Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card Assessment 2023

There are three flavors of Southwest bank cards, all of which have Southwest-specific perks of various high quality.

The card_name is the least beneficial—however least costly—possibility. Presently, new cardholders will bonus_miles_full.

This card is an efficient alternative for individuals who fly Southwest a few times per 12 months. And, as we’ll cowl, it may possibly fast-track you to one of many undisputed greatest offers in journey, the Southwest Companion Go. Right here’s every little thing you could know concerning the card_name.

TIME’s Take

The card_name is vital to reaching the Southwest Companion Go inexpensively. Its sizable welcome bonus and 10,000-point Companion Go factors enhance make the Southwest Companion Go rather more attainable.

Its annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge isn’t perfect, however the card’s annual advantages (bonus factors every anniversary, EarlyBird Examine-In reimbursements, and so on.) are sufficient to make the cardboard a keeper.

Execs & cons

Who’s the cardboard for?

The card_name is for individuals who fly Southwest a few times per 12 months. When you fly any lower than that, you seemingly received’t handle to squeeze sufficient worth from the cardboard’s ongoing advantages to justify the annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge.

This card can be for these stretching their arms towards the Southwest Companion Go, which lets you convey a pal or member of the family with you for simply the price of taxes and costs. This is without doubt one of the most dear offers on the planet of journey, as we’ll cowl shortly.

Additionally, Southwest doesn’t fly to as many airports as legacy carriers like American Airways, Delta, and United Airways. Most notably, Southwest doesn’t fly to many worldwide locations. It’s a helpful possibility for these fascinated by home flights (together with Hawaii), the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

So, be sure you dwell in an space that’s served by Southwest—and that it flies to locations you’re fascinated by—earlier than you pounce on this card.

Rewards

The card_name card holders will bonus_miles_full. Southwest factors are usually price about 1.4 cents every towards airfare, so this bonus ought to be capable of web you $700 in free Southwest airfare.

Moreover, the cardboard will earn the next to your spending:

• 2 factors per greenback for Southwest purchases.
• 2 factors per greenback with Southwest lodge and automotive rental companions.
• 2 factors per greenback for native transit and commuting purchases.
• 2 factors per greenback for web, cable, and telephone companies, and choose streaming.
• 1 level per greenback for all different purchases.

There are a number of how to redeem Southwest factors, together with for merchandise, present playing cards, lodge stays, rental automobiles, and extra. However you’ll constantly get the very best worth by redeeming them for Southwest flights.

Southwest costs its awards in direct proportion to its money fares. In different phrases, if money costs are low, you’ll be able to count on factors costs to even be low.

The fantastic print

The card_name fees a annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. It additionally fees a 3% international transaction charge, so it’s not a terrific card to make use of abroad.

Moreover, you’ll pay:

• APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type rates of interest when carrying a steadiness month-to-month.
• Steadiness switch charges: balance_transfer_fees.
• Money advance charges: cash_advance_fee Plus, you’ll pay 29.99% APR which can accrue the identical day you provoke the money advance.
• Late/returned funds: late_payment_fee.

Further hidden perks

Quick-track to the Southwest Companion Go

Right here’s a fast rundown of the Southwest Companion Go—which has the potential to avoid wasting you actually hundreds of {dollars} every year, relying on how typically you employ it.

The Southwest Companion Go allows you to convey alongside a companion each single time you fly Southwest for simply the price of taxes and costs—even in the event you fly a number of instances per day. So long as there’s one other flight accessible on the airplane, your companion can come alongside.

The Southwest Companion Go is legitimate till December 31 of the next calendar 12 months. For instance, in the event you had been to earn the move in November 2023, the move can be good till December 31, 2024.

To get the Southwest Companion Go, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying factors in a calendar 12 months. However in the event you maintain the card_name, your requirement drops to 125,000 factors. Even higher, Southwest bank card welcome bonuses rely towards the Companion Go—that means you’ll solely want 75,000 extra factors after you meet this card’s $1,000 spending requirement and earn its bonus.

Anniversary bonus

The card_name affords 3,000 bonus factors after every account anniversary. Consider it as a reward for paying the cardboard’s annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. Once more, Southwest factors are usually price 1.4 cents every, that means that you must be capable of get $42 in worth from it.

EarlyBird Examine-Ins

Every cardmember 12 months, your card might be reimbursed when paying for as much as two EarlyBird Examine-Ins. These provide the capacity to routinely verify in to your flight earlier than 24 hours (which is when everybody else checks in). When you had been to pay for EarlyBird Examine-in, you’d spend not less than $15 a pop—although they are often rather more costly relying on the route.

The large benefit right here is that you just’ll be one of many first to board the flight. As a result of Southwest doesn’t have seat assignments, this implies you’ll have the power to decide on almost any seat on the airplane.

Inflight reductions

If you use your card to purchase drinks or Wi-Fi onboard a Southwest flight, you’ll get a 25% rebate. This could actually add up in the event you fly Southwest typically.

Journey and buy protections

The card_name comes with a few so-so journey insurances. You’ll get:

• Baggage delay insurance coverage: When your bag is delayed by not less than six hours on the fault of the passenger service, you’ll be reimbursed $100 per day (max three days) for frequent bills. Suppose issues like toiletries, clothes, telephone charger, and so on.
• Misplaced baggage insurance coverage: When you or instant household has checked or carry-on baggage that’s misplaced or broken by the passenger service, you’re eligible for as much as $3,000 in protection per passenger.

The card_name additionally comes with buy coverages:

• Buy safety: New purchases are lined towards harm or theft as much as $500 per declare (max $50,000 per account) for 120 days after the acquisition date.
• Prolonged guarantee safety: Eligible U.S. producer’s warranties of three years or much less will be prolonged by as much as one 12 months.

Momentary perks

Presently, the card_name affords a free 12-month DoorDash DashPass membership while you activate by December 31, 2024. DashPass in any other case prices $9.99 per thirty days, that means you’ll get almost $120 in worth from this profit.

DashPass comes with perks like $0 supply charges and decreased service charges for eligible orders. You’ll even get 5% in DoorDash credit while you elect to choose up your order as a substitute of getting it delivered.

What could possibly be improved

Actually, this card is troublesome to critique. For an off-the-cuff Southwest flyer, it’s a passable providing.

Nonetheless, the cardboard might add higher journey protections. Competing playing cards, such because the United℠ Explorer Card, supply major rental automotive insurance coverage and journey delay insurance coverage—each terribly beneficial for air journey.

It will even be good to see some sort of award low cost supplied for cardholders. For instance, Delta bank card holders obtain a profit known as TakeOff 15, which reduces award costs by 15% for Delta-operated flights. This may make the card_name probably the greatest airline bank cards in the marketplace.

Card alternate options

Time Stamp: When you fly a few times per 12 months on Southwest, this card is tough to beat.

The card_name’s 3,000-point anniversary bonus and two EarlyBird Examine-Ins are greater than sufficient to offset the cardboard’s annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. However in the event you fly greater than a few times per 12 months on Southwest, you’ll seemingly do higher with a extra premium possibility, such because the Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card. It comes with improved advantages resembling elite standing boosts, 50% greater incomes charges for Southwest purchases, and extra.

Continuously requested questions (FAQs)

What’s the minimal credit score restrict for card_name?

The minimal credit score restrict for the card_name is reportedly $2,000.

What are the cons of card_name?

In comparison with different Southwest bank cards, the card_name is fairly vanilla with regards to advantages. It additionally fees a annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge which is troublesome to recoup until you fly Southwest not less than as soon as per 12 months.

Is the card_name price it?

The card_name is price it if you will get sufficient worth from the cardboard’s ongoing advantages to offset the annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. When you’re paying greater than you’re saving, the cardboard isn’t price it.

What is the credit score rating for Southwest bank card?

Chase doesn’t make public the bottom potential credit score rating it is going to entertain to approve you for the card_name. Nonetheless, you must have a credit score rating of 670, which is taken into account “good” by FICO, earlier than you apply for rewards bank cards basically.