The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is worth considering if you fly Southwest, even occasionally. This card strikes the best balance between valuable benefits and a moderate annual fee, and you can earn a generous welcome offer very easily.
This card stacks up well against the best airline credit cards chosen by Business Insider's personal finance experts. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card featured in our airline cards guide is the "big sibling" of this card, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the better choice for infrequent travelers who still want some benefits when flying Southwest, due to its lower annual fee.
This guide explores why this card is worth your consideration, and what you can get with this card in your wallet.
Apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
$99
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 50,000 points
Good to Excellent
- You get 6,000 points each year after anniversary
- You can earn Tier-Qualifying Points toward Southwest elite status for spending on the card
- Annual fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is worth considering if you fly Southwest, even occasionally. This card strikes the best balance between valuable benefits and a moderate annual fee.
Compare the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
$69
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 50,000 points
Good to Excellent
- Earns Southwest points on every purchase
- You earn points every year after your cardmember anniversary
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Very limited benefits
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a solid choice if you fly with Southwest and want to earn a lucrative welcome bonus for the lowest annual fee. However, if you fly Southwest often, other Southwest personal cards could be a better fit if you can make the most of the benefits.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
$95
N/A
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 100,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
$149
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 50,000 points
Good to Excellent
- Generous annual benefits, including a Southwest travel credit and anniversary points, plus upgraded boardings and in-flight discounts
- If you fly Southwest several times a year, the benefits easily outweigh the annual fee
- Annual fee is low compared to other premium airline credit cards
- Highest annual fee among Southwest consumer cards
If you can make use of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's many benefits and perks, it's well worth the annual fee. Otherwise, have a look at other Southwest cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, which have lower annual fees but the same elevated welcome bonus offer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Overview
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child of Chase's three Southwest consumer credit cards.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card comes with a $99 annual fee, and a few more benefits than the entry-level version.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card offers many benefits to offset its annual fee, including elevated rewards on Southwest flights, free priority check-in privileges, and discounts on inflight purchases.
You don't need a Southwest credit card to get free checked bags, since this airline is generous about offering two free checked bags for all travelers.
Southwest Premier Card Rewards
Welcome Bonus
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card currently offers new cardholders the chance to earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The points you earn from the bonus will never expire, so you can redeem them whenever travel plans come up.
How to Qualify and Maximize the Bonus
Points earned from this current sign-up bonus qualify toward the Southwest Companion Pass, which requires earning 135,000 Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year. If you earn this welcome offer, you'll make significant progress toward qualifying for the pass.
Earning Points With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Outside of the initial welcome bonus, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card cardholders earn:
- 3 points on Southwest purchases (including flights, inflight purchases, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages)
- 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
- 2 points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (and also passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
- 2 points on Internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming (Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Vudu)
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
Business Insider values Southwest points at 1.4 cents apiece, on average, so your rewards can add up quite quickly if you frequently travel and pay some bills on this credit card.
Redeeming Points From the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest points never expire, so you can wait to redeem your points for flights within the U.S. including Hawaii, as well as to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
It's easy to redeem Southwest points, since there's no award chart to figure out or blackout dates to work around. The number of points required for a Southwest award flight depends on the price of a paid ticket. In most cases, you'll get the lowest price if you choose the lowest-tier fares, known as "Wanna Get Away" fares.
Booking an award flight is a straightforward process. Just look up award flights on the Southwest website the same way you would search for a paid ticket. You'll be able to toggle between the cash price and the points cost, so it's easy to compare.
You'll almost always get the best value by using your points for Southwest flights. But as a Southwest credit cardholder, you'll have other options for redeeming your points. The More Rewards program allows you to use points for merchandise, gift cards, car rentals, hotels, cruises, and experiences. The value per point varies depending on the redemption.
Plus, you can now redeem Southwest points through Chase Pay Yourself Back as a statement credit at a rate of up to 1 cent each. You can also use your points to offset the card's annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Benefits
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card comes with handy benefits that can give you a boost toward elite status and give you peace of mind when you travel or make big purchases.
Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is widely considered to be one of the best deals in travel. It effectively doubles the value of your points (or cash) when flying Southwest. You can bring a travel buddy for free every single time you fly Southwest until the pass expires. Depending on how often you fly Southwest, you and a partner could receive hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars from this benefit.
EarlyBird Check-In
Cardholders receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins per account anniversary year, awarded as a statement credit after you use your card for the purchase. EarlyBird Check-In typically costs $15 to $25 each way, and it automatically checks you in for your flight 36 hours prior to departure.
Because Southwest determines your boarding position by the time you check in, this perk can help you get on the airplane sooner and have a better opportunity to select your desired seat.
Anniversary Points Bonus
Each year when you renew your card, you'll receive 6,000 points, which are worth around $84 in Southwest airfare. That's almost enough to offset the entire $99 annual fee.
Inflight Purchase Discount
When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you'll receive 25% back in the form of a statement credit.
Earn A-List Elite Status More Quickly
If you're aiming for Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred elite status, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can give you a boost. You'll earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases with the card, with no limit to the number of TQPs you can earn. Normally the only other way to earn TQPs is through paid flights on Southwest, and you'll require 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year to earn A-List status
A-List status is worth pursuing if you often fly Southwest, because it comes with perks like priority boarding, a 25% bonus on points earned from flying, priority check-in and security at select airports, and same-day standby. The next level up, A-List Preferred, requires double the amount of TQPs but offers a 100% points bonus and additional benefits like free inflight Wi-Fi.
Car Rental Insurance
When you use your card to pay the full cost of your car rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get coverage for damage due to collision or theft. This coverage is secondary to your own personal policy in the U.S., but primary rental car insurance overseas (or if you don't have your own insurance).
Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
New purchases you make with the card are covered by purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. You can also save money because the card extends the time period of a US manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement and Baggage Delay Insurance
When you use your card to pay for your fare, you (and your immediate family) are covered if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier, up to $3,000 per passenger.
And if your bags are delayed by six hours or more, you're eligible for up to $300 in reimbursement ($100 a day for up to three days) for essential items like toiletries and clothing.
Other Travel Protections
If you're approved for the Visa Signature version of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you'll get access to travel and emergency assistance services, which can help arrange things like medical and legal referrals when you're away from home. Just be aware you're responsible for the cost of any services arranged.
All cardholders also get travel accident insurance, which covers accidental death or dismemberment when they use their card to pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation. Visa Signature cardholders get up to $500,000 in coverage, and Visa Platinum members get up to $250,000.
You'll also get access to a roadside dispatch hotline, which can arrange services like towing and jumpstarts when you're on the road. Again, you'll be responsible for the actual cost of the service, which gets billed to your card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Fees
Annual Fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee, but it doesn't add foreign transaction fees so you can use it overseas without worrying about extra charges. And the 6,000 Southwest points you'll receive each account anniversary nearly cancel out the annual fee.
APR and Other Associated Fees
If you carry a balance, there's a 20.49% - 27.49% Variable APR. And, like most cards, this card charges fees for cash advances, balance transfers, late payments, and returned payments.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Alternatives
If you're considering the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you'll want to compare it to the other Southwest credit cards, because you can only have one personal version at a time. Here's what you should know about the two other Southwest consumer cards, as well as a couple of alternatives.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the "baby" card of the Southwest family.
Infrequent Southwest flyers still get great benefits on this entry-level card with a low annual fee of just $69 along with the same welcome bonus. You'll earn:
- 2 points on Southwest purchases
- 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
- 2 points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2 points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
You'll also get 3,000 points on your card anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year.
Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's top-tier consumer credit card, and the option you should consider instead of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card if you frequently fly on this airline.
The earning rates on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card card mirror those of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, with comparable welcome offers.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card cardholders earn:
- 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
- 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
You'll also get 7,500 points on your card anniversary, earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status when you spend money on this card, and receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit as well as four upgraded boardings per year when available.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card card also includes some of the same benefits that the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card cards do: Earn 25% back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi, and enjoy a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.
Learn more about this card in our Southwest Priority card review.
Who Should Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has many advantages, but can also have some potential drawbacks or considerations. When weighing your pros and cons, compare the annual fee against the value of the perks included in the card's benefits to decide if you'll be able to offset the cost in travel savings.
Ideal candidates for this card are travelers who occasionally fly Southwest Airlines, especially those who want to visit popular Mexico and Caribbean destinations. The EarlyBird check-in passes can be helpful for couples or families traveling together who want to give themselves the best chance of sitting together.
Charging all Southwest expenses to this card, as well as for transit and utility bills, is one of the best ways to maximize the card's benefits
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Cardholder Reviews
We evaluated customer feedback and ratings from online forums such as Reddit and FlyerTalk to see what everyday cardholders say about the .
Common Praises and Complaints
Several current cardholders say they haven't paid for a flight out of pocket in years by charging all expenses to Southwest credit cards each month. If this is a route you're interested in taking, cardholders recommend upgrading from the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Alternatively, consider the Southwest business credit cards if your high spend primarily comes from business expenses.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Southwest Premier card worth it?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is well worth the $99 annual fee, which is offset by the 6,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird Check-In certificates cardholders earn each year.
Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card card have TSA PreCheck?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not come with a credit for TSA PreCheck® registration.
Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Cardget early boarding?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not automatically include priority boarding as part of the card's benefits. However, you get two Early Bird Check-In credits each year, which get you closer to the front of the Southwest line. And any additional advance boarding passes you purchase will earn 3 points per dollar spent on this card.
How much is a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card card?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has an annual fee of $99.
Is upgrading to the Southwest Priority card worth it?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has an "older sibling" — the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. The Priority card is only worthwhile for Southwest travelers who want four upgraded boarding passes, 1,500 extra anniversary points, and
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Chase and Southwest partner to offer three personal Southwest credit cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier card with Southwest-specific benefits that make the card worth keeping for those who are fans of Southwest. We compared the card to other Southwest cards as well as competitor airline credit cards to arrive at our rating, evaluating common criteria such as:
Southwest-specific travel benefits — Do cardholders get additional perks for having and using this card?
Reward rate — How many points can you earn per dollar by spending on this card? Does the rate compare favorably to other cards, or are you missing out on earning potential by holding this one?
Here's more information about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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