Southwest Premier Card Evaluation: Strong Card for Southwest Loyalists

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card Highlights

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

Rewards: Earn 3X factors on Southwest® purchases, 2X factors on Speedy Rewards® resort and automobile rental companions, 2X factors on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare, 2X factors on web, cable, and telephone companies; 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 alternative for individuals who “LUV” to fly Southwest. It has an affordable payment of underneath $100, and its advantages can simply cowl the price if you fly Southwest repeatedly. The cardboard earns bonus factors on purchases with Southwest and its resort and rental automobile companions, plus additional factors on native transit and streaming, cable, web and telephone companies. Plus, your spending can earn factors in the direction of qualifying for A-Checklist 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 good for vacationers who prefer to fly Southwest however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual payment of the Southwest Precedence Card. Whereas this card’s annual payment of $99 is larger than the Southwest Plus Card (the airline’s entry-level card), the cardboard’s 6,000 anniversary factors every year, larger earnings and different perks are value the additional cash. The additional 3,000 factors are value a bit over $40, which exceeds the distinction in value by itself.

For vacationers flying to Southwest’s worldwide locations, you’ll lower your expenses with the Premier Card as a result of it doesn’t cost overseas transaction charges. If you happen to follow the lower-cost Plus Card, you’ll need to pay these charges. Moreover, Southwest vacationers who wish to earn A-Checklist 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 dissatisfied 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 an alternative, 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: The right way to earn rewards

The Southwest Premier card presents 4 main 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 just below $350 monthly in the course of 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 sometimes 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.

While you e book resorts and rental automobiles 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 companies and web, cable and phone companies.

On a regular basis purchases

Not your entire purchases earn bonus factors, however they may earn no less than 1X factors. With Southwest factors value a median 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 Pal provides 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 might enhance your taxable earnings.

The right way to 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 embrace Southwest flights, reward playing cards, merchandise, resorts, experiences, occasions and extra. Nonetheless, many of those choices supply subpar worth, so we’re highlighting those who present the largest return.

E book Southwest flights

Southwest is fashionable 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 out there, you possibly can e book it with factors. Nonetheless, the draw back is that Southwest doesn’t supply enterprise or top quality flights, so you possibly can’t get excessive worth for its factors. As an alternative, every level is value about 1.4 cents every towards Wanna Get Away fares. You’ll be able to e book different fares, however they often supply decrease worth.

Pay Your self Again

Cardholders could also be acquainted with the Pay Your self Again function 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. By March 31, 2024, cardholders can redeem as much as $300 value of factors towards grocery purchases. While 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 approach to flip factors into money if you don’t have instant journey plans.

Speedy Rewards Entry Occasions

It’s onerous to position a particular worth on unique occasions since many aren’t out there on the market to most people. These occasions range all year long, and so they typically have a restricted variety of tickets on the market. On the time of this text, choices included personal live shows 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 had been out there for five,000 factors (value roughly $70) and included complimentary cocktails, appetizers and a seated dinner.

Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card charges and charges

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

Extra advantages

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

• Anniversary bonus. While you renew the cardboard, you’ll obtain 6,000 anniversary factors every year value 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 overseas 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 lined 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 gadgets.
• Earn A-Checklist factors. For each $10,000 you spend every year, you’ll obtain 1,500 A-Checklist tier qualifying factors towards elite standing.
• Companion Cross. All factors earned on purchases, together with the welcome bonus, rely 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 monthly.

Bank cards much 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 based mostly on their spending habits, objectives and journey plans.

Chase Sapphire Most popular^® 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 Most popular^® 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, reward playing cards and extra. While you e book journey by means of Chase, you’ll get 25% extra factors.

The Sapphire Most popular earns 3x factors on eating, on-line grocery purchases and choose streaming companies, 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 supply higher 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 main rental automobile 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 Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card. Whereas it has the next annual payment 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 regardless of which of those playing cards you employ.

Upgraded Boardings begin at $30 per phase and declare the very best boarding place out there 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 gaggle. Each packages are topic to availability, and it’s possible 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 superb possibility for vacationers who wish to earn Speedy Rewards factors however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual payment of the Southwest Precedence Card. It earns 3X factors on Southwest® purchases and contains 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 payment.

Steadily requested questions

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

The annual payment for the Southwest Premier Card is $99. To offset this value, it contains 6,000 anniversary factors every year value $84 towards flights and two EarlyBird Verify-ins which might be value no less than $15 every. If you happen to get pleasure from flying Southwest Airways, these advantages are definitely worth the annual payment.

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 usually received’t earn a welcome bonus when upgrading. For that reason, 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 value it?

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

Please word that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to alter 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.