This publish has been up to date with present gives. It was initially printed on September 10, 2019
Most cobranded airline bank cards have a tricky time holding their very own in opposition to transferable factors playing cards today, however Southwest’s various portfolio of non-public and enterprise playing cards is a notable exception. That’s as a result of signing up for these playing cards is the quickest method to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Cross, and a yr or extra of free flying to your designated companion.
If you happen to haven’t already, now’s the very best time of yr to start out your quest in direction of the Companion Cross. That’s as a result of the move is legitimate by means of the top of the yr after the yr wherein you earn it, which suggests if you happen to earn the Companion Cross in January 2020 it is going to be legitimate by means of December 31, 2021, providing you with virtually two full years of free flying.
This one of the sought-after journey perks in your entire business. It requires 110,000 Southwest factors earned in a single calendar yr to attain it, however there’s a transfer you may make proper now to earn these factors with simply two bank cards.
Proper now, all three private Southwest bank cards are providing a sign-up bonus of 40,000 Southwest Speedy Rewards factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months.
In the meantime, the Southwest Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card has a sign-up bonus of 70,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months. Pair the Efficiency card with one of many different three playing cards, and also you’ve made it to the magic threshold to earn that coveted Companion Cross.
Signal-up supply particulars
Primarily based on TPG’s valuations (1.5 cents), the 40,000-point bonus is value $600, and all of those factors depend towards the 110,000 wanted to earn the Companion Cross the “conventional” manner. $1,000 in three months is a reasonably low spending requirement, and this supply is out there on all three of Southwest’s private bank cards:
Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
The names don’t precisely make clear how these three playing cards differ, however they’ve annual charges starting from $69 to $149 and ranging perks. Right here’s extra information on how they stack up:
Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card
Annual payment
$69
$99
$149
Anniversary factors bonus
three,000 Speedy Rewards factors
6,000 Speedy Rewards factors
7,500 Speedy Rewards factors
Incomes charges
2x on Southwest flights and lodge and automobile rental companions
1x all over the place else
2x on Southwest flights and lodge and automobile rental companions
1x all over the place else
2x on Southwest flights and lodge and automobile rental companions
1x all over the place else
Different perks
N/A
N/A
$75 annual Southwest journey credit score
4 upgraded boardings per yr (when out there)
20% again on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi
Tier Qualifying Factors
N/A
Earn as much as 15,000 TQPs a yr, 1,500 for every $10,000 spent
Earn as much as 15,000 TQPs a yr, 1,500 for every $10,000 spent
Overseas-transaction payment
three%
None
None
As all three playing cards are providing an similar welcome bonus, it’s best to decide the one with the annual payment and advantages to match your wants. Not everybody will want the additional perks like 4 upgraded boardings with the Precedence Card, for instance.
Eligibility
You received’t be capable of earn this sign-up bonus, not to mention open one in all these private Southwest playing cards, if:
You already maintain a private Southwest bank card.
You’ve earned a brand new card member bonus on a Southwest shopper bank card within the final 24 months.
You’re over 5/24 — that means you’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards within the final 24 months. It is a Chase coverage meaning there’s just about zero probability you’ll be accepted for many of its playing cards if you happen to’re over the 5/24 restrict.
Utilizing factors
The variety of Southwest Speedy Rewards factors required to e-book a flight is immediately tied to the present fare of the flight, in order that they’re one of the simplest ways to redeem them. Southwest is nice for households touring with lap youngsters in addition to versatile vacationers, since there aren’t any cancellation or change charges on its flights.
Backside line
Particularly with Southwest’s latest addition of service to Hawaii, boosting your Speedy Rewards factors stability could possibly be a wise transfer. With 40,000 factors, you could possibly be effectively in your method to the islands or to any of the locations (together with some worldwide gems) the airline flies to, so this supply on the Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus Credit score Card, the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card and the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card is value a glance. And if you happen to tack on the 70,000 extra factors from the Southwest Speedy Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card, you’ll quickly be flying with a companion anyplace Southwest flies.
Further reporting by Katie Genter. Featured photograph of Southwest plane at Houston Interest by Stephen M. Keller / Southwest.
Ethan Steinberg
joined TPG as a factors and miles contributor in early 2017 and loves sharing his high-value redemption methods with readers. If you happen to requested him the place he needs to journey subsequent he’d quote Anthony Bourdain and let you know “anytime I am consuming spicy noodles in a bowl, I am comfortable.
