Hyperlink: Apply now for the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Card
Southwest Airways is likely one of the hottest airways in america, due to its intensive home route community, vouchers that by no means expire, and two free checked luggage. The provider’s co-branded bank cards are fairly widespread, and we’ve simply seen some big new restricted time welcome presents rolled out on them.
Southwest Speedy Rewards card welcome presents
For purposes via Wednesday, June 26, 2024, all three Southwest Speedy Rewards private bank cards are providing an elevated welcome bonus of 85,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $3,000 inside the first three months. This welcome bonus applies to the next three playing cards:
For context, beforehand the playing cards provided bonuses of as much as 50,000 factors, so that is significantly higher. Speedy Rewards is a revenue-based frequent flyer program, and personally, I worth Speedy Rewards factors at 1.2 cents every. So to me, the factors are value over $1,000.
The knowledge and related card particulars on this web page for the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Eligibility for Southwest Speedy Rewards Visa playing cards
With regards to getting accepted for a private Southwest Visa card, you’re not eligible for one in every of these playing cards if you’re:
- A present cardmember of any private Southwest Visa Card
- A earlier cardmember of any private Southwest Visa Card who obtained a brand new cardmember bonus inside the final 24 months
See this put up for Southwest bank card eligibility restrictions, and see this put up for Chase’s common software restrictions.
Variations between Southwest private bank cards
The welcome bonus on all three of those private playing cards is similar, although the annual charges vary from $69 to $149. The temptation is perhaps to go for the cardboard with the bottom annual payment, although as I’ll clarify beneath, the premium playing cards can symbolize a significantly better worth.
What are the variations between these three Southwest bank cards?
What all three Southwest Visa playing cards have in widespread
All three Southwest private bank cards have one essential factor in widespread, which is 25% financial savings on inflight drink and Wi-Fi purchases. All the opposite advantages of the playing cards differ, so let’s have a look at these variations.
Southwest bank card annual charges
The three private Southwest Visa all have completely different annual charges, as follows:
Southwest bank card anniversary bonus factors
As an incentive to carry onto the Southwest Visa, you earn a sure variety of anniversary bonus factors yearly (this occurs each 12 billing cycles after you open your card):
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Card has a 3,000 level anniversary bonus
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Card has a 6,000 level anniversary bonus
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Card has a 7,500 level anniversary bonus
I’ll discuss extra concerning the worth of Southwest Airways factors beneath, however as a common rule of thumb, you possibly can anticipate that factors might be redeemed for ~1.2 cents towards the price of a ticket. To crunch the numbers additional:
- On the $69 annual payment Plus Card you’re incomes $36 value of factors ($33 lower than the annual payment)
- On the $99 annual payment Premier Card you’re incomes $72 value of factors ($27 lower than the annual payment)
- On the $149 annual payment Precedence Card you’re incomes $90 value of factors ($59 lower than the annual payment)
Southwest bank card return on spending
All three private Southwest Airways bank cards provide completely different returns on spending:
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Card presents 2x factors on Southwest purchases, native transit and commuting, web, cable, telephone providers, and choose streaming, and 1x factors on all different purchases
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Card presents 3x factors on Southwest purchases, 2x factors on native transit and commuting, web, cable, telephone providers, and choose streaming, and 1x factors on all different purchases; moreover, earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Factors for each $10,000 spent on the cardboard
- The Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Card presents 3x factors on Southwest purchases, 2x factors on native transit and commuting, web, cable, telephone providers, and choose streaming, and 1x factors on all different purchases; moreover, earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Factors for each $10,000 spent on the cardboard
Southwest bank card overseas transaction charges
Whereas the Southwest Plus Card has 3% overseas transaction charges, each the Southwest Premier and Southwest Precedence don’t have any overseas transaction charges, making them good choices for worldwide journey.
Southwest Precedence Visa Card advantages
Whereas the advantages of the Southwest Plus Card and Southwest Premier Card are comparable other than the anniversary bonuses and overseas transaction charges, I wished to speak concerning the Southwest Precedence Card, which is what I like to recommend individuals apply for.
That’s probably the most premium model of the cardboard and has a $149 annual payment. Is the incremental annual payment value it over the Plus and Premier variations, which have annual charges which might be $50 and $80 decrease, respectively?
This card presents three additional perks that just about appear too good to be true and, for my part, greater than justify the incremental annual payment.
Southwest Precedence Card $75 annual journey credit score
The Southwest Precedence Visa Card presents a $75 journey credit score each anniversary 12 months, beginning your first 12 months (so this isn’t based mostly on the calendar 12 months, however somewhat is predicated on each 12 billing cycles).
This may be utilized towards any Southwest flight buy, so the one factor excluded is inflight drink, Wi-Fi purchases, and upgraded boardings.
The assertion credit score ought to put up to your account the identical day the eligible buy posts to your account.
For those who spend not less than $75 per 12 months on Southwest, this credit score must be value face worth. So far as I’m involved, that lowers the true “out-of-pocket” on this card from $149 per 12 months to $74 per 12 months.
4 upgraded boardings on Southwest Airways
Only for having the Southwest Precedence Card, you get 4 upgraded boardings per anniversary 12 months when accessible.
You’ll be reimbursed for the acquisition of as much as 4 upgraded boardings in positions A1-15. This may be bought on the departure gate or ticket counter on the day of journey. You should utilize this on 4 completely different events, or in the event you desire, you need to use them on a single flight (in the event you’re touring with three others).
It may well take as much as eight weeks for these to be reimbursed, although usually, you’ll discover it posts sooner than that.
The value of upgraded boardings varies from $30-149 based mostly on the size of the flight and demand, in order that profit might be value $120-596 yearly. This compares favorably to the 2 EarlyBird check-ins provided each anniversary 12 months on the opposite playing cards.
The Southwest Precedence Card greater than pays for itself
For those who fly Southwest with any frequency (even as soon as per 12 months), the Precedence Card is a no brainer. Each anniversary 12 months, you’re getting a $75 Southwest Airways journey credit score plus 7,500 factors (which I worth at $90).
That’s $165 of worth on a card with a $149 annual payment. That’s not even accounting for the upgraded boardings.
How a lot are Speedy Rewards factors value?
Southwest Airways Speedy Rewards is a revenue-based program, which means that the variety of factors required for an award redemption is immediately tied to how a lot a ticket would value in money.
As a common rule of thumb, you want round 85 Southwest Speedy Rewards factors per greenback of airfare, which means every Southwest Speedy Rewards level will get you about 1.2 cents towards an airfare buy (which is how I arrive at my valuation of Speedy Rewards factors).
There are additional issues to recollect when redeeming factors on Southwest Airways.
Change your Southwest tickets free of charge
Many airways have change and cancelation charges on award tickets as a cash seize, whereas Southwest Airways prices no change charges. If you wish to change your ticket final minute (or apply it to a future ticket), you possibly can apply that worth ahead. That’s superior.
What I typically do is e-book a Southwest Airways award ticket as a backup choice if I’m hoping for an additional flight to open up, as a result of I can at all times cancel it if want be.
Two free checked luggage with each Southwest ticket
Southwest is thought for providing free checked luggage, as you get two free checked luggage on all itineraries. Sure, this even contains Speedy Rewards redemptions!
Southwest presents free snacks & comfortable drinks
In contrast to different airways, Southwest Airways doesn’t cost for snacks (the airline doesn’t even promote any snacks, as the whole lot is free), and comfortable drinks are free. The one factor onboard you possibly can pay for is Wi-Fi and alcohol, and the co-branded bank cards even provide financial savings on these purchases.
Southwest doesn’t cost for seat assignments
Whereas numerous airways will cost for seat assignments, Southwest has a very completely different system. The airline has open seating, so the seat you get depends upon how early you check-in.
Simply check-in on-line as near 24 hours as potential and it is best to have a reasonably good boarding “place.” Better of all, you need to use your upgraded boardings or EarlyBird check-in to safe the perfect boarding place.
Speedy Rewards factors don’t expire so long as your account is open
It’s that straightforward — so long as your account is open your factors don’t expire.
Southwest’s Premier & Efficiency Enterprise playing cards
For those who’re in search of a enterprise bank card, you’re in luck, as a result of the presents on enterprise playing cards are glorious as properly:
- The $99 annual payment Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (evaluate) has a welcome bonus of 60,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $3,000 inside three months; the cardboard presents perks like 6,000 anniversary factors yearly
- The $199 annual payment Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card (evaluate) has a welcome bonus of 80,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $5,000 inside three months; the cardboard presents unimaginable perks like 9,000 anniversary bonus factors, 4 upgraded boardings per 12 months, a day by day Wi-Fi credit score on Southwest, a International Entry or TSA PreCheck credit score, and rather more
Backside line
For purposes via June 26, 2024, the Southwest Airways private co-branded bank cards are all providing elevated welcome bonuses, which may get you numerous journey on Southwest. Of the three playing cards, I feel the $149 annual payment Southwest Precedence Card is the perfect of the choices, given the additional perks it presents, which greater than justify the annual payment.
Do you propose on selecting up a Chase Southwest bank card with this provide?
The knowledge and related card particulars on this web page for the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
