Updated: October 21, 2024
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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card are excellent choices for Southwest Airlines loyalists. The Rapid Rewards Premier Card is the better option for frequent travelers, offering a higher rewards rate on Southwest purchases, no foreign transaction fees and priority boarding.
The Rapid Rewards Plus Card, with a lower annual fee and sign-up bonus, suits value-focused travelers.
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card is likely to be better for frequent Southwest flyers who want to maximize their rewards on airline purchases. With three points on Southwest purchases and no foreign transaction fees, it suits those who travel internationally or frequently. The card also offers 6,000 anniversary points, which can add value over time. However, the $99 annual fee may not be justified for those who don't fly often or spend significantly on Southwest.
The Rapid Rewards Plus Card is a better option for those who fly Southwest occasionally and want to keep costs low. With a lower annual fee of $69, it offers a solid sign-up bonus and rewards on Southwest purchases, making it a good fit for those seeking value in travel without high fees. However, it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, which may not suit frequent international travelers.
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card stacks up in key areas like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you frequently fly with Southwest, the Rapid Rewards Premier offers three points on Southwest purchases, compared to two with the Rapid Rewards Plus.
Regular APR: Tie
Both cards have the same regular APR range of 20.99%–27.99%.
Annual Fee: Rapid Rewards Plus
The Rapid Rewards Plus Card has a lower annual fee of $69 than Rapid Rewards Premier Card's $99.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: Rapid Rewards Premier
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers three points on Southwest purchases compared to two with the Rapid Rewards Plus Card. Both cards earn two points on local transit, commuting, internet, cable and phone services.
Welcome Offers: Rapid Rewards Premier
Both cards offer 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months, but the Rapid Rewards Premier Card provides a greater value with a higher return on investment.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score of 670–850.
Penalties and Fees: Rapid Rewards Plus
The Rapid Rewards Plus Card has no penalty APR, while the Rapid Rewards Premier has a penalty APR of up to 29.99%. Both cards charge a late fee of up to $40. The Rapid Rewards Plus Card, unlike the Rapid Rewards Premier Card, charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Chase Bank issues both cards, so they share the same issuer satisfaction score.
Card Benefits: Rapid Rewards Premier
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers better card benefits, including 6,000 anniversary points, Companion Pass qualifying points and no foreign transaction fees. The Rapid Rewards Plus Card provides fewer perks, with 3,000 anniversary points and two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins.
While neither card offers a top-spending or pick-your-own category, the Rapid Rewards Premier Card's higher earning rate on Southwest purchases makes it more appealing for frequent flyers. It provides three points on Southwest purchases, compared to two with the Rapid Rewards Plus Card. Both cards use the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, with points valued at around 1.4 cents.
The following table compares the rewards categories for each card.
Category | Rapid Rewards Premier | Rapid Rewards Plus |
|---|---|---|
Southwest Purchases | 3X points | 2X points |
Taxi, Ride Share and All Other Transit | 2X points | 2X points |
Internet and Cable | 2X points | 2X points |
Streaming Services | 2X points | 2X points |
Hotels | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal |
Car Rental | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal |
All Other Purchases | 1X point | 1X point |
Both cards offer points that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards and merchandise. These points don't expire, allowing cardholders to accumulate and redeem them at their convenience. While the redemption options are somewhat limited to the Southwest ecosystem, the lack of expiration provides flexibility and long-term value.
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers excellent benefits, especially for frequent Southwest travelers. It provides 6,000 anniversary points annually, unlimited tier qualifying points for elite status and no foreign transaction fees. These perks appeal to business and leisure travelers seeking luxury travel benefits and efficient point earning and redemption.
The Rapid Rewards Plus Card offers a range of perks for consumers who often redeem points for value-oriented travel and those looking to maximize rewards on everyday purchases.
Anniversary Bonus
Priority Boarding
Premier Status
Dining/Food Delivery
Insurance and Protections
Credits and Discounts
Anniversary Bonus
Priority Boarding
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card has a $99 annual fee, while the Rapid Rewards Plus Card has a $69 fee.
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card has no foreign transaction fees. while the Rapid Rewards Plus Card charges 3%.
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers three points on Southwest purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Plus Card gives two points.
Both Chase cards offer 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
The Rapid Rewards Premier Card offers more benefits for frequent travelers, including earning points toward elite status and no foreign transaction fees.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
