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Southwest Credit Card Comparison: What You Get with Each Tier With Southwest’s move toward assigned seating and upgraded boarding, the benefits of holding a Rapid Rewards credit card just became a lot more valuable. Here's a breakdown of what each consumer and business card offers—including how early you can pick your seat and which perks come with each card tier. Consumer Credit Cards 1. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Old Annual Fee: $69 New Annual Fee: $99 Seat Selection Timing: You can choose a standard seat starting within 48 hours before departure . Extra Legroom Seats: Not included. Ideal For: Occasional flyers looking to earn points without premium fees. Still helpful, but lacks early seat access. 2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Old Annual Fee: $99 New Annual Fee: $149 Seat Selection Timing: Also allows seat selection within 48 hours before departure , but now you can choose from preferred or standard seats . Extra Legroom Seats: Not included. Ideal For: More frequent travelers who want access to better seat zones without paying for top-tier perks. 3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Old Annual Fee: $149 New Annual Fee: $229 Seat Selection Timing: You can select a preferred or standard seat at the time of booking , which is a major upgrade. Extra Legroom Seats: Yes , you’ll be able to upgrade to these seats within 48 hours of departure if available —at no extra charge. Ideal For: Frequent Southwest flyers who want maximum control over their seats and travel experience. Business Credit Cards 1. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Business Credit Card Annual Fee: $99 (unchanged) Seat Selection Timing: Like the consumer Plus card, it offers access to standard seats within 48 hours before departure . Extra Legroom Seats: Not included. Ideal For: Small business owners or side hustlers looking for basic travel rewards without a high fee. 2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Old Annual Fee: $99 New Annual Fee: $149 Seat Selection Timing: You can choose a preferred or standard seat within 48 hours before departure . Extra Legroom Seats: Not included. Ideal For: Business owners who want mid-level perks and status progress without breaking the bank. 3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Old Annual Fee: $199 New Annual Fee: $299 Seat Selection Timing: This premium card gives you access to preferred or standard seating at the time of booking . Extra Legroom Seats: Yes , eligible to upgrade to extra legroom within 48 hours at no cost, if seats are available. Ideal For: High-volume business travelers who value early seat choice, priority boarding, and added flexibility. What Does This Mean for You? If you're planning to fly Southwest after assigned seating begins in early 2026 , the card you choose will directly impact how comfortable your flight is —not just how many points you earn. Here’s the bottom line: Want to pick your seat at booking? Go with the Priority (consumer) or Performance Business card. Okay waiting until 48 hours before the flight? Then Plus or Premier may still offer solid value. Need extra legroom without paying more? Only the Priority and Performance Business cards unlock that privilege.  The annual fees have gone up—but for travelers who value flexibility, seat control, and less stress at boarding, the extra cost might be worth it.

Southwest Companion Pass Guide for Families How to Fly 2-for-1 All Year Using Points & Miles! Dreaming of family getaways without draining your bank account? What if I told you there’s a magical little travel hack that lets one person fly FREE with you every time you fly, even when you use points?! Yup, it’s called the Southwest Companion Pass and it’s basically the holy grail of family travel savings!!!

Think fancy hotel rooms are out of your budget?! Think again! When we first started using points and miles I thought I'd only be able to get basic rooms. The crazy part is, I always book the basic room and SO many times I get upgraded (for FREE) with this template. You can use this for cash stays too! PRO TIP: Email 7 to 10 days before your trip. Try to find the email of the GM if you can. Otherwise, emailing the regular reservations email is great too. Occasionally I will come across a hotel that doesn't have an email listed. I do something very millennial of me...call the hotel! hah! I ask the front desk for the email of the general manager. If they do ask why I let them know I have a question about my upcoming stay that I'd like to chat with them about. I've never had a time where someone wouldn't give me the email. I know it feels weird to call, but trust me, it's not weird at all. This template is made to be customized. This is just a basic format to get your creativity juices flowing. I always make sure to research the hotel before visiting and highlight something particular about that property that I'm most excited to experience myself or have heard wonderful reviews of from other people. Take Hotel Indigo in Traverse City as an example. I mentioned that what I loved most about the hotel was that it was on Traverse Bay and had beautiful views of the water. Not all rooms have water views, so I made sure to highlight that in my email. We were upgraded to a king view suite with views of the bay! Outside of a larger room we've also gotten treats and heartwarming notes as well. I hope this template helps you and your family get a killer upgrade for your next hotel stay! If you do use the template and get an upgrade would you mind sending me a DM on Instagram and let me know?! I'd love to be able to share your success story! Happy Travels! UPGRADE TEMPLATE Subject: Upcoming Stay – Special Occasion + Upgrade Request Dear [Hotel Name] Team, I hope this message finds you well! My name is [Your Full Name], and I have an upcoming reservation at your hotel [reservation number] from [Check-in Date] to [Check-out Date]. I just wanted to say how thrilled I am to stay at [Hotel Name]—I’ve heard such wonderful things about your service and the beautiful property, and I can’t wait to experience it myself! This trip is extra special because [briefly mention the occasion—e.g., we’re celebrating our anniversary, it’s a family getaway we’ve been dreaming of, it’s my birthday trip, etc.]. We’ve been looking forward to this for quite some time, and your hotel was our top choice. If there’s any chance for a complimentary upgrade or a room with a view, we’d be so grateful. We completely understand if it’s not possible, but thought we’d ask just in case! Thank you for your time, and regardless of the upgrade, we’re really looking forward to our stay with you. Warm regards, [Your Full Name]

3 Days of Magic in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Pictured Rocks, Narnia Trail, and the Big Spring

Traveling is all about adventure, but having the right tools makes it even better. Whether you're optimizing credit card rewards, tracking flights, or scoring deals, these five travel apps are absolute game-changers. If you’re serious about maximizing travel savings and convenience, these are the apps you need!