As I wrote last year, main adjustments to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) satisfied me to cancel my card earlier than the following annual price got here due in April. However after I referred to as to cancel, Chase provided me a press release credit score to cowl the following annual price — basically giving me entry to all the cardboard’s advantages for an additional yr for free of charge.
I figured why not preserve the cardboard for an additional yr to see how a lot I find yourself flying Southwest and the way precious the brand new bank card perks actually are?
That was a month in the past, and my Priority card has already turn out to be useful. When United left me hanging on a current work journey, Southwest was there for me, and the cardboard scored me an extra-legroom seat on a five-and-a-half-hour flight — totally free.
Associated: Southwest Rapid Rewards: How to earn and redeem points, elite status and more
Southwest got here in clutch
Earlier than renewing my card, I had just about stopped flying Southwest. I wasn’t thrilled with the provider’s sweeping changes or its credit card overhaul. And whereas I had constantly flown Southwest to go to my mother and father a minimum of yearly during the last decade-plus, they not too long ago moved to Asheville, North Carolina, an airport that Southwest does not serve.
After so a few years, it appeared my relationship with Southwest had reached its ultimate vacation spot.
So, after I wanted to journey from my house base in Denver to Fort Lauderdale for a piece convention, I booked a nonstop flight on United (my go-to airline since Southwest’s revamp). Then, a number of weeks earlier than the journey, United alerted me that they’d canceled my afternoon flight and moved me to a night flight — which might land at midnight the evening earlier than my convention.
Not eager to be a zombie for my work occasion, I regarded into different choices. Fortunately, Southwest had a direct flight that departed across the similar time as my authentic flight. I gladly rebooked (and acquired a full refund from United as a result of it had brought about the schedule change).
This was sufficient to persuade me to attempt Southwest once more, and it gave me an opportunity to check out a few of my card’s new perks. I hadn’t flown Southwest because the card replace; I hadn’t even skilled the provider’s new assigned seating coverage but.
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It was time for me to step into the new era of flying Southwest.
The seat improve course of
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers cardholders entry to “most well-liked” seats (close to the entrance of the airplane) at reserving. This might need gotten me to my convention resort a couple of minutes earlier, however in any other case shouldn’t be a perk that is typically price a lot to me.
What actually me was the opportunity of upgrading to an extra-legroom seat totally free 48 hours earlier than departure, one other perk for cardholders. When Southwest introduced its first-ever extra-legroom seats final yr, complimentary upgrades have been touted as one of many highlights of the Precedence card, however I used to be skeptical that I might really have the ability to snag one.
To provide myself the most effective probability, I logged into my Southwest account just a little earlier than the 48-hour mark so I might be able to improve as quickly as potential.
Once I checked the improve choices 5 minutes earlier than that, the seat map confirmed a handful of extra-legroom seats out there, ranging in worth from $78 to $84.
Once I checked once more precisely 48 hours earlier than departure, the value had dropped to zero. A few the extra-legroom seats have been already gone, suggesting different passengers — in all probability cardholders or A-List members — had had the identical thought as me.
The improve course of was easy. I clicked my seat of selection, an aisle seat within the emergency exit row, then adopted the prompts to substantiate the complimentary improve.
What is that this perk price?
At solely 5’2″, I do not worth further legroom as a lot as some passengers. However I nonetheless appreciated the additional house on this four-hour flight, which ended up being nearer to 6 hours as a result of a weather-induced floor cease in Denver.
Plus, my row had solely two seats as a substitute of three. If I had been touring with my associate, I may have used this perk to get us a whole row to ourselves.
That is as a result of the Precedence card’s most well-liked and extra-legroom seat advantages apply to cardholders and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation. You might save a whole lot of {dollars} by leveraging this card to get free upgrades in your complete household — in concept.
I say that as a result of, after I upgraded my seat on the 48-hour mark, there weren’t many extra-legroom seats out there subsequent to one another. There have been a pair pairs, and the remainder have been lone center seats.
So for those who’re touring with a bunch, you might have to decide on between upgrading your seats and sitting collectively. If you happen to typically journey with a associate, nevertheless, your odds of scoring two extra-legroom seats collectively are significantly better.
Associated: How to earn and use the Southwest Companion Pass
Did this modification my thoughts?
On one hand, I used to be impressed with how simple it was to improve my seat totally free. However will or not it’s price renewing my Precedence card in 2027, on the new annual price of $229?
That hinges on how a lot I find yourself flying Southwest this yr.
I am going to actually be taking a better have a look at Southwest after I guide flights sooner or later. If the provider serves my vacation spot — and its community has been steadily rising, with new domestic routes and a number of other international partners — I will be far more inclined to decide on Southwest understanding I’ve a great shot at scoring further legroom.
Chase’s supply appears to have executed its job: It satisfied me not solely to maintain the cardboard (for now), but in addition to provide Southwest one other look.
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Present Southwest bank card presents
If further legroom is tempting you so as to add the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card to your pockets, you will get an elevated welcome bonus proper now. You may earn 90,000 Fast Rewards bonus factors after spending $3,000 inside the first three months from account opening — that is price a powerful $1,125 by TPG’s Could 2026 valuations.
Southwest has two different cobranded playing cards, each providing elevated bonuses proper now. These do not present complimentary extra-legroom upgrades, however they arrive with different perks while you fly Southwest, like free checked luggage, seat choice and precedence boarding:
The data for the Southwest Premier Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
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Backside line
This expertise jogged my memory that the world of journey and loyalty is consistently altering. I assumed I used to be executed with Southwest after the provider’s sweeping adjustments, however a single bank card perk satisfied me to provide it a second probability.
It additionally taught me how simple it’s to get a card’s annual fee waived (a minimum of, for one yr). If you happen to really feel uncertain about holding a card, it is price calling the retention division to see if you will get a yr’s price of perks totally free, or another retention bonus. Perhaps you may find yourself altering your thoughts, or perhaps not — however both manner, you’ll be able to probably squeeze one other yr’s price of worth out of the cardboard with out paying one other annual price.
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