Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Review

The revamped Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is an ambitious take on the airline’s mid-level airline loyalty credit card.

Cardholders will enjoy new bonus learning categories, the potential for a substantial introductory points bonus, and a Defined path to Southwest’s coveted Companion Pass. However, if flexible reward redemption is your primary objective, you may want to look elsewhere.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Good for earning rewards on recurring bills
• Path to Companion Pass
• Massive introductory bonus

Cons:

• Ongoing spending categories can be limited
• More flexible travel credit card options in this price range

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Review

• Annual Fee: $99
• Regular APR: 15.99%-22.99% Variable
• Rewards: 3x points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2x points per dollar on local transit and rideshare, 2x points per dollar on limited streaming, internet, cable, and phone purchases.
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Sign-Up Bonus: Up to 100,000 bonus points, 50,000 after spending the first $3,000 on the card, and an additional 50,000 points after spending a cumulative $12,000 on the card.
• Category:Travel/ Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Card Rewards

Earning Rewards

Southwest introduced new bonus categories to its Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card, which can be especially helpful for earning more points and helping you save money on flights.

Since Southwest recently added Hawaii as a destination, it is one of the most flexible airlines for domestic travel. Cardholders earn 3x points per dollar on all Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on streaming services, phone plans, internet and cable, and transit services such as Rideshare and local buses.

Although there are no dining or additional travel bonus categories, savvy cardholders can use the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier as their recurring bill credit card on all their streaming, internet, and monthly phone payments, which can effectively generate over 1,000 miles per month depending on the services they have.

Most other travel credit cards do not have bonus categories for these items. If you generate between 6,000 and 7,000 extra miles annually, you could earn free flights more quickly than you originally anticipated.

Redeeming Rewards

Point Redemption through Southwest Airlines is very simple and can be done online or through their mobile app. Once your points are deposited into your account, you can use them to book flights directly through their platform.

If you have other Southwest credit cards or credit cards linked as a transfer partner, you can consolidate all your points into the same account to maximize your flight discount.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Features and Benefits

Lucrative Welcome Offer

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card enables cardholders to earn up to 100,000 points by offering 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first three months and another 50,000 points once you spend a cumulative $12,000 on the card.

While 100,000 points is already an outstanding offer, the introductory points count towards the 125,000-point threshold for the coveted Southwest Companion Pass.

New Southwest Companion Pass lets the cardholder bring a companion for free on any flight as long as it’s booked or purchased with points.

Since the introductory bonus counts toward the Companion Pass, cardholders only need to earn an additional 25,000 points to secure the Companion Pass.

Earn Anniversary Points

Cardholders are eligible to receive 6,000 points every anniversary of card membership. These points also count towards the 125,000 qualifying points for companion passes, making this an extra lucrative perk.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign transaction fees can quickly add up and become an expensive travel component; thankfully, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card does not charge any foreign transaction fees, and since it is a Visa, it is widely accepted around the globe.

Purchase Protection

Purchasing new items with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card provides access to purchase protection up to 120 days from the purchase date with up to $500 per claim.

There is an annual maximum of $50,000 in purchase protection claims. This card will also extend the manufacturer warranty by an additional year if the manufacturer’s warranty is three years or less.

Car Rental Insurance

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card provides secondary rental car insurance, which will kick in if your primary insurance doesn’t cover rentals or is exhausted in an accident.

How Does Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Compare to Other Cards?

#1. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Aside from representing two different airlines, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express card take very different approaches when it comes to earning rewards.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card emphasizes bonus categories such as monthly cable subscriptions and transit, whereas the Delta SkyMiles® gold American Express card offers better everyday spending options because it includes bonus categories such as dining and groceries.

Both of these cards earn 2x miles per dollar on purchases with their respective airlines, so deciding between the two cards comes down to which airline is more readily accessible to you and how you want to earn points.

#2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture reward credit card is a general travel rewards card that earns 2x miles per dollar which can be redeemed as statement credits on travel purchases.

The main benefit of the Capital One Venture Card is that there are no bonus categories to manage, and travel is a broad rewards category meaning that there are many charges that are eligible for reward redemption.

In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is a co-branded airline card that helps cardholders save money and book rewards flights on Southwest Airlines. Both cards have different target audiences.

The Southwest card is a better option for loyalists who prefer to fly one airline. The Capital One Venture reward card is a better choice for consumers who enjoy trying different airlines and hotel chains.

#3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a lifestyle cash-back credit card that can earn a generous amount of cash back, and it compares with other Chase products to generate Ultimate Rewards points.

This card offers cash back options at grocery stores, restaurants, and more, along with a rotating quarterly bonus category that earns 5% cash back. It is an extremely versatile credit card that works well for everyday spending or as a supplement to a higher learning travel credit card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is designed for frequent flyers of Southwest Airlines. All of the rewards earned on this card go to award flights and booking travel directly through Southwest.

These cards serve two different purposes, and consumers who would benefit the most from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ probably want to earn cash back on common everyday purchases, whereas the Southwest card is a better fit for frequent flyers trying to rack up as many points as possible.

#4. Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a robust luxury travel rewards card with an annual fee of $695. The fee includes Uber credits, shopping credits, Airline incidental fee credits, and more.

This card is designed for travelers with luxury in mind and sweetens the deal by offering access to lounges and exclusive bookings for dining and hotels.

Like many other American Express cards, the Platinum Card® from American Express generates membership rewards points which are very flexible and can be transferred to many different airlines and hotel chains.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is a $99 annual fee and strictly awards for booking Southwest flights. Both of these cards offer strong benefits for their target consumers, and deciding between the two will come down to the $600 difference between annual fees and if you can get the most out of the card to offset that out-of-pocket expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Credit Score Do You Need for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card?

Travel credit cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier generally require good to excellent credit to qualify.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Worth It?

Southwest is one of the most reliable airlines for domestic travel. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is a great choice for consumers who fly with Southwest and want a better chance of getting the Companion Pass. Since the 100,000 Point introductory spending bonus contributes to the required 125000 points for the Companion Pass, it is certainly a compelling credit card for Southwest Flyers.

Does Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Have an Annual Fee?

Yes, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier card has an annual fee of $99.

Bottom Line: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Review

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier credit card is a happy medium for frequent Southwest flyers, and its bonus categories can show how many cardholders automatically earn thousands of extra points per year by switching their bills to autopay with this part.

Thistravel credit cardcan easily pay for itself and provide discounted flights on Southwest with the annual points bonus and outstanding introductory bonus.