Though I do not take into account myself significantly loyal to anyone airline, I’ve held — and cherished — my Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card (see charges and charges) for a number of years.
The $75 annual flight credit score and seven,500 anniversary factors bonus (value $101 by our August 2025 valuations) greater than made up for the annual charge, even for an informal Southwest Airways flyer. Regardless of the airline’s tumultuous string of adjustments earlier this yr, I nonetheless stored the cardboard.
However Southwest’s latest bank card revamp is the final straw.
This is why I am canceling my Southwest card earlier than the brand new annual charge hits my account, and what different playing cards I am contemplating changing it with.
Why I am canceling my Southwest card
Not solely is the Precedence card’s annual charge growing by greater than 50%, from $149 to $229, however the annual $75 flight credit score — the cardboard’s most useful perk, for my part — is disappearing, with nothing to exchange it. The credit score will now not be a part of the cardboard’s advantages after Dec. 31.
This top-tier card would not even embody a once-per-year promotional flight low cost just like the lower-annual-fee Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card and Southwest Fast Rewards® Plus Credit score Card (see charges and charges).
The knowledge for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card 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.
What does the revamped Precedence card provide?
The spotlight of the cardboard’s makeover, it appears, is the power to improve to Southwest’s extra-legroom seats (set to debut in 2026) inside 48 hours of departure for myself and as much as eight companions, when accessible. This might be value extra if I ceaselessly flew Southwest with a big household, however as a result of it is often simply me and my companion a couple of times a yr, it would not appear well worth the $229 annual charge.
Plus, as a result of Southwest’s route community is generally restricted to flights inside the U.S. and the Caribbean, further legroom would not make as a lot of a distinction as on, say, a transatlantic flight.
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One other new perk: Precedence cardholders can earn 2,500 tier qualifying factors (up from 1,500) for each $5,000 spent. However with how little I fly Southwest, I am unlikely to get near standing anyway.
Equally, the brand new incomes construction, together with 4 factors per greenback spent on eligible Southwest purchases (up from 3 factors per greenback) and a couple of factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places (up from 1 level per greenback), would not transfer the needle for me.
Since I’ve different playing cards that earn rewards on the identical or higher charges on eating and fuel, I just about solely use my Precedence card for the occasional Southwest ticket, so I do not see this as an enchancment.
Consequently, I am planning to cancel my card earlier than the brand new annual charge pops up on my card anniversary subsequent spring.
It is clear Southwest is attempting to mannequin itself, and its bank cards, on larger airways, but it surely nonetheless has an extended option to go. In a few years, I’ll take into account reapplying for a Southwest bank card, particularly if the airline has constructed stronger partnerships and included extra long-haul flights.
Till then, listed here are the playing cards I am contemplating to fill the opening left in my coronary heart — and my pockets — by my beloved Southwest card.
Associated: Are airline bank cards value it anymore?
United Explorer Card
Since my residence base, Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN), is a United Airways hub, a United cobranded card is on the high of my listing.
The United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and charges) is corresponding to the Southwest Precedence, with an annual charge of $150 ($0 for the primary yr) and a free checked bag for the cardholder and one journey companion.
I may enhance my United MileagePlus stability with the 60,000-mile welcome bonus (after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months my account is open) and one other 10,000 miles if I add a licensed person within the first three months.
Collectively, these miles are value roughly $910 based mostly on our August 2025 valuations.
Since I usually e book brief resort stays, I anticipate to maximise the cardboard’s as much as $100 in annual credit on pay as you go resort bookings via United Lodges, which might assist offset the annual charge. I may additionally make use of the cardboard’s two one-time United Membership lounge passes annually.
Alternatively, the remainder of the Explorer card’s “coupon-book” type credit — for ride-hailing providers (yearly opt-in required), rental vehicles, JSX and Instacart (via Dec. 31, 2027) — aren’t very helpful to me.
Additionally, as a result of we fly United pretty usually, my husband already holds the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and charges).
The Explorer offers some perks that the Quest would not, however I am unsure it is sensible to pay an annual charge for a second United card.
Associated: 4 causes somebody in your loved ones wants a United bank card
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Categorical Card
Delta Air Strains’ reply to the United Explorer Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card, has a $150 annual charge — with a $0 introductory annual charge the primary yr (see charges and charges) — and a 50,000-mile welcome provide after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles’ award charges aren’t nice, however this card would give me entry to fifteen% off redemptions and the Pay with Miles characteristic to assist my miles go additional.
Add that to the truth that I maintain the American Categorical® Gold Card and earn Amex Membership Rewards factors, which could be transferred to SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, and this card may make quite a lot of sense.
Just like the Explorer card, the SkyMiles Gold offers a free checked bag and as much as $100 in assertion credit towards Delta Stays pay as you go resort bookings.
The incomes charges (2 miles per greenback spent at Delta, eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases) are nothing particular, however the perks may make this card a helpful one to hold long-term.
My solely deterrent is the truth that Delta would not have an enormous presence at DEN; I will want to perform a little research to see what sort of flights I may e book on Delta earlier than I apply.
Associated: 5 issues you should learn about Delta SkyMiles
Aeroplan Credit score Card
Main U.S. airways aren’t the one ones I am contemplating for my subsequent bank card. Air Canada’s providing, the Aeroplan® Credit score Card (see charges and charges), can be a contender.
One motive is that I can switch all my currencies to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio: American Categorical Membership Rewards factors, Chase Final Rewards factors and Capital One miles.
One other is that Air Canada is a companion of United, which means there ought to be no scarcity of award flights out of my residence airport.
This card at the moment gives a pretty 75,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open, however the ongoing perks may make it a worthwhile addition to my pockets for years to come back.
For a $95 annual charge, I may get useful reductions on award flights and a free checked bag for myself and as much as eight companions.
Plus, I would get non permanent Aeroplan 25K standing (and, thus, Star Alliance Silver elite standing) for the yr through which I open the cardboard and the next calendar yr. If I determine to use for the Aeroplan card, I will wait till early 2026 to maximise my non permanent standing.
Associated: PSA to worldwide vacationers: This is why it’s best to take into account Air Canada and the Chase Aeroplan Card
Backside line
The Fast Rewards bank card revamp is likely to be an enchancment for Southwest loyalists, but it surely dissatisfied this informal Southwest flyer.
Fortunately, there are many alternate options with comparable perks and modest annual charges.
In case you’re feeling the identical approach, take a look at our roundups of the greatest airline bank cards and the very best playing cards to achieve elite standing. Then think about issues like your private home airport, your bank card switch companions and your upcoming journey plans earlier than selecting the very best one for you.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click on right here.
