Southwest Precedence Credit score Card evaluation: Priceless perks for frequent Southwest vacationers

Should you’re a Southwest Airways frequent flyer, the (see charges and charges) could be the right airline card on your pockets. The cardboard provides perks like a Most popular seat at reserving (when obtainable), your first checked bag free and seven,500 bonus Southwest Fast Rewards factors each cardholder anniversary.

Should you’re in a position to maximize all its perks, it is easy to get outsize worth out of the Southwest Precedence. That mentioned, those that solely fly the provider a few occasions every year will probably be higher off with certainly one of Southwest’s extra reasonably priced playing cards. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

Southwest Precedence Credit score Card: The fundamentals

The expenses a $229 annual charge in alternate for quite a few Southwest-connected advantages. Notable perks embody:

Entry to a Most popular seat at reserving (when obtainable)
Your first checked bag free for you and as much as eight extra passengers on the identical reservation
7,500 bonus factors every cardholder anniversary, value about $94 in response to TPG’s Could 2026 valuations
Limitless upgrades to extra-legroom seats inside 48 hours of departure (when obtainable)
10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance every year
2,500 tier qualifying factors for each $5,000 spent
Precedence boarding

Along with these advantages, Southwest Precedence cardholders can earn bonus factors on Southwest purchases, in addition to these made at eating places and fuel stations.

Southwest Precedence Credit score Card execs and cons

ProsCons
Precedence boarding
Complimentary entry to extra-legroom seats, when obtainable
Anniversary bonus factors every year
Elite standing enhance with spending
Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance
Free checked luggage for you and eight companions

Has an annual charge
Restricted redemption alternatives
Bonus class earnings may very well be stronger

Southwest Precedence Credit score Card advantages

In an age when many bank cards use assertion credit for a wide array of retailers, it is good to see the maintain its perks dialed in by itself airline. You will not want to interrupt out a spreadsheet to make sure you’re getting optimum worth out of your card, however you will have to fly typically sufficient on Southwest to justify the Precedence’s $229 price ticket.

Your first checked bag begins at $30 for interisland Hawaii journey and $45 for mainland U.S. journey, so it is potential to avoid wasting quite a bit with this card’s free first checked bag perk. Even in the event you journey solo, checking a bag 5 occasions on mainland U.S. flights will cowl your complete annual charge.

It is onerous to put a greenback worth on precedence boarding and a Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance. Should you’re typically a solo traveler, the chance to get a Companion Cross probably will not be one thing you see a lot value in. However, in the event you’re near netting that coveted perk, receiving an extra 10,000 qualifying factors might justify the annual charge by itself.

General, the Southwest Precedence provides a really stable set of advantages for the annual charge it expenses, offered you fly with Southwest a number of occasions every year. Airways design their top-shelf bank cards with loyalists in thoughts, and I might say the Precedence delivers right here.

The right way to earn and use your rewards

The earns Fast Rewards factors on the following charges:

4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases
2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places
1 level per greenback spent on all the things else

For the annual charge it expenses, I might prefer to see the Southwest Precedence supply extra factors per greenback spent on flights. This card solely earns 1 extra level per greenback spent on Southwest flights in comparison with the less expensive Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card.

The data 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.

Whereas that is not an enormous ding in opposition to the Precedence, I imagine it’d make a stronger case for itself if it supplied 5 and even 6 factors per greenback spent on Southwest flights. That may really feel like a extra significant step up from what the Premier earns.

That mentioned, in the event you’re a Southwest loyalist, this card is an effective way to earn extra factors on your flights. Should you do not strictly fly with Southwest, your spending could also be higher off on a Chase Final Rewards card just like the (see charges and charges) since Final Rewards factors might be transferred to quite a lot of airways, together with Southwest.

The place the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card falls brief

Should you’re not somebody who flies with Southwest at the very least a number of occasions every year, you will wrestle to get correct worth out of the . Its $229 annual charge might be offset with perks like free checked luggage and a Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance, however that is solely the case in the event you’re dedicated to flying typically with Southwest.

Should you’re somebody who flies with this airline just a few occasions every year or much less, you will probably be higher off with a less expensive Southwest card or an Final Rewards card.

Southwest Precedence vs. Southwest Premier

The Southwest Premier expenses a extra reasonable $149 annual charge, making it a greater match for many who fly with Southwest two or thrice every year. Like these with the Southwest Precedence, as a Southwest Premier cardholder, you will obtain your first checked bag free for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation, 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors every year, precedence boarding and the flexibility to earn tier qualifying factors by means of spending.

In contrast to the Precedence, the Premier provides entry to Most popular seats inside 48 hours of departure (when obtainable), as a substitute of at reserving. You will additionally obtain 6,000 bonus factors every year with the Premier versus 7,500 factors as a Precedence cardholder. The Premier additionally swaps fuel for grocery shops in its bonus classes and locations a spending cap of $8,000 per 12 months on its grocery and restaurant classes.

Should you’re not a Southwest loyalist otherwise you’re a giant Southwest fan who solely travels a few occasions every year, the Southwest Premier is probably going the higher alternative for you. Should you count on to fly with Southwest greater than thrice in a 12 months, contemplate the Southwest Precedence as a substitute.

To be taught extra, try our comparability of the private Southwest playing cards.

Is the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card value it?

For Southwest devotees, the card is usually a large enhance to their pockets. With quite a lot of perks to assist frequent flyers justify its annual charge, the Precedence can go a great distance towards making your day-of-travel expertise as easy and pleasing as potential.

That mentioned, solely Southwest’s greatest followers will get most worth out of this card. Should you’re an rare traveler otherwise you fly on quite a lot of airways, I like to recommend contemplating certainly one of Southwest’s cheaper playing cards as a substitute.

When to use for the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card

Proper now, new cardholders can earn 90,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Based on TPG’s valuations, these 90,000 bonus factors are value $1,125.

It is vital to notice that you have to accrue 135,000 qualifying factors to earn a Companion Cross on Southwest. When combining the factors on this supply with the ten,000 qualifying factors enhance this card provides, you will be roughly three-quarters of the way in which to that 135,000-point threshold.

That is an elevated supply for this card, so now is an efficient time to use in the event you’ve been eyeing this card for some time. Simply do not forget that Chase’s 5/24 rule applies to all Southwest playing cards.

Different playing cards to contemplate if you don’t need the Southwest Precedence

If the is not value a spot in your pockets, listed below are a number of different playing cards to contemplate as a substitute:

If you’d like a Southwest card with a low annual charge: The (see charges and charges) expenses $99 every year however nonetheless provides nice perks like your first checked bag free for you and as much as eight companions and precedence boarding. To be taught extra, try our full evaluation of the Southwest Plus.
If you’d like a card that earns transferable rewards: The earns Final Rewards factors that may be transferred to Southwest. It earns factors on eating at a better fee than the Southwest Precedence, incomes 3 factors per greenback spent. To be taught extra, try our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most popular.
If you’d like a card that provides premium perks: The (see charges and charges) provides a slew of high-end advantages, together with lounge entry, assertion credit for an array of retailers and expansive journey protections. It additionally earns Final Rewards factors that may be transferred to Southwest. To be taught extra, try our full evaluation of the Sapphire Reserve.

For extra choices, try our picks for the most effective airline and journey playing cards.

Backside line

For the correct Southwest fan, the Southwest Precedence is usually a large bonus on your pockets. It provides lots of invaluable perks, together with your first checked bag free, precedence boarding and a lift towards the beloved Companion Cross.

When figuring out which Southwest card is best for you, contemplate how typically you fly with the airline, whether or not you normally journey solo and the way continuously you examine a bag. Offered you may make this card’s annual charge give you the results you want, it is a card I like to recommend.

Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score CardEarn 90,000 factorsIconat Chase’s safe website. Phrases & restrictions apply. See charges & charges.