Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
This is the ideal card for frequent Southwest flyers. You can start making up for the $229 annual fee with free first checked bags, a preferred seat selection at booking, and an Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade 48 hours prior to departure (all for the cardmember and up to 8 passengers). You'll also receive 7,500 anniversary points and an annual 10,000-point Companion Pass boost, putting you well on your way to earning one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel. If Southwest is your preferred airline — even just a few times annually — this card provides consistent, real-world value.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card stands out among Southwest's personal credit card offerings. Despite its higher $229 annual fee, it provides substantially more value than its counterparts, especially for those who fly Southwest regularly. The card offers the same attractive 50,000-point sign-up bonus as other Southwest personal cards, but comes with premium benefits that justify the additional cost:
- Free checked bag: The cardmember and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag
- Preferred Seat Selection at Booking: With open seating a thing of the past, being able to select a preferred seat when booking your ticket is a great perk worth $70 round trip per person on average. This perk is also good for the cardmember and up to 8 passengers
- Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade: Unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours priori to departure, at no additional charge, when available (a $150 round trip value, on average)
- Group 5 boarding: Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers get to board with Group 5
- Companion Pass acceleration: The 10,000 bonus points awarded each calendar year give you a significant head start toward earning the coveted Companion Pass.
Additionally, the card provides 7,500 anniversary points each year, worth approximately $105 when redeemed for Southwest flights, along with 25% back on inflight purchases, and 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points towards status for every $5000 spent in purchases annually. For Southwest loyalists who fly even just 3-4 times per year, these benefits quickly outweigh the annual fee, making the Priority Card an excellent long-term value proposition.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card may not be the right fit if you rarely fly Southwest, so the perks won’t offset the annual fee. Or you’ve earned a Southwest personal card sign-up bonus within the last 24 months and are ineligible for another until that window resets.
What to Know About Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
- Their points are among the easiest to earn, plus they have solid value.
- They’re partnered with Chase Ultimate Rewards, our favorite point partner ecosystem.
- Southwest is moving to reserved seating in early 2026 and now charges for bags, two features that once made them unique.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards aren’t the most glamorous, but they’re the utility points that just work.
How The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Fits In The Southwest Rapid Rewards Ecosystem
This Priority card stands as the premium option among Southwest's three personal credit cards, with benefits that can justify its $229 annual fee. When examining the Southwest card lineup, the Priority card delivers more value for frequent flyers than its counterparts, but whether or not it's worth the annual fee depends on how much you value a guaranteed preferred seat and a possible extra legroom seat upgrade.
When comparing the three personal Southwest cards, the Priority offers some advantages. While the Premier ($149 annual fee) and Plus ($99 annual fee) cards provide fewer benefits, they share the same earning structure: 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x on local transit, and 1x on everything else.
For status chasers, both the Priority and Premier cards offer a pathway to A-List status through spending, with 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points awarded for every $5,000 in purchases for the Premier and 2,500 for the Priority. This feature is absent on the entry-level Plus card.
The right Southwest card ultimately depends on your travel patterns. Occasional Southwest flyers might find the Plus card sufficient, while those who fly Southwest several times annually will likely extract more value from the Priority card's enhanced benefits, despite its higher annual fee.
My Experience, No Filter
I’ll admit it — Southwest isn’t my favorite airline when it comes to the in-flight experience. The boarding process can be stressful, and the lack of seat assignments isn’t ideal. But the points? Incredibly easy to earn and redeem. And with no change fees or blackout dates, Southwest makes it easy to book, cancel, or adjust plans as needed. That flexibility has made a big difference for me. I’ve used points to fly family in for Holiday visits, sent my kids to visit friends across the country, and booked spontaneous weekend getaways — all without spending cash. I may not love the flight itself, but I love what the points allow me to do.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 | $1,000 | 1.3 ¢ | $1 | $229 |
$415
|
| Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|
| 7500 bonus points annually, 4 A-list boarding, $75 travel credit | SW Pers 1/24 , 5/24 , Chase 2/30 , Chase 4/6 |
Award System
Most Recent Special Offer
$3,000 spend ended Dec 2025
Spend Categories
4X points
5.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.3¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Receive 7,500 points on card anniversary.
Up to 8 Passengers traveling on the same reservation as the Cardmember will be able to board with Group 5 as long as the Cardmember remains booked on the same reservation
25% savings on Southwest Airlines inflight food, beverage and Wi-Fi
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance on collision and theft, up to the cost of the vehicle.
Travel accident insurance up to $500,000; lost luggage insurance up to $3,000 per person; baggage delay insurance up to $100 per day for 3 days.
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim, and $50,000 per account.
This card extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by 1 additional year, on eligible warranties of 3 years or less.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Southwest Rapid Rewards
Transfers In From
5:1.2 0% value retained
1:1 81% value retained
1:1 81% value retained
6:1.8 56% value retained
3:1 62% value retained
10:1 43% value retained
5:2 31% value retained
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Application Rules
You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from a personal Southwest card within the last 24 months
Your application will be declined if 5 new cards are reported on your personal credit report in the past 24 months
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Ranking of Cards Offering Southwest Rapid Rewards
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database: