The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card are almost identical credit cards.
The Southwest Premier card delivers solid rewards for Southwest flights and useful perks like two EarlyBird check-ins per year. This mid-tier Southwest card provides good value through its anniversary bonus points and travel benefits, making it particularly appealing if you fly Southwest several times per year.
The Southwest Plus offers a solid entry point into Southwest Airlines rewards with basic perks like 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird check-ins annually. While it provides nice rewards for Southwest purchases and everyday spending categories, you’ll get better value from Southwest’s premium card options if you fly the airline regularly.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Table of Contents
Overview of Southwest Premier vs. Southwest Plus
- Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 6,000 Points Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 2X Points on Transit, Ridesharing, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Eligible Streaming Services
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $99 Annual Fee
- bonus_miles_full
- 2x Points on Southwest Airlines, Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
- 3,000 Points Every Year on Cardmember Anniversary
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $69 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
Southwest Premier:
The Southwest Premier Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Southwest Plus:
The Southwest Plus Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Points
Southwest Premier:
The Southwest Premier Card allows you to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:
- 3 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
- 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Southwest Plus:
The Southwest Plus Card earns Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:
- 2 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partner purchases.
- 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, and phone services.
- 2 points per dollar on select streaming.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
We value Southwest points at 1.37 cents per point based on our data analysis, which means you earn a return of 2.7% for 2x categories and 1.4% for 1x categories.
Winner:
The Southwest Premier offers an extra point per dollar for Southwest Airlines purchaes.
Card Benefits
Southwest Premier:
The Southwest Premier card offers the following benefits to its cardholders:
6,000 Anniversary Points: You will receive 6,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points each year on your cardmember anniversary. This is worth about $80 towards Southwest flights, which helps offset the annual fee.
Two EarlyBird Check-Ins: With the Southwest Premier Card, you’ll receive two EarlyBird Check-In credits annually. These credits allow you to automatically check in for your Southwest flights before the traditional 24-hour check-in period, securing a better boarding position. This increases your chances of getting your preferred seat and can be especially valuable on longer flights.
Companion Pass Boost: Get a 10,000 point head start each year toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, though keep in mind all qualifying activity counts, not just credit card spend
25% In-Flight Savings: When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Southwest Plus:
The Southwest Plus card offers the following benefits to its cardholders:
3,000 Anniversary Points: Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive 3,000 Rapid Rewards points automatically deposited into your account. These points can help offset your annual travel expenses on Southwest flights.
Two EarlyBird Check-Ins:You’ll get two complimentary EarlyBird check-ins per anniversary year, which can significantly improve your boarding position. This benefit helps you secure better seat options and overhead bin space on your Southwest flights.
25% In-Flight Savings: When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit.
Companion Pass Boost: Get a 10,000 point head start each year toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, though keep in mind all qualifying activity counts, not just credit card spend
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Winner:
Southwest Premier. The benefits for both cards are almost identical, except the Southwest Premier earns an extra 3,000 points for each account anniversary.
Value of the Annual Fees
Southwest Premier:
The Southwest Premier Card has a $99 annual fee, which is reasonable for a co-branded airline credit card with this set of benefits. When you consider the value of the anniversary bonus points (worth around $80) and the EarlyBird Check-In credits (worth around $50 in value) you receive each year, the annual fee is nearly offset.
Southwest Plus:
The Southwest Plus Card comes with a $69 annual fee, which is the lowest among all Southwest Airlines credit cards. You’ll receive 3,000 anniversary bonus points (worth approximately $36 in airfare), two EarlyBird check-ins per year (worth $30-190), and 25% savings on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi, which help offset the annual fee cost.
Winner:
Southwest Premier since although it has a $30 higher annual fee than the Southwest Plus, the extra 3,000 anniversary bonus points is worth about $45 since Southwest points are generally worth about 1.5 cent per point.
Redeeming Points
Both Cards:
Both the Southwest Premier and Southwest Plus earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards offers a flexible and straightforward way to redeem points for flights. The program’s simplicity is one of its key strengths, and its value is fairly onsistent across different fare types and destinations. Our data study found that the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is 1.37 cents per point, making it easy for members to gauge the worth of their rewards.
Redemptions are seamless on Southwest’s website, where you can book any available seat without blackout dates. One of the program’s standout features is its generous change and cancellation policy. You can modify or cancel award bookings without fees, with points returned to your account and taxes refunded to your original form of payment.
While Southwest primarily serves domestic routes, it also flies to select international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. The airline’s extensive U.S. network makes it a popular choice for domestic travelers, despite not belonging to a major alliance.
For maximum value, focus on redeeming points for Wanna Get Away fares, which often provide the best return. Avoid using points for gift cards, hotels, or rental cars, as these options typically offer significantly lower value than the 1.37 cents per point average for flights.
The Southwest Companion Pass is a potential game-changer for frequent travelers. This benefit allows a designated companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on both paid and award tickets, effectively doubling the value of your points when traveling together.
The Verdict
The Southwest Premier Card and Southwest Plus Card are very similar credit cards, except the Premier earns an extra point per dollar on Southwest Airlines and an extra 3,000 anniversary points.
Despite its higher annual fee, the Southwest Premier is a better value than the Southwest Plus.
Which card are you going to choose?
- Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 6,000 Points Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 2X Points on Transit, Ridesharing, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Eligible Streaming Services
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $99 Annual Fee
- bonus_miles_full
- 2x Points on Southwest Airlines, Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
- 3,000 Points Every Year on Cardmember Anniversary
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year
- 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
- Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
- $69 Annual Fee
