Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Review

Southwest Airlines has a reputation for being one of the more affordable airlines on the market — and if you frequently fly Southwest, then one of the airline’s credit cards can help you save even more.

While the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does come with an annual fee, the rewards and perks you earn could make that fee worth paying.

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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 booking trips. 

With this credit card, you can earn some major rewards when booking Southwest Airlines flights. Additionally, you can earn points on other travel essentials like hotel and rental car bookings. You also don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.

Moreover, you’ll receive additional Southwest Airlines travel perks, like having access to two EarlyBird Check-In® each year and getting 25% back on inflight purchases.

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.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

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.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Benefits

Credit card reward points are all well and good, but you do have to spend money to earn them.

With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you can enjoy these cardholder benefits:

• Annual 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year
• 25% back on inflight purchases
• Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs)
• Earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $10,000 you spend

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.

Who Shouldn’t Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card? 

If you don’t travel regularly or simply like to have options as to which airlines you fly with, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card won’t work in your favor.

Even if you like flying Southwest Airlines, your local airports may not have that many routes with this specific airline. Additionally, it can be difficult to predict how much you will travel in the coming years, and you will have to pay a fee every year if you want to keep the credit card active.

Alternatives to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card 

For Southwest travel credits: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

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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.

One way to get the cost down is to take advantage of the $75 annual travel credit. Both cards earn rewards at the same rate, so remembering to use this travel credit each year is what makes the difference here.

When it comes to disadvantages, both cards share the same main issue: inflexibility with redemption options. 

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

For a lower annual fee: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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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.

One major downside of saving on the annual fee is you have to pay foreign transaction fees. However, if you don’t travel internationally often or have another credit card that waives these fees, this may not be a concern for you.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

For better flexibility: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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For better flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lets you redeem points with other airlines as well as Southwest.

You also get points on dining, a perk lacking in the Rapid Rewards Premier. If your dining expenses exceed your annual spending on Southwest, the Sapphire Preferred may prove more rewarding.

Both cards have similar annual fees.

LEARN MORE: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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 big rewards on Southwest Airlines purchases, as well as Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental purchases, plus perks like two EarlyBird Check-In® each year, 25% back on inflight 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.