Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card overview
The Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and costs) is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards. It features a $229 annual charge and seven,500 anniversary bonus factors. With essentially the most advantages of any of the cardboard choices, that is the cardboard to get if you happen to’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Southwest Airways has gained legions of followers, largely as a consequence of its earlier versatile change/cancellation insurance policies and providing two free checked luggage for all passengers.
The airline, nonetheless, is in the midst of sweeping modifications, together with an up to date boarding course of beginning in January 2026 and luggage not flying free.
In contrast to different airways, Southwest would not supply lounges, nevertheless it plans to implement premium cabins and has began retrofitting planes to incorporate seats with further legroom.
But it surely does supply a full suite of cobranded bank cards to assist frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest journey objectives. These playing cards had been just lately refreshed, introducing all kinds of modifications.
This contains the Southwest Precedence card, which has added extra perks aimed toward making the Southwest journey expertise extra nice and has modified bonus class incomes charges. Nonetheless, with this comes an unlucky over 40% annual charge improve to $229.
This card gained the Finest Airline Cobranded Credit score Card award within the 2024 TPG Awards, however with the brand new modifications, solely time will inform if it’s going to take house the crown once more this 12 months.
The Southwest Precedence card has a beneficial credit score rating of 670 or above and is essentially the most premium private bank card within the Southwest lineup.
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However are its advantages invaluable sufficient to warrant the $229 annual charge, and is now the best time so that you can apply? Let’s discover out.
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card execs and cons
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Southwest Precedence Credit score Card welcome supply
New Southwest Precedence cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months from account opening.
In line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 factors included on this welcome supply are price $1,400.
This matches the very best welcome supply we have seen on this card that does not embody a Companion Go, and it requires $8,000 much less in minimal spending.
Your bonus choice ought to decide whether or not you apply for this card now or not; nonetheless, if the Companion Go would not curiosity you, this is a superb supply to make the most of. Know, although, that you’ll have the prospect to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Go (relying on how a lot you spend) since you would be 114,000* factors nearer to the 135,000 factors wanted to earn a Companion Go.
*This whole relies 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 Go qualifying factors increase you’d additionally earn.
Word that Southwest playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. When you’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards previously 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you is probably not permitted.
Moreover, you may’t open a brand new private Southwest card you probably have one open. You additionally will not have the ability to get a brand new welcome bonus from a private Southwest card if you happen to’ve obtained one previously 24 months.
Associated: How you can shortly earn the Southwest Companion Go
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card advantages
The Southwest Precedence card provides the next advantages, a lot of which can assist offset the annual charge. Most advantages will make the day-of-travel expertise far more fulfilling. It is essential to notice that present cardholders will obtain all their present advantages till Dec. 31.
Cardholders obtain:
- Anniversary bonus: In your card anniversary annually, you may obtain 7,500 Fast Rewards factors, price $105 based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations.
- Annual Southwest journey credit score: Throughout every cardmember 12 months, you may obtain a $75 journey credit score that can be utilized on most Southwest purchases, together with tickets (excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases; this credit score will finish Dec. 31).
- Two EarlyBird Test-Ins yearly: These EarlyBird Test-Ins can price as a lot $99 (ends Dec. 31).
- 4 upgraded boardings per 12 months: For flights working in 2025, you may have the power to improve your boarding as much as 4 instances (ends Dec. 31).
- Free first checked bag: Obtain a free first checked bag for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation. (An ordinary first checked bag prices $35, which might save a household of 4 $280 on a round-trip itinerary.)
- Group 5 precedence boarding (for 2026 and past): When you have A-list standing, you may board with an earlier group.
- Most popular seat choice at reserving: When out there, you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation can choose most well-liked seating on the time of reserving.
- Limitless extra-legroom upgrades: When out there, you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation can choose extra-legroom seats inside 48 hours previous to departure. This arguably is essentially the most invaluable perk offered by the cardboard, as most home airways solely supply complimentary extra-legroom seating to their elite members or require a hefty spending quantity on a cobranded card.
- 25% inflight financial savings: Obtain 25% again (as an announcement credit score) after you utilize your card to buy inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
- Tier qualifying factors increase: Earn 2,500 tier qualifying factors that rely towards A-Checklist and A-Checklist Most popular standing for each $5,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months.
- 10,000 Companion Go qualifying factors increase yearly: Cardholders obtain 10,000 factors towards a Companion Go annually.
Along with the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with misplaced baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance coverage, prolonged guarantee safety and buy safety.
The cardboard additionally carries no international transaction charges, so it is a sensible choice for spending overseas.
Associated: How you can get airline elite standing
Incomes factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Here is what you may earn with the Southwest Precedence card:
- New: 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
- New: 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places (2.8% return)
- 2 factors per greenback spent with Fast 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 apps (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and cellphone providers and choose streaming purchases (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases (1.4% return)
It is essential to notice that present cardholders will obtain the present and new incomes charges till Dec. 31.
This airline bank card provides a greater variety of bonus classes than different airline bank cards; nonetheless, many of those bonus classes shall be eliminated on the finish of the 12 months. It’s possible you’ll be higher suited with different prime journey playing cards, as their earnings may be much more profitable.
You will earn 5.6% again on Southwest purchases and a couple of.8% again on choose purchases (in response to TPG’s July 2025 valuations), which aren’t unhealthy charges of return for a cobranded bank card. The addition of fuel and grocery as a bonus class is a welcome addition and helpful for individuals who plan to place a bulk of their on a regular basis spending on the cardboard.
Nonetheless, this is probably not the very best Southwest card for you if you happen to do not e book Southwest flights usually or favor to make use of different portals for resort and rental automobile bookings.
Associated: Finest rewards bank cards
Redeeming factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Redeeming Southwest Fast Rewards factors with the Southwest Precedence card could be very simple.
Southwest award costs are instantly tied to the money worth of the ticket, which means the variety of factors you want for a flight will fluctuate, however you may hardly ever encounter instances when you may’t use your factors. Plus, you may redeposit your award with out penalty in case your plans change.
Whereas Southwest’s factors will not enable you fly in first-class suites, they’ll present nice worth.
As an example, you may fly from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Chicago’s Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW) for as few as 8,091 factors one-way, relying on the time of 12 months. In the meantime, different airways usually cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming you could find availability).
When you e book throughout certainly one of Southwest’s flash gross sales, you could possibly rating awards for lower than 2,500 factors one-way. You’ll be able to even fly to enjoyable locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico along with your Southwest factors.
As an example, Emily Thompson, a e-newsletter and partnerships editor at TPG, just lately took benefit of certainly one of these gross sales to e book a round-trip ticket between Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA) and San Jose Mineta Worldwide Airport (SJC) in California for below 25,000 factors.
Associated: How you can redeem your factors with the Southwest Fast Rewards program
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card?
Southwest Airways provides three private playing cards, so you may select the one that matches you finest.
- If you’d like Southwest advantages with a extra modest charge: The Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is the mid-tier card within the Southwest lineup, with a $149 annual charge. Its advantages embody most well-liked seat choice when out there, one 15% promotional code every cardmember anniversary, 6,000 anniversary bonus factors, a Companion Go qualifying factors increase perk and free checked luggage. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Southwest Premier card.
- If you’d like a Southwest card with a good decrease annual charge: The Southwest Fast Rewards® Plus Credit score Card (see charges and costs) has a $99 annual charge and permits normal seat choice when out there, supplies one 10% promotional code every cardmember anniversary, provides 3,000 anniversary bonus factors, features a Companion Go qualifying factors increase perk and comes with free checked luggage. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Southwest Plus card.
- If you’d like transferable factors to make use of with Southwest and different airways: The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch 1:1 to Southwest and a variety of different airways for making flight redemptions. You will get quite a few journey protections, a $50 annual resort credit score on resort bookings made by Chase Journey℠ and strong incomes classes for a $95 annual charge. To be taught extra, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Most popular.
For extra choices, try our full record of journey bank cards.
Associated: Companion Go and bonus factors: Evaluating the Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence, Premier and Plus bank cards
The knowledge for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier 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.
Is the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card price it?
When you fly Southwest no less than a couple of instances annually, you’ll come out forward with the Southwest Precedence card. Its on a regular basis incomes charges aren’t essentially the most profitable, however spectacular built-in perks like most well-liked seat choice (when out there), Group 5 boarding (for 2026 and past), free checked luggage for you and eight journey companions, and anniversary bonus factors make up for it. Nonetheless, if you happen to fly Southwest much less usually, you may seemingly favor certainly one of our different favourite airline playing cards.
Backside line
The Southwest Precedence card is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards, permitting you to earn stash of factors and get essentially the most advantages of any of the airline’s choices.
Regardless of the latest refresh and annual charge improve, that is nonetheless the very best Southwest card for you if you happen to fly the service usually.
Nonetheless, if you happen to do not fly Southwest usually or need to preserve your annual charge prices decrease, you could need to go for one of many different Southwest cobranded playing cards or a card that earns transferable rewards.
Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
Associated: How you can choose the best journey bank card for you
