What credit score is needed for southwest airlines credit card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card lets users earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points for each dollar they spend. Meanwhile, perks like early boarding passes and in-flight discounts help cardholders get the most out of this incredibly versatile frequent flyer program.

Unfortunately, not everyone can qualify for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card Card due their credit rating, income and plenty of other factors. If you’re considering this Southwest credit card so you can earn Southwest points, read on to learn what kind of credit score you’ll need to have.

What credit score is needed for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card?

To qualify for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and most other travel credit cards, you’ll need to have a credit score that falls within the good to excellent range. Generally speaking, FICO scores of 670 or higher are considered “good,” whereas scores above 740 are considered “very good” and scores of 800+ are considered “excellent.”

But there are additional factors beyond your credit score that can play a role in your eligibility. For example, card issuers want to see a steady source of income on your application, even if it is household income and not your own.

Also, note that Chase limits new cards to individuals who they consider heavy credit or rewards users. Generally, the Chase 5/24 rule says you can’t qualify for one of their cards if you’ve had more than five new cards or credit inquiries from any issuer in the last 24 months.

What if my application is denied?

Let’s say you apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and you don’t receive an immediate approval. In this case, you can always call the Chase reconsideration line to see if they need any information. The phone number for Chase personal reconsideration is 1-888-270-2127.

If your application is outright denied, you can still call the reconsideration line to see if there is anything you can say to change their mind. The worst that can happen is Chase refusing to budge on the matter.

How can I improve my score to get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card?

If the Chase 5/24 rule is not a factor for your application and your income is good, there’s a chance your credit score just isn’t high enough to qualify for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. In this case, there are steps you can take to boost your credit score and improve your chances at getting approved.

Pay your bills on time

The most important factor that impacts your FICO credit score is your payment history. With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure you pay all your bills early or on time each month.

If you’re worried about paying bills late, you can take steps to stay on track, such as setting reminders on your calendar or setting bills up on auto-pay.

Pay down other debts

The second most important factor that makes up your credit score is the amount of debt you owe in relation to your credit limits, also known as your credit utilization. For the best results in this category, you should pay down as much debt as possible, or enough so your revolving balances are no more than 10% of your available credit, or 30% at most.

If you currently have a few credit cards with combined limits of $10,000, this would mean paying down your balances to below $1,000, or $3,000 at the absolute maximum.

Ask for higher credit limits on other cards

Another way to lower your credit utilization involves asking for higher credit limits on cards you already have. If you currently owe $5,000 on a card with a $10,000 credit limit, for example, getting the card issuer to raise your credit limit to $15,000 would drop your credit utilization from 50% to 30% on that card.

Get credit for paying monthly bills

Also, look for additional ways to add depth to your credit report, which could include using several popular apps. With Experian Boost, you may be able to boost your credit score by downloading the app and adding non-traditional bills to your account. For example, you can start getting credit for paying your phone bill or for recurring payments toward popular streaming services.

Become an authorized user

Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account is another way to improve your credit score over time. This process works because you can get credit for their purchases and monthly payments, all of which add even more depth to your credit history.

Just remember that you should only become an authorized user with someone you trust to use credit responsibly. While someone with great credit who adds you to their account can help you improve your credit in a hurry, someone who racks up substantial debt and makes late payments can have the opposite effect.

Don’t open or close any accounts

Finally, it can help to lay low for a while as you work to improve your credit. This means keeping old accounts open since they lengthen your credit history. It also means refraining from opening new accounts.

If you take steps to boost your score and give it some time, you’re more likely to be approved for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card or other Southwest cards later on.

Bottom line

This airline credit card is worth the wait if your credit score isn’t quite good enough to qualify yet, so don’t give up on it yet. With some intentional credit-building steps and a focus on improving your situation, you could be approved for this card and others in a matter of months.

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Holly Johnson is a financial expert and award-winning writer who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of “Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love.”

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