Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card overview
The Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card is the center of the pack for private bank cards from Southwest Airways. Whereas mid-tier airline bank cards typically do not have many premium perks, the Southwest Premier’s lack of international transaction charges and 6,000 anniversary bonus factors ought to assist offset its $149 annual price. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The data for the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier bank card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Savvy TPG readers know we typically do not suggest constructing your factors and miles technique round a single cobranded airline bank card. That is as a result of these have a tendency to supply fewer perks and fewer flexibility than comparably priced transferable factors and miles playing cards.
Relating to the Southwest Fast Rewards card portfolio, you may typically discover higher incomes charges and extra versatile redemption choices with playing cards that earn Chase Final Rewards factors. The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges), for instance, lets you switch Chase factors to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 1:1 charge.
That mentioned, Southwest bank cards are highly regarded amongst Southwest followers. The provider simply unveiled that each one 5 playing cards, together with the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier card, have been refreshed. This refresh of the Southwest Premier card provides many advantages that improve the day-of-travel expertise and adjustments up bonus class earnings. Sadly, that comes at an over 50% annual price enhance to $149.
Notice that Southwest is in the course of sweeping adjustments, together with its boarding course of, bag charges and seat choice course of.
With a beneficial credit score rating of 670 or greater, the Premier is the mid-tier model of the three private Southwest playing cards. It gives steadiness of perks and an annual price that would make it worthy of a spot in your card assortment.
This is all the things you should know concerning the Southwest Premier card that will help you resolve whether or not it must be in your pockets.
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Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card professionals and cons
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Associated: How to decide on your greatest bank card technique
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card welcome provide
New Southwest Premier cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.
In keeping with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 factors included on this welcome provide are price $1,400. That is the best factors welcome provide we have seen on this card with out a Companion Cross.
Nevertheless, relying in your spending habits, you may very well have the prospect to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Cross since you would be 114,000* factors nearer to the 135,000 factors wanted to earn a Companion Cross.
*This complete is predicated on the 100,000 factors you’d earn from the welcome bonus, plus an extra 4,000 factors you’d obtain from the spending requirement and the ten,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance you’d additionally earn.
Keep in mind which you could’t earn a welcome bonus on the Southwest Premier in case you at the moment have a private Southwest card or have earned a welcome bonus on a private Southwest card previously 24 months.
Additionally, Southwest’s cobranded playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra new accounts over the previous 24 months (throughout all issuers, not simply Chase), your software will doubtless be denied.
Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card advantages
Whereas we usually do not anticipate an airline bank card with a $149 annual price to come back loaded with premium perks, the Southwest Premier card has a number of advantages, together with many essential day-of-travel advantages. It is essential to notice that present cardholders will obtain all current advantages till Dec. 31 and have entry to the brand new advantages instantly.
You will obtain 6,000 bonus factors on every account anniversary, that are price $84 in line with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. That covers greater than half of this card’s annual price.
Day of journey advantages embody:
- Two EarlyBird Examine-Ins, which might price as much as $99 every, per 12 months (for flights working in 2025; ends Dec. 31)
- Free first checked bag for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- Group 5 precedence boarding for cardholders and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation (when you have A-list standing, it is possible for you to to board with an earlier group)
- Most well-liked seat choice inside 48 hours of departure for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation
- A 25% low cost on inflight purchases
Cardholders can even earn Southwest A-Checklist elite standing extra rapidly. You will earn 1,500 bonus tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months, with no cap. Moreover, cardholders additionally obtain a ten,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance annually.
Plus, you may obtain one promotional 15% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Primary fares) and will not be charged international transaction charges.
Associated: Southwest Fast Rewards is now providing Money + Factors redemption
Incomes factors on the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Most airline bank cards award bonus factors or miles for purchases straight with the provider, and that is actually true right here: You will earn:
- 3 factors per greenback spent with Southwest (4.2% return primarily based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards lodge and automobile rental companions (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing companies (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and cellphone companies and with choose streaming suppliers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent at grocery shops and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per 12 months (2.8% return)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases (1.4% return)
It is essential to notice that present cardholders will obtain the brand new incomes charges instantly.
Most of the double-point bonus classes will probably be eliminated on the finish of the 12 months. It is good that the grocery retailer and restaurant bonus class has been added, but it surely appears fairly restricted with the low spending cap. If you should earn Southwest factors, this card gives first rate incomes charges, however you possibly can actually do higher on on a regular basis spending with different playing cards.
It is also price noting that that is the one shopper Southwest card with out a bonus class for gasoline. Since Chase lacks a large portfolio of playing cards that earn bonus factors on gasoline, that is an unlucky side of the Southwest Premier.
Associated: How one can earn over 300,000 factors this 12 months
Redeeming factors on the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card
When it is time to use your rewards, among the best issues about redeeming Southwest Fast Rewards factors is the simplicity of the method.
Whether or not you choose the most affordable Primary fare or the most costly Enterprise Choose possibility, the price of your award ticket is tied to the money worth of the flight. This implies you do not have to fret about getting the best potential cent-per-point redemption worth.
In case you have Fast Rewards factors, you may as well redeem them for present playing cards or merchandise. Nonetheless, the perfect worth comes from utilizing your factors for Southwest flights — together with choices to Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Emily Thompson, a publication and partnerships editor at TPG, loves utilizing Southwest factors, because the airline gives nice offers and runs frequent award gross sales on transcontinental flights from smaller airports like Pensacola Worldwide Airport (PNS) in Florida to Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon.
Southwest additionally usually gives flash gross sales which you could make the most of to get a terrific deal when reserving with factors. Moreover, Southwest’s coverage of no change or cancellation charges means it can save you cash in your award ticket if the worth drops. This flexibility ensures you will get the most affordable redemption.
Associated: How one can change or cancel a Southwest Airways flight
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card?
The Southwest Premier card has two apparent opponents: Chase’s different Southwest bank cards. Nevertheless, it is price contemplating a common journey bank card with an analogous annual price to see whether or not that possibility is healthier in your pockets.
For extra choices, try our full listing of the greatest journey bank cards.
Associated: Companion Cross and bonus factors: Evaluating the Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence, Premier and Plus bank cards
Is the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card price it?
The anniversary bonus factors assist offset a few of the Southwest Premier card’s $149 annual price. You will greater than recoup the annual price in case you worth its different perks, like EarlyBird Examine-Ins (ends Dec. 31), free checked luggage, seat choice and inflight reductions. Nonetheless, most Southwest loyalists will get extra worth from the Southwest Precedence card as an alternative, because it gives extra advantages.
Backside line
The Southwest Fast Rewards Premier card is usually a good possibility for semifrequent Southwest flyers. If you happen to fly with Southwest often, this card’s worth level and perks may make it match in your pockets with out the upper price ticket on different journey bank cards.
Nevertheless, most Southwest followers will doubtless favor the advantages of the higher-tier Southwest Precedence card as an alternative.
Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card
