Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier have an annual fee?

Yes — $149 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.

What does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier earn?

3% on Southwest Airlines Purchases, 2% on Grocery Stores, 2% on restaurants, and 1% on other purchases.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier worth it in the first year?

Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Southwest Airlines Purchases), the first year comes out around $731 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $700. Year two drops to about $31 before credits.

Do the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's credits cover the annual fee?

The listed credits add up to $40 a year at face value against a $149 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember one needs enrollment.

What credit do I need for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier?

Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier. Chase makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Chase

$149

Annual Fee

visaGoodairlinecash-back3 months ago

Welcome Offer

50,000 pts(≈ $700)Spend $1,000 within 3 months

Check issuer terms ↗

OpenCard analysis

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card right for you?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier is a $149-a-year cash-back card from Chase. Its strongest everyday earning is 3% on Southwest Airlines Purchases, with 1% on most other purchases. It needs to earn at least $149 more a year than a no-fee alternative to justify the fee.

Who it's for

✓ People who spend steadily on Southwest Airlines Purchases, where it earns 3%

Who should skip it

— Heavy spenders outside Southwest Airlines Purchases — everything else earns 1%
— Anyone who won't earn at least $149 a year more than a no-fee card

First-year value estimate

Welcome bonus

$700

Rewards on spending

$180

Annual fee (year 1)

−$149

Year 1, before credits

$731

Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $31 before credits ($180 in rewards minus the $149 fee).

Assumptions

$3,000 a year in Southwest Airlines Purchases (3%) and $9,000 on everything else (1%) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1.4¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $700.
Annual fee of $149 in year one and every year after.
Recurring credits are listed separately below and are not counted here.

An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-06-21.

How the fee is offset by credits

Even at face value the listed credits ($40 a year) cover 27% of the $149 fee, so rewards and benefits have to make up the rest.

Credit	Terms	Per year (face value)
DoorDash Non-Restaurant Credit	$10 per quarter, enrollment required	$40
Total face value		$40

How it compares

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus →

Chase, lower fee ($99 vs $149); earns 2% on Gas Stations.

Blue Cash Preferred →

American Express, lower fee ($95 vs $149); earns 6% on Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Ascent Visa Signature →

Bank of America, lower fee ($95 vs $149); earns 3x on Alaska Airlines purchases; includes lounge access.

Compare side by side →

Rules and gotchas

The welcome bonus requires $1,000 in 3 months — roughly $333 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.
One of the listed credits requires enrollment before it works.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier have an annual fee?: Yes — $149 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.
What does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier earn?: 3% on Southwest Airlines Purchases, 2% on Grocery Stores, 2% on restaurants, and 1% on other purchases.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier worth it in the first year?: Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Southwest Airlines Purchases), the first year comes out around $731 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $700. Year two drops to about $31 before credits.
Do the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's credits cover the annual fee?: The listed credits add up to $40 a year at face value against a $149 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember one needs enrollment.
What credit do I need for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier?: Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier. Chase makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Earning Rates

3×Southwest Airlines Purchases

2×Grocery Stores

2×Restaurants

1×All Other Purchases

Benefits & Credits

$10

DoorDash Non-Restaurant Credit

Up to $10 off one qualifying non-restaurant DoorDash order each calendar quarter (DashMart, 7-Eleven, CVS, Safeway, etc.). Requires active DashPass enrollment. Per Chase cobrand-doordash terms.

/quarter

Other Benefits

Two EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year

Complimentary EarlyBird Check-In automatically applied to reservation when booked with card (up to 2 per year)

First Bag Free

First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 companions on the same reservation (when using the card)

Insurance

Trip Cancellation

Trip Delay

Rental InsuranceSecondary

Purchase Protection

Extended Warranty

Sources

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026