Bottom line
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card stands out as the top choice among Southwest Airlines’ personal credit card lineup, offering generous points earning potential and a plethora of benefits. If you’re a frequent Southwest flyer, this card is an excellent fit for you.
4.0 Star FUNDSamentally Rating
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
ANNUAL FEE: $149
REWARDS RATES: 1x-3x points
INTRO OFFER: 30,000 bonus points
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE: 690-850
(Good – Excellent)
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
At a glance
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card | |
| Annual Fee | – $149 |
| Sign up bonus | – Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
| Ongoing rewards | – 1x-3x Miles |
| Foreign transaction fee | – None |
| APR | – 21.49% – 28.49% based on your creditworthiness and other factors. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate |
| Value of points redeemed | – estimated to be around 1.5 cents per point |
| Balance transfer fee | – Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Additional benefits | – Anniversary bonus: Every year on your card-opening anniversary, you’ll get 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, valued at $105, based on TPG’s estimations. – Annual Southwest travel credit: Throughout each cardmember year, you’ll get a $75 travel credit applicable to most Southwest purchases, reducing the card’s effective cost to $74. – 25% inflight savings: Enjoy a 25% statement credit for inflight purchases like drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging, and movies when using your card. – Tier qualifying points boost: Earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for each $5,000 spent in a calendar year. |
Introduction to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card
If you’re a frequent flyer with Southwest Airlines, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the best option for maximizing rewards, travel perks, and exclusive Southwest benefits.
Issued by Chase, this card offers:
✔ Huge sign-up bonus miles
✔ 4X points on Southwest purchases
✔ Up to $75 in annual Southwest travel credits
✔ 7,500 bonus points every card anniversary
✔ Four upgraded boardings per year
With these benefits, the Priority Card easily outweighs its $149 annual fee, making it the best Southwest-branded card for loyal travelers.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, including its rewards program, travel perks, fees, and how to maximize its value.
Key Features of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card
1. Generous Sign-Up Bonus
- Earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards® points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rapid Rewards points never expire and can be redeemed for free Southwest flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.
2. Earn 4X to 1X Points on Purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases (flights, in-flight purchases, Southwest gift cards).
- 3X points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Southwest’s travel partners.
- 2X points per $1 on local transit, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services.
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
3. $75 Annual Southwest Travel Credit
- Each year, get $75 in statement credits for Southwest flights.
- This instantly reduces the effective annual fee to $74 ($149 – $75 travel credit).
4. 7,500 Anniversary Bonus Points
- Every card anniversary, get 7,500 bonus points, which can be worth $100+ in travel.
5. 4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
- Get four A1–A15 priority boarding upgrades annually, worth up to $50 each.
- Available when purchasing Southwest Anytime or Wanna Get Away Plus fares.
6. No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Use your card abroad without paying extra fees (saving 3% compared to other cards).
7. Rapid Rewards Boost Towards the Southwest Companion Pass®
- Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 spent, helping you reach A-List elite status faster.
- Spending on this card also counts toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass, one of the best travel perks in the industry.
8. Travel & Purchase Protections
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Purchase protection against damage or theft
- Extended warranty on eligible purchases
How to Maximize the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card
1. Use the Card for All Southwest Purchases
- Earn 4X points per dollar on Southwest flights, in-flight purchases, and gift cards.
- Redeem points for award flights with no blackout dates.
2. Spend the $75 Travel Credit Every Year
- Book Southwest flights annually to fully utilize the $75 statement credit.
- This effectively reduces the annual fee to just $74.
3. Take Advantage of Free Upgraded Boardings
- Upgrade to A1–A15 priority boarding four times a year for a better seat and overhead bin space.
4. Work Towards the Southwest Companion Pass
- Earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year (including from the sign-up bonus and spending).
- The Companion Pass lets you bring a companion for free on every Southwest flight for up to 2 years.
5. Earn More Points Through Partner Purchases
- Get 3X points on hotels and rental cars booked through Southwest.
- Use the card for streaming services, internet, cable, and transit expenses to earn bonus points faster.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card vs. Other Southwest Cards
1. Southwest Priority vs. Southwest Premier
| Feature | Southwest Priority | Southwest Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $149 | $99 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 50,000 points | 50,000 points |
| Earning Rate | 4X on Southwest, 3X on hotels & cars | 3X on Southwest, 2X on hotels & cars |
| Anniversary Bonus | 7,500 points | 6,000 points |
| Southwest Travel Credit | $75 | None |
| Upgraded Boardings | 4 per year | None |
| Best For | Frequent Southwest travelers | Casual Southwest flyers |
2. Southwest Priority vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred®
| Feature | Southwest Priority | Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $149 | $95 |
| Earning Rate | 4X on Southwest, 3X on hotels & cars | 3X on dining & travel, 2X on everything else |
| Points Flexibility | Southwest flights only | Transfer to multiple airlines & hotels |
| Companion Pass Boost | Yes | No |
| Best For | Southwest loyalists | General travelers |
Who Should Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card?
✔ Frequent Southwest flyers who want the best benefits
✔ Travelers working toward the Southwest Companion Pass
✔ People who want an annual $75 Southwest credit
✔ Anyone who wants priority boarding perks
Bottom Line: Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card Worth It?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the best Southwest-branded card for frequent flyers. With a strong rewards rate, annual travel credit, anniversary bonus points, and upgraded boardings, it easily justifies its $149 annual fee.
If you fly Southwest often, the companion pass, 4X points on purchases, and no blackout dates make this card a valuable asset for affordable travel. However, if you don’t fly Southwest frequently, a general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® may be a better fit.
