Southwest Airlines flew over 130 million passengers last year, and a big chunk of them used Rapid Rewards points to book flights for less. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card sits in the middle of Chase's three Southwest cards, with a $149 annual fee and perks aimed at people who fly Southwest a few times a year.
This Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card review breaks down the fee, rewards, bonus, perks, and whether it actually fits your travel style. If you want to see how the Premier stacks up against the rest of the lineup, our guide to the best Southwest credit card compares all five cards side by side.
Quick Facts (as of May 2026)
- Annual fee: $149
- APR: 19.24% to 27.74% variable
- Sign-up bonus: 55,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months
- Rewards: 3X points on Southwest, 2X on grocery, restaurants, and local transit (on up to $8,000 per anniversary year), 1X on everything else
- Annual perks: 6,000 anniversary points, 10,000-point Companion Pass boost
- No foreign transaction fees
Terms and conditions apply. APRs vary by creditworthiness.
Who This Card Is For
The Premier is built for the casual Southwest flyer. If you take two to four Southwest flights a year and want a card that pays you back in flights rather than hotel points, it fits.
Frequent Southwest flyers usually upgrade to the Priority card, which has a higher fee but bigger travel credits. Heavy travelers who fly multiple airlines should look elsewhere too.
This is not a beginner card. Chase generally wants a FICO score of at least 690 to approve a Premier application. If your credit is still growing, you will likely need to build first.
The Sign-Up Bonus Math
As of May 2026, the welcome offer is 55,000 bonus points after $1,500 in purchases within three months. Southwest points are worth roughly 1.3 to 1.5 cents each when redeemed for Wanna Get Away fares.
That puts the bonus value at roughly $715 to $825 in flights. The $1,500 spend target is achievable for most cardholders without manufacturing spending, which makes the bonus realistic, not aspirational.
Historically, Chase runs higher 75,000 or 85,000 point bonus offers a few times a year, often tied to Companion Pass promotions. Worth waiting if you can.
Earn Rates and Annual Points
The earning structure rewards Southwest loyalists.
You earn 3X on Southwest purchases, which is solid for an airline card. 2X on grocery, restaurants, and local transit covers everyday spending. The 2X bonus categories are capped at $8,000 combined per anniversary year, after which they drop to 1X.
The 6,000 anniversary points are essentially $80 to $90 in flight value, which trims the effective annual fee to around $60 to $70. If you ever feel that fee is too steep, our guide on negotiating an annual fee waiver shows how retention departments sometimes trim or refund it.
The 10,000-point Companion Pass boost is unique to Southwest cards. It pushes you 10,000 points closer to earning the famous Companion Pass, which lets one designated person fly with you for just taxes and fees.
The Companion Pass Angle
The Companion Pass is the single best Southwest perk. To earn it, you need 135,000 qualifying points or 110 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
The Premier card contributes 10,000 "boost" points toward that threshold every year. Combined with a generous sign-up bonus and spending, some cardholders earn the pass within the first year of card ownership.
If you have a partner, kid, or frequent travel companion, the Companion Pass alone can save thousands of dollars a year. This is the main reason people choose any Southwest card.
Travel Perks
The Premier includes a few useful travel benefits.
You can select a Preferred or Standard seat within 48 hours of departure. Southwest's open seating model means earlier boarding equals better seats, so this is real value.
No foreign transaction fees, which is unusual at this fee tier and helpful if you use Southwest's international routes to Mexico or the Caribbean.
Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage protection, and rental car collision damage waiver are also included. None are headline benefits, but they help if something goes wrong. If you travel often with rental cars, our deep dive on whether Chase Sapphire covers rental car insurance shows how the Premier's coverage compares.
What the Premier Does Not Include
No lounge access. Southwest does not operate lounges, so the card cannot offer them.
No travel credit. Cards like the Sapphire Preferred include $50 hotel credits or similar. The Premier does not.
No TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. You will pay $85 or $120 out of pocket if you want those.
No upgraded boarding without spending real points or money. The Priority card includes four upgraded boardings per year. The Premier does not.
Premier vs. Plus vs. Priority
Chase offers three Southwest consumer cards. Here is the quick comparison.
- Plus: $69 annual fee, 2X on Southwest, 3,000 anniversary points. Best for very light users.
- Premier: $149 annual fee, 3X on Southwest, 6,000 anniversary points, 10,000-point Companion Pass boost.
- Priority: $229 annual fee, 3X on Southwest, 7,500 anniversary points, $75 annual Southwest travel credit, four upgraded boardings.
The Priority's $75 travel credit alone covers half its fee for active flyers. If you fly Southwest more than twice a year and would use that credit, the Priority often wins. The Premier is the middle pick. For a broader comparison against other travel cards, see our breakdown of the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture.
Build Credit Before You Apply
The Premier requires good to excellent credit. Chase also enforces a 5/24 rule, meaning you are usually denied if you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months. If your credit is rough, the best travel credit cards for bad credit are a more realistic place to start.
If your credit is below 690, or if you have limited credit history, applying now is likely a wasted hard pull. Better to build first.
The Self Visa® Credit Card lets you build credit with no hard credit check at application. Most users see meaningful score gains within 6 months. Read our full Self Credit Builder Card review for the breakdown.
The Current Build Card is a good fit if you have no SSN or are new to U.S. credit, since it does not require a Social Security number to start.
OpenSky is a secured option that has helped many readers move from a 550 to 700+ score within a year.
The Kikoff Secured Credit Card reports to all three bureaus with low monthly costs, ideal if you want to keep building credit cheaply while saving for the Premier's annual fee.
Firstcard's credit-building card is another option built specifically for the no-credit and low-credit user heading toward a real rewards card.
What Real Cardholders Say
On r/CreditCards, the Premier earns mixed reviews. One user wrote, "I got the Premier for the Companion Pass year and saved over $2,400 in flights with my partner. Easy keep."
Another added a caution, "The 2X grocery cap at $8,000 is lower than it looks. I hit it by August and was earning 1X for the rest of the year."
A negative take from a WalletHub review: "$149 is steep if you only fly Southwest once a year. The Plus at $69 makes more sense for occasional flyers."
Should You Get It?
Get the Premier if you fly Southwest two to four times a year, have a travel companion who could benefit from the Companion Pass push, and your credit is in the 690+ range.
Skip it if you fly more, since the Priority is usually better. Also skip it if you fly less than twice a year, since the Plus or no Southwest card at all probably fits you.
Next Steps
If you are ready, apply directly through Chase or Southwest. Watch for elevated 75,000 or 85,000 point welcome offers, which appear several times a year.
If your credit needs work first, start with a credit-builder card and check your score every 60 to 90 days. Once you cross 690 and have at least 12 months of clean payment history, the Premier becomes a realistic target.
Chase issues all Southwest Rapid Rewards cards and applies the 5/24 rule. If you're below 5/24 but your score isn't at Chase's 670 floor, the Aspire Mastercard gets you a Mastercard with no deposit, reports to all three bureaus, and doesn't count against Chase's 5/24 cap once you've held it for the year you need to qualify.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for the Southwest Premier card?
Most approved applicants have a FICO score of 690 or higher. Chase also follows the 5/24 rule, so if you have opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months, you will likely be denied regardless of score.
Is the $149 annual fee worth it?
If you redeem the 6,000 anniversary points and earn 3X on Southwest purchases, the card can pay for itself with two or three Southwest flights a year. For lighter Southwest flyers, the cheaper Plus card at $69 makes more sense.
Can I get the Companion Pass with just the Premier card?
You can, but it takes serious spending. You need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. The Premier's 10,000-point boost helps, but most people who earn the pass quickly combine a personal and business Southwest card welcome offer in the same year.
Does the Premier card have foreign transaction fees?
No. The card has no foreign transaction fees, which is useful for Southwest routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
