The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers strong middle-ground value for frequent or aspiring Southwest travelers. With a generous sign-up bonus, Companion Pass boost, and useful annual perks, it’s a smart pick for travelers who want rewards without a top-tier fee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
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:
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).
| 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 |
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
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$
Transfer To Friends Yes
Outside Point System Southwest Rapid Rewards
1:1 81% value retained
3:1 62% value retained
5:2 31% value retained
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
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Premier Credit Card - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Priority Credit Card - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $149/annual fee.
- British Airways - Signature Card - Earn 100,000 Avios after spending $7500 in 6 months, $95/annual fee.
LIMITED TIME DEALS:
- IHG Traveler Chase card - 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 3 months - $0/annual fee.
- Southwest Plus Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Premier Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Priority Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $149/annual fee.
- Delta Platinum Business Amex card - 65,000 miles after spending $6000 in 6 months - $350/annual fee.
- Delta Reserve Business Amex card - 75,000 miles after spending $10,000 in 6 months - $650/annual fee.
- Delta Gold Business Amex card - 55,000 miles after spending $4000 in 6 months - Annual fee waived first year, then $150/annual fee.
- Delta Platinum Amex card - 50,000 miles after spending $3000 in 6 months - $350/annual fee.
- Delta Gold Amex card - 40,000 miles after spending $2000 in 6 months - Annual fee waived first year, then $150/annual fee.
- AA Executive Citi card - 70,000 miles after spending $7000 in 3 months - $595/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $149/annual fee.
Southwest is offering a nice sign up bonus of 75,000 bonus points on 3 of their personal cards right now after spending $3000 in 3 months:
1. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus - $99 annual fee.
2. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier - $99 annual fee.
3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority - $149 annual fee.
