The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card offers valuable perks for frequent Southwest flyers, including a $75 annual travel credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. This premium card provides the most benefits of Southwest’s personal credit cards, making it ideal for loyal customers who want to maximize their rewards and travel experience with Southwest.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Southwest Priority Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
To be eligible for this offer, you must not currently hold a Southwest Rapid Rewards personal card or have received a welcome bonus on one in the past 24 months. Additionally, Chase’s 5/24 rule may apply, limiting approval for those who have opened multiple new credit accounts recently.
The bonus points earned from this offer count towards Southwest’s Companion Pass qualification, making it easier to achieve this valuable benefit. However, it’s important to note that the spending requirement and point amounts may change over time, so interested applicants should verify the current offer details.
Earning Points
With the Southwest Priority Card, you can earn the following:
We value Southwest points at 1.37 cents per point based on our data study. You can expect a return of 4.1% for 3x categories, 2.7% for 2x categories, and 1.4% for 1x categories.
Spending on a Southwest credit card helps you earn A-List elite status. For every $5,000 spent in purchases annually, you earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status.
Additionally, points earned from the Southwest credit card, including the welcome bonus, count towards earning the ultra valuable Southwest Companion Pass. This pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees (usually $5.60 each way) an unlimited number of times while your pass is valid. To qualify, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
Annual Fee
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card’s $149 annual fee is higher than other Southwest personal cards, but it offers superior benefits that can provide significant value for frequent Southwest travelers. The card’s $75 annual Southwest travel credit effectively reduces the out-of-pocket cost to $74. Additionally, cardholders receive 7,500 anniversary bonus points each year, which are valued at approximately $90 towards Southwest flights. These two benefits alone can outweigh the annual fee, making the card potentially profitable for cardholders who regularly fly Southwest.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card Benefits
The Southwest Priority Card offers the following benefits to its cardholders: Annual 7,500 Bonus Points: Every year on your cardmember anniversary, you’ll automatically receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, which are worth about $113 based on our Southwest points valuations. $75 Annual Travel Credit: You will receive a $75 annual travel credit that can be used to purchase Southwest Airlines flights, vacation packages, or other travel-related expenses, excluding Upgraded boardings and in-flight purchases. Upgraded Boardings: The Southwest Priority Card will reimburse you for up to 4 upgraded boardings (A1-A15 positions) in a year, when available. These normally cost between $30 and $149 per passenger per segment, so this benefit can save you a lot of money each year. I use this perk frequently to upgrade myself when I don’t obtain a favorable boarding position, such as in the C Group. 25% In-Flight Savings: When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit. Companion Pass Boost: Get a 10,000 point head start each year toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, though keep in mind all qualifying activity counts, not just credit card spend No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card. Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. 120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Travel Benefits
Purchase Benefits
Redeeming Points
Southwest Rapid Rewards offers a flexible and straightforward way to redeem points for flights. The program’s simplicity is one of its key strengths, and its value is fairly onsistent across different fare types and destinations. Our data study found that the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is 1.37 cents per point, making it easy for members to gauge the worth of their rewards. Redemptions are seamless on Southwest’s website, where you can book any available seat without blackout dates. One of the program’s standout features is its generous change and cancellation policy. You can modify or cancel award bookings without fees, with points returned to your account and taxes refunded to your original form of payment. While Southwest primarily serves domestic routes, it also flies to select international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. The airline’s extensive U.S. network makes it a popular choice for domestic travelers, despite not belonging to a major alliance. For maximum value, focus on redeeming points for Wanna Get Away fares, which often provide the best return. Avoid using points for gift cards, hotels, or rental cars, as these options typically offer significantly lower value than the 1.37 cents per point average for flights. The Southwest Companion Pass is a potential game-changer for frequent travelers. This benefit allows a designated companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on both paid and award tickets, effectively doubling the value of your points when traveling together.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros:
Valuable Anniversary Bonus: 7,500 bonus points each year, worth approximately $90 in Southwest flights, offsetting a significant portion of the annual fee.
Annual Travel Credit: $75 Southwest travel credit each year, further reducing the effective annual fee and providing value for frequent Southwest flyers.
Upgraded Boarding: Four upgraded boardings per year, allowing cardholders to secure a better boarding position on eligible flights.
Companion Pass Boost: Card spending and welcome bonus count towards earning the valuable Companion Pass, potentially allowing a companion to fly free for an extended period.
Cons:
Higher Annual Fee: $149 annual fee, which is higher than other Southwest card options and may not be justified for infrequent Southwest travelers.
Limited Redemption Options: Points are primarily valuable for Southwest flights, with limited options for other travel redemptions compared to more flexible travel rewards programs.
Moderate Earning Rates: While the card offers bonus categories, the overall earning rates are not as competitive as some premium travel cards for general spending.
Southwest-Specific Benefits: Many of the card’s perks are Southwest-specific, which may not be valuable for those who don’t frequently fly with the airline.
Alternatives to the Southwest Priority Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (review) delivers solid rewards for Southwest flights and useful perks like two EarlyBird check-ins per year. This mid-tier Southwest card provides good value through its anniversary bonus points and travel benefits, making it particularly appealing if you fly Southwest several times per year. Welcome Bonus: Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: 6,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, no foreign transaction fees, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Comparison Articles
We compare the Southwest Priority in depth to other cards in these articles:
Is the Southwest Priority Card Worth It?
The Southwest Priority Card is an excellent choice for frequent Southwest flyers, offering valuable perks that easily offset its annual fee. With a generous welcome bonus, anniversary points, and an annual Southwest travel credit, you’ll quickly recoup the cost of card ownership.
The ability to earn tier qualifying points toward A-List status through spending is a nice perk for those aiming for elite benefits. Upgraded boardings and inflight discounts add even more value for Southwest loyalists.
While the earning rates aren’t the highest, the card’s Southwest-specific benefits make it worthwhile for anyone who flies the airline regularly and wants to maximize their Rapid Rewards experience.
Learn How to Apply: Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card.
