Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
A $229-a-year airline card from Chase.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by Chase and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
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.
Think twice if: you fly Southwest only occasionally, since the credits and perks need regular flying to justify the fee.
Our 6.0 out of 10 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.
Earning rates at a glance
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.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 2x | Bonus category |
| Gas | 2x | Bonus category |
| Groceries | 1x | Base rate |
| Travel | 1x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 1x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 1x | Everything else |
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.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Put your dining and gas spending on this card to earn at its highest rates, and let a different card handle the categories it does not bonus. Its dining rate is on the modest side for that category, so compare before you commit.
When you cash in, redeem the miles or points inside the single loyalty program this card is tied to. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- Annual travel credit and upgraded boardings
- Most anniversary points in the Southwest lineup
- Helps earn the Companion Pass
- Strong 90,000-point welcome bonus
- $229 fee is the highest of the Southwest personal cards
- Points locked to Southwest
- Perks need regular Southwest flying to justify
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
| Welcome bonus | 60,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $2,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $789 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $189 |
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.
Alternatives to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Pairs well with
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority earns the most in its bonus categories, so pair it with a no-fee flat-rate card to cover everything it only earns a base rate on.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
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How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
