Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card
Chase's Southwest Travel Card
Practical Recommendation
If Southwest is your go-to a few times a year, this card is an easy keeper: 6,000 anniversary points, a free first checked bag for you and up to eight people on the reservation, Group 5 boarding, and a 15% flight promo code each year. Those alone can offset the $149 with one planned trip.
The card changed shape along with the airline. EarlyBird Check-In is gone — Southwest moved to assigned seating in January 2026 — and in its place you get complimentary Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure, which is arguably the better deal. Bag fees are real now, so the free checked bag went from a nice-to-have to the main event.
You also get a yearly 10,000-point boost toward Companion Pass and earn tier-qualifying points from spend. If you never book Southwest, skip it. Bottom line: best for Southwest regulars who like simple, guaranteed value — and the step up from the Plus card is worth it if you check bags and care about seats.
Credits
Practical Advice
This is what makes or breaks a card for you. If you can use these credits in your normal spend, the perks and protections are all bonus for you. We have a calculator at the bottom of this section to help you calculate that. Below we break down exactly what every credit is to show you if it's easy or if they're going to make you jump through 17 hoops to redeem it.
- Instacart Credit (up to $120/yr) – $10 per month in Instacart credits when you pay with the card and hold an active Instacart+ membership; the card includes a 3-month Instacart+ trial (then auto-renews around $99/year unless you cancel). Monthly credits do not roll over. Easy money if you already order groceries; $0 if you don't and won't pay for Instacart+.
- DoorDash DashPass (through 12/31/27) + $10 quarterly discount – Activate with the card for 12 months of DashPass (once between Feb 1, 2025–Dec 31, 2027), then get $10 off one non-restaurant order each calendar quarter while enrolled and paying with the card. Handy if you already use DoorDash; $0 if you do not activate.
| What It Is: | $10 per month in Instacart credits (up to $120 per year) when you pay with the card, plus a 3-month Instacart+ membership. |
| How It Works: | Add the card to your Instacart account and activate the offer; the credit applies at checkout on Instacart.com or in the app. |
| Gotchas: | You need an active Instacart+ membership, which auto-renews at about $99/year after the 3-month trial — so cancel if you won't use it. Monthly credits do not roll over. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | People who already order groceries through Instacart at least once a month. |
| Practical Value: | Up to $120 if Instacart is part of your routine; near $0 if it isn't, and negative if you forget to cancel Instacart+. |
| What It Is: | One 12-month DashPass membership (activate once by Dec 31, 2027) plus $10 off one non-restaurant order each calendar quarter while enrolled and paying with the card. |
| How It Works: | Add the card as default in DoorDash/Caviar and activate; membership runs 12 months from activation; select the quarterly $10 offer at checkout. |
| Gotchas: | Must activate; discount does not roll over; excludes gift cards; fees/taxes/gratuity still apply; membership auto-renews at then-current price unless canceled. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | People who already place delivery/retail orders on DoorDash a few times a year. |
| Practical Value: | Real savings if you already use DoorDash; otherwise $0. |
This is effectively what you are paying for this card. It is now up to you if the perks, protections, and earning rates are worth this fee to you over other cards.
Perks
- Earning structure (full detail) – 3x on Southwest purchases (flights, inflight, Southwest gift cards); 2x at restaurants & grocery stores on the first $8,000 combined per year; 3x on Lyft rides through 12/31/2027; 1x on everything else. The old 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel/car partners, transit, and internet/cable/phone/streaming ended Dec 31, 2025.
- First checked bag free (cardmember + up to 8 on same reservation) – Southwest charges for checked bags now, so this is the benefit doing the heaviest lifting. Just add your Rapid Rewards number at booking.
- Preferred seat selection (within 48 hours, when available) – With assigned seating in place, you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation can take a complimentary Preferred seat within 48 hours of departure — a step up from the Plus card's Standard seat, and it works even on Basic fares.
- Group 5 boarding – You and up to 8 companions on the same reservation board no later than Group 5 for better overhead space.
- Anniversary & status help – 6,000 anniversary points each year; 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually; earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points per $5,000 in purchases to push toward A-List.
- 15% flight promo code (each anniversary year) – One code deposited to your Rapid Rewards account (excludes Basic fares). Easy way to knock down cash fare once a year.
- 25% back inflight – Automatic 25% statement credit on drinks and Wi-Fi purchased onboard with the card.
- No foreign transaction fees – Use abroad without extra percentage fees.
Protections
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement – Up to $3,000 per covered traveler for checked or carry-on bags lost, damaged, or stolen by the carrier. Read the guide for New York-specific caps.
- Baggage Delay Insurance – Up to $100 per day for 3 days for essentials if your bag is delayed over 6 hours. Handy for toiletries and a shirt when your bag takes a detour.
- Purchase Protection – Covers eligible new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per item.
- Extended Warranty – Adds 1 extra year on U.S. manufacturer warranties of 3 years or less (max 4 years total).