Southwest Precedence bank card evaluate: Priceless perks for Southwest flyers
Editor’s word: This submit has been up to date with the most recent bank card data.
Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card Overview
The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card is probably the most rewarding of Southwest’s private bank cards, with a $75 annual Southwest credit score and seven,500 anniversary bonus factors. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Southwest has made a reputation for itself with its customer-friendly journey insurance policies and popularity of going above and past for passengers. Not like different airways, it doesn’t supply lounges, any kind of premium cabin and even seating with additional legroom. Nevertheless it does supply a full suite of cobranded bank cards to assist frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest journey objectives.
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The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card is probably the most premium private bank card within the Southwest lineup. It provides a whole bunch of {dollars} in worth with Southwest annually, plus a brand new sign-up bonus of fifty,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
However are its advantages worthwhile sufficient to warrant the $149 annual payment? Let’s discover out.
Who is that this card for?
The Southwest Precedence Card is the highest-earning (and costliest) client Southwest card. It’s finest suited for individuals who are loyal to Southwest and fly with the airline often.
All Southwest playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This implies for those who’ve opened greater than 5 bank cards prior to now 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you might not be accepted. Additionally, you’ll be able to’t open a brand new private Southwest card for those who presently have one open or for those who earned a sign-up bonus prior to now 24 months on any private Southwest card.
Present Signal-up bonus
The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card is presently providing 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Speedy Rewards factors at 1.5 cents every, that means 50,000 factors are price $750.
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Associated: Southwest Airways provides extra Hawaii routes
Primary advantages and perks
Even informal Southwest flyers should not have any bother utilizing the next card perks to offset the cardboard’s $149 annual payment:
- 7,500-point anniversary bonus: Annually in your card-opening anniversary, you’ll obtain 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors, price about $112, based mostly on TPG’s valuations.
- $75 annual Southwest journey credit score: Throughout every cardmember yr, you’ll obtain a $75 journey credit score that can be utilized on most Southwest purchases, together with tickets (however excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases), dropping the cardboard’s precise price to $74.
- 4 upgraded boardings per yr: Use your card to pay for A1-A15 boarding spots and also you’ll be reimbursed the price as much as 4 occasions per yr. Ordinarily, upgraded boarding prices between $30 and $50 per round-trip improve, relying on the itinerary, so this perk might be price as much as $200 per yr. As of August 2022, now you can buy upgraded boardings on-line, by means of the app or on the airport.
- 25% inflight financial savings: Obtain 25% again within the type of an announcement credit score after you employ your card to buy inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and flicks.
- Tier qualifying factors increase: Earn 1,500 TQPs that rely towards A-Listing and A-Listing Most popular standing for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar yr.
Along with the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with misplaced baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance coverage, prolonged guarantee protection and buy safety. The cardboard has no international transaction charges, so you may make purchases abroad with out accumulating additional fees.
And whereas this isn’t a card profit, don’t neglect that each one Southwest flyers don’t pay change or cancellation charges, get two free checked baggage and have entry to the easy-to-use Speedy Rewards program. These insurance policies alone are sufficient to persuade many to take a position their rewards earnings with Southwest.
Incomes and redeeming
Right here’s what you’ll earn with the Southwest Precedence Card:
- 3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases.
- 2 factors per greenback spent with Speedy Rewards resort and automobile rental companions.
- 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare.
- 2 factors per greenback on web, cable, cellphone companies, and choose streaming.
- 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
Redeeming factors with the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card may be very easy. Southwest award costs are immediately tied to the money worth of the ticket. In different phrases, factors preserve a reasonably fixed worth and it is best to by no means have a tough time redeeming them. Plus, in case your plans change, you’ll be able to redeposit your award with out penalty.
Some factors and miles fans keep as far-off from all these rewards currencies as potential, however they’ll typically present considerably better worth than conventional airline miles. As an example, you’ll be able to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (MDW) for simply 5,743 factors one-way, relying on the time of yr. In the meantime, American Airways and United typically cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming you could find saver-award availability).
(Screenshot courtesy of Southwest Airways)
In the event you e book throughout one among Southwest’s flash gross sales, you might rating awards for lower than 1,500 factors one-way. You’ll be able to even fly to enjoyable faraway locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
How does the Southwest Precedence evaluate with different Southwest private playing cards?
Southwest Airways presently provides three private playing cards. Each the Precedence and Premier playing cards supply the identical enroll bonus because the Precedence, so it may be troublesome to decide on the right card on your pockets.
Let’s check out the incomes charges, perks, and annual charges throughout all three private Southwest bank cards:
| Card characteristic | Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card | Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card | Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual payment | $69. | $99. | $149. |
| Signal-up bonus |
50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
| Anniversary factors bonus | 3,000 Speedy Rewards factors. | 6,000 Speedy Rewards factors. | 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors. |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
|
| Different perks | 25% again on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi. | 25% again on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi. | $75 annual Southwest journey credit score.
4 upgraded boardings per yr (when accessible). 25% again on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi. |
| Tier qualifying factors | N/A. | Earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent in a calendar yr (with no limits). | Earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent in a calendar yr (with no limits). |
| Upgraded boardings (when accessible) | N/A. | N/A. | 4 per yr. |
| Early Chicken Verify-In | 2 per yr. | 2 per yr. | N/A. |
| International transaction payment | 3%. | None. | None. |
The Southwest Precedence Card Credit score Card is the plain alternative for anybody who flies Southwest two or extra occasions a yr. The $75 journey credit score successfully drops the cardboard’s annual payment to $74. Think about its 7,500-point anniversary bonus, price $112.50 in line with TPG’s newest valuations, and also you’ll truly come out $38.50 forward simply by having the cardboard. That is earlier than even contemplating the cardboard’s different perks.
Nevertheless, the Southwest Precedence card does not simply compete with different Southwest playing cards. It can also go face to face with extra basic journey playing cards — which can even supply a direct pathway to incomes Speedy Rewards factors.
Two playing cards that successfully earn Southwest factors are the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Southwest is a 1:1 switch accomplice of Chase Final Rewards, so you’ll be able to simply switch your factors earned with both of those playing cards to the airline. The Sapphire Most popular has a $95 annual payment and earns:
- 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by means of the Chase Journey Portal.
- 5 factors per greenback on Lyft (by means of March 2025).
- 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming companies, and on-line groceries (excludes Goal, Walmart, and wholesale golf equipment).
- 2 factors per greenback on all journey not booked by means of the Chase Journey Portal.
- 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else.
It additionally provides worthwhile journey advantages, together with main automobile rental protection and journey delay safety.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular card evaluate
In the meantime, the Sapphire Reserve provides 3 factors per greenback on all journey and eating purchases plus lots of the identical journey protections because the Sapphire Most popular. As well as, you will take pleasure in a $300 annual journey credit score together with Precedence Go lounge entry. Nevertheless, it does include a notably larger annual payment of $550.
In the event you worth the flexibleness of a transferable factors program like Chase Final Rewards (however nonetheless need the selection to transform your earnings to Southwest factors), then one among these playing cards could also be your finest guess.
In any other case, for those who’re after Southwest-specific perks whenever you journey, the Southwest Precedence card might make a whole lot of sense.
Backside line
In the event you fly Southwest at the least a number of occasions annually, you’re certain to come back out forward with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card. The cardboard’s on a regular basis incomes charges depart one thing to be desired, however spectacular built-in perks like a $75 annual journey credit score and seven,500-point anniversary bonus simply make up for it.
Apply right here for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card.
Extra reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Benét J. Wilson, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler and Christina Ly.
