Advantages of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card (2025 Edition)

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card caters to frequent Southwest flyers, offering a range of travel and spending benefits. Here's an expert summary of its current features and perks as of July 2025.

Key Features

Annual Fee: £99[4].
Welcome Offer: 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending £1,000 in the first 3 months[4].
Annual Bonus: 6,000 points on your cardmember anniversary[3][4].
No Rewards Cap: Earn unlimited points with no annual cap[4].
Purchase APR: Variable APR of 20.49%–27.49%[4].
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use your card worldwide without extra charges (standard for all Chase Southwest cards).

Rewards Structure

| Category | Points per £1 Spent | |-----------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Southwest Airlines purchases | 3X | | Local transit & commuting (incl. rideshare) | 2X | | Southwest Rapid Rewards hotel/car partners | 2X | | Internet, cable, phone, select streaming | 2X | | All other purchases | 1X |

Note: 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services are available through the end of 2025, subject to potential changes afterward[1].

Travel and Cardholder Benefits

EarlyBird Check-In: Cardholders receive 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, allowing earlier boarding positions for up to two flights annually[1][3].
No Blackout Dates: Book any available seat on Southwest with Rapid Rewards points, including sale fares.
Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs): Earn 2,500 TQPs towards A-List status for every £5,000 spent, helping you qualify for Southwest’s elite status faster[5].
No Change Fees: Southwest does not charge change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

Important Exclusions

No Free Checked Bags: Unlike the Priority Card, the Premier does not include free checked bags for cardmembers or companions[1].
No Seat Selection or Extra Legroom Upgrades: The Premier does not offer seat selection at booking or complimentary extra legroom upgrades, benefits that are available on the Priority Card[1].

Comparison to Other Southwest Cards

| Feature | Premier Card | Priority Card | Plus Card | |----------------------------|------------------|-----------------------|----------------------| | Annual Fee | £99 | £229 | £69 | | Annual Bonus | 6,000 pts | 7,500 pts | 3,000 pts | | EarlyBird Check-In | 2/year | Not specified | 2/year | | Upgraded Boardings | No | 4/year | No | | Free Checked Bags | No | Yes (for 9 people) | No | | TQPs per £5k Spend | 2,500 | 2,500 | 1,500 (before update)| | Seat Selection/Extra Legroom| No | Yes | No |

Additional Benefits

Inflight Discounts: Using the Southwest Premier card, you'll save 25% on inflight purchases, including drinks and Wi-Fi.
Delayed Baggage Reimbursement: The Southwest Premier card offers reimbursement for basic items like toiletries and clothing when your bags are delayed more than 6 hours by a common carrier.
Roadside Assistance: Access to roadside assistance is available through the Southwest Premier card, but the card's benefit doesn't cover the cost of the services.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card includes lost luggage reimbursement coverage for the cardholder and immediate family members, up to £3,000 per passenger.
Elite Status Acceleration: The card can be valuable to those pursuing Southwest Airlines elite status, as it earns 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every £5,000 spent annually.
Instacart+ Membership: You can get a 3-month complimentary Instacart+ membership with the Southwest Premier card, along with a £10 monthly Instacart credit.
Referral Bonuses: Referring friends and family to apply for any Southwest credit card can earn bonus Rapid Rewards points, and points earned from referral bonuses count toward Companion Pass qualification.
EarlyBird Check-In Credits: The card offers 2 complimentary EarlyBird Check-In credits each year, which can cost between £15 to £25 per person per flight.

Conclusion

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a reasonable annual fee with a solid list of benefits. It is particularly attractive for frequent Southwest flyers who value EarlyBird Check-In and want to accelerate their path to A-List status, but it does not offer some premium perks like free checked bags or seat upgrades found on the higher-tier Priority card[1][3][4].

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is ideal for individuals who often travel by air with Southwest Airlines.
The card caters to various aspects of personal finance and lifestyle, offering rewards in business, travel, and spending.
For investing purposes, the card offers 50,000 Rapid Rewards points as a welcome offer after spending £1,000 within the first 3 months.
The card also provides opportunities for investing in gadgets and smartphones, as internet, cable, and select streaming services earn 2X points.
In the realm of banking and insurance, the card comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for use internationally.
The card's technology features include inflight discounts on purchases such as drinks and Wi-Fi.
If you're a sports enthusiast, the card provides rewards in entertainment, including football or American football like the NFL or NCAAs.
The card's sports-betting category may be of interest to those who engage in betting on football or American football.
Car aficionados might appreciate the card's benefits when booking car rentals through Southwest Rapid Rewards hotel/car partners.
Social media users can benefit from the complimentary Instacart+ membership, along with a monthly Instacart credit, for quick and convenient grocery shopping.
Ultimately, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card tackles travel, finance, lifestyle, and other sectors, making it a versatile choice for frequent flyers and everyday spending.