Is the Southwest Premier Credit Card Worth It in 2025? Here’s the Real Math

Published July 19, 2025 | By matt

What Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier travel credit card designed for loyal Southwest Airlines flyers. Issued by Chase, this card allows you to earn Rapid Rewards points—Southwest’s version of frequent flyer miles—and enjoy perks tailored to domestic travelers who value no blackout dates and a companion-friendly airline model.

If you fly Southwest even a few times per year, this card might be your wallet’s secret weapon—much like keeping TSA PreCheck in your back pocket during peak holiday travel.

Key Benefits and Perks

40,000 Bonus Points Sign-Up Offer: Typically awarded after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months (offer may vary).
2x Points: Earn 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar on Southwest purchases and on transit, commuting, and select streaming services.
1x Point: Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
6,000 Anniversary Bonus Points: Drop a birthday candle—you get 6,000 points every cardmember anniversary.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Bring it abroad with no penalty.

Think of this card as your frequent flyer punch card, but on steroids—it builds toward free travel, priority boarding, and perhaps the holy grail of aviation loyalty perks: the Companion Pass.

Understanding the Rewards Structure

The card rewards structure is fairly straightforward (and user-friendly), which Southwest loyalists love. Here’s how it breaks down:

Spend Category	Rapid Rewards Earn Rate
Southwest Airlines purchases	2x points
Local transit, rideshares, streaming services	2x points
All other purchases	1x point

Keep in mind, these points are valued around 1.4 – 1.6 cents each on average when redeemed for Southwest flights—which means your 2x categories yield a potential 2.8% to 3.2% return on spend. Not bad at all.

What About the Annual Fee?

The annual fee is $99. However, this is offset by the card’s 6,000 anniversary points, which can easily be worth $80–$96 in airfare. That’s before factoring in any value from the sign-up bonus or Companion Pass (more on that soon!).

Companion Pass: The Buy-One-Get-One-Flight-Free Dream

This perk is arguably Southwest’s crown jewel. Think of the Companion Pass like a ‘Buy One Get One Free airfare subscription for the year’. Once earned, you can bring a designated travel companion on every single Southwest flight you book—for only the cost of taxes and fees (typically $5.60 one-way).

How to Earn the Companion Pass:

Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or
Earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year

Pro tip from /r/churning and Flyertalk: Strategically sign up for the Premier card (and optionally the Performance card too) early in the calendar year, meet the minimum spend to snag the sign-up bonuses before March, and you could unlock the Companion Pass for almost two years.

Timeline: Earning the Companion Pass in Three Months

Month	Activity
January	Apply for Rapid Rewards Premier (and optionally Performance).
January-February	Complete minimum spends (e.g., $1,000 for 40,000 bonus points).
February-March	Earn bonuses + organic spending points to hit 135,000 points.
March-April	Get the Companion Pass valid for the rest of current year + entire next year.

Myths vs. Truths About Rapid Rewards

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around. Here’s a quick infographic-style breakdown:

Myth: Points expire quickly
Truth: Points never expire as long as your account remains open
Myth: No availability for rewards flights
Truth: Southwest has no blackout dates. If a seat is for sale, it’s bookable with points.
Myth: Only airfare is a strong use of points
Truth: Hotel redemptions exist but are generally lower value than flights

How Premier Compares to Other Cards

Feature	RR Premier	RR Plus	Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual Fee	$99	$69	$95
Anniversary Bonus	6,000 pts	3,000 pts	N/A
Point Transfer Options	Rapid Rewards only	Rapid Rewards only	Transfer to 14+ travel partners, including Southwest
Best For…	Frequent Southwest flyers	Casual Southwest users	Flexible travelers and travel hackers

Optimizing with Travel Card Pairing

For travelers who crave flexibility, pairing the RR Premier with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® creates a powerful 1–2 punch. Use the Chase Sapphire for dining and travel (3x Ultimate Rewards points), then transfer those points 1:1 into Southwest Rapid Rewards when needed. This combo packs the punch of a flexible card with the loyalty perks of a carrier-specific card.

Application Details and Requirements

Current signup bonus: Typically 40,000–60,000 points, depending on promo
Minimum spend: $1,000 in 3 months (subject to change)
Chase 5/24 rule applies—you’ll likely be rejected if you’ve opened 5+ cards in past 24 months
Good to excellent credit (690+)

Should You Get It? Use Our Rapid Rewards Value Estimator

Want to know if the card pays for itself? Try this simple calculator:

Estimated Value:

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is a worthy pick for frequent domestic flyers who prioritize value, transparency, and the uniquely rewarding Companion Pass. While it lacks luxury bells and whistles, it makes up for that with practical and generous benefits.

Consider your travel habits, your potential to earn the Companion Pass, and whether Southwest’s route network serves your typical destinations well. If so, this card could be your golden ticket—not just to free flights, but to “+1 free” adventures.