Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Premier co-branded Southwest card offering 3x points on flights, annual anniversary bonus points, free checked bag, and preferred seating benefits.
Annual fee
$149
Top rate
3x flights
Welcome bonus
$550
Quick look
Southwest Flight Rewards
3x points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases
3.8
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Frequent Southwest loyalists who fly 3+ times per year and want to accumulate points toward Companion Passes or A-List status without paying for a premium card.
The verdict
This card wins decisively for frequent Southwest flyers but makes no sense for everyone else. The 3x points on Southwest purchases and free first checked bag justify the $149 annual fee if you're taking 3+ roundtrips per year. Casual flyers or those who split time between airlines should pass.
The card's rewards structure is genuinely designed around Southwest's economics: free checked bags ($35–$70 per roundtrip) offset the entire annual fee in just two trips. The 6,000 annual anniversary bonus points ($60 value) further sweeten the deal. But there's a real price for that specialization—your 2x rates on dining and groceries cap at $8,000 per year, and you earn just 1x on everything else. If Southwest isn't your primary carrier, you're essentially paying $149 to earn middling points on a proprietary airline system.
Pros
- Free first checked bag for cardmember and up to 8 companions—saves $35–$70 per roundtrip and covers the entire annual fee in just two trips
- 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases rank competitively at 24th in the catalog, with no blackout dates or point expiration
- 6,000 annual anniversary bonus points (~$60 value) and preferred seating within 48 hours of departure come standard with no tier requirements
- Simple earning: 2x on dining and groceries (first $8,000/year), 1x elsewhere—straightforward to track versus layered category cards
Cons
- Rewards heavily tilted toward Southwest loyalty; 2x dining and grocery rates drop to 1x after $8,000 annual spend, and you earn just 1x on everything else
- Narrow appeal: The $149 annual fee requires genuine Southwest loyalty to justify—casual flyers or multi-carrier travelers should look elsewhere
- Welcome bonus (55,000 points for $1,500 spend) is solid but trails competitors like United Explorer (60,000) and Delta Gold (up to 90,000)
- Missing luxury perks: No lounge access, no travel insurance, no purchase protections that come standard on premium travel cards at this price point
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 3x | 3 points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases |
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | 2 points per $1 on first $8,000 annually on dining (then 1 point) |
| Groceries | 2x | 2 points per $1 on first $8,000 annually on groceries (then 1 point) |
| Everything else | 1x | 1 point per $1 on all other purchases |
The card's 3x earning on Southwest flights (ranked 24th in the catalog) is solid but specialized. Where it excels is in the math of rounded trips: a family of four flying Southwest roundtrip earns 3x points both directions, plus saves $140–$280 in checked bag fees. The 2x rate on dining and groceries caps at $8,000 combined annually, then drops to 1x. That's meaningful if you spend heavily in these categories. On everything else, you earn just 1x points. If Southwest is your primary carrier and you fly 3+ times per year, the rewards work. If you split time between airlines or fly infrequently, those earning rates are mediocre.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
The $149 annual fee is steep, but the math works if you're a genuine Southwest flyer. The 6,000 annual anniversary bonus points (roughly $60 in Southwest redemption value) and a free first checked bag on just one roundtrip ($35–$70) nearly cover the entire fee. Two roundtrips, and the card is profitable. Three roundtrips, and it's decisively worth it. The catch: you need actual Southwest loyalty to hit those numbers. If you fly other airlines primarily or take one domestic trip per year, the annual fee becomes pure overhead.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
The 55,000-point welcome bonus requires $1,500 in spending over three months—an easy threshold for most households. Southwest values these points at roughly $550 in redemption, covering your first year's annual fee with room to spare. That's respectable but not best-in-class; the United Explorer Card offers 60,000 bonus miles, and Delta's Gold American Express reaches 90,000 miles. All three are designed to draw you into their respective loyalty ecosystems quickly, and the Southwest bonus achieves that effectively.
Similar cards
Broader airline flexibility: Earn at comparable rates (4.5x in premium cabin, 2x base) on United, with stronger perks like United Club passes. Better if you split time between carriers.
Annual travel credits reduce net cost: Dual $100 annual travel credits and $100 dining credit effectively make this card free for many cardholders. Stronger economics if credits align with your actual spending.
Frequently asked questions
Does the free checked bag work for everyone in my party?
Yes. The card includes one free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same Southwest reservation. That means a family of four flying roundtrip saves $140–$280 annually just in baggage fees, which easily covers the $149 annual fee.
What happens when I spend more than $8,000 on dining and groceries in a year?
Your earning drops from 2x to 1x points. The $8,000 cap resets each anniversary year. If you spend heavily in these categories, you'll only earn the higher rate on the first $8,000 combined across all dining and grocery purchases.
Can I transfer Southwest points to other airlines or partners?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are exclusive to Southwest Airlines. You cannot transfer to partner airlines, hotel chains, or redeem for cash. This is a core feature of Southwest's closed-loop loyalty program and limits flexibility compared to transferable-point cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Is this card worth it if I only fly Southwest once or twice a year?
Probably not. The $149 annual fee requires at least 3–4 roundtrips per year for the free checked bags and anniversary bonus to cover the cost. Casual Southwest flyers should either stick with a no-annual-fee card or consider a more versatile travel card that doesn't depend on carrier loyalty.
How quickly do I earn elite status with this card?
The card earns $1 in tier qualifying dollars (toward A-List and A-List Preferred status) for every $5 you spend. This helps you progress through Southwest's elite tiers, but it's not a shortcut—you still need the minimum roundtrips (10 for A-List, 20+ for A-List Preferred) to qualify. The card accelerates the process for people who already fly frequently.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026