Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Review

Overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the top personal Southwest card, at a $229 fee, and it tries to offset that with a yearly travel credit, upgraded boardings, and the most anniversary points in the lineup. If you fly Southwest a lot, those perks plus the Companion Pass potential can add up.

It is the most feature-rich Southwest personal card, but the points are still locked, so it is only worth the higher fee for genuine Southwest regulars.

Our 3.0 out of 5 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

You earn well on Southwest and a couple of everyday bonuses, in locked Rapid Rewards points, plus the most generous anniversary points of the Southwest cards. The value is in those anniversary points, the annual travel credit, and Companion Pass progress rather than everyday spending.

Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:

• 4x points on Southwest purchases
• 15% anniversary promo code for Southwest flights
• 25% back on Southwest in-flight purchases

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

The welcome bonus is strong: 90,000 points after $3,000 in three months, both valuable outright and a big push toward the Companion Pass.

Is it worth the annual fee?

The $229 fee is the highest in the Southwest personal lineup, but a yearly travel credit and generous anniversary points offset a good chunk of it. If you fly Southwest often and use the perks, it can work; if not, drop to the Plus.

First-year value vs ongoing value

The welcome bonus makes year one the high point: roughly $789 in value once you count the bonus, this card’s rewards, and its credits, minus the $229 fee. After that, the honest figure is about $189 a year, so judge whether it earns its keep on the ongoing number, not the first-year headline.

*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation
• 7,500 anniversary bonus points each year
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• 4 Upgraded Boardings per year (when available)
• Complimentary preferred or standard seat selection, plus Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours when available
• No foreign transaction fees

Statement credits

• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• 7,500 anniversary bonus points each year

Who should get it, and who should skip it

If you are a frequent Southwest flyer who will use the travel credit and upgraded boardings, the Priority is the most rewarding personal Southwest card, and it keeps you on track for the Companion Pass.

If you fly Southwest only now and then, the perks will not cover the fee and the cheaper Plus is the better call. This top card is for regulars.

Frequently asked questions

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