Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Southwest Priority Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card earns 3x points on dining, gas and EV charging, online groceries, vacation homes, and select streaming services, and 2x points on travel.
• The Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card earns 4x points on Southwest purchases and 2x points at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap.
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is best for those looking to optimize rewards, but the Southwest Priority card may be better for those who regularly fly Southwest.

If you’re looking to add another credit card to your wallet so that you can make the most of your spending as a frequent Southwest Airlines customer, your gut reaction might be to consider a Southwest credit card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card. But a Southwest credit card might not be the right choice if you also plan to fly on other airlines, such as Delta or United.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a flexible rewards credit card that allows you to transfer points to different partners (including Southwest) and book travel via Chase Travel. Even though these cards deliver contrasting features and benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a contender for frequent Southwest flyers.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Southwest Priority card from A to Z.

Overview

You’ll notice that the Chase Sapphire Preferred card generally offers better all-around rewards while the Southwest Priority card boasts Southwest-specific perks:

The Southwest Priority card earns decent rewards in the form of Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it’s not even close to what the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns in categories including dining and travel.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much more flexible than Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are best used for Southwest flights, while you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to airline and hotel partners (including Southwest) or book travel within Chase Travel.

You should only choose the Southwest Priority card over the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for the Southwest-specific benefits, which come in handy since the airline overhauled its (formerly) free checked luggage policies. As you’ll see, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is superior to the Southwest Priority card in almost every other way.

Once you make a decision on which credit card to get, you can access your Benefits Guide at any time by logging in to your Chase online account and browsing through your benefits dashboard.

Welcome Offer Comparison

One of the strongest factors that should influence your credit card decision is the welcome bonus offer. A welcome bonus offers a quick infusion of points that allows you to hit the ground running with lots of points, assuming you can meet the spending requirement on the credit card.

Here are the current welcome bonus offers available on both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Southwest Priority card:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.249 - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
• Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.249 - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Southwest Priority Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, preferred boarding and seat selection, and money back on inflight purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, preferred boarding and seat selection, and money back on inflight purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$780

Annual Fee

$229

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Southwest Priority card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. It offers multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points and is loaded with valuable benefits for Southwest flyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points on Southwest Airlines eligible purchases
• 2x points at gas stations and restaurants
• 1x points on all other purchases

Cons

• $229 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
• First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
• Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
• Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

It’s worth noting that, in most cases, the spending threshold for the Southwest Priority card is much lower than for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Points vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

While Southwest Rapid Rewards points are airline points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are flexible rewards points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards points can generally only be used for decent value on Southwest flights, which limits where you can travel to using those points.

Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a variety of different airline partners, such as Air Canada, United, and British Airways, to book international or domestic travel, whether it’s in business class or economy. You can also use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book high-end hotels like Alila Ventana Big Sur or Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort.

Here’s how you can earn points with each credit card:

Earning Potential Comparison

We value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, while Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth around 1.3 cents each.

Point for point, Chase blows Southwest out of the water: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns rewards on useful everyday categories, including dining, gas and EV charging, select streaming services, online grocery purchases, and travel. That said, Southwest has recently added gas and dining to its list of bonus categories.

Anniversary Bonus

The Southwest Priority card offers 7,500 points each year on your cardmember anniversary, which is a solid bonus. However, big spenders (those spending more than $75,000 on their card each year) may prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which has much larger potential for a bonus.

Redemption Options

As we’ve highlighted, Southwest Rapid Rewards points can only be used for solid value on Southwest flights. Even then, you should expect to get an average of 1.3 cents per point and a maximum of 1.5 cents per point, depending on which Southwest flight you book.

If you look at ways to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points besides Southwest flights, you can book non-Southwest flights, hotels, car rentals, and experiences, get gift cards, or go online shopping. However, you’ll be disappointed by the poor redemption value of your Southwest Rapid Rewards points — we recommend only using them for Southwest flights.

In comparison, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2 cents per point in our valuations simply because you can get superior redemption value in various ways. You can book 5-star hotels by transferring points to World of Hyatt, business class flights on airlines like British Airways or Singapore Airlines, and so much more, all of which can be worth upward of 10 cents per point.

Hot Tip: Another benefit of Chase Ultimate Rewards points is that you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio if you ever need Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

Also, here are 2 fantastic alternative ways you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a value greater than 1 cent per point:

• Pay Yourself Back
• Travel booked through Chase Travel with access to select bookings with up to a 75% redemption bonus (up to 1.75 cents per point)

Chase Ultimate Rewards points can also be used for online shopping, gift cards, statement credits, cash-back, and Amazon.com purchases, but you won’t get better than 1 cent per point in redemption value.

Bottom Line: Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much more valuable than Southwest Rapid Rewards points thanks to their ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners (including Southwest). Savvy travelers can then book business and first-class international flights on airlines like British Airways and Singapore Krisflyer, as well as solid hotels through loyalty programs like World of Hyatt.

Statement Credits Comparison

Statement credits are an important layer of a credit card’s value, especially when determining if you can offset the annual fee.

In this case, the Southwest Priority card offers a 25% statement credit on Southwest inflight purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a $100 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit and an up to $120 statement credit for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every 4 years.

As long as you purchase your paid hotel reservation through Chase Travel, you can get a $100 hotel credit every cardmember anniversary year.

Southwest Airlines Travel Benefits

The Southwest Priority card has exceptional benefits if you frequently fly Southwest Airlines, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer any specific benefits on Southwest Airlines or any other airline.

The Southwest Priority card offers these benefits on Southwest Airlines:

• A bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points after each cardmember anniversary year (worth $97.50 in our valuations)
• 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent
• 25% back on inflight Southwest purchases
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year
• Free first checked bag for cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation
• Starting in 2026: Complimentary extra legroom seats 48 hours prior to departure for you and up to 8 additional passengers
• Starting in 2026: Complimentary preferred seat at booking for you and up to 8 additional passengers
• Starting in 2026: Group 5 complimentary boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers

Every time you make an inflight purchase, you get 25% back. So if you spend $15 on snacks, you get $3.75 back.

The Tier Qualifying Points can get you closer to A-List elite status (you need 35,000 TQPs to qualify for A-List status). Some A-List benefits include priority boarding, same-day confirmed changes and standby, a 25% points bonus, a dedicated A-List phone line, and priority and express lane check-in.

Travel Insurance and Protection Comparison

When you’re traveling, having some form of travel insurance can be a lifesaver. Many credit cards offer travel protections and insurance for free, as long as you pay for your travel using your credit card.

You can take advantage of these complimentary benefits while earning rewards. This section will show you which benefits are offered on each card.

Auto Rental Coverage

One of the most disastrous things that could happen to you while traveling is your rental car getting stolen or damaged. This is why there’s a lot of value in having a credit card with a robust policy for rental cars.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers primary rental car insurance, while the Southwest Priority card offers secondary rental car coverage.

Primary rental car coverage is superior to secondary rental car coverage because you don’t need to file a claim with your primary insurance provider before coverage kicks in for your rental car.

To get coverage, decline your rental car company’s loss damage waiver or collision damage waiver (LDW or CDW), then pay for your rental car reservation using your credit card, and you’ll have coverage.

Trip Interruption and Cancellation Insurance

If you suddenly contract a severe illness or injury that causes you to cancel or modify your trip, you may be able to use trip interruption and cancellation insurance to get reimbursed for nonrefundable expenses.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in trip interruption and cancellation insurance, as long as you pay for your common carrier ticket with the card.

The Southwest Priority card does not have trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your trip is delayed, you may need to book a hotel or make contingency plans that cost money. With trip delay reimbursement, you can get your money back for covered delays and related expenses.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card gets you up to $500 in reimbursements with a maximum of 1 claim per trip for delays of 12 hours or more or when an overnight stay is required.

The Southwest Priority card offers no such benefit.

Baggage Delay Insurance

If you’re traveling on a common carrier (like a commercial airline) and your bags are delayed by more than 6 hours after you land, you can get up to $100 per day toward the purchase of essential items — up to 5 days for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and up to 3 days for the Southwest Priority card.

Luckily, both the Southwest Priority card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card come with this insurance policy.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

There’s nothing more infuriating than getting your bags lost by the airline while you’re traveling.

To combat this, use your lost luggage reimbursement benefit, which entitles you to up to $3,000 in reimbursements per passenger for lost or damaged luggage. Just pay for your common carrier ticket with your credit card.

There’s a limit of $500 for jewelry and watches and another limit of $500 for cameras and other electronics per person per trip.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Southwest Priority card both have lost luggage reimbursement.

Travel Accident Insurance

Although you should hope that you’ll never need to worry about this, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Southwest Priority card have up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance coverage.

Roadside Dispatch

Roadside dispatch is a benefit offered to those who need assistance while driving, whether it’s in a foreign country or near their home.

For a prenegotiated $69.95 rate per service call, you get access to these services:

• Fuel delivery (up to 5 gallons, plus cost of fuel)
• Jump-starting
• Lockout service (key replacement not included)
• Standard towing (up to 5 miles)
• Standard winching
• Tire changing (must have a good, inflated spare)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Southwest Priority card share this roadside dispatch benefit.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

By booking a trip that is at least 100 miles or more from home with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you may receive up to $100,000 in coverage for medical services and transportation if you get sick or suffer an injury and require emergency evacuation.

This coverage is not available on the Southwest Priority card.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

If something major happens while you’re traveling, like you lose your passport or you need a referral to a doctor, you will probably need to use the travel and emergency assistance services offered by both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Southwest Priority card.

Here are the benefits available 24/7, 365 days per year to you, your spouse, and any dependent children under 22 years old traveling with you:

• Emergency message service
• Emergency ticket replacement
• Emergency translation service
• Emergency transportation assistance
• Legal referral assistance
• Lost luggage locator service
• Medical referral assistance
• Pretrip assistance
• Prescription assistance and valuable document delivery

Although the services can point you in the right direction, you still need to pay for any costs incurred by the provider.

Hot Tip: For more details, check out the full list of travel insurance benefits for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Shopping Protection and Benefits Comparison

Beyond booking travel with a credit card, you need to make sure that whatever card you have in your wallet offers benefits and protections while you’re making nontravel purchases, like at department stores or electronics stores.

This section highlights the key shopping benefits and protections offered by the 2 cards.

Purchase Protection

With purchase protection, you can cover your credit card purchases if your items are damaged or stolen.

The purchase protection policies on both the Southwest Priority card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card cover eligible purchases for 120 days past the date of purchase. You get coverage of up to $500 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.

Extended Warranty

Extended warranties for electronics or tech gadgets can save you money if your items have defects.

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Southwest Priority card get 1 additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less. This extended warranty can reimburse you up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.

For example, an item with an eligible warranty of 3 years gets 1 extra year for a total of 4 years, while an item with a warranty of 5 years doesn’t get any extended warranty coverage.

Apple TV Subscription

Cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card can get a 1-year complimentary Apple TV subscription if they activate the benefit by December 31, 2026.

Instacart+ Benefits

Only the Southwest Priority card offers a 3-month complimentary Instacart+ membership, as well as a $10 monthly Instacart credit with an active Instacart+ membership. Use your eligible card to pay to redeem the credit. Benefits end December 31, 2027.

Fees and Authorized Users

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Southwest Priority card come with no foreign transaction fees.

Annual Fees

The Southwest Priority card has a $229 annual fee, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a $95 annual fee.

Adding Authorized Users

The Southwest Priority card has a $0 annual fee for authorized users, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card also has a $0 annual fee for authorized users.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Priority card is a midmarket credit card that offers the best value to those who fly frequently on Southwest and need airline-specific benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card maxes out your return on spending with its 5x points maximums and generous bonus categories. It also has better travel coverage and insurance.

In contrast, the Southwest Priority card does offer an anniversary bonus of 7,500 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, as well as tier points and Companion Pass qualifying points that can help you achieve elite status faster and get the Companion Pass. Its benefits, like Group 5 boarding, free checked bags, and others, can make your Southwest flying experience better and more affordable.

If you’re looking to optimize rewards, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. But for better benefits while flying on Southwest, you should get the Southwest Priority card.

A full overview of Chase cards available can help inform the decision before applying.