Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card overview
The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is the center of the pack for private bank cards from Southwest Airways. Whereas mid-tier airline bank cards typically haven’t got many premium perks, the Southwest Premier’s lack of overseas transaction charges and 6,000 anniversary bonus factors ought to assist offset its $149 annual charge. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier bank card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Savvy TPG readers know we typically do not suggest constructing your factors and miles technique round a single cobranded airline bank card. That is as a result of these have a tendency to supply fewer perks and fewer flexibility than comparably priced transferable factors and miles playing cards.
In the case of the Southwest Speedy Rewards card portfolio, you will typically discover higher incomes charges and extra versatile redemption choices with playing cards that earn Chase Final Rewards factors. The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges), for instance, lets you switch Chase factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards at a 1:1 fee.
That stated, Southwest bank cards are highly regarded amongst Southwest followers. The provider simply unveiled that each one 5 playing cards, together with the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier card, have been refreshed. This refresh of the Southwest Premier card provides many advantages that improve the day-of-travel expertise and modifications up bonus class earnings. Sadly, that comes at an over 50% annual charge improve to $149.
Be aware that Southwest is in the midst of sweeping modifications, together with its boarding course of, bag charges and seat choice course of.
With a really helpful credit score rating of 670 or greater, the Premier is the mid-tier model of the three private Southwest playing cards. It gives a superb stability of perks and an annual charge that might make it worthy of a spot in your card assortment.
This is every part you could know in regards to the Southwest Premier card that will help you determine whether or not it ought to be in your pockets.
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Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card professionals and cons
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Associated: How to decide on your greatest bank card technique
Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card welcome provide
New Southwest Premier cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 factors included on this welcome provide are value $1,400. That is the highest factors welcome provide we have seen on this card with no Companion Cross.
Nevertheless, relying in your spending habits, you may very well have the possibility to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Cross since you would be 114,000* factors nearer to the 135,000 factors wanted to earn a Companion Cross.
*This whole is predicated on the 100,000 factors you’d earn from the welcome bonus, plus a further 4,000 factors you’d obtain from the spending requirement and the ten,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors increase you’d additionally earn.
Do not forget that you’ll be able to’t earn a welcome bonus on the Southwest Premier if you happen to presently have a private Southwest card or have earned a welcome bonus on a private Southwest card prior to now 24 months.
Additionally, Southwest’s cobranded playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. Should you’ve opened 5 or extra new accounts over the previous 24 months (throughout all issuers, not simply Chase), your software will possible be denied.
Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions
Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card advantages
Whereas we sometimes do not anticipate an airline bank card with a $149 annual charge to return loaded with premium perks, the Southwest Premier card has a number of advantages, together with many vital day-of-travel advantages. It is vital to notice that present cardholders will obtain all current advantages till Dec. 31 and have entry to the brand new advantages instantly.
You may obtain 6,000 bonus factors on every account anniversary, that are value $84 in line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. That covers greater than half of this card’s annual charge.
Day of journey advantages embrace:
- Two EarlyBird Verify-Ins, which may price as much as $99 every, per yr (for flights working in 2025; ends Dec. 31)
- Free first checked bag for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- Group 5 precedence boarding for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation (when you’ve got A-list standing, it is possible for you to to board with an earlier group)
- Most popular seat choice inside 48 hours of departure for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- A 25% low cost on inflight purchases
Cardholders may earn Southwest A-Record elite standing extra shortly. You may earn 1,500 bonus tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 you spend in a calendar yr, with no cap. Moreover, cardholders additionally obtain a ten,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors increase every year.
Plus, you will obtain one promotional 15% flight low cost code every anniversary yr (excluding Primary fares) and will not be charged overseas transaction charges.
Associated: Southwest Speedy Rewards is now providing Money + Factors redemption
Incomes factors on the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Most airline bank cards award bonus factors or miles for purchases straight with the provider, and that is definitely true right here: You may earn:
- 3 factors per greenback spent with Southwest (4.2% return primarily based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on Speedy Rewards resort and automobile rental companions (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing providers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and cellphone providers and with choose streaming suppliers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent at grocery shops and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per yr (2.8% return)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases (1.4% return)
It is vital to notice that present cardholders will obtain the brand new incomes charges instantly.
Most of the double-point bonus classes shall be eliminated on the finish of the yr. It is good that the grocery retailer and restaurant bonus class has been added, nevertheless it appears fairly restricted with the low spending cap. If you could earn Southwest factors, this card gives respectable incomes charges, however you’ll be able to definitely do higher on on a regular basis spending with different playing cards.
It is also value noting that that is the one client Southwest card with no bonus class for gasoline. Since Chase lacks a large portfolio of playing cards that earn bonus factors on gasoline, that is an unlucky facet of the Southwest Premier.
Associated: The best way to earn over 300,000 factors this yr
Redeeming factors on the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card
When it is time to use your rewards, the most effective issues about redeeming Southwest Speedy Rewards factors is the simplicity of the method.
Whether or not you choose the most cost effective Primary fare or the most costly Enterprise Choose possibility, the price of your award ticket is tied to the money value of the flight. This implies you do not have to fret about getting the very best doable cent-per-point redemption worth.
In case you have Speedy Rewards factors, you may also redeem them for reward playing cards or merchandise. Nonetheless, the perfect worth comes from utilizing your factors for Southwest flights — together with choices to Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Emily Thompson, a e-newsletter and partnerships editor at TPG, loves utilizing Southwest factors, because the airline gives nice offers and runs frequent award gross sales on transcontinental flights from smaller airports like Pensacola Worldwide Airport (PNS) in Florida to Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon.
Southwest additionally frequently gives flash gross sales that you would be able to reap the benefits of to get a terrific deal when reserving with factors. Moreover, Southwest’s coverage of no change or cancellation charges means you’ll be able to lower your expenses in your award ticket if the worth drops. This flexibility ensures you may get the most cost effective redemption.
Associated: The best way to change or cancel a Southwest Airways flight
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card?
The Southwest Premier card has two apparent opponents: Chase’s different Southwest bank cards. Nevertheless, it is value contemplating a normal journey bank card with an analogous annual charge to see whether or not that possibility is healthier in your pockets.
For extra choices, take a look at our full record of the greatest journey bank cards.
Is the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card value it?
The anniversary bonus factors assist offset a number of the Southwest Premier card’s $149 annual charge. You may greater than recoup the annual charge if you happen to worth its different perks, like EarlyBird Verify-Ins (ends Dec. 31), free checked baggage, seat choice and inflight reductions. Nonetheless, most Southwest loyalists will get extra worth from the Southwest Precedence card as a substitute, because it gives extra advantages.
Backside line
The Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier card could be a good possibility for semifrequent Southwest flyers. Should you fly with Southwest often, this card’s value level and perks may make it a superb match in your pockets with out the upper price ticket on different journey bank cards.
Nevertheless, most Southwest followers will possible choose the advantages of the higher-tier Southwest Precedence card as a substitute.
Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card
