From an analytical perspective, From an analytical perspective, Starting July 24, 2025, Chase’s Southwest credit cards are adding new benefits but increasing their annual fees.
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The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more (fascinating analysis).
Learn MoreMost notably, the annual fees on all three personal Southwest cards are increasing: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card will charge $99 a year (up from $69).
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card will charge $149 a year (up from $99). Furthermore, The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card will charge $229 a year (up from $149).
Moreover, In addition, those cards are all featuring the same massive limited-time welcome offer: From July 24 to Sept.
17, 2025, new cardholders can earn 100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first five months of account opening. Meanwhile, Southwest points are worth 1.
3 cents each, according to NerdWallet's valuations, so that bonus — one of the largest these cards have ever offered — could be worth around $1,300.
NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team.
This demonstrates that scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more (which is quite significant), in today's market environment.
Furthermore, Learn MoreCardholders will get some new benefits in exchange for the cards' higher annual fees, including added bonus, as well as key side perks free checked bags, seat selection when available, and early boarding.
On the other hand, However, it's worth remembering that Southwest ditched its free checked bag policy earlier in 2025, and the airline will soon be doing away with open seating on all flights (quite telling).
Moreover, It’s fair to say, then, that some of the cards' new benefits are simply regifts of perks that Southwest used to offer all customers, for free (something worth watching).
Because of those airline changes, though, it's also fair to say that for frequent Southwest flyers, holding one of these cards ly makes more sense than ever.
On the other hand, The ing chart summarizes the annual fees, rewards and benefits of the Plus, Premier and Priority credit cards, noting what’s new and what’s staying the same, in today's financial world.
(Some existing reward and perks — noted with asterisks — will be going away in 2026. Nevertheless, However, More on that below the table.
)What's changing at a glanceSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardAnnual feeOld: $69.
Annual feeOld: $99, considering recent developments. However, Annual feeOld: $149. Conversely, Rewards2x points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
*2x points on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services and select ing, in light of current trends. However, *1x points on all other purchases.
NEW: 2x points on first $5,000 in combined annual spend at gas stations and grocery stores. In contrast, Rewards3x points on Southwest purchases (this bears monitoring), in light of current trends.
However, 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, in this volatile climate.
*2x points on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services and select ing, in this volatile climate.
*1x points on all other purchases (something worth watching) (something worth watching). NEW: 2x points on first $8,000 in combined annual spend at grocery stores and restaurants.
Rewards2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, considering recent developments. *2x points on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services and select ing.
Meanwhile, *1x points on all other purchases (something worth watching). NEW: 4x points on Southwest purchases, amid market uncertainty. (Previously 3x points, considering recent developments.
Meanwhile, )NEW: 2x points at gas stations and restaurants with no annual cap. Moreover, Benefits3,000 points every anniversary.
In contrast, 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year (remarkable data). Nevertheless, 25% discount on in-flight purchases (noteworthy indeed), in this volatile climate.
Moreover, Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, given current economic conditions. However, *NEW: Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
Moreover, NEW: When available, standard seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure for the cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation for flights operating in 2026.
NEW: Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation. NEW: One motional code for a 10% flight discount each anniversary year except on Basic fares.
NEW: No foreign transaction fees. BenefitsNo foreign transaction fees (fascinating analysis). At the same time, 6,000 points every anniversary.
However, At the same time, 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year. On the other hand, Furthermore, 25% discount on in-flight purchases.
1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent on the card each calendar year. Additionally, Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year.
Nevertheless, *NEW: Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
NEW: When available, Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure for the cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation for flights operating in 2026 (quite telling), in this volatile climate.
NEW: Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
Moreover, NEW: One motional code for a 15% flight discount each anniversary year except on Basic fares (which is quite significant). BenefitsNo foreign transaction fees.
Conversely, 7,500 points every anniversary. 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year. 25% discount on in-flight purchases.
At the same time, Four upgraded boardings per year, in this volatile climate. *$75 Southwest travel credit per year (something worth watching).
*NEW: Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
NEW: When available, Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure for the cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation for flights operating in 2026 (an important development).
Furthermore, NEW: When available, unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours prior to departure for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation (something worth watching).
Moreover, NEW: Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation (noteworthy indeed).
NEW: 2,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List for every $5,000 spent annually (noteworthy indeed). (Previously 1,500 TQPs.
Nevertheless, )NOTE: Benefits denoted with an asterisk are available only for a limited time.
31, 2025, the Priority card will eliminate its $75 Southwest travel credit and its annual "four upgraded boardings" perk; and all of the Southwest personal credit cards will no longer earn 2x points on Southwest Cruises, Rapid Rewards Hotels and car rental partners, internet, cable, phone, select ing, and local transit and commuting.
27, 2026, Early Bird Check-In will no longer be available for purchase.
Moreover, » MORE: How the Southwest credit cards stack upCurrent Southwest cardholders will start paying the increased annual fee on their 2026 account anniversary date.
The new seating and boarding benefits are effective when Southwest begins selling assigned seating on July 29, 2025, and operating with assigned seating on Jan. 27, 2026, according to Chase.
Nevertheless, In contrast, 🤓Nerdy TipThe Southwest Airlines card portfolio is also included in this overhaul (remarkable data), in this volatile climate.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Credit Card, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card are also making changes to features including their annual fees and benefits.
See our reviews of those cards for more information.
The Southwest portfolio refresh s closely on the heels of major changes to other Chase-issued credit cards: In May 2025, the United Airlines cards added new benefits and, in most cases, hiked their annual fees, in today's market environment.
At the same time, One month later, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® increased its annual fee to $795, among several other significant changes (something worth watching).
The authorJae BrattonJae is a writer for the credit cards team at NerdWallet. Her writing has been published in newspapers, blogs and an academic journal. In contrast, See full bio.