7 Things to Know Before Getting a Southwest Credit Card

Southwest bank cards go from so-so to strong by way of perks. The larger your dedication to Southwest Airways, the extra bank card perks you will discover helpful — and the upper the annual membership price will rise. You may additionally discover extra methods to offset these charges the extra you journey. Listed below are some issues to know earlier than getting a Southwest bank card.

Three co-branded Southwest bank cards can be found as private bank cards to shoppers, and the advantages and annual charges differ by card.

For instance, the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card has the bottom annual price of $69, nevertheless it prices international transaction charges and presents the fewest perks to Southwest flyers. The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card prices the highest price of $149 and presents extra precious advantages.

Listed below are among the advantages that every private Southwest card gives:

• Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months your account is open.

• Two EarlyBird check-ins per yr.

• 25% again on in-flight purchases.

• 3,000 anniversary factors.

• Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months your account is open.

• Two EarlyBird check-ins per yr.

• 25% again on in-flight purchases.

• 6,000 anniversary factors.

• 1,500 tier qualifying factors per $10,000 spent.

• Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months your account is open.

• 4 upgraded boarding positions per yr.

• 25% again on in-flight purchases.

• 7,500 anniversary factors.

• 1,500 tier qualifying factors per $10,000 spent.

• $75 Southwest annual journey credit score.

• No international transaction charges.

So, one of many issues to know earlier than getting a Southwest bank card is how typically you will fly the airline and should you’ll use sufficient perks to offset a card’s annual price.

Many elements go into whether or not or not you may maintain two private Southwest bank cards without delay, together with the variety of playing cards you have opened via Chase within the final 24 months and whether or not you have already held a selected bank card previously. Whereas it’s potential to have a couple of Southwest card, chances are you’ll sacrifice incomes a welcome bonus, which is a big draw for many cardholders.

On condition that limits differ from individual to individual, your finest guess is to use for a Southwest bank card and see whether it is accessible for you.

The excellent news for enterprise house owners is that it is a lot simpler to qualify for each a Southwest-branded shopper card and a small-business card on the identical time.

For instance, all three playing cards earn 2x Speedy Rewards factors within the following classes:

• Lodge and automotive rental companions.

• Native transit and ride-hailing providers.

• Web, cable, cell phone and choose streaming providers.

All three playing cards additionally earn 1 level per greenback for different purchases.

The distinction lies in Southwest purchases — whereas the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card earns 2x factors on Southwest purchases, the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card and the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card playing cards earn 3x factors.

Earlier than you begin making an attempt to earn factors on a brand new Southwest bank card, you would possibly wish to know the way a lot Speedy Rewards factors are literally value.

The Speedy Rewards program does not have a normal award chart. A reward flight relies on airfare and is influenced by vacation spot, time of journey, and demand. This implies a redemption price in factors is tied on to the flight’s money price in {dollars}. The dearer a flight is, the extra factors you have to ebook it.

Based on BaghdadTime’s valuation, every Speedy Rewards level is value 1.4 cents. Which means 10,000 Speedy Rewards factors can be value $140.

Based mostly on our most current evaluation, here is how the worth of Southwest factors stack up in opposition to its fundamental opponents.

A Southwest Companion Move is likely one of the most coveted advantages on this planet of passenger perks. The reason being easy. As a Companion Move holder, you may ebook flights with money or factors wherever Southwest flies and add a designated companion totally free (you continue to should cowl ticket taxes). Moreover, you should utilize the Companion Move for flights within the yr you earn the cross plus all the following calendar yr.

As a result of it is such a fascinating perk, Southwest requires you to both fly 100 qualifying flight segments or earn 125,000 qualifying Speedy Rewards factors in a calendar yr to earn it. Fortunately, the factors you earn from signing up for a co-branded bank card rely towards the qualification requirement.

Realizing that the sign-up bonus and the factors you earn on on a regular basis spending rely towards the requirement wanted to realize a Companion Move, you might be strategic about making use of for a card and incomes factors. Doing this gives you extra time to qualify for the Companion Move and get essentially the most use.

Earlier than selecting a bank card, it is important to ask questions on its journey and buy safety advantages. For example, does a Southwest Airways bank card cowl rental automotive insurance coverage?

The reply to this query is sure. However whereas all three playing cards provide an auto collision harm waiver, protecting collision harm and theft, the protection is secondary to your major auto insurance coverage supplier.

Southwest bank cards additionally include buy safety, prolonged guarantee safety, baggage delay insurance coverage and misplaced baggage reimbursement.

Earlier than you hit submit in your software, you may be questioning how lengthy it takes for Southwest bank card approval. Sadly, you will not know till you click on the button.

Some approvals are on the spot, and a few require extra time. For instance, should you acquired an e mail thanking you to your curiosity in a bank card, it signifies that you are not but accredited. You possibly can both wait about seven to 10 days for approval or test the standing of your software by calling Chase at 1-800-935-9935. Generally the financial institution must confirm data in your software.

Frequent Southwest Airways flyers will discover worth in getting a Southwest bank card. The perks are useful, and the spending classes provide many alternatives to earn extra rewards. The Speedy Rewards program additionally presents a aggressive worth, particularly should you’re going for a Companion Move. It is arduous to beat companion flights booked solely with rewards.

You desire a journey bank card that prioritizes what’s vital to you. Listed below are our picks for the finest journey bank cards of 2022, together with these finest for: