Why I’m canceling my Southwest bank card—and what I’m getting as a substitute
Though I do not think about myself notably loyal to anybody airline, I’ve held — and cherished — my Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and costs) for a number of years.
The $75 annual flight credit score and seven,500 anniversary factors bonus (price $101 by our August 2025 valuations) greater than made up for the annual charge, even for an informal Southwest Airways flyer. Regardless of the airline’s tumultuous string of modifications earlier this 12 months, I nonetheless saved the cardboard.
However Southwest’s latest bank card revamp is the final straw.
This is why I am canceling my Southwest card earlier than the brand new annual charge hits my account, and what different playing cards I am contemplating changing it with.
Why I am canceling my Southwest card
Not solely is the Precedence card’s annual charge growing by greater than 50%, from $149 to $229, however the annual $75 flight credit score — the cardboard’s Most worthy perk, for my part — is disappearing, with nothing to exchange it. The credit score will not be a part of the cardboard’s advantages after Dec. 31.
This top-tier card would not even embrace a once-per-year promotional flight low cost just like the lower-annual-fee Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card and Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score 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.
What does the revamped Precedence card provide?
The spotlight of the cardboard’s makeover, it appears, is the power to improve to Southwest’s extra-legroom seats (set to debut in 2026) inside 48 hours of departure for myself and as much as eight companions, when obtainable. This is able to be price extra if I continuously flew Southwest with a big household, however as a result of it is often simply me and my companion a couple of times a 12 months, it would not appear definitely worth the $229 annual charge.
Plus, as a result of Southwest’s route community is generally restricted to flights inside the U.S. and the Caribbean, additional legroom would not make as a lot of a distinction as on, say, a transatlantic flight.
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One other new perk: Precedence cardholders can earn 2,500 tier qualifying factors (up from 1,500) for each $5,000 spent. However with how little I fly Southwest, I am unlikely to get near standing anyway.
Equally, the brand new incomes construction, together with 4 factors per greenback spent on eligible Southwest purchases (up from 3 factors per greenback) and a couple of factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations and eating places (up from 1 level per greenback), would not transfer the needle for me.
Since I’ve different playing cards that earn rewards on the identical or higher charges on eating and gasoline, I just about solely use my Precedence card for the occasional Southwest ticket, so I do not see this as an enchancment.
Consequently, I am planning to cancel my card earlier than the brand new annual charge pops up on my card anniversary subsequent spring.
It is clear Southwest is making an attempt to mannequin itself, and its bank cards, on larger airways, however it nonetheless has a protracted solution to go. In a few years, I’ll think about reapplying for a Southwest bank card, particularly if the airline has constructed stronger partnerships and integrated extra long-haul flights.
Till then, listed below are the playing cards I am contemplating to fill the opening left in my coronary heart — and my pockets — by my beloved Southwest card.
Associated: Are airline bank cards price it anymore?
United Explorer Card
Since my house base, Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN), is a United Airways hub, a United cobranded card is on the prime of my checklist.
The United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs) is similar to the Southwest Precedence, with an annual charge of $150 ($0 for the primary 12 months) and a free checked bag for the cardholder and one journey companion.
I might increase my United MileagePlus steadiness with the 60,000-mile welcome bonus (after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months my account is open) and one other 10,000 miles if I add a licensed person within the first three months.
Collectively, these miles are price roughly $910 primarily based on our August 2025 valuations.
Since I typically e book brief resort stays, I count on to maximise the cardboard’s as much as $100 in annual credit on pay as you go resort bookings via United Lodges, which might assist offset the annual charge. I might additionally make use of the cardboard’s two one-time United Membership lounge passes annually.
Then again, the remainder of the Explorer card’s “coupon-book” model credit — for ride-hailing providers (yearly opt-in required), rental automobiles, JSX and Instacart (via Dec. 31, 2027) — aren’t very helpful to me.
Additionally, as a result of we fly United pretty typically, my husband already holds the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs).
The Explorer supplies some perks that the Quest would not, however I am unsure it is sensible to pay an annual charge for a second United card.
Associated: 4 causes somebody in your loved ones wants a United bank card
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card
Delta Air Strains’ reply to the United Explorer Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Specific Card, has a $150 annual charge — with a $0 introductory annual charge the primary 12 months (see charges and costs) — and a 50,000-mile welcome provide after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles’ award charges aren’t nice, however this card would give me entry to fifteen% off redemptions and the Pay with Miles function to assist my miles go additional.
Add that to the truth that I maintain the American Specific® Gold Card and earn Amex Membership Rewards factors, which could be transferred to SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, and this card might make a variety of sense.
Just like the Explorer card, the SkyMiles Gold supplies a free checked bag and as much as $100 in assertion credit towards Delta Stays pay as you go resort bookings.
The incomes charges (2 miles per greenback spent at Delta, eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases) are nothing particular, however the perks might make this card a helpful one to hold long-term.
My solely deterrent is the truth that Delta would not have an enormous presence at DEN; I will want to do a little analysis to see what sort of flights I might e book on Delta earlier than I apply.
Associated: 5 issues you must find out about Delta SkyMiles
Aeroplan Credit score Card
Main U.S. airways aren’t the one ones I am contemplating for my subsequent bank card. Air Canada’s providing, the Aeroplan® Credit score Card (see charges and costs), can be a contender.
One cause is that I can switch all my currencies to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio: American Specific Membership Rewards factors, Chase Final Rewards factors and Capital One miles.
One other is that Air Canada is a companion of United, that means there must be no scarcity of award flights out of my house airport.
This card at present affords a pretty 75,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open, however the ongoing perks might make it a worthwhile addition to my pockets for years to come back.
For a $95 annual charge, I might get precious reductions on award flights and a free checked bag for myself and as much as eight companions.
Plus, I might get short-term Aeroplan 25K standing (and, thus, Star Alliance Silver elite standing) for the 12 months wherein I open the cardboard and the next calendar 12 months. If I determine to use for the Aeroplan card, I will wait till early 2026 to maximise my short-term standing.
Associated: PSA to worldwide vacationers: This is why you need to think about Air Canada and the Chase Aeroplan Card
Backside line
The Speedy Rewards bank card revamp is likely to be an enchancment for Southwest loyalists, however it disenchanted this informal Southwest flyer.
Fortunately, there are many options with comparable perks and modest annual charges.
If you happen to’re feeling the identical means, try our roundups of the finest airline bank cards and the very best playing cards to achieve elite standing. Then think about issues like your house airport, your bank card switch companions and your upcoming journey plans earlier than selecting the very best one for you.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click on right here.
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