Southwest Premier Card Evaluation: Strong Card for Southwest Loyalists

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card Highlights

• Card sort: Airline, Southwest, Travel
• Welcome Bonus: 50,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Annual Payment: $99

Rewards: Earn 3X factors on Southwest® purchases, 2X factors on Speedy Rewards® resort and automotive rental companions, 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare, 2X factors on web, cable, and cellphone providers; choose streaming, 1X factors on all different purchases.

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card Overview

The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is a strong selection for individuals who “LUV” to fly Southwest. It has an inexpensive price of underneath $100, and its advantages can simply cowl the fee once you fly Southwest usually. The cardboard earns bonus factors on purchases with Southwest and its resort and rental automotive companions, plus additional factors on native transit and streaming, cable, web and cellphone providers. Plus, your spending can earn factors in the direction of qualifying for A-Listing standing and the airline’s Companion Cross. Cardholders are rewarded for renewing their card every year with anniversary factors and EarlyBird Verify-in credit.

Who’s the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card card good for?

The Southwest Premier Card is right for vacationers who prefer to fly Southwest however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual price of the Southwest Priority Card. Whereas this card’s annual price of $99 is greater than the Southwest Plus Card (the airline’s entry-level card), the cardboard’s 6,000 anniversary factors every year, greater earnings and different perks are price the additional cash. The additional 3,000 factors are price somewhat over $40, which exceeds the distinction in value by itself.

For vacationers flying to Southwest’s worldwide locations, you’ll get monetary savings with the Premier Card as a result of it doesn’t cost international transaction charges. For those who persist with the lower-cost Plus Card, you’ll should pay these charges. Moreover, Southwest vacationers who wish to earn A-Listing standing are additionally higher off with the Premier Card. It earns 1,500 tier qualifying factors for each $10,000 you spend, however the Plus Card doesn’t.

Who shouldn’t get the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card card?

Individuals who wish to journey internationally could also be upset with the Southwest Premier Card. Whereas Southwest presents restricted flights to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, it doesn’t fly to Europe, Asia, Africa or South America. It additionally doesn’t fly to Canada, which borders the U.S. to the north. As a substitute, these vacationers ought to apply for a bank card from an airline that flies internationally or companions with airways that do.

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card: How you can earn rewards

The Southwest Premier card presents 4 major methods to earn rewards for cardholders. These alternatives permit cardholders to show each buy into Speedy Rewards factors in the direction of future journey.

Welcome bonus

As a brand new cardholder, you possibly can earn a welcome bonus of fifty,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Spending slightly below $350 per 30 days through the promotional interval allows you to earn the welcome bonus on this card. This card’s minimal spending requirement can be a lot decrease than the $3,000 to $4,000 usually required from a journey bank card.

Class bonuses

Southwest Premier cardholders can earn as much as 3X factors when making purchases within the card’s bonus classes. This highest bonus class of 3X factors on Southwest® purchases, which incorporates flights, upgrades to a different fare class, charges, inflight purchases and extra.

Whenever you e book resorts and rental vehicles with Southwest companions, you’ll earn 2X factors. The cardboard additionally earns 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare. The ultimate 2X classes are choose streaming providers and web, cable and phone providers.

On a regular basis purchases

Not all your purchases earn bonus factors, however they’ll earn at the least 1X factors. With Southwest factors price a mean of 1.4 cents every, you’re incomes the equal of 1.4% again towards journey. There aren’t any limits on the variety of Speedy Rewards factors you possibly can earn every year.

Referring others to the cardboard

Chase Refer A Good friend offers cardholders the chance to earn Speedy Rewards factors once they refer family and friends. Every profitable referral earns 20,000 factors, as much as a most of 100,000 factors per 12 months. The financial institution could ship a Kind 1099 for the worth of the factors, which may improve your taxable revenue.

How you can redeem Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card rewards

Like many rewards packages, Southwest Speedy Rewards factors might be redeemed in some ways. Redemption choices embody Southwest flights, present playing cards, merchandise, resorts, experiences, occasions and extra. Nonetheless, many of those choices provide subpar worth, so we’re highlighting those who present the largest return.

Ebook Southwest flights

Southwest is common amongst vacationers due to its low fares, two free checked luggage and lack of change or cancellation charges. Speedy Rewards members can redeem factors for any seat on any flight with out blackout dates. If there’s a money ticket obtainable, you possibly can e book it with factors. Nonetheless, the draw back is that Southwest doesn’t provide enterprise or firstclass flights, so you possibly can’t get excessive worth for its factors. As a substitute, every level is price about 1.4 cents every towards Wanna Get Away fares. You possibly can e book different fares, however they typically provide decrease worth.

Pay Your self Again

Cardholders could also be conversant in the Pay Your self Again characteristic from different Chase bank cards. With Pay Your self Again, you possibly can redeem factors for assertion credit that cowl annual charges or eligible purchases made inside the final 90 days in your card. Via March 31, 2024, cardholders can redeem as much as $300 price of factors towards grocery purchases. Whenever you redeem factors with Pay Your self Again, you’ll obtain 0.8 cents per level. This isn’t a high-value redemption, however it’s a good solution to flip factors into money once you don’t have instant journey plans.

Speedy Rewards Entry Occasions

It’s laborious to put a selected worth on unique occasions since many aren’t obtainable on the market to most of the people. These occasions fluctuate all year long, they usually usually have a restricted variety of tickets on the market. On the time of this text, choices included personal concert events with Eli Younger Band and Echosmith, a Reside within the Winery occasion and a golf and pickleball getaway in Cabo San Lucas. For instance, tickets to the Echosmith live performance have been obtainable for five,000 factors (price roughly $70) and included complimentary cocktails, appetizers and a seated dinner.

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card charges and charges

• Annual price: $99
• International transaction price: None
• Buy APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable

Further advantages

Along with incomes and redeeming factors, the Southwest Premier Card presents advantages that improve the cardboard’s worth.

• Anniversary bonus. Whenever you renew the cardboard, you’ll obtain 6,000 anniversary factors every year price roughly $84.
• EarlyBird Verify-ins. Verify into your flights earlier than the 24-hour window with EarlyBird Verify-in. Cardholders get two EarlyBirds free per 12 months that keep away from additional charges beginning at $15.
• Low cost on inflight purchases. Get 25% again on inflight purchases of WiFi, drinks and snacks.
• Misplaced baggage reimbursement. Your checked or carry-on baggage is roofed in opposition to loss or injury for as much as $3,000 per passenger.
• Baggage delay insurance coverage. When your baggage is delayed by six hours or longer, you’ll obtain as much as $100 per day for every passenger (most of three days).
• No international transaction charges. When making purchases exterior the U.S., you received’t be charged hidden charges that may be as much as 3%.
• Buy safety. New purchases are coated in opposition to injury or theft for 120 days after the acquisition date. Submit claims as much as $500 per merchandise, with a most of $50,000 per account.
• Prolonged guarantee safety. Obtain an additional 12 months on producer warranties on eligible objects.
• Earn A-Listing factors. For each $10,000 you spend every year, you’ll obtain 1,500 A-Listing tier qualifying factors towards elite standing.
• Companion Cross. All factors earned on purchases, together with the welcome bonus, depend towards incomes the Southwest Companion Cross. Plus, cardholders get a lift of 10,000 factors every year, which makes it simpler to qualify.
• Complimentary DashPass. Obtain free DoorDash DashPass membership by means of December 31, 2024. This can be a worth of $9.99 per 30 days.

Bank cards just like Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card

The Southwest Premier Card presents enticing advantages to vacationers preferring Southwest Airways, however there are different playing cards which may be a greater match primarily based on their spending habits, targets and journey plans.

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked^® Card vs. Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card

Vacationers who like Southwest however need extra redemption choices ought to take into account the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. Its factors switch to 14 airways and resorts, together with Southwest, at a 1:1 ratio. Moreover, factors might be redeemed for money again, journey, present playing cards and extra. Whenever you e book journey by means of Chase, you’ll get 25% extra factors.

The Sapphire Most well-liked earns 3x factors on eating, on-line grocery purchases and choose streaming providers, plus 2x factors on journey purchases. These bonus classes specializing in on a regular basis purchases could earn extra factors on on a regular basis purchases than the restricted class bonuses of the Southwest Premier Card. Sapphire journey protections additionally provide larger peace of thoughts because the Premier Card’s advantages solely shield your baggage. With the Sapphire card, you’ll get journey cancellation, interruption and delay safety, plus major rental automotive protection, baggage delay insurance coverage, buy safety and an prolonged guarantee.

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card vs. Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card

Frequent Southwest vacationers could also be higher off with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Whereas it has a better annual price than the Southwest Premier Card ($149 vs. $99), its $75 annual Southwest credit score and 4 Upgraded Boardings greater than make-up for the distinction. The welcome bonus, incomes energy and bonus classes of each playing cards are the identical, so that you’ll earn the identical variety of factors irrespective of which of those playing cards you employ.

Upgraded Boardings begin at $30 per phase and declare one of the best boarding place obtainable between A1 and A15. The Early Hen Checkins that include the Premier Card begin at $15, however they don’t assure a boarding place within the A bunch. Each packages are topic to availability, and chances are you’ll not have the ability to use both profit in your flight.

Is the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card best for you?

The Southwest Premier is a wonderful choice for vacationers who wish to earn Speedy Rewards factors however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual price of the Southwest Precedence Card. It earns 3X factors on Southwest® purchases and consists of quite a few advantages for Southwest flights, elite standing and the Companion Cross. This card is a keeper 12 months after 12 months due to its anniversary bonus and two complimentary EarlyBird Verify-ins every year greater than cowl the price of its annual price.

Incessantly requested questions

How a lot is the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card annual price?

The annual price for the Southwest Premier Card is $99. To offset this value, it consists of 6,000 anniversary factors every year price $84 towards flights and two EarlyBird Verify-ins which can be price at the least $15 every. For those who get pleasure from flying Southwest Airways, these advantages are definitely worth the annual price.

Can I improve from Southwest Plus to Premier?

Sure, you possibly can contact Chase customer support and request an improve from Southwest Plus to the Premier Card. Nonetheless, you typically received’t earn a welcome bonus when upgrading. Because of this, many purchasers shut their Plus Card and apply for a brand new Premier Card for the chance to earn a bonus.

Is upgrading to the Southwest Precedence Card price it?

Individuals who journey on Southwest continuously will discover worth in upgrading to the Southwest Precedence Card. Though it has a $149 annual price, it consists of 4 Upgraded Boardings and an annual $75 Southwest credit score. The credit scale back your web out-of-pocket value to only $74, which is decrease than what you’ll pay for the Premier Card.

Please observe that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to vary at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of.