Best in Class
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
This card offers a 50,000 (current special 30,000)-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, complimentary preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, 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 (current special 30,000)-point sign-up bonus as its siblings, but stands out by offering more anniversary points and valuable ongoing benefits for its $149 annual fee.
- Earn 6,000-anniversary points each year: Worth roughly $78 based on our 1.3¢ per point valuation.
- Select a preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure: A $70 value on average, and it applies to everyone on your reservation.
- 15% promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary
- Group 5 boarding
- First checked bag free
- 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 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 $99 fee.
- If you’ve opened another personal Southwest card within the past 24 months, you would be 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 moved to reserved seating and now charges for bags, two features that once made them unique.
- 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: $99 for Plus, $149 for Premier, $229 for Priority.
- Anniversary points: 3,000 (Plus), 6,000 (Premier), 7,500 (Priority).
- Other perks: The Plus card offers a standard seat 48 hours prior to departure, while the Premier offers a standard seat at booking and preferred seats 48 hours prior to departure. The Priority offers preferred seats at the time of booking and also offers the possibility of an Extra Legroom seat upgrade at 48 hours prior to departure
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 $299 annual fee), while the Premier Business card offers 60,000 points (with a $149 annual fee).
Card Information
Bonus Points
30,000
Minimum Spend
$4,000 / 3mo
Point Value
1.3 ¢
Annual Value
Annual Fee
$149
1st Year Value
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Differentiating Perks
Free Standard Seat Upgrade (48 Hours Out)
Anniversary 6,000 Bonus Points
Free Checked Bag + 8 Guests
4X on Southwest Airlines Purchases
Rules
Potential Boosts
Companion Pass valid through 2/28/27
Card Extras
Extra
Worth/Fit
Est. Value
Total Annual Value
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No extras to display for this card.
Card Benefits
No benefits are available for this card.
Historical Card Offers
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Average Frequency
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Average Offer Length
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Estimated Next Offer
Start Date
Offer Length
Bonus
Minimum Spend
Spend Categories
3.9¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
2.6¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
2.6¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
1.3¢
Per Dollar
Spent
Spent
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
Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to 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
Point Transfer Options
+5 Lower Value Transfers Show
Radisson Rewards
Value: 0.3¢
43% Value Retained
10:1
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
Rank
1st
Honorable Mention
Ranking of Cards Offering Southwest Rapid Rewards
Downgrade Options
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Southwest Rapid Rewards