Southwest Premier Card Review
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is designed for frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. This review delves into the card's rewards structure, annual fees, and how it can assist you in earning rewards for your Southwest travels.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a co-branded credit card offered in partnership with Chase and Southwest Airlines. This card is designed for individuals who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines and want to earn rewards and enjoy travel benefits. Here's a review of the Southwest Premier Card:
Key Features and Benefits:
Sign-Up Bonus: The card typically offers a generous sign-up bonus, often in the form of Rapid Rewards points, after meeting specific spending requirements within the initial months of card membership.
Rapid Rewards Points: Cardholders earn Rapid Rewards points on their purchases. These points can be used for flights, including award flights, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions on Southwest Airlines.
Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you can earn additional bonus points, which can help offset the annual fee.
Travel Benefits: The card provides benefits such as no foreign transaction fees, which is useful for international travel. It may also offer travel insurance and other protections.
A-List Status: After reaching a specific spending threshold in a calendar year, you can earn A-List status with Southwest Airlines for the remainder of the current calendar year and the entire following calendar year. A-List status offers benefits like priority boarding and a 25% earning bonus on eligible flights.
Companion Pass: Earning a Companion Pass is a highly attractive benefit. If you meet the requirements, you can designate a companion to fly with you for free (aside from taxes and fees) on both paid and award flights for the rest of the year in which you earn it and the entire following year. Earning the Companion Pass often involves accumulating a certain number of Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year.
Considerations:
Annual Fee: The card comes with an annual fee that you should consider in relation to the rewards and benefits it offers.
Limited Airline Choice: The rewards are tied to Southwest Airlines, so it's ideal for individuals who primarily fly with this airline. If you prefer to have more flexibility in choosing airlines, other travel credit cards might be more suitable.
Points Valuation: The value of Rapid Rewards points can vary based on factors like the flight's cost, availability, and your destination. It's important to understand how to maximize the value of your points.
Companion Pass Requirements: Earning the Companion Pass involves meeting specific requirements, which may require significant spending on the card or alternative methods to accumulate qualifying points.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is an excellent option for frequent Southwest Airlines travelers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy the airline's benefits. The sign-up bonus, anniversary bonus, and potential for earning a Companion Pass make this card particularly attractive. However, it's crucial to assess your spending and travel habits to determine whether the annual fee and airline restrictions align with your needs and preferences.
Analyzing the features and rewards of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card..
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a rewards credit card that offers a number of features and rewards, including:
Rewards:
- 6 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, car sharing, public transportation, parking, tolls, trains, and buses
- 2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable, phone services, select streaming
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
- 35% back in points on inflight purchases when you use your card
- 75,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's enough for 3 one-way flights within the United States or Mexico.
- 6,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary.
Features:
- $99 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 4 upgraded boardings per year
- EarlyBird Check-In® for you and up to 4 companions on Southwest flights
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- Priority baggage handling
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on Southwest flights
- 20% off inflight WiFi
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and purchase protection
Analysis:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a number of valuable features and rewards, making it a good option for travelers who fly Southwest Airlines frequently. The 6 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases is a generous rewards rate, and the 4 upgraded boardings and early check-in benefits can be valuable for travelers who want to get on the plane early and secure a good seat. The free checked bags and priority baggage handling are also valuable perks, especially for travelers who check multiple bags.
The $99 annual fee is relatively low, especially considering the value of the rewards and benefits that the card offers. However, it is important to weigh the cost of the annual fee against the value of the rewards and benefits that you expect to receive before applying for this card.
Overall, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a good option for travelers who fly Southwest Airlines frequently and are looking for a rewards credit card that offers a variety of valuable features and benefits.
Here is a comparison of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card to other popular travel rewards credit cards:
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Other benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | $99 | 6 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, car sharing, public transportation, parking, tolls, trains, and buses, 2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable, phone services, select streaming, 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases, 35% back in points on inflight purchases when you use your card | No foreign transaction fees, 4 upgraded boardings per year, EarlyBird Check-In® for you and up to 4 companions on Southwest flights, 25% back on inflight purchases, priority baggage handling, free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on Southwest flights, 20% off inflight WiFi, travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and purchase protection |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining worldwide, 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases | No foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty protection |
| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | $95 | 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, 5 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | No foreign transaction fees, transfer miles to over 15 airline partners, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty protection |
As you can see, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card compares favorably to other popular travel rewards credit cards. It offers a competitive rewards rate, a variety of valuable features and benefits, and a relatively low annual fee.
If you are a frequent Southwest Airlines traveler, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a good option to consider.