Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card evaluation: Full particulars
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card overview
The Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is the center of the pack for private bank cards from Southwest Airways. Whereas mid-tier airline bank cards usually haven’t got many premium perks, the Southwest Premier’s lack of international transaction charges and 6,000 anniversary bonus factors ought to assist offset its $149 annual payment. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The data for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier bank card 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.
Savvy TPG readers know we usually do not advocate constructing your factors and miles technique round a single cobranded airline bank card. That is as a result of these have a tendency to supply fewer perks and fewer flexibility than comparably priced transferable factors and miles playing cards.
With regards to the Southwest Fast Rewards card portfolio, you may usually discover higher incomes charges and extra versatile redemption choices with playing cards that earn Chase Final Rewards factors. The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs), for instance, lets you switch Chase factors to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 1:1 charge.
That mentioned, Southwest bank cards are very talked-about amongst Southwest followers. The provider simply unveiled that every one 5 playing cards, together with the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier card, have been refreshed. This refresh of the Southwest Premier card provides many advantages that improve the day-of-travel expertise and modifications up bonus class earnings. Sadly, that comes at an over 50% annual payment improve to $149.
Notice that Southwest is in the course of sweeping modifications, together with its boarding course of, bag charges and seat choice course of.
With a advisable credit score rating of 670 or larger, the Premier is the mid-tier model of the three private Southwest playing cards. It gives a very good steadiness of perks and an annual payment that would make it worthy of a spot in your card assortment.
This is the whole lot it’s good to know in regards to the Southwest Premier card that can assist you determine whether or not it ought to be in your pockets.
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Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card execs and cons
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Associated: How to decide on your finest bank card technique
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card welcome provide
New Southwest Premier cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.
In line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 factors included on this welcome provide are value $1,400. That is the best factors welcome provide we have seen on this card with no Companion Move.
For those who do not care about Southwest’s Companion Move, then now could be a implausible time to use.
Bear in mind that you would be able to’t earn a welcome bonus on the Southwest Premier in case you at the moment have a private Southwest card or have earned a welcome bonus on a private Southwest card prior to now 24 months.
Additionally, Southwest’s cobranded playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. For those who’ve opened 5 or extra new accounts over the previous 24 months (throughout all issuers, not simply Chase), your software will doubtless be denied.
Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card advantages
Whereas we sometimes do not count on an airline bank card with a $149 annual payment to return loaded with premium perks, the Southwest Premier card has a number of advantages, together with many vital day-of-travel advantages. It is vital to notice that present cardholders will obtain all present advantages till Dec. 31 and have entry to the brand new advantages instantly.
You may obtain 6,000 bonus factors on every account anniversary, that are value $84 in line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. That covers greater than half of this card’s annual payment.
Day of journey advantages embody:
- Two EarlyBird Examine-Ins, which might value as much as $99 every, per 12 months (for flights working in 2025; ends Dec. 31)
- Free first checked bag for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- Group 5 precedence boarding for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation (when you have A-list standing, it is possible for you to to board with an earlier group)
- Most well-liked seat choice inside 48 hours of departure for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- A 25% low cost on inflight purchases
Cardholders also can earn Southwest A-Record elite standing extra rapidly. You may earn 1,500 bonus tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months, with no cap. Moreover, cardholders additionally obtain a ten,000 Companion Move qualifying factors increase every year.
Plus, you may obtain one promotional 15% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Primary fares) and will not be charged international transaction charges.
Associated: Southwest Fast Rewards is now providing Money + Factors redemption
Incomes factors on the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Most airline bank cards award bonus factors or miles for purchases straight with the provider, and that is definitely true right here: You may earn:
- 3 factors per greenback spent with Southwest (4.2% return based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing providers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and cellphone providers and with choose streaming suppliers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent at grocery shops and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per 12 months (2.8% return)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases (1.4% return)
It is vital to notice that present cardholders will obtain the brand new incomes charges instantly.
Most of the double-point bonus classes shall be eliminated on the finish of the 12 months. It is good that the grocery retailer and restaurant bonus class has been added, however it appears fairly restricted with the low spending cap. If it’s good to earn Southwest factors, this card gives first rate incomes charges, however you possibly can definitely do higher on on a regular basis spending with different playing cards.
It is also value noting that that is the one shopper Southwest card with no bonus class for fuel. Since Chase lacks a large portfolio of playing cards that earn bonus factors on fuel, that is an unlucky facet of the Southwest Premier.
Associated: Methods to earn over 300,000 factors this 12 months
Redeeming factors on the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card
When it is time to use your rewards, top-of-the-line issues about redeeming Southwest Fast Rewards factors is the simplicity of the method.
Whether or not you choose the most affordable Primary fare or the most costly Enterprise Choose possibility, the price of your award ticket is tied to the money value of the flight. This implies you do not have to fret about getting the best potential cent-per-point redemption worth.
If in case you have Fast Rewards factors, you may as well redeem them for reward playing cards or merchandise. Nonetheless, the most effective worth comes from utilizing your factors for Southwest flights — together with choices to Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Emily Thompson, a publication and partnerships editor at TPG, loves utilizing Southwest factors, because the airline gives nice offers and runs frequent award gross sales on transcontinental flights from smaller airports like Pensacola Worldwide Airport (PNS) in Florida to Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon.
Southwest additionally usually gives flash gross sales that you would be able to reap the benefits of to get an incredible deal when reserving with factors. Moreover, Southwest’s coverage of no change or cancellation charges means it can save you cash in your award ticket if the worth drops. This flexibility ensures you may get the most affordable redemption.
Associated: Methods to change or cancel a Southwest Airways flight
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card?
The Southwest Premier card has two apparent rivals: Chase’s different Southwest bank cards. Nevertheless, it is value contemplating a basic journey bank card with an analogous annual payment to see whether or not that possibility is best in your pockets.
For extra choices, take a look at our full checklist of the finest journey bank cards.
Associated: Companion Move and bonus factors: Evaluating the Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence, Premier and Plus bank cards
Is the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card value it?
The anniversary bonus factors assist offset a number of the Southwest Premier card’s $149 annual payment. You may greater than recoup the annual payment in case you worth its different perks, like EarlyBird Examine-Ins (ends Dec. 31), free checked luggage, seat choice and inflight reductions. Nonetheless, most Southwest loyalists will get extra worth from the Southwest Precedence card as an alternative, because it gives extra advantages.
Backside line
The Southwest Fast Rewards Premier card is usually a good possibility for semifrequent Southwest flyers. For those who fly with Southwest sometimes, this card’s value level and perks might make it a very good match in your pockets with out the upper price ticket on different journey bank cards.
Nevertheless, most Southwest followers will doubtless desire the advantages of the higher-tier Southwest Precedence card as an alternative.
Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card
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