Southwest Efficiency vs. Premier: Which is best for you?

Attempting to determine which Southwest Airways enterprise bank card deserves a spot in your pockets? The Southwest Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and costs) each pack useful perks, however every is constructed with a distinct form of traveler in thoughts.

Southwest has rolled out main modifications, together with assigned seating, a revamped boarding course of and bag charges. A cobranded Southwest bank card can supply loyalists extra sensible worth amid these new changes.

This is a side-by-side comparability of each playing cards that will help you select the one which most accurately fits what you are promoting wants.

Associated: Evaluating the Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence, Premier and Plus bank cards

Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise supply is value $1,680.

In the meantime, the Southwest Premier Enterprise supply is value $840.

Be mindful, each playing cards fall underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you seemingly will not be authorised should you’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards prior to now 24 months.

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Moreover, you will not be eligible to obtain a welcome bonus when you’ve got obtained one prior to now 24 months on the respective card you might be making use of for.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. Its considerably larger bonus simply edges out the Premier model, providing greater than double the worth.

Associated: This is easy methods to calculate your 5/24 standing

On this case, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise prices $150 extra per yr than the Southwest Premier Enterprise, so the additional advantages must make up that distinction.

Advantages shared by each playing cards:

• Free checked baggage.
• Precedence boarding for flights in 2026 and past.
• 25% again on inflight purchases.
• $500 charge credit score for factors transfers per yr.*
• 10,000 annual Companion Qualifying factors, which get you nearer to incomes a companion move.
• No international transaction charges.
• Free worker playing cards.

Premier Enterprise Advantages:

• Two Early Chook Verify-Ins on flights working in 2025.*
• 6,000 anniversary bonus factors.
• Most well-liked seat choice inside 48 hours of departure on flights working in 2026 and past.
• 15% flight low cost code every anniversary yr (excluding Primary fares).
• 2,000 Tier Qualifying Factors for each $5,000 spent on the Premier Enterprise card in a yr (with no cap on the variety of TQPs you possibly can earn). This helps you attain A-Record elite standing quicker.

Efficiency Enterprise Advantages:

• 9,000 anniversary bonus factors.
• 4 Upgraded Boardings on flights working in 2025.*
• 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi purchases as a press release credit score. In different phrases, you could possibly buy an all-day inflight Wi-Fi move on daily basis of the yr, and your card will cowl it.*
• Precedence boarding for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation for flights working in 2026 and past. You probably have A-list standing, you possibly can board with an earlier group.
• Most well-liked seat choice at reserving for flights working in 2026 and past.
• Limitless extra-legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of exits on flights working in 2026 and past.
• 2,500 tier-qualifying factors per $5,000 you spend on purchases in a calendar yr (with no cap on the variety of TQP’s you possibly can earn).
• World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge credit score.

*Advantages ending December 31.

The Efficiency Enterprise begins sturdy by providing 9,000 bonus factors in your account anniversary versus 6,000 with the Premier Enterprise. As of October 2025, TPG values Southwest factors at 1.4 cents every.

The Premier Enterprise anniversary bonus is value $84, whereas the Efficiency Enterprise anniversary bonus is value $126.

The opposite standout advantages of the Efficiency Enterprise card are geared towards the day-of journey expertise. Since Southwest is shifting to assigned seating for a charge for flights beginning in 2026, the Efficiency Enterprise will enable clients to pick out most popular seating at no cost at reserving and entry limitless additional legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of departure.

The Efficiency Enterprise additionally lets you attain A-list standing faster by means of card spending and gives a press release credit score for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, whereas the Premier Enterprise would not.

The Premier Enterprise card nonetheless holds enchantment, notably with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Primary fares) and decrease annual charge. However should you fly Southwest typically, the Efficiency Enterprise’s journey perks and elite-status enhance make the $150 properly value it.

It is also value mentioning that each playing cards will lose key advantages on the finish of the yr, just like the Wi-Fi passes and upgraded boarding with the Efficiency Enterprise and the EarlyBird check-ins with the Premier Enterprise.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper annual charge comes with a significant improve in advantages that frequent Southwest vacationers will truly use.

Associated: Are airline bank cards value it anymore?

The Southwest Efficiency Enterprise additionally has noticeably stronger incomes charges — although you may solely profit in case your spending habits align with the bonus classes.

With the Efficiency Enterprise, you may earn:

• 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return†)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards resort and automotive rental companions* (4.2% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing companies) (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on resort lodging booked immediately with the resort (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on social media and search engine promoting, web, cable and cellphone companies* (2.8% return†)
• 1 level per greenback spent in all places else (1.4% return†)

†Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

In the meantime, with the Premier Enterprise you may earn:

• 3 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (4.2% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per anniversary yr (2.8% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on Fast Rewards resort and automotive rental companions* (2.8% return)
  2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing* (2.8% return)
• 1 level per greenback spent in all places else (1.4% return)

*Incomes charges ending December 31.

†Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

The Efficiency Enterprise clearly outpaces its sibling in long-term incomes potential. You will earn extra on Southwest purchases and will not face the $8,000 annual cap on fuel and restaurant spending that applies to the Premier Enterprise.

It is also higher for frequent vacationers or small-business house owners who recurrently spend on motels, promoting or web companies — all classes the place it earns double factors.

Moreover, the Efficiency Enterprise will nonetheless earn bonus factors on native transit, whereas the Premier Enterprise is shedding that class.

The Premier Enterprise, nevertheless, nonetheless gives stable rewards for individuals who fly Southwest solely often and do not spend closely in bonus classes.

Each playing cards will lose bonus classes on the finish of 2025, which is disappointing on condition that they each carry annual charges.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper incomes charges and uncapped bonus classes make it a stronger earner total.

Associated: Simple methods to earn Southwest Fast Rewards factors

Each playing cards earn Fast Rewards factors that may be redeemed the identical method — primarily for Southwest-operated flights.

Since Southwest makes use of a revenue-based pricing mannequin, the variety of factors wanted for a flight sometimes aligns with its money fare. You will not discover “candy spots, however you may get pleasure from constant worth on your redemptions.

Redeeming Southwest factors is easy: when reserving on the Southwest web site, simply choose “Factors” as an alternative of “{Dollars}.” The web site will show the corresponding award pricing on your chosen itinerary.

It is essential to notice that, like with any airline’s award tickets, further taxes and costs are nonetheless relevant, beginning at $5.60 per method.

Nonetheless, tickets booked with factors are absolutely refundable, and there are not any penalties for cancellations so long as you cancel at the least 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.

Redeeming the factors you earn in your Southwest enterprise playing cards can unlock new alternatives for your loved ones and what you are promoting.

TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson likes to make use of Southwest factors to e book nonstop flights on routes the place different airways all have a layover, reminiscent of from Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) to St. Louis Lambert Worldwide Airport (STL).

Whereas Southwest additionally gives worldwide flights, motels and automotive leases by means of its journey portal, the charges for these choices are typically not as favorable as when utilizing your factors for Southwest-operated flights.

Winner: Tie. Since each playing cards have the identical redemption choices, there is no clear winner right here.

Associated: Southwest Airways cuts 30 routes in pivot so as to add extra connecting flights

When you fly Southwest recurrently, the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise Card’ is definitely worth the larger annual charge. Between the 9,000-point anniversary bonus, limitless Wi-Fi credit and precedence boarding upgrades, it delivers a stronger set of journey perks and incomes energy.

When you’re an informal Southwest flyer or just wish to maintain your annual charge low, the Premier Enterprise card gives stable worth with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Primary fares) and constant incomes construction.

Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card

Nonetheless, it is typically smarter to open each playing cards individually to reap the benefits of every welcome bonus. Earlier than making the swap, examine should you’re eligible for an improve supply from the Premier Enterprise to the Efficiency Enterprise.

Associated: Do not cancel: The way to downgrade a Chase bank card

To be taught extra, learn our full critiques of the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise and Southwest Premier Enterprise.

Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card
Apply right here: Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card