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Change, change, and more change. That’s been the story for Southwest Airlines this year. And now, there’s more on the way. Southwest’s lineup of Chase-issued credit cards is getting a fairly major overhaul. In short, the changes boil down to “new and enhanced benefits” — accompanied by higher annual fees. Like every other card portfolio overhaul we've seen, right?
Here’s everything you need to know about the updates, almost all of which take effect today, July 24, 2025.
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Southwest’s Portfolio of Chase-Issued Credit Cards Is Getting Revamped
After committing to a major operational and reputational overhaul last year, Southwest Airlines has been rolling out changes left and right to reflect its new direction. Next on the agenda is a revamp of its credit card lineup, and there’s a lot to unpack.
To make things easier, we’ll go card by card to break down what’s changing — both in terms of benefits and what’s happening under the hood. Some of these perks were first introduced back in May, but plenty of others are new.
That said, these “new and enhanced benefits” come with a cost. Each card is getting an annual fee increase. And if the combo of new perks and a higher fee sounds a lot like the recipe for hard-to-use, coupon-book-style credits, we’re happy to report that’s not the case with this card portfolio overhaul.
Now, let’s get into what’s new (and what’s on its way out) with Southwest’s credit card lineup.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees) has the lowest annual fee of any personal Rapid Rewards credit card, though these changes make it a bit heavier on the hip pocket. The annual fee is increasing from $69 to $99. Here’s what’s changing on the benefits side:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation. For a group of four, that’s savings of up to $280 roundtrip ($35 per bag each way).
- Earn 2X points on the first $5,000 in combined spending at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year. These are brand-new bonus categories.
- Standard seat selection available within 48 hours of departure for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- One promotional code for a 10% discount on a flight each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).
- No foreign transaction fees. Previously, you’d pay 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
As with all Southwest cards in this revamp, some bonus categories will be discontinued after December 31, 2025. These include 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, Southwest Cruises, local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
Cardmembers will also continue to have access to their two EarlyBird Check-Ins for flights operating in 2025.
Related: Southwest Airlines Checked Bag Fees: What You’ll Pay — and How to Avoid Them
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The string of changes to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card will make it look and feel more like a true mid-tier airline credit card. Its annual fee is increasing to $149 (up from $99), and it now comes with these new benefits:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Earn 2X points on the first $8,000 in combined spending at grocery stores and restaurants each anniversary year (then 1X). These are brand-new bonus categories.
- Standard or Preferred seat selection available within 48 hours of departure for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- One promotional code for a 15% discount on a flight each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).
Through December 31, 2025, you’ll earn 3X on Southwest Cruises purchases and 2X on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, plus on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
Cardmembers will also continue to have access to their two EarlyBird Check-Ins for flights operating in 2025.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Southwest’s top-tier personal credit card is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card F(Rates & Fees), and while its new $229 annual fee (up from $149) doesn’t quite rival other premium airline rewards cards, it does come with several new benefits that can make your travels on the “new Southwest” a bit more bearable.
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Earn 4X points on eligible Southwest Airlines purchases (previously 3X), and 2X points at gas stations and restaurants with no annual cap.
- Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking, when available, for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure, when available and at no additional charge, for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually. Previously, you could earn only 1,500 TQPs per year.
Through December 31, 2025, you’ll earn 4X on Southwest Cruises purchases and 2X on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, plus on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
Upgraded Boardings will still be available for flights operating in 2025.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
For business owners who value extra perks when flying Southwest, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees) has become a little more indispensable. The card’s annual fee will increase from $99 to $149, but it now comes with these additional benefits:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Earn 2X points on the first $8,000 in combined spending at gas stations and restaurants each anniversary year (then 1X). These are brand-new bonus categories.
- Standard or Preferred seat selection available within 48 hours of departure for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- One promotional code for a 15% discount on a flight each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).
- Earn 2,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually. Previously, you could earn only 1,500 TQPs per year.
Through December 31, 2025, you’ll earn 3X on Southwest Cruises purchases and 2X on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, plus on local transit and commuting.
Upgraded Boardings will still be available for flights operating in 2025.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
The cream of Southwest’s business credit card crop is the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees). It underwent the most changes and saw the biggest annual fee increase. You’ll now pay $299 per year, up from $199, to enjoy its existing benefits along with these new additions:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Earn 2X points on spending at gas stations and restaurants with no annual cap, 2X points on all hotel purchases, and 2X points on local transit, rideshare, and commuting.
- Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking, when available, for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure, when available and at no additional charge, for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually. Previously, you could earn only 1,500 TQPs per year.
Through December 31, 2025, you’ll earn 4X on Southwest Cruises purchases, 3X on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 2X on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
Upgraded Boardings will still be available for flights operating in 2025.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Business Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Business Credit Card closed to new applicants a few years ago. Although it’s not being reopened for new applications, it’s getting some new benefits as well. If you still have this card, here are the new perks available on your account:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
- Earn 2X points on the first $5,000 in combined spending at gas stations and restaurants each anniversary year. These are brand-new bonus categories.
- Standard seat selection available within 48 hours of departure for the cardmember and up to eight passengers on the same reservation (for flights operating in 2026).
- Earlier boarding for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, with access to Group 5.
- One promotional code for a 10% discount on a flight each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).
- No foreign transaction fees. Previously, you’d pay 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
When These Changes Impact Current Southwest Credit Card Holders
There are a lot of Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card holders out there, and if you're one of them, you might be wondering if there's any runway before you can start using the new benefits. The answer is no.
All benefits take effect on July 24, 2025 — except for the seating perks, which begin July 29, 2025, and the boarding perks, which kick in January 27, 2026. These two are tied to operational changes that the airline isn't quite ready to roll out.
As for when you’ll be charged the higher annual fee, that begins with your 2026 cardmember anniversary. That gives you plenty of time to try out the new perks on the “new Southwest” and decide whether the card is worth keeping for another year.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards Guide: How the 2025 Changes Are Reshaping the Program
Bottom Line
Southwest Airlines' credit card portfolio just got a pretty thorough overhaul. Like everything else the airline has overhauled up to this point, opinions will invariably range between “this is terrible” and “this is great” — depending on what you think of the airline's new direction.
The obvious takeaway is that these changes to Southwest’s credit card lineup bridge the gap between an airline that used to stand out by doing things differently and the rest of the full-service carriers in the U.S. Free checked bags, early boarding, and elite status credits for spending are standard perks on most co-branded airline cards — and that now includes Southwest.
For some travelers, the changes will make a good amount of sense. For others, they may be just another reason to look elsewhere. The good news, though, is that if you’re already a Rapid Rewards credit cardholder, you’ll have until your 2026 renewal date to try out the new benefits before you're on the hook for the steeper annual fee. That gives you plenty of time to decide if they work for you or to explore other options, both in terms of airlines and credit cards.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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