Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card Review 2023

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is worth considering if you fly Southwest, even occasionally. This card strikes the best balance between valuable benefits and a moderate annual fee — and it's currently offering a great welcome bonus.

Of the three Chase Southwest personal cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child — it comes with a $99 annual fee and a few more benefits than the entry-level version.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card Review: Is Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier the Best Credit Card for You?

Southwest points are worth 1.4 cents each, on average, based on Insider's points and miles valuations, making the bonus worth Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card in travel. 

If you're considering the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you'll want to compare it to the other Southwest credit cards, because you can only have one personal version at a time. It's a good choice if you'll use the card while traveling overseas, because it doesn't add foreign transaction fees. Plus, the 6,000 Southwest points you'll receive each account anniversary are worth about $84 in Southwest airfare, which nearly cancels out the annual fee.

However, if you prefer flexibility, a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points might be a better choice. Southwest is one of over a dozen Chase airline and hotel transfer partners, and cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® have broader bonus categories and more benefits. 

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Southwest Premier Card Rewards

Welcome bonus

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card card is currently offering a welcome bonus of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. That's the same bonus you'll find on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($69 annual fee) and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 annual fee). The points you earn from the bonus will never expire, so you can redeem them whenever travel plans come up.

How to earn points

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card cardholders earn:

• 3x points on Southwest purchases (including flights, inflight purchases, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages)
• 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases (see the full list here)
• 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (and also passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
• 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube TV)
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

How to use points

Southwest points never expire, so when you're ready to travel again you can redeem your points for flights within the US (including Hawaii), and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. 

It's easy to redeem Southwest points — there's no award chart to figure out or blackout dates to work around. The number of points required for a Southwest award flight depends on the price of a paid ticket, and on average, you can expect to get a value of about 1.4 cents per Southwest point, based on Insider's valuations, toward the cheapest "Wanna Get Away" fares.

Booking an award flight is a straightforward process — just search on the Southwest website the same way you would for a paid ticket. You'll have the ability to toggle between the cash price and the points cost, so it's easy to compare.

You'll almost always get the best value by using your points for Southwest flights, but as a Southwest credit card holder you'll have other options for redeeming your points. The More Rewards program allows you to use points for merchandise, gift cards, car rentals, hotels, cruises, and experiences. The value per point varies depending on the redemption.

Plus, you can now redeem Southwest points through Chase Pay Yourself Back as a statement credit at a rate of up to 1 cent each. Currently, your points can be used to offset up to $200 in dining purchases made within the last 90 days (this category disappears March 31, 2023). You can also use your points to offset the card's annual fee.

Southwest Premier Card Benefits and Features

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card comes with handy benefits that can give you a boost toward elite status and give you peace of mind when you travel or make big purchases.

Earn Southwest Companion Pass points

The Southwest Companion Pass is widely considered to be one of the best deals in travel. It effectively doubles the value of your points (or cash) when flying Southwest. You can bring a travel buddy for free every single time you fly Southwest until the pass expires. Depending on how often you fly Southwest, you and a partner could receive hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars from this benefit.

The welcome bonus points and points earned from spending on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card count toward the 135,000 points total you'll need to accumulate in a calendar year to qualify for the Companion Pass. And, if you have a Southwest card, you'll receive a 10,000-point boost each year to help qualify (these points aren't redeemable for flights, however).

EarlyBird Check-In

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card cardholders receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins per account anniversary year, awarded as a statement credit after you use your card for the purchase. EarlyBird Check-In typically costs $15 to $25 each way, and it automatically checks you in for your flight 36 hours prior to departure.

Because Southwest determines your boarding position by the time you check in, this perk can help you get on the airplane sooner and have a better opportunity to select your desired seat.

Anniversary points bonus

Each year when you renew your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you'll receive 6,000 points, which are worth around $84 in Southwest airfare. That's almost enough to offset the entire $99 annual fee.

Inflight purchase discount

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you'll receive 25% back in the form of a statement credit. 

Earn A-List elite status faster

If you're aiming for Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred elite status, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can give you a boost. You'll earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 in eligible net purchases with the card, with no limit to the number of TQPs you can earn. Normally the only other way to earn TQPs is through paid flights on Southwest, and to earn A-List status, you'll require 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year.

A-List status is worth pursuing if you fly Southwest frequently because it comes with perks like priority boarding, a 25% bonus on points earned from flying, priority check-in and security at select airports, and same-day standby. The next level up, A-List Preferred, requires double the amount of TQPs but offers a 100% points bonus and additional benefits like free inflight Wi-Fi.

Car rental insurance

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card to pay the full cost of your car rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get coverage for damage due to collision or theft. This coverage is secondary to your own personal policy in the US, but primary rental car insurance overseas (or if you don't have your own insurance).

Purchase protection and extended warranty

New purchases you make with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card are covered by purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. You can also save money because the card extends the time period of a US manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance

When you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card to pay for your fare, you (and your immediate family) are covered if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier, up to $3,000 per passenger.

And if your bags are delayed by six hours or more, you're eligible for up to $300 in reimbursement ($100 a day for up to three days) for essential items like toiletries and clothing.

Other travel protections

If you're approved for the Visa Signature version of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you'll get access to travel and emergency assistance services, which can help arrange things like medical and legal referrals when you're away from home. Just be aware you're responsible for the cost of any services arranged.

All cardholders also get travel accident insurance, which covers accidental death or dismemberment when they use their card to pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation. Visa Signature cardholders get up to $500,000 in coverage, and Visa Platinum members get up to $250,000.

You'll also get access to a roadside dispatch hotline, which can arrange services like towing and jumpstarts when you're on the road. Again, you'll be responsible for the actual cost of the service, which gets billed to your card. 

Free DoorDash DashPass subscription

Through December 31, 2024, you can activate a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for 12 months which offers zero delivery fees and reduced service fees when you order from DoorDash and Caviar delivery services. 

GoPuff credits

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card cardholders are eligible for $10 per month in Gopuff credits when they add the card as the default payment method in the Gopuff app. Gopuff is a fast delivery service that offers everyday items like food, beverages, personal care items, and more.

You'll earn the credit automatically on your statement after you make an eligible purchase with Gopuff. Keep in mind there's minimum order amount of $10 and a $3.95 delivery fee per order. This promotion is available until December 31, 2023.

Southwest Premier Card Annual Fee and Other Costs

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee, but it doesn't add foreign transaction fees so you can use it overseas without worrying about extra charges.

If you carry a balance, there's a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - Regular APR APR. And, like most cards, this card charges fees for:

• Cash advances: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
• Balance transfers: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Late payments: Up to $40
• Returned payments: Up to $40

How the Southwest Premier Card Compares

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs other Southwest personal cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs other airline credit cards

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Chase Southwest Premier card worth it?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card comes with ongoing benefits valuable enough to offset the $99 annual fee each year. Between the 6,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird Check-In certificates, regular Southwest flyers will likely hang onto this card.

What credit score do you need for the Chase Southwest Premier?

To have the best chance of being approved for a travel credit card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, your credit score should be 700 or above. It's possible to be approved with a lower score (your credit score isn't the only factor that banks use to approve your application), but a good credit score is critical to opening up more travel credit cards in the future.

Who is eligible for the Chase Southwest Premier card?

Chase has a few specific rules when it comes to credit card applications. If you've opened five or more cards (from any bank) within the last 24 months, you won't be eligible for this card. The only exception is most small-business cards. This is commonly referred to as the Chase 5/24 rule.

If you currently have a Southwest personal credit card, you aren't eligible for another. You'll have to cancel your current card first. And, if you've received a welcome bonus from a Southwest personal card within the past 24 months, you're not eligible for this card.

How does the Southwest Companion Pass work?

The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a travel buddy every time you fly Southwest for just the cost of taxes and fees. As long as there are two seats available, you can bring someone along.

This isn't a one-time voucher, either, like companion certificates offered by other airline cards. Even if you fly every single day, your companion will get to fly with you. Just note that you'll have to be on the itinerary for your companion to qualify. If you're not traveling with them, they can't benefit from the Companion Pass.

Can you use Southwest points and the Companion Pass?

Yes, you can use the Companion Pass on Southwest award flights. Simply book your flight with points, then add your companion later. You'll then both pay just taxes and fees for your flight.

Can you change your companion with the Southwest Companion Pass?

You can change your companion up to three times per calendar year. For example, after you earn your Companion Pass, you may designate your spouse as your companion. You can then:

Change your companion to your child (first change)

Change your companion back to your spouse (second change)

Change your companion to your other child (third change)

Methodology: How we reviewed the Southwest Premier Card

Chase and Southwest partner to offer three personal Southwest credit cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier card with Southwest-specific benefits that make the card worth keeping for those who are fans of Southwest. Coupled with its ongoing benefits and valuable welcome bonus, this card earns a respectable 3.65 stars out of 5 stars.

Here's more information about how we rate credit cards at Insider.