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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.
4.25
50,000 points
$149
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.
Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.
Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
You want to enhance your Southwest flights with upgraded boarding positions and discounts on inflight purchases
You want a card that earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points on your daily purchases
Don’t Get If
You rarely ever fly with Southwest
You want a card that earns transferable rewards
You don’t want a card that charges an annual fee
Southwest Priority Card — Is It Worth It?
When deciding if the Southwest Priority card is worth it to you, you should first consider how often you fly with Southwest. If that answer is relatively often, then adding a Southwest credit card to your wallet might make sense for you.
Next, you’d need to consider whether or not you think you’ll get enough value out of the card to justify the $149 annual fee that you’d pay.
For most cardholders, this should be relatively easy, as you’ll receive a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 bonus points each year. The 7,500 bonus points should get you about $97.50 worth of Southwest flights — meaning these 2 benefits alone would offer you $172.50 in Southwest flights each year, easily offsetting the $149 annual fee.
Then, when you factor in the card’s other benefits like the Upgraded Boarding certificates, point-earning, card protections, and discount on inflight purchases, it is easy to see why this card is well worth it for Southwest flyers.
Southwest Priority Card Top Benefits
7,500 Anniversary Points Each Year
Each year, on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 bonus points so long as you renew the card and pay the $149 annual fee. You’ll usually get about 1.3 cents per point when redeeming your Southwest Rapid Rewards points, so 7,500 points should get you $97.50 in Southwest flight value each year.
$75 Annual Southwest Credit
Another annual benefit is a $75 Southwest credit that can be used to offset any Southwest purchase you make with your card — including flights! Given that, we look at this credit as a $75 discount off of a future Southwest flight you’ll take the upcoming year.
4 Upgraded Boarding Certificates
Frequent Southwest flyers know that Southwest has a unique boarding system, and sometimes you can end up on the short end of the stick with a relatively poor boarding spot — causing you to have a less than desirable seat.
No matter, with the Southwest Priority card, you’ll receive 4 complimentary Upgraded Boarding certificates each year, which will automatically move your boarding position somewhere between A1-A15, making you one of the first people to board the flight.
Purchasing upgraded boarding starts at $30 per segment, but can be quite a bit more expensive than that depending on the itinerary you’re flying — so 4 certificates each year can be a considerable cost savings!
Tier Qualifying Points
Those looking to work their way towards elite status with Southwest will love that the card offers you the ability to earn Tier Qualifying Points for your spend on the card. Specifically, you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points towards elite status for every $10,000 you spend on the card.
Discounts on Inflight Purchases
If you decide you want to purchase Wi-Fi, a drink, or another item on your flight, you’ll receive a 25% discount when you pay with your Southwest Priority card.
Card Protections
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If the items inside of your luggage are lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
Baggage Delay Insurance: If your checked bag is delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll receive $100 in coverage towards essential items for each day that your bag is delayed.
Extended Warranty Protection: On eligible warranties of 3 years or less, your warranty coverage will be extended by 1 additional year.
Purchase Protection: Items you purchase with the card are covered towards theft or accidental damage, with up to $50,000 in coverage, up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
How To Earn and Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Naturally, the 2 most straightforward ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points are by taking Southwest flights and using a Southwest credit card like the Southwest Priority card. However, there are many other great ways for you to earn lots of Southwest Rapid Rewards points towards free flights.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are a fixed point currency, meaning the number of points needed for a ticket is tied to the cash cost of the ticket. Usually, Southwest Rapid Rewards points will give you about 1.3 cents in value per point. So while there is no way to get outsized value for your points, there are still great ways to redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points for fantastic trips.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
If you’re looking for a more well-rounded card that also earns transferable rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred card might be a better option for you.
The card earns 5x points per $1 on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal, and 2x points per $1 on all other travel purchases. Plus it earns 3x points per $1 on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, along with 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.
While it does have a lower annual fee, it also offers some excellent perks such as various travel protections, an annual $50 hotel statement credit on purchases through the Chase travel portal, a DoorDash DashPass membership (must activate by March 31, 2022), and access to the Chase travel partners.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
50,000 points
$650
$69
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 cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.
Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.
One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!
Pros
2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
3,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal
2 EarlyBird Check-In certificates per year
25% back on inflight purchases
Cons
$69 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you’re more of a casual Southwest flyer and can’t justify the annual fee of the Southwest Priority card, but still want a card that earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points, the Southwest Plus card might be a better fit for you.
With it, you’ll earn 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and commuting purchases, along with internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
The card still has an annual fee, which is $80 less than the Southwest Priority card, but offers benefits including 3,000 annual bonus points at your card renewal, 25% back on inflight purchases, and 2 complimentary EarlyBird Check-ins per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you fly with Southwest often enough to take advantage of the card’s benefits including the $75 travel credit, 7,500 bonus points, Upgraded Boarding certificates, and 25% discount on inflight purchases, then the Southwest Priority card would definitely be worth it for you.
That depends on what you are looking for in a card and how often you fly with Southwest!
From a point earning and benefits perspective, the Southwest Priority card is by far the best when compared to its counterparts. That said, you’ll want to make sure you fly often enough with Southwest to actually make use of the benefits of the card.
Yes, the Southwest Priority card has an annual fee of $149. That said, it offers some perks that help offset the fee, including the $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 annual bonus points on your account anniversary.
If you want to upgrade the boarding position you’ve been assigned, simply head to the gate agent before your flight is scheduled to depart and let them know you’d like to do so.
The gate agent will process the transaction for you and let you know what slot is available between A1 and A15. Afterward, they’ll ask you how you’d like to pay for the Upgraded Boarding and you can hand them your Southwest Priority card.
With your card, you can upgrade your boarding position like this, for free, up to 4 times each cardmember year.
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying Southwest Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year. You can use your Southwest Priority card to do so.
Points earned from the welcome bonus on your Southwest Priority card, as well as points you earn from your credit card spend, count towards the 135,000 points you need to earn by the end of the year.
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
4 comments
Cameron
November 24, 2022
Do you get the $75 credit right away, or only at your first year anniversary?
Hi Cameron,
The $75 credit is available right away. Happy travels!
Carol Anderson
September 24, 2023
I read that the Southwest Visa card I have does not charge foreign transaction fees. Does that include items bought from stores and vendors in foreign countries?
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
4 comments
Cameron
November 24, 2022
Do you get the $75 credit right away, or only at your first year anniversary?
Katie Seemann
November 28, 2022
Hi Cameron,
The $75 credit is available right away. Happy travels!
Carol Anderson
September 24, 2023
I read that the Southwest Visa card I have does not charge foreign transaction fees. Does that include items bought from stores and vendors in foreign countries?
Jarrod West
September 25, 2023
Hi Carol,
Yes, purchases made overseas are not charged a foreign transaction fee.
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