What credit score do I need to get the Southwest Premier Credit Card?

To really succeed in the points and miles game, you need to spend some time understanding how credit scores work. While scores in the mid-700s and above will likely be enough to get approved for most cards, having a lower score doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of luck when it comes to applying for new cards.

You can have a lower score due to a variety of factors, but your credit report is more than the number at the bottom of the page. Two people might have a credit score of 600, but if one of them has missed a few payments on a credit card while the other is young and has only a few months of credit history, those 600s don’t necessarily mean the same thing.

While there’s no magic formula (if your score is above X, you’ll automatically be approved), we can carefully analyze public data points to help you gauge your odds of approval for a specific card. Let’s take a look at the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and see what the recommended score is to get approved for this card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card information was independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

What credit score do I need to get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card?

Chase does not explicitly state a recommended or minimum credit score requirement. However, good to excellent credit is typically required to be approved. We typically recommend a credit score of at least 670 or higher, but it is not uncommon to be approved with a lower score.

If your credit score is on the lower end of this range but you still want to apply for the Southwest Premier card, one thing you can do to increase your chances of approval is to build a banking relationship with Chase. If it’s your primary bank and you apply for other cards like Chase Freedom Unlimited® to prove you can pay your bills on time, Chase may be more likely to give you a Southwest card.

Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, so Chase may approve you with a lower credit score. You should also remember that your credit score is only the first of many factors Chase will consider.

Related: Credit Utilization Ratio: What It Is and How It Affects Your Credit Score

How many cards can I keep open?

Like most Chase cards, the Southwest Premier card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means Chase will automatically deny your application if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (with any issuer) in the last 24 months.

There is no way around this rule, even if you have a perfect credit score. If you have more than 5/24, the only thing you can do is wait until you are below 5/24 to apply for the Southwest Premier card.

Related: How to Calculate Your 5/24 Position

Factors That Affect Your Credit Score

Before applying for the Southwest Premier card, it is essential to understand the factors that make up your credit score. Five factors affect your credit score, and simply applying for a new credit card can change it.

FICO says it calculates credit scores using credit data from your credit report in the following ratios:

• Payment history (35%): Credit account on-time payment history
• Amounts due (30%): Amount of available credit you are using, also known as credit utilization
• Length of credit history (15%): How long have your credit accounts been active and how recently have you used each account?
• New credit (10%): Opening multiple lines of credit in a short period of time may indicate a risk for a lender
• Credit mix (10%): Using different types of credit

Your credit score is affected by several factors. It is very important that you understand your credit score before applying for the Southwest Premier card.

There is no scenario where you should ever pay to check your credit score. There are many ways to do it for free.

Related: What is a good credit score?

What to do if you get rejected

While being rejected may not be what you want to hear, there are steps you can take to get Chase to reconsider your application, so don’t give up. By law, banks are required to send you a letter detailing why you were rejected.

Once you understand why you were rejected, you can call the reconsideration line. Here you can talk to an agent about your rejected application and ask for a reconsideration. From there, you can build a case and try to convince the agent why they should approve you for the card.

Additionally, Chase sometimes limits the total amount of your credit line. So if you’ve been rejected, you can ask Chase to move the unused credit from an existing card to a new one, which may get you approved. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it has worked for some TPG staff members a few times.

Related: How Serious Is It to Be Denied for a Credit Card?

Conclusion

While there are many attractive credit card offers, not everyone will be eligible to claim all the bonuses they want. We talk a lot about bonus eligibility restrictions, like Chase’s 5/24 rule and Amex’s one-time policy, but it’s just as important to think about whether your credit score is high enough to be approved.

For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.