Three Different Southwest Credit Cards


This post may contain affiliate links from our advertising partners. Read my Advertiser Disclosure policy here. Additionally, some of the offers on this page may no longer be available through Deals We Like.

UPDATE: These offers have expired.

Southwest currently offers three different co-branded Visa credit cards – two personal and one business. Typically, they all offer the same sign up bonus for new applicants. You can learn more about all Airline credit card offers here.

So what are the different cards, and what are the differences between them?

  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Card – $99/year fee, but you receive 6,000 points annually starting at your first card member anniversary. These 6,000 bonus points is equal to about $86 towards a future Southwest “Wanna Getaway” fare. No foreign transaction fees. And if you are interested in earning Southwest status, you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for every $10,000 in purchases put on the card up to 15,000 TQPs each calendar year.
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Card – Similar to the card above, but this is the business version. Same annual fee of $99/year, 6,000 points after each card member anniversary, no foreign transaction fees, and Tier Qualifying Points.
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Card – $69/year fee, but you only receive 3,000 points annually after after each card member anniversary. These 3,000 points is worth about $43 towards a future Southwest “Wanna Getaway” fare.

While the annual bonus doesn’t fully pay for the yearly annual fee, it comes pretty close.

Which one should I apply for? 

First you need to decide if you want to apply for a personal card or business card. Then decide if you want the Premier or Plus version. This decision is based on a few different factors:

  • If you will be using the card internationally, then go for the Premier card as there are no foreign transaction fees. The Plus card comes with 3% fees on all foreign purchases.
  • If you care about earning Southwest status and need a slight boost, then go for the Premier card. With every $10,000 in purchases on the card you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points, up to 15,000 points. To qualify for A-List status you’ll need to earn 35,000 TQPs per calendar year and to qualify for A-List Preferred status you will need to earn 70,000 TQPs per calendar year.
  • If you plan on only keeping the card for one year, then go for the Plus card. The annual fee is $30 less.
  • If you plan on keeping the card for three or more years, then the annual fee and the anniversary bonus points pretty much equal each other out for the Premier vs. Plus version (this is assuming no increase/decrease in annual fee or another devaluation of points)

The terms of each offer do state, “Note: the bonus may be earned on one first-time personal and one first-time business Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card new account.” However, does anyone have experience getting the offer on both the personal Plus and Premier card or both the business Plus and Premier card? A little over two years ago I personally applied for the personal and business Plus card. I have since cancelled my business card and will soon be canceling my personal card.

Remember, the sign up bonus points from the credit card counts towards earning the Southwest Airlines companion pass. You can read more about this here.

Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to post your experience in the comments section to help other readers!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links only for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Card. Thanks for supporting the blog and enjoy traveling on a deal!

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Raul
Raul
10 years ago

I got both personal cards this past summer and got the bonus points. I was able to get companion pass after hitting 110,000 points.

Patrick
Patrick
10 years ago

I’ve gotten the bonus on all 4 cards.

The big question is can you churn these cards if there is enough time between the closure and reapplying.

Pat From Omaha
Pat From Omaha
9 years ago

“Note: The current sign up bonus for the Southwest Airlines credit card is 25,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of opening your account.”

I have an offer sent to me which will give you 50,000 points instead of the 25,000 on all the Internet sites now. When you apply and receive a Southwest Personal Plus Credit card. The annual fee is only $69, but you must spend $2000 in three months. If you are interested in the offer email me and I will scan in the copy and send it to you.
patomaha@yahoo.com

This offer expires Sept 30,2014

mari
mari
9 years ago

what are tier qualifying points? I currently have a SW RR visa which I have had for 10 plus years. Why doesn’t everyone get the business visa? Please help. I am new to this “game” and love deals and want to learn and get involved.

I am following your posts, but so much to absorb.

in a second matter, my son is moving to Columbia, SA so I will need deals and miles to go visit, etc. Thanks for all of your help and expertise. Enjoy your day!! <3

dealswelike
dealswelike
9 years ago
Reply to  mari

@mari – Glad you love deals and want to get involved in this crazy game! Why don’t you send me an email to dealswelike@gmail.com with all your questions. I’m more then happy to help.

Pin It on Pinterest