Major Changes Announced for Chase’s Southwest Airlines Credit Cards

Chase and Southwest have teamed up to refresh the entire lineup of Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards, including both personal and business cards, and these changes include new perks, bonus categories, higher annual fees, and more.

Hearing about these changes isn’t a surprise, given Southwest’s recent announcements that made many perks on these credit cards obsolete.

There is a lot to cover, so let’s jump straight into the new changes for each of the Southwest credit cards.

New Changes to Southwest Personal Cards

Here is a look at the changes that will be made to all 3 personal Southwest credit cards, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card.

These changes come on the heels of Southwest’s updates on the boarding process. However, some things aren’t changing, and we want to highlight those right away. There are no changes to the card art, the Pay Yourself Back categories, or anniversary bonus points offered by the cards.

Southwest Priority Card Changes

Chase’s most premium personal Southwest Airlines card, the Southwest Priority card, will be increasing its annual fee from $149 to $229 and will add the following new benefits:

• Earn 4x points on Southwest Airlines eligible purchases (previously was 3x points).
• Earn 2x points at gas stations and restaurants.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours prior to departure for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (based on availability).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually (previously 1,500 TQPs).

In addition to these new benefits, Chase has confirmed that current Southwest Priority card benefits — like 7,500 anniversary bonus points, a 1-time boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points per calendar year, 25% discount on inflight purchases, and access to exclusive Rapid Rewards^® Access Events — all will remain perks going forward.

The card’s existing earning categories, including 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, Rapid Rewards Hotels, and Car Rental Partners, are available through December 31, 2025, after which point they will no longer be offered. That’s also the date when the $75 Southwest travel credit will end.

Current cardholders will also continue to have access to their 4 Upgraded Boardings certificates for flights operating through the end of 2025.

Southwest Premier Card Changes

The Southwest Premier card will be increasing its annual fee from $99 to $149 and will add the following benefits:

• Earn 2x points on the first $8,000 in combined spend at grocery stores and restaurants each year.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• 1 promotional code for a 15% flight discount each anniversary year (does not include Basic fares).

Other Southwest Premier card benefits aren’t changing, including the 6,000 anniversary points, 3x points on Southwest flight purchases, 25% back on inflight purchases, a 1-time boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points per calendar year, and 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually.

However, similar to the Southwest Priority card, earning 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, Rapid Rewards Hotels, and Car Rental Partners, as well as the 2 EarlyBird Check-In certificates, will only be available through December 31, 2025.

Southwest Plus Card Changes

Rounding out the personal cards, the Southwest Plus card will be increasing its annual fee from $69 to $99 and will add the following perks:

• Earn 2x points on the first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each year, then 1x.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• 1 promotional code for a 10% flight discount each year (does not include Basic fares).

As with the other personal cards, many perks on the Southwest Plus card won’t change, such as the 3,000 anniversary points, 25% back on inflight purchases, and a 1-time boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points per calendar year, will all remain perks going forward. Plus, cardholders will continue to earn 2x on Southwest purchases.

The 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services, Rapid Rewards Hotels, and Car Rental Partners, and 2 EarlyBird Check-In certificates will be removed as card benefits after December 31, 2025.

New Changes to Southwest Business Cards

Now that we’ve covered all of the personal card changes, let’s move on to the Southwest lineup’s business cards: the Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card, the Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card, and the Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Plus Business Card (which has been discontinued).

Southwest Performance Business Card Changes

The Southwest Performance Business card is increasing its annual fee from $199 to $299 and adding the following perks and benefits:

• Earn 2x points on spend at gas stations and restaurants.
• Earn 2x points on all hotel purchases.
• Earn 2x points on local transit, rideshare, and commuting.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Unlimited complimentary upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours prior to departure for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (based on availability).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually (previously 1,500 TQPs).

Many current benefits will remain on the card, like its 9,000 anniversary bonus points, Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check/NEXUS fee credit, and annual 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points boost. Additionally, cardholders will continue to earn 4x on Southwest purchases.

However, the Wi-Fi credits and fee credit for points transfers will end on December 31, 2025.

As with the personal credit cards, earning bonus rewards on Rapid Rewards hotels, rental car partners, Internet, cable, and phone services, and the 4 upgraded boarding certificates each year, will all be phased out as of December 31, 2025.

Southwest Premier Business Card Changes

The mid-tier Southwest Premier Business card will see its annual fee rise from $99 to $149 and feature the following new perks:

• Earn 2x points on the first $8,000 in combined spend at grocery stores and restaurants each year.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• 1 promotional code for a 15% flight discount each anniversary year (does not include Basic fares).
• Earn 2,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually (previously 1,500 TQPs).

All other current benefits on the card will remain going forward. The exception is bonus rewards on Rapid Rewards hotels, rental car partners, Internet, cable, and phone services, and the 2 Early Bird Check-In certificates each year, which will be removed after December 31, 2025.

Southwest Plus Business Card Changes

Lastly, the Southwest Plus Business card (which is closed to new applicants) will now have an annual fee of $99 and the following new benefits:

• Earn 2x points on first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each year.
• Receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• Select a Standard or Preferred seat at booking at no additional cost (when available) for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation (note that this perk will not take effect until flights operating in 2026).
• Group 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.
• 1 promotional code for a 10% flight discount each year (does not include Basic fares).

Current cardmembers can expect all of their other card benefits to remain, with the exception of the bonus rewards on Rapid Rewards hotels and rental car partners, and internet, cable, and phone services, along with the 2 Early Bird Check-In certificates each year, which are eligible through December 31, 2025.

What To Make of These Changes

While having to pay a higher annual fee is never ideal, these changes across the entire lineup of cards are pretty positive.

That said, Southwest went through a series of changes and devaluations recently when the airline removed popular perks like free checked bags and open seating. Now, the airline is adding some of those back, though only for the most loyal flyers who qualify for elite status or hold one of the Southwest credit cards.

Still, if you fly Southwest with any sort of regularity, adding one of these co-branded cards to your wallet to get perks like free checked bags, preferred seat selection, complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, annual bonus points, and more can be a good value proposition.

Plus, Southwest is offering incredible 6-figure bonuses on some of these cards to coincide with the changes and increased annual fees.

Final Thoughts

Put simply, with the recent Southwest changes, these cards needed a makeover. Many of the previous benefits — like Early Bird Check-In and Upgraded Boarding certificates — won’t apply under the new Southwest policies.

Fortunately, while the annual fees are increasing, the cards are gaining benefits without losing many. That said, make sure to run the numbers for yourself when deciding if these new Southwest cards make sense for you.

The increased annual fees and benefits are already in effect. For existing cardholders, you’ll start paying the increased annual fee in 2026.

The information regarding the Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Plus Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.