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 usually haven’t got 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 payment. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ranking relies 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
Savvy TPG readers know we usually 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.
In relation to the Southwest Fast Rewards card portfolio, you will usually 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 costs), for instance, means that you can switch Chase factors to Southwest Fast Rewards at a 1:1 price.
That mentioned, Southwest bank cards are extremely popular amongst Southwest followers. The service 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 modifications up bonus class earnings. Sadly, that comes at an over 50% annual payment improve to $149.
Word that Southwest is in the midst of sweeping modifications, together with its boarding course of, bag charges and seat choice course of.
With a beneficial credit score rating of 670 or increased, the Premier is the mid-tier model of the three private Southwest playing cards. It affords a superb stability of perks and an annual payment that would make it worthy of a spot in your card assortment.
Here is all the things it’s good to 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 response to 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 and not using a Companion Move.
Nonetheless, relying in your spending habits, you may very well have the prospect to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Move since you would be 114,000* factors nearer to the 135,000 factors wanted to earn a Companion Move.
*This complete 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 Move qualifying factors enhance you’d additionally earn.
Bear in mind that you would be able to’t earn a welcome bonus on the Southwest Premier for those who presently 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. For those who’ve opened 5 or extra new accounts over the previous 24 months (throughout all issuers, not simply Chase), your utility will probably be denied.
Associated: The last word information to bank card utility restrictions
Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card advantages
Whereas we sometimes do not anticipate an airline bank card with a $149 annual payment to return loaded with premium perks, the Southwest Premier card has a number of advantages, together with many necessary day-of-travel advantages. It is necessary to notice that present cardholders will obtain all present 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 keeping with TPG’s July 2025 valuations. That covers greater than half of this card’s annual payment.
Day of journey advantages embody:
- Two EarlyBird Test-Ins, which might value 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 also can earn Southwest A-Listing 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 Move qualifying factors enhance annually.
Plus, you will 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 immediately with the service, and that is definitely 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 resort and automotive rental companions (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing providers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and telephone providers 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 necessary to notice that present cardholders will obtain the brand new incomes charges instantly.
Most of the double-point bonus classes will likely be eliminated on the finish of the 12 months. It is good that the grocery retailer and restaurant bonus class has been added, nevertheless it appears fairly restricted with the low spending cap. If it’s good to earn Southwest factors, this card affords respectable incomes charges, however you’ll be able to definitely 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 and not using a bonus class for fuel. Since Chase lacks a large portfolio of playing cards that earn bonus factors on fuel, that is an unlucky facet of the Southwest Premier.
Associated: 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 finest 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 value of the flight. This implies you do not have to fret about getting the best doable cent-per-point redemption worth.
When you’ve got Fast Rewards factors, you may also redeem them for reward 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 affords 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 frequently affords flash gross sales that you would be able to reap the benefits of to get an excellent 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: 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. Nonetheless, it is price contemplating a basic journey bank card with the same annual payment to see whether or not that possibility is healthier to your pockets.
For extra choices, try our full record of the greatest journey bank cards.
Associated: Companion Move 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 number of the Southwest Premier card’s $149 annual payment. You will greater than recoup the annual payment for those who worth its different perks, like EarlyBird Test-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 a substitute, because it affords extra advantages.
Backside line
The Southwest Fast Rewards Premier card generally is a good possibility for semifrequent Southwest flyers. For those who fly with Southwest often, this card’s value level and perks might make it a superb match to your pockets with out the upper price ticket on different journey bank cards.
Nonetheless, most Southwest followers will probably desire the advantages of the higher-tier Southwest Precedence card as a substitute.
Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card
