The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier sits in the middle of Southwest's lineup at $149 a year, and it ranks among CreditOdds' Best Airline Credit Cards for its balance of perks and price. You get 6,000 anniversary points, a 15% off promo code for one flight each year, a free first checked bag for up to nine travelers, complimentary Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure when available, and 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually. It earns 3 points per dollar on Southwest and 2 points on groceries and dining up to $8,000 per year. The catch is a much smaller welcome offer: the bonus was recently cut from 85,000 to 55,000 points, which takes some of the shine off applying now. If you fly Southwest several times a year, the recurring perks still justify the fee, but there's little reason to use it for spending outside those categories.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Airlines Southwest Airlines purchases | 3x |
Groceries Grocery stores and restaurants (first $8,000/year) on first $8,000/yr, then 1x | 2x |
Dining Grocery stores and restaurants (first $8,000/year) on first $8,000/yr, then 1x | 2x |
Everything Else | 1x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Anniversary Flight Discount 15% promo code on your cardmember anniversary for flight purchases (excludes Basic fare) | 15% /yr |
Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year | 10,000 points /yr |
Inflight Purchase Rebate 25% back on inflight purchases | 25% |
Instacart Credits Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually with $0 delivery fees and 3 months complimentary Instacart+. | $120 /yr |
| Total annual credits | $120 |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.24%–27.74% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |