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Early Check-In Hotels – everything you need to know

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Typical check-in times are generally from 2-3pm, but there are ways to get in earlier!

Whether you’re taking weeks-long trips or short weekend getaways, it’s not always convenient to have to adhere to a hotel’s check-in and check-out schedule. Coupled with hectic flight schedules, staying in hotels while traveling can become a real headache. What do you do when your flight lands hours before you’re able to check into your room?

Early check-in is a good option when this is the case. Many hotels are willing to work with you when the check-in time on your reservation isn’t ideal for you, but there are some key things to keep in mind when searching for hotels that will do this and making the request. Keep reading to become an early check-in expert.

Normal Hotel Check-In Policies

Most hotels make you wait until early- to mid-afternoon to check into your room, usually around 2 or 3 PM. On the day that you check out, you will likely be asked to leave between 10 AM and 12 PM. 

Hotels try to give themselves a window of at least a few hours between when a guest checks out and the next is scheduled to arrive to carry out any routine cleaning and restocking that needs to take place. 

For a standard reservation, you often can’t get the key to your room before the check-in time on your booking (or check out late without incurring fees). That is, unless you’ve arranged for early check-in in advance.

During peak travel times when most rooms are booked, it may take longer for hotel staff to turn around a room, and getting an early check-in on short notice is less likely. During off-seasons, you may get lucky and the hotel will be fine advancing your check-in.

But don’t count on luck if you’re angling to check into a hotel early. Instead, plan ahead. 

How to Get Early Check-In

You usually have to seek early check-in out because not all hotels offer it openly (if they wanted everyone to check in early, they’d just change the reservation times). Always contact the hotel you’ll be staying at as far in advance as possible to secure early check-in for your trip because getting it last minute is never guaranteed. 

Your early check-in request may be prioritized if you are a rewards club member. In fact, elite status with certain hotels automatically comes with complimentary early check-in. A lot of hotels give late check-outs to guests with elite status, but some give early check-ins as well or instead. The following rewards programs offer this perk: 

  • Choice Privileges – Gold, Platinum, and Diamond level status members receive early check-ins. You become a Gold member after seven nights, a Platinum member after 15 nights, and a Diamond member after 25 nights
  • IHG Rewards – Spire elite members are able to check in at 10 AM at participating locations, and they also get priority check-in
  • Wyndham Rewards – Wyndham Rewards members with Platinum or Diamond status receive early check-in. You become a Platinum member after nine nights and a Diamond member after 24 nights
  • World of Hyatt – early check-in is available for a fee of $10 or more to basic members and Discoverist members, and complimentary early check-in is available to Explorist and Globalist members. All member statuses with this rewards program may check in as early as 9 AM
  • Radisson Rewards – Silver, Gold, and Platinum members are eligible to receive early check-in upon request and are permitted to check in up to two hours before the time on their reservation

When early check-in isn’t complimentary with your membership status, you may be able to purchase it with awards points or cash.

Politeness will take you far when you need to check in early. If you’re kind to the front desk staff and reasonable with your requests, you’re much more likely to get to your room ahead of schedule. It’s not usually a big deal for hotels to speed the process along for you, but it doesn’t hurt to show appreciation.


Also, be flexible. Let the staff know that you’re willing to accept a different room than the one you reserved, along with whatever upcharges may come with this. They may have a surplus of a certain room type. And because they want to fill their rooms, they might agree to letting you check in early if you let them move you around.

And don’t assume that just because you’ve checked into a hotel early before you will be able to do it again.

Can you Stash Your Luggage Before Your Room Is Ready?

When you get in from a long flight, one of the first things you want to do is set down your bags. But if your room isn’t quite ready, most hotels will store your luggage for you somewhere in the lobby, usually the front desk. This way, you can go stretch your legs knowing that someone is keeping an eye on your belongings.

Alternatively, you may be able to place your luggage in your room before the hospitality staff has finished, but this really depends on the hotel you’re staying at.

Considerations

Keep in mind that early check-ins may incur additional fees, even if you are an elite rewards member. The cost is usually somewhere in the range of $10 to $30, but the exact price depends on the hotel you’re staying at, the time of year, and when you’re requesting early check-in.

Make sure to read the fine print on early check-in policies to find out not only how much this will cost you but also what time you can actually check in. Some hotels may give you a couple of hours at the earliest and others may have more generous early check-in windows. If you’re going to be arriving several hours in advance of the time you’re scheduled to check-in, even a slim early check-in could be hugely helpful.

To speed the process along further, provide the hotel with as much information before checking in as you can. Let them know exactly when you’ll be arriving, the size of your party, and any accommodations you would like.

Always try to ask for early check-in when you’re booking a reservation. You can usually select this option when checking out if it’s available, and this is also when you should ask for late check-in. 

If you can’t request early check-in when booking, simply call the hotel you’ll be visiting right after making your reservation and see if they can make it happen for you. This is almost always first-come, first-served, so they’ll be able to let you know where you stand in line and how likely you are to get what you’re asking for. This’ll make planning easier for you and them.

Use the Hotel Business Center and Wifi

If you’re not able to secure early check-in for your stay or you still arrive a little before they allow you to go to your room, make the most of your time waiting. Most hotels are fine with you using their lounge or business center as a non-guest, as long as you let them know that you’ll be doing it. Some hotels may not appreciate you making yourself comfortable while you wait, especially if they’re busy, but others will happily agree as long as you aren’t in an inconvenient location.

If you’re traveling on business, you can use this time to catch up on work or prepare for meetings. Set your luggage down next to you if the hotel doesn’t have a place to hold onto it. If the hotel staff knows you’re waiting on your room, they’ll usually be happy to come and get you to notify you that your room is ready from wherever you’re camped out. 

If a hotel’s lounge or business center is exclusive, your membership status with their rewards program will likely determine whether you can get in or not. Being an elite member could give you access to a swanky lounge that’s off-limits to other guests (and guests in waiting).

Use the Hotel Gym and/or Restaurant

If you have more time to kill before you get your room key, check out the hotel’s gym or restaurant. What better way is there to unwind after a long flight than to hit the gym or grab some dinner and a drink?

Some hotel gyms and fitness centers require a room key or pass to use. Ask the front desk if they have an unassigned key you can borrow or if you can purchase a day pass. Again, just asking and being decent will go a long way when you’re making requests of busy staff members.

Use Cash and Points

Fees for early check-in should be paid with rewards points whenever possible. A great travel credit card—especially, in this case, a hotel credit card—will become your best friend when you’re away from home, if it isn’t already.

One of the fastest ways to become a hotel rewards member is to open a hotel credit card with a brand you frequently stay at. You can acquire points every time you use your card to pay for hotel stays and whatever fees you may incur, such as fees for early check-in. Plus, being a hotel rewards member usually comes with plenty of perks outside of early check-in (as nice as this can be).

Wyndham Rewards has been one of the best hotel rewards programs for several years, so we’ll use this loyalty program as an example of why you should definitely become a rewards member with your hotel(s) of choice. 

You become a Blue-level member the moment you enroll in Wyndham Rewards, and this status comes with savings, opportunities to earn award nights, and free WiFi at every hotel. Once you’ve stayed with Wyndham just three times, you get bumped up to Gold status, where you can start enjoying perks like preferred room choice, late check-out, and dedicated member services. After nine stays, you become a Platinum member and can start checking in early; and after 24 stays, you reach Diamond status and get upgrades and premium check-in.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner cards offer upwards of 45,000 bonus points for signing up and as much as 6X points on hotel stays.

But if you don’t want a hotel-branded card, a general-purpose credit card can also save you serious cash. Here are a few of our current favorites:

Just be mindful of annual fees that often come with the best travel credit cards. But as a rule, the higher the fee, the better the perks.

You can always just pay for your hotels with cash or a debit card, but why would you when you can earn points to put toward your next stay?

Final Thoughts

It’s never a bad idea to try to get early check-in. Early check-in is always subject to availability and differs across regions, so play it safe and double check with the hotel you’ll be staying at before arriving and when booking to make sure that checking in early will be alright.

You’re more likely to get the check-in time you want if you’re a rewards member, but you still might have to pay for this perk. But we think early check-in is worth the price when you’re traveling far from home.

American Airlines Cancellation Policy + How to Get A Refund

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image credit: aa.com

If you’re like one of the many millions of Americans with ruined or changed travel plans over the last year or so, then you’ve likely cancelled or changed a flight recently. And if you’re a regular American Airlines customer, then there are some policy changes you may want to keep up with for flying this summer in 2021.

Whether you want to cancel a trip entirely for a refund or reschedule it to a later date, you should know about your options when booking an American Airlines flight.

American Airlines Cancellation Policy

Here are the high level policy, terms and conditions for cancelling or changing a flight on American Airlines:

  • The good news is that American Airlines allows full refunds on any ticket within 24 hours of booking it so long as you did this at least two days before your departure.
  • Cancellations on American Airlines only apply to purchases made directly with the airline. If you purchased your ticket through a third party site like Expedia, Google’s flight matrix, or a travel agent, then you must contact that organization directly.
  • If you purchased directly through AA.com, you may request a refund online or contact reservations at 1 (800) 433-7300.
  • If you purchased a nonrefundable ticket that you will not be able to use, you may cancel the flight anytime before departure and use the value of the fare towards a future trip. The future trip must be within 365 days of the original.
  • If you’re looking to change a flight due to the heat wave, your change fee will likely be waived. See section below for details.

AA Travel Alerts and Waivers June, 2021

If your city and/or destination has been affected by the extreme heat wave this June, then you may be eligible to change your ticket with the change fee being fully waived. Here is the current list:

If you’re traveling to / through / from:

  • Billings, Montana (BIL)
  • Boise, Idaho (BOI)
  • Bozeman, Montana (BZN)
  • Eugene, Oregon (EUG)
  • Eureka Arcata, California (ACV)
  • Idaho Falls (IDA)
  • Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)
  • Kalispell, Montana (FCA)
  • Medford, Oregon (MFR)
  • Missoula, Montana (MSO)
  • Portland, Oregon (PDX)
  • Redmond / Bend, Oregon (RDM)
  • Reno, Nevada (RNO)
  • Sacramento, California (SMF)
  • Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
  • Seattle, Washington (SEA)
  • Spokane, Washington (GEG)

Your change fee is waived if you:

  • Are traveling on an American Airlines flight
  • Are booked in any fare class, including Basic Economy
  • Bought your ticket by June 23, 2021
  • Are scheduled to travel June 25, 2021 – June 29, 2021
  • Can travel June 25, 2021 – July 02, 2021
  • Don’t change your origin or destination city
  • Rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference
Keep in mind changes must be:
  • Booked by June 29, 2021
  • Completed within 1 year of original ticket date; difference in fare may apply

To change or cancel, simply log in to your American Airlines account and find your trip. If it is eligible to be changed or cancelled, you will have the option to select “Change Trip” or “Cancel Trip” from the toolbar. 

When you’re ready to rebook your trip, you can call Reservations at 800-433-7300 and easily do so. You will be asked to provide your ticket number, sent to you in an email when you cancel, and a six-character confirmation code or record locator. Reservations are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you’d rather receive a refund for your ticket than re-book it, you can cancel your trip online and ask to be refunded for any segments of your trip that you have not flown.

Paid AA Tickets You Can Change or Cancel

The method that you used to pay for your flight will determine whether this travel waiver covers your ticket. 

As highlighted above, all customers are eligible to cancel or change a flight within 24 hours of booking it without penalty.

Refundable Tickets

Refundable tickets are fully refundable. The travel voucher is not necessary for these tickets.

You may change or cancel a trip at any time before your flight with a refundable ticket at no additional cost. You will then be given the option to receive a refund or rebook for a later date.

Your refund may be issued in full to the original method of payment or to a travel voucher to be used on a future flight, if you prefer. 

Non-refundable Tickets

Non-refundable tickets can be changed or cancelled in advance of a flight, but this is costly. A fee of $200 is charged for cancelled/changed domestic non-refundable tickets and a fee of up to $750 is charged for cancelled/changed international non-refundable tickets.

Award Tickets

Award tickets must be cancelled at least 60 days in advance to be eligible for fee waivers. Otherwise, your awards status will be used to determine what you will be charged, with the highest statuses offering the most flexibility and charging the lowest fees.

For example, if you cancel between seven and 59 days before a flight and you are a Platinum member, you will need to pay $75. If you cancel within seven days and you are a Regular status member, you will need to pay $150. Those with Executive Platinum membership do not pay any fees, no matter when they cancel. See this page for the full fee chart.

Elite Status

Also worth noting is that American Airlines has lowered their elite status threshold for 2021, making it easier to qualify for Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum status.


GoldPlatinumPlatinum ProExecutive Platinum
Elite Qualifying Dollars$3,000
$1,500		$6,000
$4,000		$9,000
$6,000		$15,000
$9,000
Elite Qualifying Miles25,000
15,000		50,000
30,000		75,000
45,000		100,000
60,000
Elite Qualifying Segments30
15		60
30		90
45		120
60

These changes are in effect for all of 2020.

Tickets Purchased With Credit Card Points

Any ticket purchased using credit card points will have the same change fees applied. There are no exceptions here currently.

That means that if you purchase a non-refundable ticket using credit card points, you will still be charged a change fee if you make changes to your flight. Likewise, if you make changes to a trip more than 60 days before scheduled departure and you have elite status, you will not be charged extra.

If you went through a third party site or application to book travel with points, you will likely need to go through that same site or application to change or cancel. And if you can’t do that, you’ll need to get in touch with your bank directly.

How to Change or Cancel Paid AA Tickets

To change or cancel an eligible American Airlines ticket that you’ve already paid for, log in to your AAdvantage account and find the trip. You can get to this through the Your Trips / Check In section of the homepage. Select the View/Change option beside this flight.

Now, indicate whether you would like to change or cancel your trip by selecting the corresponding option at the top and follow the instructions from there. Your rebooking and refund options will be presented.

How to Get a Refund When You Cancel

As you might expect, it’s not easy to get a refund for cancelled American Airlines flights that are non-refundable. One of the only situations that qualifies you for a full cash refund is when the airline itself cancels your flight or changes the schedule significantly. If American cancels a non-refundable flight, it will try to reschedule another trip for you. If a change is made to your original schedule that prevents you from being able to take your flight, you might be able to ask for a refund. 

For example, on March 21, 2020, the U.S. and Canada issued a travel restriction on all non-essential flights. At this time, many American Airlines passengers scheduled to fly at this time had their trips automatically cancelled by the airline and were eligible to receive their money back or reschedule at no cost.

Another way to receive a refund for your purchase is by proving that extenuating circumstances are preventing you from taking your flight. For example, if you or someone in your party becomes seriously ill before the flight or you are an active-duty military member unexpectedly relocated, you might be able to get your money back even on non-refundable tickets.

How to Avoid Change or Cancellation Fees

The best piece of advice to offer for trying to avoid change or cancellation fees with American Airlines is to refrain from making same-day changes whenever possible. This costs most passengers, with the exception of those that have Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro status, $75. This is not refundable.

We know life happens and sometimes cancelling or changing trips is unavoidable even right up to your departure time. In this case, we recommend staying on top of all American Airlines travel alerts and updates for possible travel waivers.

Using Trip Credits

American Airlines has recently replaced eVouchers with Trip Credits. These are given to customers that have cancelled a trip in place of cash, and they are automatically generated by American Airlines. If the airline has to cancel your trip for any reason, you will most likely receive Trip Credit as compensation worth the full value of the cancelled trip.

To use your credits, find the email that was sent to you automatically when you were issued Trip Credit after a cancellation. Then, call Reservations and ask to use your Trip Credit. An agent will ask for the 13-digit code at the top of your email and you will be able to specify the details of your desired trip. If you are combining multiple credits, have each of their numbers ready. If your Trip Credit is not enough to cover the cost of your rebooking, you will need to pay the difference via credit or debit card.

You may use up to eight Trip Credits per flight. The person a Trip Credit was issued to can use their credits to book travel for anyone under their name. Trip Credits typically expire one year after the issue date and can be used on flights only (no seat upgrades, in-flight extras, checked baggage fees, etc).

There are three types of credits that American Airlines may issue for travel, and these include Flight Credit, Travel Vouchers, and Trip Credit. Flight Credit is issued to you after you have canceled a flight and valid for flights only. You may use only one Flight Credit per passenger and only the passenger whose name is on the credit is eligible to redeem said credit. Travel vouchers have been replaced by Trip Credits.

KeyBank Credit Cards – A Guide to KeyBank Rewards Points

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KeyBank is the 19th largest bank in the US and the only major bank based out of Cleveland, Ohio. They have over 1,100 branches and 40,000 ATMs in just 16 states:

Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, D.C. and Washington.

Although KeyBank doesn’t occupy the footprint of banks like Chase, Citibank or Bank of America, they do offer an enticing suite of credit cards that are often overlooked.

These include rewards cards, small business cards, and even cards specifically designed to help you build your credit with low risk. Here’s a list of the six credit cards offered through KeyBank (this list does not include retired cards that have since been converted):

  • Key Cashback® Credit Card
  • KeyBank Latitude® Credit Card
  • Key Secured Credit Card®
  • Key2More Rewards® Credit Card
  • Mastercard® Business Credit Card
  • Mastercard® Business Rewards Credit Card
  • Key Private Bank Mastercard® Credit Card

All KeyBank credit cards are Mastercards and most of them have no annual fees, but outside of this, they are all very different from each other. This article will highlight KeyBank’s reward card options and take a look at how to redeem points and rewards with a credit card from this bank.

Rewards Credit Cards Offered by KeyBank

If it’s rewards you’re after, you’ll need one of the following three KeyBank Mastercards. These credit cards are packed with opportunities to earn and redeem points through spending and other account activities.

Key2More Rewards® Mastercard® Credit Card

The Key2More Rewards credit card by KeyBank lets you earn rewards on every purchase with a six month introductory APR of 0%. To qualify for this rewards card, you must have excellent credit (800+). 

You can earn points on eligible credit card purchases, account activities, and even score monthly point bonuses when you spend a certain amount of money (see “Earning Awards Through Spending Activities”) per calendar month. Redeem your points for cash, travel, gift cards, merch, and more. 

There is no cap to the rewards you can receive with this credit card. There is no annual fee.

KeyBank Business Rewards Mastercard®

The KeyBank Business Rewards credit card is great for small business owners that want to earn rewards when making purchases for their business. This can include travel expenses such as hotels and gas, restaurant bills for client meetings, and more (what qualifies an expense as “business” or “personal” is at the discretion of KeyBank). This handy card comes with a bonus of 100,000 points, redeemable for $200, when you spend $1,000 within 60 days of issuance. You must have a business checking account in good standing to qualify for this bonus offer. 

Cardholders also earn unlimited cashback of 2% or 10 points per dollar on business purchases and 1% on all other purchases. This card also has a six month introductory APR of 0% and flexible reward redemption. There is no cap to the rewards you can receive with this credit card. There is no annual fee.

Key Private Bank Mastercard® Credit Card

The Key Private Bank Mastercard Credit Card is a highly exclusive credit card only available to Key Private Bank clients. Key Private Bank is a private wealth manager associated with KeyBank designed primarily for high net worth individuals looking to expand their wealth through investing and asset allocation. If this sounds like you and you also do a lot of traveling, a Key Private Bank Mastercard might be a good fit for you.

This card comes with World Elite Mastercard benefits, which include “premium travel and lifestyle perks” such as complimentary Lyft rides, 5% cashback on Boxed orders, Postmates and Fandango discounts, access to World Elite Concierge, and 10% off of rentals through onefinestay. In addition to these benefits, World Elite offers services including free professional travel support, access to complimentary upgrades and amenities at luxury hotels and resorts, and exclusive savings on travel and stay packages. Key Private Bank Mastercard cardholders receive unlimited LoungeKey airport lounge access when they travel as well. 

Please note that this card comes with a hefty annual fee of $195 and requires a minimum combined balance—across all checking, savings, and investment accounts—of $100,000 in order to avoid a monthly maintenance fee of $50.

Earning Rewards Through Spending Activities

Almost all transactions* made through a KeyBank Key2More Rewards, Key Private Bank, or KeyBank Business Rewards are eligible to earn points.

Here’s a breakdown of how many points each of these cards earns:

  • Key2More Rewards® Credit Card: 5 points for every $1 in qualified purchases
  • KeyBank Business Rewards Mastercard®: 5 points for every $1 in qualified purchases; 5 more points for every $1 spent on business costs including gas, restaurant, telecommunication purchases, and travel expenses (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.)
  • Key Private Bank Mastercard® Credit Card: 10 points for every $1 in qualified purchases

The Key2More Rewards card also qualifies to receive bonus points. Earn a bonus of 25% of your total purchase transaction points for every calendar month that you spend between $1,000 – $1,999 with your card and 50% for every month that you spend $2,000 or more. If your credit limit is less than $2,000, you can still earn this bonus if you use your card consistently to make purchases throughout the month. Bonus points are credited to your account on a monthly basis.

*Transactions that do not earn points include cash advances, convenience check transactions, balance transfers, quasi-cash transactions, and overdraft protection transfers (for which a $10 fee is assessed).

Earning Rewards Through Account Activities

Another way to earn rewards with one of these three credit cards is through account activities. Qualifying activities include online statements and recurring payments. For all three rewards cards, signing up to receive online statements or electronic statements rather than paper statements earns up to 50 points per month. 

In addition, every recurring payment your credit card is used to make—such as charges for a streaming subscription or internet services—earns 50 points per transaction. This point-earning activity is capped at 750 points per month or a total allowance of 15 recurring payments.

Redeeming Rewards Points For:

Points expire after 48 months of issuance, so make sure that you don’t let them sit for too long (with the exception of points earned with a KeyBank Private Bank Mastercard).

You don’t just have to cash out your rewards if you don’t want to. To redeem your rewards and points for cash and other goodies, just sign in to your online account. From there, it’s easy to use your points for any of the following…

Cash Back

From your online banking profile, navigate to the rewards portal by selecting “Rewards” from your account summary page. This will show you your rewards balance and present you with the option to redeem points for cash. The monetary value of points is subject to change. Right now, 12,500 points will get you $25. This makes your point worth about 0.02 cents each no matter how you choose to redeem them.

If you choose this option, the cash will be automatically credited to your credit card account and you should see it on your next statement.

Booking Travel

If you’d prefer to use your points to book travel instead, simply access the rewards redemption site and search trip activities from this page. You can use your points to book flights, car rentals, hotel stays, and even cruises.

Buy Gift Cards

Redeeming your points for gift cards is a great way to go if you want to save money during the holiday season. Just shop the catalog through the KeyBank website and use your rewards points to make purchases.

Purchase Merchandise

The KeyBank Rewards Catalog includes everything from merchandise to electronics. If you ever need a new sweatshirt or drawstring bag, you could use your rewards to score some KeyBank-branded merch. Sometimes this catalog features hot tech items too, so be on the lookout for these.

The Rewards Catalog is also where you’d find gift cards and event tickets. 

Make Donations to Charity

You can use your points to make donations to charity with any one of these three cards. Access your account online or through the app to see a list of charities that accept point donations. 

Remember that making charitable contributions can benefit your wallet too. You can claim some contributions as tax deductions for a nice little tax break, either for yourself or your business.

Buy Event Tickets

KeyBank sometimes offers event tickets as a redemption option as well. Check the Catalog often for offers as these are, of course, always changing.

Other KeyBank Credit Card Offers

If you didn’t find anything in the rewards department from KeyBank (above) then you may want skim through the remaining three KeyBank credit card offers (below) to see if they’re a better fit.

Key Cashback Credit Card

This Key Cashback Credit Card comes with up to 2% unlimited cash back and no annual fee.

As of June 2021, it also features a balance transfer intro APR period of 0% for 12 months. So if you’re paying off high interest credit card debit on another card, you may want to consider transferring the balance over to the Key Cashback card.

How to get this card?

To qualify, you’ll need a checking account at KeyBank with at least $1,000 in monthly deposits AND a savings account with at least $1,000 in it (average daily balance).

KeyBank Latitude Credit Card

If you perked up with the 0% balance transfer offer via the Key Cashback credit card, then you’ll likely find the KeyBank Latitude Credit Card attractive as well.

It currently features a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles on both purchases and balance transfers. If you are going to make a balance transfer, just understand it must be made within the first 60 days to qualify for the introductory APR. After this introductory period, your APR will jump to between 9.99% and 19.99% APR depending on your creditworthiness.

Key Secured Credit Card

This is just your basic secured credit card aimed at building or rebuilding credit. A low minimum deposit is required to get started and it regularly reports to all the major credit bureaus.

It comes with zero annual fee and also no rewards of any kind.

Final Thoughts

KeyBank has done a great job of creating a card for almost every type of consumer. Being a KeyBank customer means having access to more than 1,100 branches across 16 states and also gives you some pretty all-around great rewards card choices. But you do not need a KeyBank account to open a credit card and earn points. So whether you’re already a KeyBank member or not, as long as you have excellent credit, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sign up for one or more of these rewards cards.

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Airlines Credit Cards

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Southwest has 2 personal and 2 business credit card offers. The credit score needed for these cards ranges between 600 – 850. Details below.

Getting super-cheap flights isn’t the only reason to stay loyal to Southwest. Home to the Rapid Reward program, this budget airline has poured a lot into its suite of personal and business credit cards. Tens of thousands of reward points are on the table right now as part of a specific limited-time offer if you have the credit score and income in place to get approved. We’ll get to the details on that in just a minute. 

Southwest is one of the better rewards platforms out there to tie your sails to for a number of reasons. First, it’s the only program that offers unlimited reward seats that are totally unfettered. You’re not dealing with things like blackout dates and expiration deadlines for your points. There’s also tons of built-in ways to save when you make Southwest your go-to airline for earning points. Just the fact alone that your bags fly free with Southwest by default means that you don’t have to worry about applying any of your hard-earned rewards to luggage when you could be scooping up choice seats instead. Southwest also doesn’t ding you with change fees. The point being made here is simply that Southwest really makes you feel like you can dig into your rewards without tons of restrictions and red tape. Next, take a look at how you can get 65,000 to 80,000 free points if you can qualify for a Southwest Rapid Rewards card this summer.

Currently, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card are all wagging 65,000 bonus points at you if you sign up today. The points are yours as long as you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. With the Rapid Rewards points “exchange value” hovering somewhere around 1.3 cents to 1.65 cents, that’s about $1,000 in free travel. 

Let’s take a minute to break down what this sign-on bonus is really serving up before covering what you’ll need as far as credit score and income to qualify. It helps know what all of the cards that are covered in the promotion actually offer when you break down rewards versus annual fees. The good news here is that this offer covers cards that really work for people at all tiers of travel frequency. If you have what it takes to qualify combined with a need to fly frequently, you can make out really nicely with these perks-packed cards. We’ll go from least elite to most elite to help you get an idea of what you can get.

While the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card does come with an annual fee of $69, you’ll make that back many times over if you can get to that spending threshold of $2,000 in the first three months. With that breakdown working out to just over $650 in spending per month, most people are going to hit the mark to be qualified without even trying. These bonus points aren’t the only things that make this card enticing. Don’t forget that you’ll be getting 3,000 anniversary points automatically for every year that you own the card. You’re also getting two points per $1 on all direct-to-airline Southwest Airlines purchases. That two-points-per-dollar policy also applies when you make hotel and car rental partner purchases. While you’re not getting perks like 20 percent cash back on all in-flight purchases, four upgraded boardings per year, 1,500 tier-qualifying points and the 7,500 anniversary points offered by the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card card, this is a really great card with a low annual free for someone who isn’t necessarily a “super traveler.”

Before you have to worry about jumping to the Southwest Priority card that has the toughest approval requirements among the personal cards offered by the airline, you can consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card card that offers 6,000 bonus points on your anniversary with an annual fee of $99. If you want to jump to 7,500 anniversary points, $75 in travel credits, boarding upgrades and 20 percent back on in-flight purchases, the Priority card with an annual fee of $149 is still the very obvious elite choice. This is also the card to have your eye on if you want to earn the Southwest Companion Pass faster. 

For business owners, Southwest is currently offering 80,000 points if you sign up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards business credit card as long as you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first three months. While those extra 15,000 points are enticing, keep in mind that you’re dealing with a spending threshold that’s a full $2,000 more. While that shouldn’t be tough if you’re doing business spending on your card, you should also know that the annual fee jumps up to between $99 and $199 with business cards even though you’re only getting around $250 more in rewards. While it’s a little tight, this is still going to be the better deal for some people because business cards go heavy on annual perks. 

Southwest’s most elite business card, the Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa, throws 9,000 points at you every year on your cardmember anniversary. You’re also getting three times the points for every $1 you spend on Southwest purchases. Designed specifically with business owners in mind, this card also serves up two points for every dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising, cable and phone services. Every other purchase is matched with one point for each $1 you spend. This card also comes with a bunch of flyer perks like Wi-Fi credits, upgraded boarding and tier-qualifying credits. If you don’t qualify for the top-tier business card, Southwest also has another business card called the Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa that’s a little easier to qualify for today.

How to Determine the Credit Score Needed for a Southwest Card

While Southwest doesn’t publish its formula for determining who qualifies for Southwest-branded credit cards, there are a few open secrets regarding how the company qualifies cardholders. First, you should know that there’s more scrutiny as you move up to the elite cards. If your credit is a little shaky, you may still be able to get your hands on one of the basic cards in the Southwest roster. However, you also have to be prepared to appeal for manual approval to “make your case” if you don’t get approved automatically. 

Credit Range Required for Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

As a rule, Southwest only automatically approves card applicants with credit scores in the “good” range for its basic cards. That means that going in with a credit score between 700 and 850 is ideal. While there may be some wiggle room below 700 if you only need a basic card, you’ll need to hit 600 at the minimum. Once you’re going for the premium cards in the Southwest lineup, the threshold where people seem to be getting approved smoothly is around 740.

Income Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards

Again, Southwest doesn’t post any requirements for income. Like most credit cards, Southwest cards use an approval process based on the CARD Act that requires credit card companies to ensure that applicants have the monthly income needed to make monthly payments without necessarily setting a specific minimum requirement for income. That means that Southwest is mostly concerned with your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio when approving you for a credit card. Your DTI is actually what any lender is looking at whenever you apply for a loan, mortgage or some type of financing product. 

DTI is a percentage expressing how much of the gross monthly income that you’re taking in goes toward paying down debt. A person with a higher income can have a much higher DTI than a person with a lower income. This is why there’s no “clear” answer about income requirements. While making six figures is going to put you in a better spot to qualify for a Southwest card than someone making $50,000, your DTI can skew things away from your favor.

In the mortgage world, lenders probably aren’t going to give you a loan if your DTI is up above 43 percent. Where it gets tricky is that there’s no standard in the credit card world. While we know that credit card companies like a lower DTI, we don’t exactly know what number they use for cutting applicants off. However, we do know that the Federal Reserve’s standards see anything above 40 percent as being a sign of stress. The Federal Reserve considers a DTI of 20 percent to be good. It’s estimated that credit cards are generally happy with applicants with DTIs of 30 percent. You can figure out your own personal DTI right now by dividing your total monthly debt by your total monthly gross income. 

Keep in mind that income isn’t just “wages” when you’re talking about credit card applications. In addition to personal income, you can submit information regarding gifts, allowances, Social Security benefits, trust distributions, scholarships and grants to boost your income. The income of a spouse or partner can also be included. 

The Chase 5/24 Rule

Before dipping your toe into the Southwest family of credit cards, you need to know about the Chase 5/24 rule. This infamous rule that is technically “off the record” is one of the biggest determining factors regarding whether or not you’ll get a credit card. It’s known that Southwest credit cards are subject to the 5/24 rule. 

The gist of the 5/24 rule is that you’ll be automatically denied for a new Chase credit card if you’ve already been approved for five credit cards within the last 24 months. That means that opening five cards or more in two years will get you cut off from new cards that come with tons of shiny perks. The reason why Chase does this is simply to knock out the “churn” problem that is so common when cards offer perks and rewards. Customers will often try to legally “scam” the system by opening tons of new credit cards with generous sign-on bonuses before closing them before the next annual fee is due. While most credit card companies don’t want to discourage people from opening multiple cards, the policy of no more than five cards every two years is in place to prevent excessive activity with opening and closing accounts. This makes searching for the right card with the right perks even more important because you don’t want to waste one of your approvals on a card that won’t serve you as well as another card.

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Visa

Let’s talk about what you need for a credit score for the baseline Rapid Rewards card. While this is a great card for someone who travels here and there, it is by no means a powerhouse travel credit card. It offers some great everyday perks that definitely make it worth considering. While you may be interested in this card if you’re only a light traveler, it’s also a good card to consider if you’re a heavy traveler without the credit score to qualify for a more elite card within the Southwest roster. The two points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases combined with one point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases will make this a great option for everyday purchases with a travel slant even though you’re not getting the cash back and travel credits packed into the other credit cards. Keep in mind that this card is the only one in the Southwest roster of personal cards to not waive foreign transaction fees.

Generally, you’ll need to be up over 600 with your credit score to even be considered for this card. Getting to the 650 range is better for an automatic approval. If you get denied with a credit score below 650, you can appeal to have your application manually approved if you’re convinced that your income and DTI will be enough to get you over the line. 

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Visa

If you want 7,500 anniversary points, $75 in Southwest annual travel credits, four seat upgrades per year and 20 percent back on all in-flight drink and Wi-Fi purchases, be prepared to show up with a higher credit score. Considered the elite card in the lineup, the Priority card from Southwest typically requires a credit score of 700 and above. While there may be some leeway if you’re up near 680 or 690, be prepared to make a case with a very high income and low DTI if you appeal your denial because you’re below 700. This is a great card for someone who travels with Southwest frequently. The 20 percent back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi is a really good catch. This is also the only card of the three to offer upgraded boardings simply because you happen to own the card. You don’t have to reach any minimum balance to get these four free boarding upgrades. It’s also the only card of the three to give an annual travel credit. Your purchases with this card also set you up for tier-qualifying travel credits. While this card comes with an annual fee of $149, the perks built into the card will more than pay for the annual fee if you travel just a handful of times in a year.

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa

A great pick if you have a small business that sees you boarding Southwest flights a few times per year, the Premier card gives you 6,000 bonus anniversary points each year on a card with an annual fee of just $99. We can see some pretty big overlaps between what this card offers and what the cards in Southwest’s personal lineup offer. The biggest similarity is that you’re getting two times the points on Southwest purchases with that consistent matching of one point for every dollar on everyday purchases. 

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Visa

A credit score of 700 to 850 is recommended when applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Visa. Ideal for small-business owners who make frequent trips with Southwest, this card offers a smart way to earn points and perks without a big investment. It offers quite an upgrade from the already impressive Premier business card. Just keep in mind that it comes with an annual fee of $199 that’s essentially double the annual fee of its “younger sibling.”

The 9,000 anniversary points given every year really put a bow on this card. This card also brings things up to the next level from the personal cards because it allows you to earn three points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases instead of just two. It also gives you a special category for earning two points for every $1 spent when you make purchases for social media, advertising and more using your card. That all comes on top of the one point for each $1 spent that you get for all purchases. The reason why this is a top business card for anyone who books flights frequently with Southwest is that it packs in tons of traveler perks that will only be appreciated if you actually fly with this card. Business owners who don’t fly often probably won’t appreciate these ultra-specific perks. The first notable perk is that you can earn up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits per year. The second is that you get Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ credits totaling up to $100 every four years. You’re also getting four boarding upgrades per year like you get with the Priority personal credit card.

Final Thoughts on Credit Scores Needed for Southwest Credit Cards

The big thing to remember is that required credit scores are only recommendations. Like all credit card brands, Southwest doesn’t publish or publicize its minimum requirements to qualify for cards. There’s no doubt that the company uses complicated formulas to identify low-risk and high-risk cardholders. However, we don’t know the specific cutting-off points used by the company when determining who can qualify. This is why you’ll see outliers discussing how they were approved for a credit card with a credit score below 600 even though it’s thought to be “impossible” to get a card with a score that low. In these cases, Southwest may be approving a person because they happen to have a very strong income.

What is the big takeaway when figuring out the credit score needed to be approved for a Southwest personal or business credit card? Generally, you won’t be approved for any cards in the Southwest roster without a credit score of at least 600. As you move up to the more elite cards, 700 becomes the assumed minimum. Southwest’s business cards also tend to prefer applicants in the range of 690 to 850. 

If you get denied for a Southwest credit card when you apply online, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. You can contact customer service to ask to have your application manually reviewed by someone. While this isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get your application approved once someone gives it a second glance, this can be an option if you have a high income with low a DTI even if your credit score is lagging just slightly. 

What should you do if you want to sign up for one of these cards? First, check your credit score to see where you stand. This is going to help you avoid any unnecessary pulls that are going to be done when you apply for cards that are “out of your league.” Once you’ve decided that you definitely want to get your first Southwest card, sign up for the Rapid Rewards program if you’re not already enrolled. This is actually the program you’ll be using to redeem the travel perks and rewards you earn with your Southwest credit card.

Credit Score required for Chase Sapphire Preferred card [2021 odds of approval]

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the most popular travel credit cards in the market for many reasons, but one of the biggest draws is its huge sign-up bonus. 

The welcome offer is usually 60,000 points, which is an attractive offer, but Chase is currently offering 100,000 points to new applicants who spend $4,000 in the first three months after opening the account. 

That translates to $1,250 in free travel, which more than makes up for the $95 annual fee. It’s the kind of bonus you usually only see with a premium card that costs $500 or more a year.

The Sapphire Preferred card earns points in the popular Chase Ultimate Rewards program, and you can use the card to book travel through the bank’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point because this card offers a 25% bonus. 

You can also redeem the points for cash which means that 100,000 points is equal to $1,000 in cash back. Or you can get statement credits for purchases with the “Pay Yourself Back” feature and get a 25% bonus on select categories. That promotion is currently in place until the end of September 2021. 

The points also transfer to airline and hotel programs for even better potential value. This is great if you want to get extra value from your points, especially when booking premium airline seats. 

It’s also good if you belong to a travel loyalty program and have some points or miles from flights, hotel stays or credit card sign-up bonuses, but don’t have enough miles or points to book a free hotel stay or award flight.

If you don’t already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, this is the perfect time to sign up and take advantage of the elevated welcome bonus.

But before you hop right into their application process you should know what credit score is required along with general income recommendations and other factors that Chase considers.

To get a better understanding of these factors and requirements, continue reading our comprehensive guide below.

Credit Score Required

Remember, Chase considers a number of factors besides credit score.

If neither of the Chase rules preclude you from having a successful application, then this is a great mid-tier card, and this is the perfect time to apply for it because of the elevated bonus. You will still need to have a good or excellent credit score though to get approved. 

In most cases a credit score of 720 or more will get you approved for most travel credit cards. This one is no different. You can even be approved with a score of only 700 or even less in some cases, but keep in mind that banks look at a number of factors before making a decision on whether to approve an applicant or not.

Credit History

Chase will also look at your credit history to see if you’re a good candidate. Besides checking to make sure you haven’t applied for more than five cards in the past four years as per the 5/24 rule, they will also check to make sure there are no late payments and that can go back a few years.

You will need to have some credit history to get approved, so if you are new to credit cards this is probably not the best card to start with. Although there are reports of first-timers getting approved, they are rare.

Before you hit the submit button on the application, check your credit score to see if it’s in the right range, and be sure to check your credit history to make sure there are no errors that might interfere with your application.

You can find your credit score for free at many online bank portals, or you can use a service like Credit Karma. You can also see your credit report on that site to make sure you don’t run afoul of the Chase 5/24 rule by counting the cards that you have been approved for in the past two years.

Keep in mind that any card, even retail credit cards, are included in that number. If you’ve applied for one of those in recent years to get a discount or a deal on financing, you might have forgotten about it by now.

Income Level Needed 

You will also need to meet income level requirements. They are not formally published, but it is recommended that you earn at least $30,000 a year before applying for the Chase Sapphire card. As is the case with all credit card applications, the more you make the better your chances are of getting approved for this card.

There are many variables that card issuers look at to check your creditworthiness beyond just your credit score, which is determined by looking at credit mix, utilization, payment history, credit history and new credit. The bank will also look at your current employment status and income, and how you’ve used your credit cards in the past in addition to other factors.

Who is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card For?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great credit card for people that are new to collecting miles and points for free travel because of its flexible redemption options. People that are new to using credit cards for award travel may be confused by the plethora of credit cards available.

There are airline co-branded cards that offer big bonuses as well, but those cards are tied to a particular airline which means the miles can only be used with that airline or its partners. When you want to redeem miles, you need to find award space which can be difficult especially if you want to fly during peak travel times or book multiple seats 

Also, airline mileage programs get devalued on a regular basis, so if you’re saving points or miles for a big trip, Chase Ultimate Rewards are a safer bet. They also don’t expire like miles in an airline program can if you don’t fly on that airline or use a co-branded credit card to keep miles from expiring.

Chase Rules

The Sapphire Preferred is also popular with seasoned points collectors because of its big bonus, great earning potential and points value. It earns 2x points per dollar spent on dining and travel and one point on all other purchases so your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance can grow quickly.

But people that already have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, the premium card in the product line, cannot apply for the Preferred card. And you’re not eligible for the bonus if you have gotten one for signing up for either the Preferred or Reserve in the past 48 months.

There is also another Chase rule that may stop you from getting the card. You will not be successful applying for this card if you have gotten more than five personal credit cards in the past two years. And that’s not just Chase cards. It includes any credit card from any issuer, even if you were just added as an authorized user.

Odds of Approval

So what are the odds of getting approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred? As our module indicates above, if you have an excellent credit score of 720 or more, your odds of approval are quite good if not excellent. If your income is more than $30k annually, then the odds get better and continue to increase with higher income levels. And if your credit history is clean on top of that then you should be a shoo-in.

If you’ve applied for too many credit cards in the past two years however, that will be a problem. Even though you can call the reconsideration line if your application gets rejected, Chase is not likely to approve you if the number of cards is more than five in the past 24 months.

If you don’t have much credit history, that will also count against you. And if you already have a Sapphire card, then the bank will not approve you. It has to be at least four years since you last held a card in the Sapphire family in order for you to be eligible for the 100,000 point sign-up bonus.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Some people that applied for the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve when it premiered in August 2016 with a $450 annual fee and a 100,000 point bonus would be eligible for this current offer on the Preferred if they no longer hold the Reserve card. 

According to Chase, “This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.”

If you applied for the Reserve card when it was first introduced and no longer have it, then you are eligible for the sign-up bonus on the Preferred. If you still have the card, you are not.

If you haven’t applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve previously, this is not a good time to get that premium card because the sign-up bonus is only 60,000 points and the annual fee is now $550. 

The Reserve does earn 3x on dining and travel purchases, which is one point more than he Sapphire Preferred. And if you hold the Reserve card, Ultimate Reward points are worth 1.5 cents each if you redeem them through the Chase portal. But the current sign-up bonus on the Reserve is still only worth $900 in travel through the portal, so the Sapphire Preferred is a much better deal..

Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits

It’s important to look at the card benefits in addition to bonuses and earning potential when making your decision to apply for a card, but if you’re eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred and have been thinking about getting it, this is a great time to pull the trigger.

The sign-up bonus has never been this high before and you may not see it again as these promotions are usually for a limited time. It’s very rare for a card like the Preferred at the mid-tier level with such high-value points to offer this much of a bonus just for signing up and meeting minimum spend. 

We’ve already talked about the value of 100,000 points when used for up to $1,250 in travel including airfare, hotels and travel experiences like tours through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. You can even book local tours if you are taking a staycation. Cardholders also have exclusive access to events in entertainment, dining, music and sports including tickets to the Sundance Film Festival and the Chase Sapphire Private Dining Series.

We’ve also discussed the card’s ability to earn more points when you travel and dine out or order in as it offers double points on those purchases. It’s also important to note that Ultimate Rewards points never expire, especially after a pandemic that shut down travel and dining experiences over the past year.

Food deliveries also earn you 2x points when using the Chase Sapphire card and the card comes with a complimentary one-year DashPass, a subscription service from DoorDash that eliminates delivery fees and reduces service fees on food deliveries. You need to activate it by the end of 2021. 

To work off those calories, you also get a $60 rebate on a Peloton Digital or All-Access membership through the end of this year. It lets you take cardio, running, yoga and other classes using a tablet or TV, which is perfect for travelers as no equipment is needed, so no need to head to the hotel gym.

And for a limited time you can earn 5x points on Lyft rides. That’s three extra points over the 2x you would normally earn for travel. This promotion is in place until March 2022, but if you use rideshares often, these points will add up quickly.

Airline and Hotel Reward Program Transfer Partners

When it comes time to redeem that sign-up bonus and all the points you’ll earn on bonus categories and regular spending, one of your best bets to get the highest value is to transfer them to airline and/or hotel loyalty programs, especially if your goal includes booking a seat in business or first class.

This is also a good way to top off your balance if you want to redeem points or miles with an airline or hotel program, but you are short on the amount needed especially if you don’t stay at a particular hotel chain frequently or fly much on an airline but still have some rewards.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred transfers to airline frequent flyer programs on a 1:1 basis including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Emirates, Air France/KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest, United and Virgin Atlantic. You can also transfer to Air Canada’s program starting later this year. These airline partners give you access to all three of the major airline alliances: Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance.

You can also transfer points to three hotel frequent stay programs including World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club and Marriott Bonvoy. Points also transfer on a 1:1 basis with these hotel partners.

Airline mileage programs can be difficult to navigate for people who are not familiar with the program rules or don’t have the time to search for award space, but if you are new to miles and points the Sapphire card is perfect as you can try to find space and book an airline award ticket with these points or simply use the Chase portal to book your next flight, hotel stay, cruise or car rental.

You can also use a combination of points and cash to book through Chase if you use the Sapphire Preferred so the travel possibilities are endless.

Other Travel Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also comes with a host of travel benefits including access to a Visa Signature Concierge service 24 hours a day, no foreign transaction fees, car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay and lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, emergency assistance and roadside dispatch.

The card offers car rental collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance, which can save you lots of money. Just use the card to book your auto rental and decline the CDW when picking up the car. Coverage is primary and will reimburse you for theft and collision damage on most rentals in the US and overseas.

If your trip is cancelled or interrupted by illness, bad weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses including airfare, hotel stays and tours.

If your baggage is delayed for over six hours, Chase will reimburse you up to $100 a day for five days. There’s also up to $3,000 in coverage on the card If your luggage or a family member’s checked or carry-on luggage is damaged or lost,

There’s also up to $500,000 coverage if you use your card to pay for air, bus, train or cruise transport and there is an accident that causes death or dismemberment.

[Related: Read our guide on how to choose the right travel credit card for you.]

Conclusion

This is one of the best opportunities to get a huge stash of Ultimate Rewards points since many Chase cards that have traditionally offered them as a sign-up bonus, like the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards, are currently offering $200 cash sign-up bonuses.

While those cards are still great for earning Ultimate Rewards points because the Freedom card has rotating categories that offer 5x points each quarter, and the Unlimited version lets you earn 1.5x on all purchases, they don’t come near the value of the current 100,000-point bonus currently being offered for signing up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

The Bottom Line 

It’s a no-brainer to apply for this card if you fit the criteria. Even if you don’t travel, the 100,000 point sign-up bonus alone is worth $905 in cash after you pay the annual $95 fee. And the points are worth even more for travelers.

This is also a great card to keep after the first year because it offers a 25% point bonus when booking through the Chase portal. If you downgrade to the Chase Freedom or Freedom Unlimited, those points will only be worth a penny on the dollar when booking through Chase.

There is really only one good reason to hold off on getting this card, and that is if you are interested in getting the Chase Reserve card and you are hoping for an elevated sign-up bonus on that one.

That strategy is only justifiable if you already have a ton of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and you want to get the 50% point bonus when redeeming through Chase. And even then, we don’t recommend waiting. The current offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred is unprecedented and not likely to happen again or to last for long, so we say go for it.
If you already have the card, there is still a way to get some bonus points by referring a friend to this great offer. You can get 15,000 points for every person you refer that applies for the card up to 75,000 points a year.

Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar to Book Cheap Flights

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image credit: southwest.com

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is an easy-to-use widget on the Southwest site that filters your search to find the lowest fares per month for your desired trip. This helpful tool is a favorite among deal hounds, especially those that are already Rapid Rewards members (more on how to use your loyalty status to save even more later).

It’s no secret that Southwest, as one of the nation’s most popular budget airlines, offers great value on its tickets. However, this makes it that much harder to know when you’re getting the absolute lowest price available, and filtering through all search results can be a hassle.

Fortunately, the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar does the work of finding the best deals for you.

Here’s how to use it to book cheap flights year-round with Southwest Airlines. 

How to Use the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar

Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is very straightforward. Simply select the bubble at the upper righthand corner of the screen for “Dollars” or “Points” to determine which unit ticket values will be shown in. You can then toggle your search to see round trips, one-way, and multi-city prices.

Choose the number of people in your party from the Passengers box and then fill in the departure and arrival destinations as you normally would. It might be worth it to try a few different locations if you are able to.

Please note that the Low Fare Calendar can only be used for groups of one to nine people. If you are traveling in a group of 10 or more, you will need to book a flight through Southwest’s Group Travel Program. This program gives group discounts and more booking flexibility on flights. For example, no upfront payment is required (except for possibly a per person deposit) and names can be changed as little as 72 hours before departure. This is a good option for business groups, but it does unfortunately mean that you can’t use the Low Fare Calendar. Contact Southwest Airlines directly if you’re interested in making a group booking.

Examples of Low Fare Deals we found (Round Trip for 1 passenger July, 2021):

Departing CityDestinationFare
San DiegoNew York City LaGuardiaas low as $264
San JoseNew York City LaGuardiaas low as $265
San AntonioBostonas low as $204
San AntonioLos Cabos, Mexicoas low as $229
ChicagoMiamias low as $78
SeattleChicagoas low as $166
SeattleNew Orleansas low as $164
DenverWest Palm Beachas low as $187
Los AngelesAtlantaas low as $264

Prices shown on the calendar itself reflect discounted Anytime prices per person. Some flights are available for as little as $49 a piece. Actual prices may not be exactly what is shown on the calendar, as fares are subject to change until you purchase a ticket. If all of the available flights at the calendar’s price have been snagged by other customers, you will be shown the next best prices.

If Southwest is running a sale on flights, and they are just about every week, you’ll find these prices through the Low Fare Calendar. Just keep in mind that promotions like this are often popular and many other people are likely to have the same idea.

Some frequent fliers also like to use the Low Fare Calendar to get an idea of what tickets are going for in general during a given time. Not many airlines have a tool like this, so using the calendar offered by Southwest is a good way to find out roughly what budget airlines may charge for a flight you’re looking to take even if you aren’t necessarily planning to travel with this airline.

Benefits of Using the Low Fare Calendar vs. Booking Online

While there is nothing wrong with booking travel online through the Southwest website or mobile app, the Low Fare Calendar makes it easier to book a flight if your number one priority is finding the best price. The calendar simplifies the process of saving money.

But if you do need to filter your search further and are unwilling or unable to have a little wiggle room with dates or flight types, booking online may be your only option for getting exactly what you’re looking for.

Another advantage to using the Low Fare Calendar is that Southwest flights don’t actually show up on a lot of third-party flight booking websites. So if it’s good deals you’re after, this is very likely the only way to find them at Southwest.

Can You Earn Rapid Rewards Through Low Fare Calendar Bookings?

Just as you would normally earn points for booking travel online through Southwest, flights booked through the Low Fare Calendar also qualify to earn points when you pay with cash. However, travel booked with points does not qualify to earn points.

And Southwest does have a decent loyalty program. In 2020, a WalletHub study estimated that the Rapid Rewards program awards an average member about $10 per $100 spent, putting it in the top five airline loyalty programs. Plus, points do not expire as long as you complete at least one points-earning activity (through Southwest or a partner) every 24 months.

Rapid Rewards Credit Card

image credit: creditcards.chase.com

Another surefire way to save more on flights is with a travel card. Here is what each Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card offers.

Priority (annual fee of $69)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Bonus 3,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Premier (annual fee of $99)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Waived foreign transaction fees
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)
  • Bonus 6,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Plus (annual fee of $149)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Bonus 7,500 points for every year you are a cardmember (or $75 Southwest annual travel credit)
  • Four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability)
  • 20% cashback on inflight purchases
  • Waived foreign transaction fees
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)

For more information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business credit card, go here.

Currently, all three of the above credit cards are giving cardholders 50,000 points when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of an account being opened, and 30,000 points on top of that (for a total of 80,000 points possible) when they spend $10,000 in the first nine months. 

And of course, all Southwest credit card points can be redeemed for flights—domestic and international—as well as car rentals, hotel stays, cruises, and more with partner companies. You can also use your points to get gift cards.

What Are the Change or Cancellation Fees?

The change or cancellation fees are the same when you book through the Low Fare Calendar as when you book through the Southwest Airlines website.

Southwest Airlines does charge change or cancellation fees. You are only responsible for the difference in fare if you book a new flight that costs more than your previous one. 

You can change or cancel as little as 10 minutes before your flight is scheduled to leave, even if you’ve already checked in for it. As long as you make a change to or cancel a flight 10 minutes or more before its scheduled departure, you will be eligible for a full refund to the original payment method or travel credit worth the same amount. There is no limit to how many times you can alter your itinerary.

What Flights Are Available?

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar features all discounted flights. 

In addition, all three fare types—Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select—are available when you book through the calendar. Flights shown on the calendar are Anytime prices, but the next screen shows prices for each class.

The more flexible you are, the better when using the Low Fare Calendar. Cheap flights go fast, and the prices on the Low Fare Calendar are not guaranteed until you purchase a ticket. If you are alright with making more stops or you are not particular about where exactly you depart from and when, you might be more likely to fly at the price you’re looking for.

On Low Fare Calendar flights (and all other Southwest Airlines flights), you can check up to two bags for free. These must weigh no more than 50 pounds or measure more than 62 linear inches. After these two, bags cost $75 each. See our comprehensive rundown of their baggage policies for more information on excess baggage fees.

Right now, customers can book all the way through April 11, 2021, using the Southwest Low Fare Calendar.

Where Can You Fly for $49 with SouthWest

Southwest has been cutting prices across the country and throughout North America as society gets vaccinated and starts to book vacations again. Back in March of 2021 Southwest started the $49 promotional offers again. Just keep in mind these are typically for short trips and always just one way tickets. Here are the current $49 flights available on Southwest that we’ve seen so far this year:

Departing CityArrival CityPrice
PhoenixLong Beach, CA$49
ChicagoNashville$49

When to Book Southwest Tickets on the Low Fare Calendar for the Best Deals

A common misconception with booking trips on the Low Fare Calendar from Southwest is that the earlier you book, the better the price. This is not always the case as it generally is with standard airline bookings.

Southwest is one of the most notorious airlines for changing ticket prices. They do it up to several times per week. Using the Low Fare calendar you can watch prices rise and fall regularly, so be sure to monitor this often to lock an optimal price.

COVID-19 Policies

Like most other airlines, Southwest has implemented many new health and safety standards in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in flying with Southwest at any time soon, you will want to know what they are doing to keep you safe and what their updated cancellation policies are.

As much as possible, the airline requires passengers to distance themselves from each other and has increased their cleaning procedures. Masks are required on all flights and in all airports. 

As for the thousands of tickets customers have purchased in 2020 and not been able to use, policies have been updated to account for these too. 

For all flights canceled by Southwest, customers are refunded the full cost of their ticket to the original form of payment or in the form of travel funds. For all non-refundable Wanna Get Away tickets—a popular choice for passengers of the biggest budget airline in the world—that have been voluntarily canceled by the passenger, customers are eligible to receive a travel credit worth the full value of their flight that is valid for travel until September 7, 2022.

How to Get in Touch With Customer Support

If you hit a snag in the booking process, want to know whether you’re eligible for a ticket refund, or just have a question that’s not addressed in Southwest’s FAQs section, here’s how to get a hold of someone at the airline.

You can call 1-800-435-9792 to reach the general customer service line, open 24/7. Alternatively, you can tweet @Southwestair or message the airline on Facebook messenger. You can also send a secure message right through the Southwest site, which has a guaranteed response time of 48 hours or less, or send a letter to the following address with non-urgent requests:

Southwest Airlines

P.O. Box 36447-1CR

Dallas, Texas 75235

Final Thoughts

If you are able to compromise on certain aspects of your flight such as flight class and departure date in order to score the best deal on your trip, then the Southwest Low Fare Calendar is for people like you. When paired with a Rapid Rewards account or credit card, customers are sure to save big when they use this calendar to book travel.

This tool ensures that you will always be getting the lowest prices Southwest has to offer on flights, but there is not a bottomless stash of dirt cheap tickets. To make the most of this option, try to get to the Low Fare Calendar as soon as you possibly can when booking and remember to be flexible. This tool most benefits those with wiggle room in their schedule and the foresight to book well in advance.