Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
This card offers a 50,000-point sign-up bonus after spending just $1,000 in the first three months — one of the lowest spending thresholds among airline cards. While all three personal Southwest cards offer the same bonus, the Premier card adds solid long-term perks: 6,000-anniversary points, two EarlyBird Check-Ins, and a 10,000-point Companion Pass boost every calendar year. With the right timing, you could earn the Companion Pass as early as February and keep it for nearly two full years. For travelers who fly Southwest a few times a year and want meaningful perks without a premium price tag, the Premier card delivers excellent value.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is the middle-tier option among Southwest’s personal cards. It shares the same 50,000-point sign-up bonus as its siblings, but stands out by offering more anniversary points and valuable ongoing benefits for its $99 annual fee.
- Earn 6,000-anniversary points each year: Worth roughly $78 based on our 1.3¢ per point valuation.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins annually: A $70 value that helps with boarding position.
- 10,000-point Companion Pass boost: Posted by January 31 each year to help you get closer to earning the Companion Pass.
Other perks include 25% back on in-flight purchases, complimentary DashPass membership, and the ability to earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent—useful if you're chasing A-List status.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be for you if you want the lowest annual fee possible — look to the Plus card with its $69 fee. Or you’ve opened another personal Southwest card within the past 24 months, making you ineligible for this bonus due to Chase’s rules.
What to Know About Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
- Their points are among the easiest to earn, plus they have solid value.
- They’re partnered with Chase Ultimate Rewards, our favorite point partner ecosystem.
- Southwest’s boarding is polarizing (though it is updating to reserved seating in early 2026)
- Southwest Rapid Rewards aren’t the most glamorous, but they’re the utility points that just work.
How The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card Fits In The Southwest Rapid Rewards Ecosystem
The Premier card sits squarely between the Plus and Priority cards in terms of cost and benefits. If you're deciding which one to keep long-term after earning the sign-up bonus, consider how often you fly and which perks you’ll actually use. Here’s how they stack up:
- Annual fees: $69 for Plus, $99 for Premier, $149 for Priority.
- Anniversary points: 3,000 (Plus), 6,000 (Premier), 7,500 (Priority).
- Other perks: Only the Priority card offers a $75 travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings (A1–A15). The Plus and Premier offer 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins per year.
If you’re aiming for the Companion Pass, you’ll also need to explore Southwest’s business cards. Chase won’t allow you to earn two personal Southwest card bonuses within 24 months, so pairing a personal card with a business card is the fastest path. The Performance Business card offers an 80,000-point bonus (with a $199 annual fee), while the Premier Business card offers 60,000 points (with a $99 annual fee).
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 | $1,000 | 1.3 ¢ | $0 | $99 |
$564
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| US & Caribbean Flights | Companion Pass, 6000 bonus points annually | SW Pers 1/24 , 5/24 , Chase 2/30 , Chase 4/6 |
Award System
Most Recent Special Offer
$4,000 spend ended Mar 2025
Spend Categories
3X points
3.9¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.3¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Receive 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
25% savings on Southwest Airlines inflight food, beverage and Wi-Fi
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance on collision and theft, up to the cost of the vehicle.
Travel accident insurance up to $500,000; lost luggage insurance up to $3,000 per person; baggage delay insurance up to $100 per day for 3 days
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Travelers get two free checked bags, which they provide to everyone.
Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim, and $50,000 per account.
This card extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Southwest Rapid Rewards
Transfers In From
1:1 81% value retained
3:1 62% value retained
5:2 31% value retained
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Application Rules
You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from a personal Southwest card within the last 24 months
Your application will be declined if 5 new cards are reported on your personal credit report in the past 24 months
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Ranking of Cards Offering Southwest Rapid Rewards
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
