Comparing the personal Southwest credit cards: Pri...

Welcome presents are normally among the finest methods to distinguish between bank cards from the identical household. However what about Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards, which frequently have the very same sign-up bonus?

The next three playing cards are at present providing the identical nice welcome bonus. New candidates can earn a Companion Cross plus 30,000 bonus factors (price $405, based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations) after spending $4,000 inside the first three months of account opening:

The Companion Cross permits cardmembers to convey any journey associate free of charge on as many Southwest flights via February 28, 2026 (not together with taxes and charges from $5.60 one-way). Relying on whether or not you worth a better variety of bonus factors or a Companion Cross, this provide is on par with the best offers we’ve seen on these playing cards prior to now. These presents finish on March 31.

Regardless of their similar-sounding names, the three playing cards have necessary variations. Which one shall be greatest for you relies on how usually you fly Southwest and what number of of those playing cards’ respective perks you possibly can maximize. This is what you have to know to decide on.

The knowledge for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier 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.

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The Southwest Priority makes a really compelling case for itself.

Should you’re a frequent Southwest passenger, you may haven’t any hassle maxing out the $75 annual Southwest journey credit score, decreasing your efficient out-of-pocket price for this card from $149 to $74.

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Keep in mind, each greenback (or level) you spend on Southwest tickets stretches twice as far after you have the Companion Pass. That is as a result of if you e-book one ticket with both factors or money, you possibly can convey a companion alongside — and pay simply the taxes and charges. Thus, you would argue {that a} $75 credit score is definitely price $150 for Companion Cross holders, successfully slicing the annual price on the Southwest Precedence all the way down to zero.

Even when you’re unwilling to take that numerical leap, you may nonetheless spend much less every year with the Southwest Precedence than when you opted for the mid-tier Southwest Premier. With the Southwest Precedence, you’ll obtain further bonus factors in your cardholder anniversary — 1,500 greater than the Southwest Premier — which ought to get you $20 in further rewards based mostly on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

The principle argument in opposition to the Southwest Precedence is that you could pay the total $149 annual fee upfront. Nonetheless, if you should utilize the above perks, you possibly can offset a big portion of that price.

Associated: Why I choose Southwest every time

Should you’re searching for a decrease annual price to earn the present sign-up bonus, you possibly can choose between the Southwest Premier (with a $99 annual price) or the Southwest Plus (with a $69 annual price).

What does the additional $30 a yr on the Southwest Premier get you? For starters, your anniversary factors bonus shall be 6,000 as an alternative of three,000. In line with TPG’s February 2025 valuation, 6,000 Southwest factors are price $81, greater than making up for the cardboard’s larger annual price.

Plus, when you go for the most affordable card — the Southwest Plus — you may additionally get hit with a 3% price on international transactions. This is not an enormous downside contemplating that the majority of Southwest’s community is home flights, however Southwest’s low-cost fares, low charges and above-average customer support make for an awesome excuse to make a journey to a Caribbean destination at an reasonably priced price. Because the Premier would not cost foreign transaction fees, that is one other means its barely larger annual price is price paying for many vacationers.

Lastly, with the Southwest Premier, you possibly can earn tier qualifying factors (TQPs) towards elite status: 1,500 TQPs per $5,000 spent on purchases in a calendar yr (with no restrict on what number of TQPs you possibly can earn from bank card spending). If A-List or A-List Preferred status pursuits you, select the Southwest Premier.

Associated: How to decide if a credit card’s annual fee is worth paying

Chase’s restrictions on credit card applications maintain most individuals from making use of for Southwest bank cards.

The issuer’s 5/24 rule applies to all three of those playing cards. Chase will virtually definitely reject candidates in the event that they’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards (from any issuers) within the final 24 months. Should you’re at (or over) your 5 slots, we advocate not losing an software on these playing cards since you’ll doubtless get declined. Keep in mind that enterprise playing cards from any issuer usually don’t count toward 5/24.

Along with the 5/24 rule, the phrases and circumstances for the sign-up bonus of every of those playing cards state:

The product is just not out there to both (i) present Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards® Credit score Card, or (ii) earlier Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards Credit score Card who obtained a brand new Cardmember bonus inside the final 24 months. This doesn’t apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Speedy Rewards Enterprise Card and Worker Credit score Card merchandise

So, when you at present maintain one in all these Southwest private bank cards or have obtained a bonus for one within the final 24 months, you’ll not be eligible for these presents.

Learn extra: The ultimate guide to Southwest credit card eligibility

Southwest Airways bank cards proceed to be well-liked. Anybody who flies Southwest even only a handful of occasions per yr should not have any downside maxing out the journey advantages that include the Southwest Priority. After accounting for all of its perks, that is, fingers down, the cardboard that can add probably the most worth to your pockets as a daily Southwest flyer.

If the annual price for Southwest Precedence is just too excessive for you, you may get higher worth from Southwest Premier relatively than Southwest Plus.

To study extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Southwest Priority, Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus cards.

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Study extra: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

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