{"id":150668,"date":"2025-02-17T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/17\/comparing-the-personal-southwest-credit-cards-priority-premier-and-plus-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T16:00:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:00:44","slug":"comparing-the-personal-southwest-credit-cards-priority-premier-and-plus-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/17\/comparing-the-personal-southwest-credit-cards-priority-premier-and-plus-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing the personal Southwest credit cards: Priority, Premier and Plus – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Welcome offers are usually one of the best ways to differentiate between credit cards from the same family. But what about Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards<\/a>, which often have the exact same sign-up bonus?<\/p>\n

The following three cards are currently offering the same great welcome bonus. New applicants can earn a Companion Pass plus 30,000 bonus points (worth $405, according to TPG’s February 2025 valuations<\/a>) after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening:<\/p>\n

The Companion Pass allows cardmembers to bring any travel partner for free on as many Southwest flights through February 28, 2026 (not including taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way). Depending on whether you value a higher number of bonus points or a Companion Pass, this offer is on par with the best offers we’ve seen<\/a> on these cards in the past. These offers end on March 31.<\/p>\n

Despite their similar-sounding names, the three cards have important differences. Which one will be best for you depends on how often you fly Southwest and how many of these cards’ respective perks you can maximize. Here’s what you need to know to choose.<\/p>\n

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Related: These 12 apps and websites make award redemptions easier to find<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Southwest credit cards overview<\/h2>\n
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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Benefit<\/strong><\/th>\nSouthwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card<\/strong><\/th>\nSouthwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card <\/strong><\/th>\nSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card <\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Annual fee<\/strong><\/td>\n$69<\/td>\n$99<\/td>\n$149<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anniversary points bonus\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n3,000 Rapid Rewards points<\/td>\n6,000 Rapid Rewards points<\/td>\n7,500 Rapid Rewards points<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earning rates<\/strong><\/td>\n2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing apps)<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming<\/p>\n

1 point per dollar on everything else<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing apps)<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming<\/p>\n

1 point per dollar on everything else<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing apps)<\/p>\n

2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services and select streaming<\/p>\n

1 point per dollar on everything else<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Other perks<\/strong><\/td>\n2 EarlyBird check-ins per year<\/p>\n

25% back on inflight purchases<\/p>\n

10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

2 EarlyBird check-ins per year<\/p>\n

25% back on inflight purchases<\/p>\n

10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$75 annual Southwest travel credit<\/p>\n

25% back on inflight purchases<\/p>\n

10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year<\/p>\n

Four upgraded boardings per year (when available)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Tier qualifying points<\/strong><\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\nEarn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 in spending per calendar year (with no cap)<\/td>\nEarn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 in spending per calendar year (with no cap)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foreign transaction fee<\/strong><\/td>\n3%<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequent Southwest flyer? Choose the Priority<\/h2>\n

The Southwest Priority<\/a> makes a very compelling case for itself.<\/p>\n

If you’re a frequent Southwest passenger, you’ll have no trouble maxing out the $75 annual Southwest travel credit, reducing your effective out-of-pocket cost for this card from $149 to $74.<\/p>\n

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