Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Overview
*Card ratings are based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and are not influenced by the card issuer.
Southwest Airlines has a fan following – mostly due to its flexible change/cancellation policies and offering two free checked bags for all passengers. Unlike other airlines, Southwest does not offer lounges, premium cabins, or seats with extra legroom. But it offers a full suite of cobranded credit cards to help frequent flyers meet their Southwest travel goals.
The card won the Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card award at the 2023 TPG Awards.
The Southwest Priority Card has a recommended credit score of 670 or higher and is the highest premium personal credit card in the Southwest lineup.
But are its benefits worth enough to warrant the $149 annual fee? And is now the right time for you to apply? Let’s find out.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Southwest Priority Credit Card
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Southwest Priority Credit Card Welcome Offer
According to TPG’s September 2024 valuation, 85,000 Southwest points cost $1,190. The bonus points will also get you closer to earning the Companion Pass, which requires 135,000 points.
To maximize Companion Passes for 2025 and 2026, it’s best to wait until early October to apply for the card. Then, after your December statement date, meet the minimum spending requirement to earn your bonus points in January. This will help you get Companion Passes for 2025 and 2026 (instead of the rest of 2024 and 2025 if your bonus points fall in December).
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Note that Southwest cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months (from all banks, not just Chase), you may not be approved. Additionally, you cannot open a new personal Southwest card if you already have one open. You also can’t get a new welcome bonus from a Southwest card if you received one in the last 24 months.
RELATED: 15 Lessons Worth 15 Years of the Southwest Companion Pass
Southwest Priority Credit Card Benefits
- Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points worth $105 based on TPG’s September 2024 valuation.
- Annual Southwest Travel Credit: During each Cardmember year, you’ll receive a $75 travel credit that can be used on most Southwest purchases, including tickets (excluding upgraded boarding and inflight purchases).
- 25% Flight Savings: Get 25% back (as a statement credit) after you use your card to purchase inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
- Tier Qualifying Points Boost: Earn 1,500 TQP for every $5,000 you spend in a calendar year that counts toward A-List and A-List Preferred status.
In addition to Southwest-exclusive benefits, the card comes with lost baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
The card also has no foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good option for spending abroad.
Related: How to Get Airline Elite Status
Earn points with the Southwest Priority Credit Card
Here’s what you’ll earn with this Southwest Priority Card:
- 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 2 points per dollar on local transit and travel, including ride-hailing apps
- 2 points per dollar on Internet, cable and phone services; Select Streaming
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
These airline credit cards offer a wider variety of bonus categories than other airline credit cards, although the top travel cards are usually more attractive.
At most, you get 4.2% back on Southwest purchases and 2.8% on most purchases (according to TPG’s September 2024 valuation), which isn’t a bad rate of return for a cobranded credit card. However, if you don’t book Southwest flights frequently or prefer to use other portals for hotel and rental car bookings, this might not be the best Southwest card for you.
Related: The Best Rewards Credit Cards for Every Bonus Category
Redeeming Points with Southwest Priority Credit Card
While Southwest’s points won’t help you fly into first-class suites, they can provide great value. For example, you can fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) for 4,701 points one-way, depending on the time of year. Meanwhile, other airlines often charge 10,000 miles or more (assuming you can find availability).
If you book during one of Southwest’s flash sales, you can earn a one-way award for as little as 2,500 points. You can also fly to fun destinations as far away as Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Mexico with your Southwest Points.
For instance, TPG Credit Cards editor Emily Thompson recently took advantage of one of these sales to book a round-trip ticket between Nashville (BNA) and San Jose, California (SJC) for less than 25,000 points. If you’re flying to one of Southwest’s destinations, you can score a great deal on points.
Related: Why I Choose Southwest Every Time
Which cards compete with the Southwest Priority Credit Card?
Southwest Airlines offers three personalized cards, so you can choose the one that’s best for you.
- If you want Southwest’s benefits with more modest fees: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier card in the Southwest lineup with a $99 annual fee. Its benefits include 6,000-a-year bonus points, two Earlybird check-ins per year and 25% back on inflight purchases. For more details, read our A full review of the Southwest Premier Card.
- If you want a Southwest card with an even lower annual fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has a $69 annual fee and an anniversary bonus of 3,000 points. You will also receive two earlybird check-ins per year. For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Plus Card.
- If you want to use transfer points with Southwest and other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer 1:1 to Southwest and a wide range of other airlines for flight redemptions. You’ll get numerous travel protections, a $50 annual hotel credit, and strong earning categories for a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Information for Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more options, check out our complete list of travel credit cards.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards compared
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card worth it?
If you fly Southwest at least a few times each year, you’ll be ahead Southwest Priority Card. The card’s daily earning rates aren’t the most attractive, but impressive built-in benefits like upgraded boarding, a $75 annual travel credit and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus easily make up for it. However, if you fly Southwest less often, you’ll probably prefer our other favorite airline cards.
The bottom line
Apply at: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Related: How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card for You