To really succeed at the points and miles game, you need to devote some time to understanding how credit scores work. While scores in the mid-700s and above will likely be enough to get you 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 there’s more to your credit report than the number at the bottom of the page. Two people might have a credit score of 600, but if one of them missed a few payments on a credit card while the other is young and only has a few months of credit history, those 600s don’t necessarily mean the same thing.
While there isn’t a magic formula (if your score is over X, you automatically get approved), we can carefully analyze public data points to help you gauge your approval odds for a specific card. Let’s check out the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and see what the recommended score is in order to get approved for this card.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What credit score do you need to get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card?
Chase doesn’t explicitly state a recommended or minimum credit score needed. However, you will generally need good or excellent credit to be approved. Typically, we recommend a credit score of at least 670 or higher, but it’s not unheard of 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 boost your odds of approval is build a banking relationship with Chase. If it’s your primary bank, and you apply for other cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to prove you can pay your bills on time, Chase might be more likely to trust you with a Southwest card.
Each application is viewed 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 that Chase will consider.
Related: Credit utilization ratio: What it is and how it affects your credit score
How many cards can I have open?
As with the majority of Chase cards, the Southwest Premier card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means that Chase will automatically reject your application if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (with any issuer) in the past 24 months.
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There is no way around this rule, even if you have a perfect credit score. If you are over 5/24, the only thing you can do is wait until you’re under 5/24 to apply for the Southwest Premier card.
Related: How to calculate your 5/24 standing
Factors that affect your credit score
Before you apply for the Southwest Premier card, it is critical that you know the factors that make up your credit score. Five factors impact your credit score, and just applying for a new credit card can change it.
FICO states that it calculates credit scores using credit data from your credit report in the following proportions:
- Payment history (35%): History of paying credit accounts on time
- Amounts owed (30%): Amount of available credit you’re using, also known as credit utilization
- Length of credit history (15%): How long have your credit accounts been established, and how recently have you used each account
- New credit (10%): Opening multiple credit lines in a short period may indicate risk to a lender
- Credit mix (10%): Use of 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 in which you should ever pay to check your credit score. There are many ways to do so for free.
Related: What is a good credit score?
What to do if you get rejected
While getting rejected may not be what you want to hear, there are steps you can take to have Chase reconsider your application, so don’t give up. By law, banks have to send you a letter detailing the reason why you were rejected.
Once you’ve figured out why you were rejected, you can call the reconsideration line. Here, you can speak with an agent about your rejected application and ask to have it reconsidered. 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 have been rejected, you can ask Chase to shift unused credit from an existing card to a new one, which might grant you approval. This isn’t guaranteed to work, but it has worked various times for some TPG staffers.
Related: How bad is it to get denied for a credit card?
Bottom Line
While there are plenty of exciting credit card offers out there, not everyone will be eligible to apply for all the bonuses they want. We talk a lot about bonus eligibility restrictions, such as Chase’s 5/24 rule and Amex’s once-per-lifetime policy, but it’s equally important to think about whether your credit score is high enough to get approved.
For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.
