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Should you love touring all through the U.S. and Caribbean, a Southwest Visa card is likely to be for you. Providing simple to earn factors that translate into free and diminished airfare, these are a few of my favourite airline playing cards round.
Southwest Airlines has lengthy been recognized for low fares and nice service. With locations all through Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, it’s an important choice that will help you hit the seashore with out breaking the financial institution.
Moreover, the Southwest Visa features a lot to like for rewards card lovers. Along with making your flights even cheaper, the Southwest Visa bank cards provide a ton of advantages that will help you journey in model. And, since there are many private and enterprise playing cards to select from, you’re certain to discover a card that matches your wants.
Let’s verify them out!
Southwest Visa Credit score Card Choices
The Southwest Visa Card really is available in a number of totally different choices, together with:
Clearly, if you happen to don’t personal a enterprise, the Southwest Visa enterprise playing cards are out. However, how do you determine between the opposite choices? Let’s examine them and allow you to determine.
Southwest Visa Private Card Comparisons
Let’s begin by evaluating the highlights of the three private playing cards. Right here they’re:
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card Highlights
- Signup Bonus: Earn a Companion Go plus 30,000 bonus factors (limited-time provide) once you open a brand new account and spend $4,000 within the first 3 months. In lots of circumstances, 30K factors is sufficient for 2 round-trip tickets to the Caribbean. Plus, a Companion Go means a companion can fly free with you any time you fly with Southwest.
- Anniversary Bonus: You’ll earn an extra 3,000 bonus factors in your cardmember anniversary every year.
- Earn Factors for Spending: Earn 2x factors per greenback on all Southwest purchases; 2x factors on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare purchases); 2x factors on web, cable, cellphone, and choose streaming companies; and 1 level per greenback on different spending.
- EarlyBird Examine-In: Take pleasure in EarlyBird Examine-In twice per 12 months.
- No Blackout Dates: Not like some airline rewards packages, you’ll by no means have to fret about blackout dates at Southwest.
- Fare-based Pricing: You may even use your factors to e book flights which can be on sale! With Southwest, cheaper fares means fewer factors.
- Free Checked Luggage: Including checked luggage to your flights can actually add up. Southwest means that you can verify your first two luggage at no cost.
- No Expiration: Your factors don’t expire for so long as you retain your account open.
- Annual Price: $69
That’s a ton of worth packed into one card. It’s merely probably the greatest airline playing cards in the marketplace.
> Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus: Be taught Easy methods to Apply
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card Highlights
- Signup Bonus: Just like the Plus Card, for a restricted time, you’ll earn the Companion Go plus 30,000 bonus factors for spending $4,000 within the first 3 months.
- Anniversary Bonus: The anniversary bonus is increased with the Premier Card, totaling 6,000 level bonus in your cardmember anniversary.
- Earn Factors for Spending: With this card, you’ll earn 3x factors on all Southwest purchases plus the identical 2x factors on transit, cable, cellphone, and web companies you earn on the Plus card.
- EarlyBird Examine-In: Once more, you’ll take pleasure in EarlyBird Examine-In two occasions per 12 months.
- No Blackout Dates: As with all Southwest Visa playing cards, there are not any blackout dates.
- Fare-based Pricing: Utilizing factors to e book flights is predicated on the fare charges.
- Free Checked Luggage: On all Southwest flights, the primary two luggage you verify are free.
- No Expiration: Maintain your account open and your factors by no means expire.
- No International Transaction Charges: This card doesn’t cost overseas transaction charges.
- Annual Price: $99
Clearly, there’s a lot to love about this card too. And, in comparison with different airline playing cards, we predict the factors provide a ton of worth.
> Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier: Be taught Easy methods to Apply
Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card Highlights
- Signup Bonus: You may earn the identical limited-time signup bonus of 30,000 bonus factors PLUS the Companion Go for opening a brand new account. Like the opposite playing cards we’ve talked about, merely make $4,000 in purchases throughout the the primary 3 months to earn the bonus.
- Anniversary Bonus: Moreover, you’ll earn 7,500 bonus factors every year in your cardmember.
- Journey Credit score: Southwest offers you a $75 journey credit score yearly you might have the cardboard.
- Upgraded Boardings: With this card, you’re eligible to obtain 4 upgraded boardings yearly.
- Earn Factors for Spending: Once more, you get 3x factors on all Southwest purchases; 2x factors on native transit (together with rideshare); 2x factors on web, cable, cellphone, and choose streaming companies; and 1x factors on all different spending.
- No International Transaction Charges: There are not any charges for utilizing this card whereas touring internationally.
- Annual Price: $149
Though the annual charge is increased than the others, you do get some extra perks – notably the journey credit score – that will make it value it for you.
> Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence: Be taught Easy methods to Apply
| Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus | Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier | Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signup Bonus | Companion Go plus 30,000 factors after spending $4,000 in first 3 months | Companion Go plus 30,000 factors after spending $4,000 in first 3 months | Companion Go plus 30,000 factors after spending $4,000 in first 3 months |
| Annual Journey Credit score | $0 | $0 | $75 |
| Anniversary Bonus | 3,000 factors every year | 6,000 factors every year | 7,500 factors every year |
| International Transaction Charges | Sure – 3% | None | None |
| Annual Price | $69 | $99 | $149 |
Which Southwest Visa is Greatest?
As you may see, the Southwest Visa private playing cards include almost similar advantages. All three private Southwest Visa bank cards are providing a limited-time probability to earn a Companion Go plus 30,000 bonus factors for spending $4,000 within the first 3 months. So, for me, the largest distinction between the private playing cards comes when evaluating the charges.
Wanting on the charges, the brand new Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Card costs the best annual charge at $149. The Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Card costs a $99 annual charge whereas the Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus card has an annual charge of simply $69. Since not one of the charges are waived for the primary 12 months, the Plus will get a slight nod right here.
With that stated, the dearer playing cards do include extra advantages. The Precedence Card affords an annual bonus of seven,500 factors and an annual journey credit score of $75. This successfully makes the annual charge $74, offered you utilize the credit score. Alternatively, the Premier Card comes with an annual anniversary bonus of 6,000 factors versus the three,000 level bonus provided by the Plus Card. That primarily makes up for the $30 distinction within the annual charge.
Moreover, each the Precedence and Premier playing cards include no overseas transaction charges. So, if you happen to’re touring internationally with Southwest, you should use your card when you’re on trip with out incurring extra charges. Should you use the Plus card abroad, nonetheless, every transaction is topic to a 3% overseas transaction charge.
Lastly, the Precedence and the Premier card now provide 3x factors on Southwest purchases. This isn’t a large deal, however it could actually definitely earn you extra factors if you happen to fly with Southwest on the common.
So, which card is finest? With the latest updates, I’m going to go together with the Precedence card. Positive, the annual charge is increased, however the $75 annual Southwest credit score almost offsets that price. Once you add within the extra earnings on Southwest purchases and no overseas transaction charges, the Southwest Precedence card is probably going one of the best deal. Nonetheless, if you happen to fly Southwest completely, you actually can’t go incorrect with any of those playing cards.
One ultimate be aware right here: Prior to now, you had been in a position to earn a signup bonus for 2 playing cards in the identical 12 months, serving to you to earn factors towards considered one of my favourite perks, the Southwest Companion Go. Sadly, that’s now not the case. On private playing cards, you could not earn a signup bonus if you happen to’ve earned one within the earlier 24 months. It is a large change, and it makes the Companion Go considerably tougher to get.
With that stated, if you’re a enterprise proprietor, you should still earn a welcome bonus from each a private and a enterprise card. Extra data on the enterprise variations could be discovered under.
Evaluate one of the best airline playing cards right here
The place These Playing cards Shine
Need to know extra? After all you do!
As we talked about, for a restricted time, all private variations of the Southwest Visa Card provide 30,000 bonus factors PLUS the Companion Go for spending $4,000 within the first 3 months. In lots of circumstances, 30,000 Southwest factors are good for 2 round-trip flights to the Caribbean, if you happen to’re versatile.
Though I really like a superb signup bonus, I actually love that redeeming my Speedy Rewards Factors is predicated solely on the precise airfare worth. Southwest flights are sometimes the most affordable out there, however in addition they run some ridiculous offers all year long.
I’m speaking about home round-trip tickets that sometimes run for lower than $100! And, because the level redemption is fare-based, your factors stretch even additional throughout these gross sales. Plus, there are not any blackout dates or rewards caps. Which means I can use my factors on any flight with out there seating…and I can nonetheless verify 2 luggage at no cost!
Oh yeah, have I discussed that Southwest now flies to fifteen locations all through Mexico and the Caribbean? It’s true! You need to use your factors to e book free flights on your total household to locations like Jamaica, Costa Rica, Belize, and Aruba. That’s fairly candy, particularly if you happen to’re a seashore bum like me.
Southwest additionally flies to Hawaii, which may prevent large bucks there too!
A Fast Overview of Southwest Enterprise Credit score Playing cards
We’ve talked about the enterprise variations of the Southwest Visa Card a number of occasions. Understand that each the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Enterprise Card and the Southwest Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Card affords most of the identical advantages as its private card counterparts. Slightly than run by means of all the advantages of Southwest factors once more, right here’s a fast overview of their distinctive options.
Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card Highlights
- Signup Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors for opening a brand new account and spending $3,000 within the first 3 months.
- Anniversary Bonus: Earn a 6,000 level bonus in your cardmember anniversary.
- Earn Factors for Spending: You’ll earn 3x factors for each greenback spent on Southwest purchases and 2x factors for purchases with Speedy Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions. Get 1X factors on every thing else.
- Worker Playing cards: Worker playing cards could be added with no extra charges. You’ll additionally earn factors on all their spending.
- Annual Price: $99
Moreover the truth that this can be a enterprise card, the largest distinction right here is the signup bonus. So, if you happen to’re wanting particularly for an airline card for your online business, you may’t go incorrect with this card for your online business.
> Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Enterprise: Be taught Easy methods to Apply
Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card Highlights
- Signup Bonus: Earn 80,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months.
- Anniversary Bonus: With this card, you’ll get 9,000 bonus factors yearly in your cardmember anniversary.
- Elevated Factors for Spending: The Southwest Efficiency Enterprise Card earns 4x factors on Southwest purchases, 3x factors with Speedy Rewards lodge and rental automotive companions, 2x factors for search engine/social media promoting, 2x factors for web/cable/cellphone companies, and 1x level on every thing else.
- TSA Precheck/World Entry: With this card, you’ll additionally get a credit score towards paying for World Entry or TSA Precheck charges.
- Upgraded Boardings: You’ll additionally get 4 Upgraded Boardings per 12 months, topic to availability.
- Annual Price: $199
Enterprise house owners who need an airline card that provides premium advantages ought to think about the Southwest Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card. The cardboard with a hefty but simple to earn signup bonus, plus it helps you earn much more factors on your spending. With free worker playing cards, TSA Precheck/World Entry credit, and upgraded boardings, this card could also be an important match for the frequent Southwest enterprise traveler.
> Southwest Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise: Be taught Easy methods to Apply
Getting the Most From Your Southwest Visa
To get essentially the most out of your Southwest Visa Card, you should definitely use it everytime you e book journey by means of Southwest or their taking part lodge and rental automotive companions.
Additionally, use your factors to e book flights after they’re on sale. Since redeeming your factors is predicated on the precise fare worth, you may actually stretch these factors additional. Take a look at our “Newbie’s Information to Credit score Card Rewards” for extra suggestions.
Paring your card with a premium rewards card could make an important match too!
With the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card you’ll earn a 60,000 level signup bonus, however you’ll should spend $4,000 in 3 months to do it. Your Chase rewards switch at a 1:1 ratio to the Speedy Rewards loyalty program.
Should you determine to not switch them to Southwest, you may switch them to different loyalty packages by means of journey companions like Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, and United Airways. They’re additionally redeemable for reward playing cards at locations like Kohl’s, Dwelling Depot, Lowe’s, and extra; or, you may redeem them for $750 in journey when booked by means of the Chase portal. There’s a $95 annual charge.
That is virtually all the time the primary rewards card we advocate. The factors are versatile, useful, and our favourite kind to earn.
Learn to apply | Learn the evaluate
What You Could Not Like
Though the Southwest Visa playing cards are a few of our favourite airline playing cards, there are some issues you might want to be careful for.
- Annual Charges: Every model of the cardboard has an annual charge ($69/$99/$149 private, $99 Premier Enterprise/$199 Efficiency Enterprise) which isn’t waived. After all, the signup bonus greater than makes up for it the primary 12 months. Nonetheless, if you happen to don’t journey a lot or don’t use the factors, the charge might not be value it to you.
- No Flights to Europe or Asia: Though Southwest now travels throughout the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean, it doesn’t provide any flights to fashionable worldwide locations in Europe or Asia. Should you’re eager to e book journey there, it’s best to take a look at different playing cards.
- Factors Don’t Switch: At any time when we journey domestically or to the Caribbean with our entire household, Southwest is often an important choice. Nonetheless, if you happen to don’t like Southwest or don’t reside close to a Southwest hub, this might not be the cardboard for you. Think about different journey rewards playing cards as an alternative.
- No Double Dip for Companion Go – As we talked about earlier, sadly, Southwest up to date its signup bonus coverage regarding their two shopper bank cards. It’s possible you’ll now not earn a signup bonus on a second Southwest shopper card if you happen to’ve earned a brand new member card bonus throughout the earlier 24 months. Whereas incomes factors on the cardboard nonetheless counts towards the cross, it makes incomes the Companion Go considerably tougher.
Alternate options to the Southwest Visa Card
Many of the main airways now have their very own co-branded bank cards that will let you earn factors and save on flights. Nonetheless, with co-branded playing cards, you’ll solely have the ability to use the factors you earn with that exact model of airline. That’s not all the time an issue, however it might be.
For a extra versatile choice, think about the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card. This card supplies a one-time welcome provide of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 throughout the first 3 months (value a press release credit score of $750 towards journey bills). You’ll additionally earn 2 miles per greenback on all spending. There’s a $95 annual charge.
Truthfully, these are among the most versatile factors and miles you’ll discover. You need to use the to e book airline tickets, excursions, and different journey experiences once you pay along with your card.
Be taught extra right here | Learn the evaluate
Wrapping Up
Should you’re searching for low-cost flights all through the U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico, Southwest is a superb place to begin. Certainly one of these playing cards could make it even cheaper.
With a Southwest Visa Card, factors are simple to earn and the advantages are tremendous strong. Since factors are tied to airfare costs, you should use them to save lots of much more throughout gross sales. And, you’ll undoubtedly wish to pair it with one other card to earn much more factors.
Should you do all that, you’ll save large bucks when flying with Southwest!
Evaluate Southwest Visa playing cards with different airline playing cards right here
