Southwest Priority Card’s Welcome Offer History: 2022 to 2026

If you fly Southwest regularly and want more built-in value than the entry-level cards provide, the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card is the airline’s top-tier personal option. It combines stronger ongoing perks with meaningful anniversary value, making it appealing for travelers who consistently choose Southwest for domestic trips.

Chase issues the Southwest Priority card, which launched in 2018 as the premium offering in Southwest’s personal card lineup.

In this guide, we’ll look at when it makes sense to apply, how the welcome offer has evolved, what recent changes mean for applicants, and whether this card deserves a place in your wallet for the long term.

When To Apply for the Southwest Priority Card

The Southwest Priority card is Southwest’s top-tier airline rewards credit card. Instead of earning points that can transfer to multiple travel partners, this card earns Rapid Rewards points directly. That means your rewards are tied to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards ecosystem, which works well if you consistently fly the airline, but this card does not offer the transfer flexibility of some other Chase cards.

Travelers gravitate toward this card because it delivers tangible, easy-to-use benefits. Those benefits and anniversary bonus points can quickly offset the annual fee for frequent flyers. It carries a $229 annual fee, positioning it above other Southwest credit cards but well below the premium price points seen on legacy carriers’ flagship cards.

The card also underwent updates in 2025 as part of Southwest’s credit card refresh. Changes included adjustments to bonus structures, a checked bag benefit, and shifts in how statement credits and perks are presented across the portfolio. While the fundamentals remain intact, welcome offers have become more promotional and varied in structure.

Currently, the Southwest Priority card offers the following public welcome bonus:

• Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

Here’s how that compares with the card’s historical public offers:

* Value based on our latest points valuations that peg Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents each. This value isn’t provided by the card issuer.

The Southwest Priority card’s offers have fluctuated significantly. For several years, the most common public offers ranged from 40,000 to 50,000 points, with relatively low spending requirements. Periodically, elevated 75,000-point offers appeared, often tied to higher spending thresholds.

More recently, promotions have become more aggressive. We’ve seen 85,000-point offers and even a 100,000-point offer in mid-2025, which stands as the largest pure-points bonus in the card’s public history. Companion Pass-based offers have also become more frequent, often pairing smaller point totals with high-value pass validity periods.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

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.

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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 Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Companion Pass + 40k points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,275

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

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Card Highlights

• Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/27 and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 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

Historically, a typical public offer has ranged from 50,000 to 75,000 points. The strongest pure-points offer has been 100,000 points, while Companion Pass promotions can exceed that value depending on how often you fly Southwest.

Elevated offers have returned regularly. If you’re seeing a 40,000- or 50,000-point offer without additional perks, history suggests stronger opportunities are likely to reappear.

Southwest Priority Card Benefits

The Southwest Priority card is an upper-tier airline credit card with solid perks, though it does not include luxury lounge access like premium cards from United, American, or Delta.

Cardholder benefits include:

• Earn 4x points on Southwest purchases
• Earn 2x points at gas stations and restaurants
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• 7,500 anniversary bonus points each year
• Select Preferred seats at booking at no cost
• 25% back on inflight purchases
• Group 5 boarding
• Complimentary first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation

For frequent Southwest flyers, the checked bag benefit and anniversary points alone can largely offset the annual fee.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Priority card remains the most robust personal Southwest credit card available. Its welcome offer history shows frequent rotation between standard offers and elevated promotions, with occasional peaks like the 100,000-point offer in 2025.

The card’s Companion Pass-based offers also deliver strong potential value, particularly for travelers who often fly Southwest with a companion.

Still, the welcome offer should only be part of your decision. The real long-term value lies in the checked bag benefit, anniversary points, and Group 5 boarding perks.

If you consistently choose Southwest and want the airline’s most feature-rich personal card without paying a luxury-level annual fee, the Southwest Priority card continues to be a strong long-term contender.