Southwest Premier Card Evaluate: Stable 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® lodge 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 stable selection for individuals who “LUV” to fly Southwest. It has an inexpensive charge of underneath $100, and its advantages can simply cowl the price if you fly Southwest recurrently. The cardboard earns bonus factors on purchases with Southwest and its lodge and rental automobile companions, plus further factors on native transit and streaming, cable, web and telephone companies. Plus, your spending can earn factors in the direction of qualifying for A-Record 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 wish to fly Southwest however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual charge of the Southwest Precedence Card. Whereas this card’s annual charge 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 price the additional cash. The additional 3,000 factors are price just a little 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 international transaction charges. In the event you stick to the lower-cost Plus Card, you’ll need to pay these charges. Moreover, Southwest vacationers who wish to earn A-Record 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 disenchanted with the Southwest Premier Card. Whereas Southwest affords 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: Methods to earn rewards

The Southwest Premier card affords 4 main methods to earn rewards for cardholders. These alternatives enable 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 per thirty days throughout the promotional interval lets you earn the welcome bonus on this card. This card’s minimal spending requirement can also 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.

If you e book inns 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 are going to earn at the very 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 are not any limits on the variety of Speedy Rewards factors you possibly can earn every year.

Referring others to the cardboard

Chase Refer A Buddy 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 yr. The financial institution could ship a Type 1099 for the worth of the factors, which might improve your taxable revenue.

Methods to redeem Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card rewards

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

E-book Southwest flights

Southwest is fashionable amongst vacationers due to its low fares, two free checked baggage 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. Nevertheless, the draw back is that Southwest doesn’t provide enterprise or top notch 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’ll be able to 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 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 means of March 31, 2024, cardholders can redeem as much as $300 price of factors towards grocery purchases. If 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 fast journey plans.

Speedy Rewards Entry Occasions

It’s onerous to put a selected worth on unique occasions since many aren’t obtainable on the market to most of the people. These occasions range all year long, and so they 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 Stay within the Winery occasion and a golf and pickleball getaway in Cabo San Lucas. For instance, tickets to the Echosmith live performance had 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 costs

• Annual charge: $99
• Overseas transaction charge: None
• Buy APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable

Extra advantages

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

• Anniversary bonus. If 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 yr that keep away from further 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 outdoors the U.S., you gained’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 yr on producer warranties on eligible gadgets.
• Earn A-Record factors. For each $10,000 you spend every year, you’ll obtain 1,500 A-Record 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 way of December 31, 2024. This can be a worth of $9.99 per thirty days.

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

The Southwest Premier Card affords engaging 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 think about the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked^® Card. Its factors switch to 14 airways and inns, together with Southwest, at a 1:1 ratio. Moreover, factors may be redeemed for money again, journey, reward playing cards and extra. If you e book journey by way 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 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 provide larger peace of thoughts because the Premier Card’s advantages solely defend 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 charge 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 utilize.

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 applications are topic to availability, and you could not be capable of use both profit in your flight.

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

The Southwest Premier is a superb choice for vacationers who wish to earn Speedy Rewards factors however aren’t able to decide to the upper annual charge 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 yr after yr due to its anniversary bonus and two complimentary EarlyBird Verify-ins every year greater than cowl the price of its annual charge.

Ceaselessly requested questions

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

The annual charge 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 very least $15 every. In the event you get pleasure from flying Southwest Airways, these advantages are definitely worth the annual charge.

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. Nevertheless, you typically gained’t earn a welcome bonus when upgrading. For that reason, many shoppers 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 often will discover worth in upgrading to the Southwest Precedence Card. Though it has a $149 annual charge, it consists of 4 Upgraded Boardings and an annual $75 Southwest credit score. The credit cut back your internet 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 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.