How To Decide Which Southwest Card To Get

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You may be wondering, which Southwest card is best? Which Southwest card should I get? How to decide which Southwest card to get. What’s the difference between the Southwest credit cards? And which Southwest credit card is right for you. Here’s how to decide which Southwest card to get.

Southwest Credit Cards

Southwest Airlines has five airline credit cards:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

One of the best features of these cards is that the bonus counts towards earning a Southwest Companion Pass and getting two years of free flights.

This post will focus on the Southwest personal travel rewards cards.

Interested in a business card? Read how to choose a Southwest business card.

Southwest Personal Credit Cards

With all three personal Southwest credit cards, you earn bonus points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases and Southwest hotel and car partners. And you earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

And you earn a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost every year!

But that’s where the similarities end. Each Southwest card offers different perks.

Depending on what you need from a card, one might be a better fit for you.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

You should get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card if you’re a frequent flier on Southwest.

Because you get 4 upgraded boarding passes, the coveted A1 to A15 boarding slots, and a $75 travel credit every year.

You get 3 points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases, 2 points for each $1 spent on rideshare, transit and commuting, internet, cable, phone, and certain streaming, and 1 point on all other purchases.

Need to use Wi-Fi or want a drink when you fly? With this card, you get a 25% discount on inflight purchases.

You can use this card when you travel internationally because there are no foreign transaction fees.

Every year on your card anniversary, you get 7,500 points every year after paying your $149 annual fee.

You also earn 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points a year if you keep your card for the entire 12 months.

Pro-tip: All points earned from this card count towards the Southwest Companion Pass

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Are you tired of getting stuck in the middle seat? You should get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.

With this card, you earn A-List and A-List preferred status points which means you’re more likely to get an “A” or “B” boarding pass! Because you get 2 EarlyBird Check-ins each year for free!

You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on rideshare, transit and commuting, internet, cable, phone, and certain streaming, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

You pay no foreign transaction fees with this card so you can use it when you travel to Mexico, Belize, the Caribbean, and the Dominican Republic.

Every year you renew your card and pay the $99 annual fee you get 6,000 points.

You earn 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points a year when you have your card for 12 months.

Pro-tip: All points earned from this card count towards the Southwest Companion Pass

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the right card for you if you want a card that earns Southwest points, don’t care where you sit on the plane, and want a lower annual fee.

You get 2 points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases, rideshare, transit and commuting, internet, cable, phone, and certain streaming, and 1 point on all other purchases.

And you get 2 EarlyBird Check-ins each year for free!

You get 3,000 points every year you renew your card and pay the $69 annual fee.

You also earn 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points a year if you keep your card for the entire 12 months.

Pro-tip: All points earned from this card count towards the Southwest Companion Pass

Conclusion

Southwest has five credit cards so it can be confusing and hard to decide which Southwest card to get.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card is great if you fly Southwest a lot and comes with other perks like discounts on inflight Wi-Fi and onboard purchases.

If you travel internationally, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a good card because has no foreign transaction fees.

Looking for a card that earns Southwest points, doesn’t have any perks, and has a low annual fee? Then get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.

The Companion Pass bonus promotion for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is usually offered for only a month or two.

If you’re thinking of getting one of these cards, you may want to get one now.

Did you decide which personal Southwest card you’re getting?