Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card has a $149 annual fee and is currently offering 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 total in the first 3 months).
This card also gives you a $75 annual Southwest credit each year along with 7500 points each year on your cardmember anniversary. Southwest points are generally worth 1.6 cents each so 7500 points is worth $120.
It also gives you four upgraded boarding positions each year. These are actually better than purchasing early bird since you will get boarding position A1-A15 when you purchase this at the check-in counter or ticket counter. While early bird is usually $15-$25, upgraded boardings cost $30-$50. For simplicity, let’s just say these are worth $15 (like the cheapest early bird).
$120 (7500 miles) + $60 (upgraded boarding) + $75 (annual credit) = $255 value vs $149 annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card has a $99 annual fee and is currently offering 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 total in the first 3 months).
This card gives 6000 points each year on your cardmember anniversary. Southwest points are generally worth 1.6 cents each so 6000 points is worth $96. The value of these points just about covers the $99 annual fee.
It also earns 2X points on all Southwest purchases and 1X points on everything else.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card has a $69 annual fee and is currently offering 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 total in the first 3 months).
This card also gives 3000 points each year on your cardmember anniversary. Southwest points are generally worth 1.6 cents each so 3000 points is worth $48. The value of these points cover most of the $69 annual fee.
It also earns 2X points on all Southwest purchases and 1X points on everything else.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business
The Southwest Premier Business card has a $99 annual fee and it currently offers a 60,000 point bonus after you spend $3000 in the first 3 months.
The 6000 points each year that this card gives you on your cardmember anniversary just about cover the cost of the annual fee. Southwest points are generally worth 1.6 cents each so 6000 points is worth $96.
It also earns 2X points on all Southwest purchases and 1X points on everything else.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
The Southwest Performance Business is the business card version that I prefer. It has a $199 annual fee but the benefits more than cover the annual fee cost. It currently offers a 80,000 point bonus after you spend $5000 in the first 3 months.
The card's benefits include: 9000 points each year on your cardmember anniversary. Southwest points are generally worth 1.6 cents each so 9000 points is worth $144.
It also will credit your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years up to $100. I'll never go without Global Entry again so this is worth $25/year to me.
Ever use WiFi on flights? This card credits you back the cost of Wifi on Southwest flights. 365 $8 credits per year! I don't fly Southwest everyday but maybe will take 4-6 flights per year, so I value this benefit at $24 as I usually don't purchase Wifi.
It also gives you four upgraded boarding positions each year. These are actually better than purchasing early bird since you will get boarding position A1-A15 when you purchase this at the check-in counter or ticket counter. While early bird is usually $15-$25, upgraded boardings cost $30-$50. For simplicity, let’s just say these are worth $15 (like the cheapest early bird).
$144 (9000 miles) + $60 (upgraded boarding) + $25 (Global Entry) + $24 (wifi) = $253 value vs $199 annual fee.
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