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?

Miles and Points Strategy Consultations

Need help with your miles and points? You can book a miles and points consultation. Whether you're learning how to use travel rewards or have been in the game, this consultation is personalized for your needs. We can discuss credit cards, loyalty programs, anything and everything miles and points related.

 

Includes a summary and a written plan with recommendations on how to achieve your miles and points goals sent within 24 hours after consultation.

 

Note: This is a consultation not an award booking service.

 

Schedule your miles and points consultation now.

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Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

Capital One Venture X Business

With the Capital One Venture X Business the welcome offer is 150,000 mile bonus after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are free Capital One Lounge access, earning 2X points on all purchases, and transferring miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

 

Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business and how to apply

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.You can get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel value: the 60k points are worth $750 when booked through the Chase Travel portal. And you get up to $300 in statement credits on travel booked through the Chase portal your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply