomes charges ending Dec. 31, 2025.

**Advantages apply to flights working in 2026 and past.

Associated: Evaluating the Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence, Premier and Plus bank cards

Southwest Efficiency Enterprise vs. Premier Enterprise welcome bonus

Primarily based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise supply is price $1,680.

In the meantime, the Southwest Premier Enterprise supply is price $840.

THE POINTS GUY

Consider, each playing cards fall underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you possible will not be accredited if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards previously 24 months.

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Moreover, you will not be eligible to obtain a welcome bonus when you’ve got obtained one previously 24 months on the respective card you might be making use of for.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. Its considerably larger bonus simply edges out the Premier model, providing greater than double the worth.

Associated: This is how you can calculate your 5/24 standing

Southwest Efficiency Enterprise vs. Premier Enterprise advantages

When evaluating an entry-level card to its premium counterpart, the important thing query is straightforward: Do the added perks justify the upper annual payment?

On this case, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise prices $150 extra per 12 months than the Southwest Premier Enterprise, so the additional advantages have to make up that distinction.

Advantages shared by each playing cards:

  • Free checked baggage.
  • Precedence boarding for flights in 2026 and past.
  • 25% again on inflight purchases.
  • $500 payment credit score for factors transfers per 12 months.*
  • 10,000 annual Companion Qualifying factors, which get you nearer to incomes a companion move.
  • No international transaction charges.
  • Free worker playing cards.

Premier Enterprise Advantages:

  • Two Early Fowl Verify-Ins on flights working in 2025.*
  • 6,000 anniversary bonus factors.
  • Most popular seat choice inside 48 hours of departure on flights working in 2026 and past.
  • 15% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Primary fares).
  • 2,000 Tier Qualifying Factors for each $5,000 spent on the Premier Enterprise card in a 12 months (with no cap on the variety of TQPs you possibly can earn). This helps you attain A-Listing elite standing quicker.
Person picking up suitcase
IAM ANUPONG/GETTY IMAGES

Efficiency Enterprise Advantages:

  • 9,000 anniversary bonus factors.
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings on flights working in 2025.*
  • 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi purchases as an announcement credit score. In different phrases, you could possibly buy an all-day inflight Wi-Fi move each day of the 12 months, and your card will cowl it.*
  • Precedence boarding for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation for flights working in 2026 and past. When you’ve got A-list standing, you possibly can board with an earlier group.
  • Most popular seat choice at reserving for flights working in 2026 and past.
  • Limitless extra-legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of exits on flights working in 2026 and past.
  • 2,500 tier-qualifying factors per $5,000 you spend on purchases in a calendar 12 months (with no cap on the variety of TQP’s you possibly can earn).
  • International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software payment credit score.

*Advantages ending December 31.

The Efficiency Enterprise begins robust by providing 9,000 bonus factors in your account anniversary versus 6,000 with the Premier Enterprise. As of October 2025, TPG values Southwest factors at 1.4 cents every.

The Premier Enterprise anniversary bonus is price $84, whereas the Efficiency Enterprise anniversary bonus is price $126.

southwest plane
STEPHEN M. KELLER/SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

The opposite standout advantages of the Efficiency Enterprise card are geared towards the day-of journey expertise. Since Southwest is shifting to assigned seating for a payment for flights beginning in 2026, the Efficiency Enterprise will permit prospects to pick most popular seating without cost at reserving and entry limitless further legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of departure.

The Efficiency Enterprise additionally permits you to attain A-list standing faster by card spending and affords an announcement credit score for International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, whereas the Premier Enterprise would not.

The Premier Enterprise card nonetheless holds attraction, significantly with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Primary fares) and decrease annual payment. However if you happen to fly Southwest typically, the Efficiency Enterprise’s journey perks and elite-status increase make the $150 nicely price it.

It is also price mentioning that each playing cards will lose key advantages on the finish of the 12 months, just like the Wi-Fi passes and upgraded boarding with the Efficiency Enterprise and the EarlyBird check-ins with the Premier Enterprise.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper annual payment comes with a significant improve in advantages that frequent Southwest vacationers will truly use.

Associated: Are airline bank cards price it anymore?

Incomes factors with the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise vs. Premier Enterprise

The Southwest Efficiency Enterprise additionally has noticeably stronger incomes charges — although you may solely profit in case your spending habits align with the bonus classes.

With the Efficiency Enterprise, you may earn:

  • 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return†)
  • 3 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions* (4.2% return†)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing providers) (2.8% return†)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on lodge lodging booked straight with the lodge (2.8% return†)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations and eating places (2.8% return†)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on social media and search engine promoting, web, cable and telephone providers* (2.8% return†)
  • 1 level per greenback spent all over the place else (1.4% return†)

†Primarily based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

Young Man Paying for Meal at Restaurant
AZMANJAKA/GETTY IMAGES

In the meantime, with the Premier Enterprise you may earn:

  • 3 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (4.2% return)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per anniversary 12 months (2.8% return)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions* (2.8% return)
    2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing* (2.8% return)
  • 1 level per greenback spent all over the place else (1.4% return)

*Incomes charges ending December 31.

†Primarily based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

The Efficiency Enterprise clearly outpaces its sibling in long-term incomes potential. You may earn extra on Southwest purchases and will not face the $8,000 annual cap on gasoline and restaurant spending that applies to the Premier Enterprise.

It is also higher for frequent vacationers or small-business house owners who recurrently spend on accommodations, promoting or web providers — all classes the place it earns double factors.

Moreover, the Efficiency Enterprise will nonetheless earn bonus factors on native transit, whereas the Premier Enterprise is dropping that class.

The Premier Enterprise, nevertheless, nonetheless affords strong rewards for individuals who fly Southwest solely often and do not spend closely in bonus classes.

Each playing cards will lose bonus classes on the finish of 2025, which is disappointing on condition that they each carry annual charges.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper incomes charges and uncapped bonus classes make it a stronger earner total.

Associated: Simple methods to earn Southwest Fast Rewards factors

Redeeming factors with the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise vs. Premier Enterprise

Each playing cards earn Fast Rewards factors that may be redeemed the identical manner — primarily for Southwest-operated flights.

Since Southwest makes use of a revenue-based pricing mannequin, the variety of factors wanted for a flight usually aligns with its money fare. You will not discover “candy spots, however you may get pleasure from constant worth on your redemptions.

Redeeming Southwest factors is straightforward: when reserving on the Southwest web site, simply choose “Factors” as a substitute of “{Dollars}.” The web site will show the corresponding award pricing on your chosen itinerary.

It is vital to notice that, like with any airline’s award tickets, extra taxes and charges are nonetheless relevant, beginning at $5.60 per manner.

Nevertheless, tickets booked with factors are totally refundable, and there aren’t any penalties for cancellations so long as you cancel no less than 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.

traveling woman at the airport
FRANCKREPORTER/GETTY IMAGES

Redeeming the factors you earn in your Southwest enterprise playing cards can unlock new alternatives for your loved ones and your small business.

TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson likes to make use of Southwest factors to e book nonstop flights on routes the place different airways all have a layover, corresponding to from Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) to St. Louis Lambert Worldwide Airport (STL).

Whereas Southwest additionally affords worldwide flights, accommodations and automobile leases by its journey portal, the charges for these choices are typically not as favorable as when utilizing your factors for Southwest-operated flights.

Winner: Tie. Since each playing cards have the identical redemption choices, there is not any clear winner right here.

Associated: Southwest Airways cuts 30 routes in pivot so as to add extra connecting flights

Ought to I get the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise or Premier Enterprise?

In the event you fly Southwest recurrently, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise Card’ is definitely worth the larger annual payment. Between the 9,000-point anniversary bonus, limitless Wi-Fi credit and precedence boarding upgrades, it delivers a stronger set of journey perks and incomes energy.

In the event you’re an informal Southwest flyer or just need to preserve your annual payment low, the Premier Enterprise card affords strong worth with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Primary fares) and constant incomes construction.

Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card

Methods to swap from the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise to the Premier Enterprise

You may swap between the 2 playing cards by calling Chase customer support and requesting a product change — you possibly can’t do it on-line or by the app.

Nevertheless, it is typically smarter to open each playing cards individually to benefit from every welcome bonus. Earlier than making the swap, verify if you happen to’re eligible for an improve supply from the Premier Enterprise to the Efficiency Enterprise.

Associated: Do not cancel: Methods to downgrade a Chase bank card

Backside line

Irrespective of which Southwest card you resolve to use for, you may get pleasure from useful Southwest perks and a simple incomes construction that makes it straightforward to rack up Fast Rewards factors.

The Efficiency Enterprise is the clear selection for frequent Southwest vacationers who’ll take advantage of its premium perks and bonus classes, whereas the Premier Enterprise stays a strong decide for decrease annual payment seekers who nonetheless need strong worth on on a regular basis enterprise spending.

To study extra, learn our full evaluations of the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise and Southwest Premier Enterprise.


Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card
Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card



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