Who doesn’t love a great getaway, especially when you can snag a great deal on flights?
Southwest Airlines has a rep for being one of the more affordable airlines on the market — and if you frequently fly with them, then a Southwest credit card can help you save even more.
The airline offers three consumer credit cards (and two business cards), with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card being the middle-of-the-road option.
While it does come with an annual fee, the rewards and perks you earn could make that fee worth paying.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Erika.com. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is no longer available through Erika.com.
Rewards Rate
- 3x points on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- 2x points at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1x points on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$149
Overview of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
If you love to travel, you may find the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can help you make the most of the money you spend on booking trips.
With this card, you can earn rewards when booking Southwest Airlines flights and receive additional Southwest travel perks, like free checked bags, Group 5 boarding (for earlier access to overhead bin space), and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
You also don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.
Finally, you'll get 6,000 bonus points each year on your cardmember anniversary — and you don’t have to spend a penny to get those points.
Pros
- Free checked bags and preferred seat selection
- Promo codes and bonus points on your card anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee
- Airline rewards are limited to Southwest bookings
- Annual 15% promo code excludes Basic fare
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Benefits
In July 2025, Southwest announced big changes to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (as well as its other cards). The changes brought in some great benefits, but also phase out some old perks and rewards rates, effective December 31, 2025.
Here's what the card now offers:
- Free first checked bag for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation
- Preferred seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
- Group 5 boarding for cardmember and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
- 6,000 points bonus annually on your cardmember anniversary
- 15% promo code every year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes Basic fare)
- Annual 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- Unlimited tier-qualifying points (TQPs)
- Earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend annually
- No foreign transaction fees
Expiring December 31, 2025
The following bonus rates and perks are in place for the rest of 2025 but will be removed from the Rapid Rewards benefits at the end of the year:
- 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, and on select streaming
- 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- Two EarlyBird Check-In® for 2025 flights
Earning and Redeeming Rewards
When it comes to earning rewards from purchases, you stand to earn the most when booking flights with Southwest Airlines.
For non-travel redemption options, you can go with select gift cards, merchandise purchases, and event bookings through the More Rewards program. However, there is no option for redeeming your points for cash.
Who Should Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card?
The best way to earn (and redeem) rewards with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is by booking Southwest Airlines flights — so this card is best for frequent travelers with this airline.
But if you don’t travel regularly or simply like to have options as to which airlines you fly with, this card won’t work in your favor.
Even if you like flying Southwest, your local airports may not have that many routes. And if you can't predict how much you will travel in the coming years, you may not want to pay a fee every year to keep the credit card active.
Alternatives to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Depending on your travel habits, you may find that one of Southwest's other credit cards suit you better — or a non-branded credit card that offers you more flexibility.
For more Southwest perks and points
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 4x points on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- 2x points at gas stations and restaurants
- 1x points on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$229
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the most expensive of all the credit cards in the Rapid Rewards family. So you'll need to crunch the numbers on whether paying its fee makes sense for you.
This card earns more points on Southwest bookings and gets you more perks, like upgrades to extra legroom seats and more TQPs toward A-List status each year, but those are the only key differences.
When it comes to disadvantages, both cards share the same main issue: inflexibility with redemption options.
For a lower annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 2x points on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1x points on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$99
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the least expensive Rapid Rewards card. If you fly Southwest Airlines often but not exclusively, this cheaper option may suit your needs better.
You do earn fewer rewards points on Southwest Airlines bookings, but you’re still eligible for the same welcome bonus.
For better flexibility
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Rate
- 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
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
For better flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lets you redeem points with other airlines as well as Southwest.
You also get boosted points on streaming and non-Southwest travel purchases — a perk lacking in the Rapid Rewards Premier. Plus, the Premier has an $8,000 annual cap on the boosted earn rate for restaurants and groceries, whereas the Sapphire Preferred doesn't.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of Southwest, then the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card may be a card you want to add to your wallet.
You can earn rewards on Southwest Airlines purchases, as well as groceries and dining out, plus get perks like free checked bags, 25% back on in-flight purchases, and anniversary bonus points.
But if you have limited Southwest routes flying out of your nearest airport or you want more flexibility with your airline choices, you may want to consider an all-purpose travel card instead.
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
