Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Anniversary Points
- Travel Benefits
- Limited Bonus Categories
- Annual Fee
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
PROS
- Anniversary Points
- Travel Benefits
CONS
- Limited Bonus Categories
- Annual Fee
APR
20.99% - 27.99% variable APR
Annual Fee
$99
0% Intro
N/A
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a great choice for frequent Southwest flyers. With a fair earning rate, the card allows you to accumulate Southwest Rapid Rewards points at a good pace.
The card offers 3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.. All points earned using the card will also count towards earning the highly-desirable Companion Pass, which lets a friend fly with you for free for an entire year.
While the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can be a great option for frequent Southwest flyers, there are some drawbacks to consider. The card doesn't offer rewards on everyday spending and comes with an annual fee of $99. Additionally, as with other co-branded airline credit cards, the rewards can primarily be redeemed for airline benefits.
In addition to the standard benefits that come with every Southwest flight, such as free checked bags and no change fees, cardholders can enjoy unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs), 6,000 anniversary points each year, no foreign transaction fee, and 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
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In this Review
Estimating Your Rewards: A Practical Simulation
In the following table, you will find a simulation that provides an overview of the expected rewards for the Southwest Premier credit card.
This breakdown is based on both general usage and spending across various categories. By utilizing this table, you can gain a better understanding of the potential benefits that come with using this particular credit card.
It's important to note that the figures presented in this simulation are estimates, and actual rewards may vary depending on individual spending habits and other factors.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 4,000 points |
$5,000 – Airline | 15,000 points |
$3,000 – Hotels | 6,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 points |
Estimated Total Annual Points | 39,000 Points |
Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Rewards Program | Limited Bonus Categories |
Sign-up Bonus | Southwest Co-branded |
Anniversary Points | Annual Fee |
Travel Benefits | Lacking International Routes |
Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) | |
25% Back On Inflight Purchases |
- Rewards Program
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier card offers 3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases..
- Sign-up Bonus
New cardholders can earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months..
- Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs)
Cardholders earns 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $10,000 spend.
- Anniversary Points
Cardholders receive 6,000 bonus points on their account anniversary.
- Travel Benefits
The card offers travel benefits, such as car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance plan, and trip delay insurance.
- 25% Back On Inflight Purchases
Cardholders receive 25% back on inflight purchases.
- Limited Bonus Categories
While the card offers bonus points for Southwest purchases, it doesn't offer bonus points for popular spending categories like restaurants or gas stations.
- Southwest Co-branded
Like other Southwest cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is designed to provide benefits and rewards specific to Southwest Airlines.
Therefore, it is most useful for frequent Southwest flyers who can take advantage of these benefits. If you don't fly Southwest often, the card may not be as valuable to you.
- Annual Fee
The card charges an annual fee of $99.
- Lacking International Routes
Southwest Airlines offers many domestic destinations, but its international route network is more limited. This could create difficulty for some cardholders when trying to redeem their rewards.
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How To Redeem My Points?
Redeeming your Southwest Rapid Rewards points is very straightforward compared to other programs. You don't have to worry about blackout dates or award availability. You can use your points to book any available seat on any flight. The number of points you need is directly linked to the cost of the ticket.
You can use your points to book international flights on partner airlines through the Southwest More Rewards program. This online portal offers a variety of options, including flights with non-Southwest airlines.
Unlike some other airlines that use distance-based award charts, Southwest bases its redemption rate on the cash price of the fare. This means that if the fare is more expensive, you’ll need more points to book it.
Southwest doesn't have a set redemption rate for their points, but usually, you can expect a value of around 1.4 cents per point for a Wanna Get Away Fare. However, the number of points required can vary slightly based on the route and whether you're traveling during peak or off-peak periods.
Southwest credit card holders can also use their points to exchange for gift cards to popular restaurants, department stores, retailers and more via the Southwest More Rewards portal. However, the redemption rates for these options tend to be poor, typically costing 15,000 points for a $100 gift card, which equals a value of 0.6 cents per point.
Buying physical items on the Southwest More Rewards platform using Rapid Rewards points is generally not recommended, as it tends to provide poor value. Items like electronics, home and garden tools, travel insurance, pet gifts, coffee, and sunglasses are not worth purchasing with points on this platform. It is better to redeem your points for Southwest flights or gift cards for better value.
When You May Want To Consider It?
Here are some situations when you may want to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card:
You use it only for airline purchases: if you have another card for everyday spending and you need another card for airline purchases, the Southwest Premier card can be a good option. If you plan to rely on this card as your primary card, it may not be a good idea to choose it.
- You usually fly domestic: Southwest international routes are limited. If you tend to fly domestic either for travel or business, this may be a right choice. If you tend to use internationally, United, Delta or American Airlines cards may offer better alternatives.
- You Prefer to Fly Southwest: If you fly with Southwest Airlines regularly, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can help you earn rewards for your spending and enjoy a variety of travel-related benefits that can make your trips more comfortable and convenient.
Card | Rewards | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
| 40,000 Points
40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months.
| $99 |
| 1x – 2x
2X points on Southwest purchases, Southwesthotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including ride-shares),internet, cable, phone and select streaming services, and 1X points on all other purchases
| 40,000 points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
| $69 | |
| 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Southwest’s Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and internet, cable phone and select streaming services; 1X points on all other purchases
| 40,000 points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points.
| $149 | |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | 1x – 4x
4X points on Southwest purchases, 3X points on participating hotel and rental car partners, 2X points on local transit, rideshares, commuting, 2X points on social media and search engine advertising as well as internet, cable and phone services; 1X points on all other purchases
| 80,000 points
80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
| $199 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business | 1x – 4x
4X points on Southwest purchases, 3X points on participating hotel and rental car partners, 2X points on local transit, rideshares, commuting, 2X points on social media and search engine advertising as well as internet, cable and phone services; 1X points on all other purchases
| 80,000 points
80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
| $199 |
How To Apply For The Southwest Premier Card?
Here's how you can apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card:
Go to the application page: Visit the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card application page on the Chase website.
Fill out the application: Provide your personal information, including your name, address, and social security number, and answer questions about your income and employment status.
Review and submit: Read through the terms and conditions of the card to make sure you understand the terms. Once you've completed the application and reviewed the terms and conditions, submit your application online.
Wait for a decision: After you submit your application, Chase will review it and let you know if you've been approved or denied. If approved, you'll receive your new card in the mail within a week or two.
Note that you'll need to have a good to excellent credit score to be approved for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. However, there are cases when you can get even if you fair credit score.
How It Compared To Other Southwest Cards?
Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card to other Southwest cards reveals distinct advantages and target audiences for each option.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, with a $99 annual fee, stands out as a mid-tier choice. On the other hand, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, with a lower $69 annual fee, appeals to budget-conscious travelers. It lacks some Premier Card benefits, making it suitable for those who prioritize cost-effectiveness over additional perks.
For premium benefits and a higher annual fee of $149, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers $75 in annual travel credit and up to four upgraded boardings, making it ideal for frequent travelers seeking enhanced privileges.
Overall, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, with its moderate annual fee and well-rounded benefits, seems geared towards a broad audience of Southwest enthusiasts.
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