Promotional offers for new customers are typically one of the most effective methods to distinguish between credit cards within the same brand. However, what happens when Southwest Airlines’ consumer credit cards frequently offer identical introductory bonuses?
The three cards listed below provide an identical reward: you can earn 85,000 bonus points (valued at $1,105 as per TPG’s June 2024 estimates) after spending $3,000 within the initial three months of opening the account.
These promotions conclude on June 26.
Although their names sound similar, the three cards differ significantly in important ways. The best choice for you depends on your frequency of flying with Southwest and how well you can utilize the respective benefits of each card. Here’s the information you need to make an informed choice.
The Points Guy independently gathered the details for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier. The card information presented here has not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.
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Overview of Southwest credit cards
| Benefit | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | Priority Credit Card for Southwest Rapid Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $69 | $99 | $149 |
| Anniversary points bonus | 3,000 Rapid Rewards points | 6,000 Rapid Rewards points | 7,500 Rapid Rewards points |
| Earning rates | Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on Southwest purchases
Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on hotel and rental car partner purchases through Rapid Rewards. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting services (including ride-hailing apps). Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services. 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases |
3 points for every dollar spent on Southwest purchases
Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on hotel and rental car partner purchases through Rapid Rewards. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on local transportation and commuting (including ride-hailing services). Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on internet, cable, and phone services, as well as certain streaming services. 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases. |
Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on hotel and rental car partner purchases within the Rapid Rewards program. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting services, including ride-hailing apps. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on internet, cable, and phone services, as well as selected streaming services. 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases |
| Other perks | 2 EarlyBird check-ins annually
25% cashback on purchases made during flights Each year, receive a 10,000-point boost towards Companion Pass qualification. |
2 EarlyBird check-ins annually
Receive a 25% rebate on purchases made during your flight. Each year, receive a boost of 10,000 qualifying points towards a Companion Pass. |
$75 yearly Southwest travel credit
Receive 25% back on purchases made during your flight. Each year, receive a 10,000-point boost towards qualifying for a Companion Pass. |
| Tier qualifying points | N/A | You will earn 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status for each $5,000 spent within a calendar year, with no maximum limit. | Receive 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) towards A-List membership for every $5,000 spent in a calendar year (with no limit). |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None | None |
Are you a frequent Southwest flyer? Opt for the Priority option.
The Southwest Priority presents a highly persuasive argument in its favor.
As a frequent flyer with Southwest, you will easily take full advantage of the $75 annual Southwest travel credit, which lowers your effective out-of-pocket expense for this card from $149 to $74.
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Keep in mind that when you have the Companion Pass, every dollar (or point) spent on Southwest tickets effectively doubles in value. Here’s why: purchasing one ticket with points or cash allows you to bring a companion for just the cost of taxes and fees. As a result, a $75 credit can be considered worth $150 for Companion Pass holders, essentially offsetting the annual fee on the Southwest Priority card.
Even if you’re hesitant to make that numerical jump, you’ll save more annually with the Southwest Priority compared to the mid-tier Southwest Premier. The Southwest Priority offers extra bonus points on the cardholder anniversary — 1,500 more than the Southwest Premier — translating to an additional $20 in rewards according to TPG’s valuations.
One of the primary criticisms of the Southwest Priority card is the requirement to pay the $149 annual fee in advance. Nevertheless, if you take advantage of the mentioned benefits, you can significantly counterbalance that expense.
Related: Why I always opt for Southwest.
Looking for a lower yearly cost? Opt for the Premier over the Plus.
If you want a lower annual fee to get the current sign-up bonus, you can choose either the Southwest Premier, which has a $99 annual fee, or the Southwest Plus, which has a $69 annual fee.
How does the additional $30 per year for the Southwest Premier card benefit you? Firstly, your anniversary points bonus increases from 3,000 to 6,000 points. According to TPG, 6,000 Southwest points are worth $78, which more than compensates for the card’s increased annual fee.
If you choose the most affordable card — the Southwest Plus — there is a 3% fee on foreign transactions. This isn’t a major issue given that the majority of Southwest’s routes are domestic flights. However, Southwest’s competitive prices, low fees, and exceptional customer service provide a great reason to plan an affordable trip to a Caribbean destination. In such cases, it’s best not to use a card that charges foreign transaction fees.
Ultimately, the Southwest Premier card allows you to accumulate tier qualifying points (TQPs) towards elite status: 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent on purchases within a calendar year (with no cap on the TQPs you can earn through credit card expenditures). If achieving A-List or A-List Preferred status appeals to you, the Southwest Premier card is the one to select.
Related: Tips to determine if a credit card’s annual fee is justified
Qualification for Southwest credit card offers.
Chase’s limitations on credit card applications prevent the majority of individuals from applying for Southwest credit cards.
Chase’s 5/24 rule affects all three of these credit cards. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards (from any issuers) in the past 24 months, Chase will almost certainly reject your application. If you’re already at or above this limit, it’s advisable not to apply for these cards, as you’re likely to be turned down. Keep in mind that business cards from any issuer typically do not count towards the 5/24 rule.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Besides the 5/24 rule, the terms and conditions for earning the sign-up bonus on each of these cards indicate:
The product is not available to (i) current Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card holders, or (ii) previous Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card members who have received a new Cardmember bonus in the past 24 months. This restriction does not apply to holders of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.
Therefore, if you presently possess any of these Southwest personal credit cards or have acquired a bonus for one within the past 24 months, you will not qualify for these promotions.
Discover more: The comprehensive guide to qualifying for a Southwest credit card.
Bottom line
Southwest Airlines credit cards remain a favored choice. For individuals who fly with Southwest a few times annually, maximizing the travel benefits provided by the Southwest Priority card should be straightforward. Considering all its advantages, this card unequivocally offers the greatest value to regular Southwest travelers.
If you find the annual fee for the Southwest Priority to be too expensive, the Southwest Premier offers better value compared to the Southwest Plus.
To discover additional information, read our comprehensive reviews of the Southwest Priority, Southwest Premier, and Southwest Plus cards.
Submit your application here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Discover additional details: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card here.
Comparison: Airline credit cards versus travel credit cards