The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Southwest Airlines. It is designed for regular Southwest travelers who want enhanced earning rates, larger anniversary bonuses, and a pathway to A-List status through spending.
The card sits between the Plus and Priority cards in Southwest’s co-branded lineup. It provides elevated earning on dining and groceries while offering mechanisms for both Companion Pass and elite status progress.
What the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card Is
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is a Visa card that links directly to a Rapid Rewards account.
The system operates through four core mechanisms:
- Elevated Point Earning: Higher multipliers on Southwest purchases and lifestyle categories.
- Status Path: Spending contributes toward A-List Tier Qualifying Points.
- Companion Pass Progress: A qualifying points boost and spending earnings count toward the 135,000-point threshold.
- Travel Cost Reduction: Benefits including free checked bags, seat selection, and in-flight credits.
The card has a $149 annual fee.
How Points are Earned and Distributed
The card uses a tiered structure with higher base rates than the Plus card.
Earning Multipliers
- 3 Points per $1: Earned on Southwest Airlines purchases, including flights, in-flight purchases, gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages.
- 2 Points per $1: Earned on the first $8,000 spent annually at grocery stores and restaurants.
- 1 Point per $1: Earned on all other eligible purchases.
Points are transferred to the linked Rapid Rewards account after each billing period closes. The $8,000 cap on grocery and restaurant bonus earning resets each account anniversary.
Merchant Category Code (MCC) Logic
The system classifies spending based on MCCs provided by the merchant’s payment processor. Restaurants inside hotels or entertainment venues may code under the parent establishment’s primary category. Fast food and quick-service restaurants typically trigger the 2x rate.
How A-List Status Earning Works
The Premier card provides a mechanism for earning elite status through spending rather than flying.
Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs)
Cardholders earn 1,500 A-List Tier Qualifying Points for every $5,000 in purchases on the card. A-List status requires 35 one-way qualifying flights or 45,000 TQPs in a calendar year.
Status Benefits
A-List status provides priority boarding, same-day standby privileges, free same-day changes, and a 25% earning bonus on flights. The card allows travelers to make progress toward these benefits without flying.
How Travel Benefits are Applied
The card includes several features designed to reduce travel costs and improve the airport experience.
First Checked Bag Free
The primary cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation receive their first checked bag for free on Southwest-operated flights.
Preferred Seat Selection
Cardmembers can select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available. This benefit extends to up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
In-Flight Credits
The card provides 25% back as a statement credit on eligible Southwest in-flight purchases, including drinks and Wi-Fi.
How Companion Pass Progress Works
The Companion Pass allows a designated companion to fly free (excluding taxes and fees) on Southwest flights.
Cardmember Points Boost
The Premier card provides a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each calendar year. This reduces the effective threshold to 125,000 points from other sources.
Spending Contribution
Points earned from purchases count toward the Companion Pass threshold. The sign-up bonus also counts toward qualifying points.
How Anniversary Benefits Work
The card provides recurring benefits each account anniversary.
Anniversary Points
Cardholders receive 6,000 bonus points on each account anniversary. These points are deposited to the Rapid Rewards account and count toward Companion Pass progress.
Promotional Discount Code
A 15% promotional code for Southwest flights is issued annually on the cardmember anniversary. This code excludes Basic fares and applies to the base fare only.
How the Card Generates Costs and Fees
The card operates within a specific fee structure.
Annual Fee
The $149 annual fee is charged each account anniversary. To offset this cost, cardholders typically need to utilize the checked bag benefit, anniversary points, promotional code, or value the TQP earning mechanism.
Interest and APR Mechanics
The card carries a variable APR applied to any balance not paid in full. At typical credit card rates, carrying a balance quickly erodes the value of points earned.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Regional and Regulatory Differences
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and is subject to U.S. consumer credit regulations.
Geographic Availability
The card is available to U.S. residents with a valid Social Security number. Southwest Airlines operates primarily within the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Point Expiration
Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as the Rapid Rewards account remains open with earning or redemption activity within a 24-month period.
Common Misconceptions About the Premier Card
“I automatically get A-List status with this card.” No. The card provides a pathway to earn TQPs through spending, but status must still be earned by reaching the 45,000 TQP threshold. The card does not grant automatic status.
“The 3x rate applies to all travel.” The 3x rate applies only to Southwest Airlines purchases. Other travel purchases (hotels, rental cars, other airlines) earn 1x.
“The 2x grocery and restaurant rate has no cap.” The 2x rate is capped at the first $8,000 in combined spending at groceries and restaurants each anniversary year. After reaching the cap, these purchases earn 1x.
“Preferred seat selection means I can pick any seat.” Preferred seat selection allows access to Standard and Preferred seats. Extra Legroom seats are available on the Priority card.
“The 15% promotional code works on any Southwest fare.” The promotional code excludes Basic fares. It applies only to Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares.
