Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

Southwest Priority Card Review: Valuable Perks for Southwest's Most Frequent Flyers

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the airline's top credit card. It has the most perks -- and the most expensive annual fee (fortunately, that's still a reasonable $149). This card's ample benefits more than justify the cost for travelers who can get the most out of them. Explore those benefits and more in our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card review.

Ratings Methodology

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Apply Now for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Receive 7,500 anniversary points, 4 upgraded boardings per year when available, and a $75 Southwest® travel credit each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Annual Fee

$149

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.

  • This feature-packed travel credit card for Southwest fans has a solid rewards program as well as Southwest credits and discounts.

    • Sign-up bonus
    • Southwest rewards
    • Yearly points bonus
    • Yearly travel credit
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • Annual fee
    • Limited airline benefits
    • Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 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.
    • $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
    • No foreign transaction fees.
    • Member FDIC

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Full Southwest Priority Card review

This credit card is a good fit for: Southwest's most frequent flyers who choose the airline consistently and want to save lots of money on their travel bookings.

Top perks

Here's a closer look at all the great benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

Welcome offer: 50,000 bonus points

Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That's a reasonable sign-up bonus for an airline credit card, and it's easy to get.

Earn up to 3 points per $1

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns:

  • 3 points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases
  • 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
  • 2 points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
  • 2 points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
  • 1 point per $1 on other purchases

Learn more: Best Rewards Credit Cards

Annual Southwest travel credit

This card includes a credit of $75 toward Southwest Airlines purchases every account year. The credit automatically applies to eligible purchases. So, if you buy a $100 Southwest ticket and haven't used your credit yet, it would knock $75 off your bill. This travel credit will be easy to use for anyone who flies with Southwest regularly. It would also cover just over half of what you paid for the annual fee.

7,500 bonus points per year

You'll receive 7,500 bonus points for every year that you have the card. This bonus starts after your first account anniversary. Rapid Rewards points are generally worth about $0.014 to $0.018 apiece, so 7,500 points have an approximate value of $105 to $135.

Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available

You'll get reimbursed for up to four Upgraded Boarding purchases per account year with this card. Upgraded Boarding gets you a position in the A1 – A15 boarding group and would otherwise cost at least $30 per flight segment. Since you choose your seat when you board, Upgraded Boarding can make a big difference in getting the seat you want. You can purchase Upgraded Boarding at the departure gate or ticket counter on the day of travel, when available.

25% back on in-flight purchases

You'll get 25% back on all in-flight purchases you make with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

Earn extra tier qualifying points

For each $10,000 in purchases on your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you'll earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs). TQPs are one way to qualify for Southwest A-List (requires 35,000 TQPs) and A-List Preferred (requires 70,000 TQPs) status. There's no limit to how many TQPs you can earn this way.

Free one-year DashPass membership

This card includes one year free of DashPass, DoorDash and Caviar's membership service. It gets you a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12. After the free year ends, you're automatically enrolled in DashPass at the monthly rate unless you cancel. To get your free year, you must activate this offer by Jan. 31, 2025.

Read more: Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants

Travel protection

Since this is an airline credit card, it makes sense that it offers travel protections. On eligible travel bookings made with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you'll have lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.

Purchase protection

When you pay for purchases with this card, you'll get purchase protection against damage and theft, and extended warranty coverage.

No foreign transaction fee

You won't get stuck paying foreign transaction fees on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. This perk is a must for travel credit cards because it saves you from pesky extra charges while you're abroad.

See more options: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

What could be improved

Southwest's top credit card could do better in a few areas.

Annual fee

At $149 a year, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card won't break the bank. But anytime a card has an annual fee, it's important to make sure you'll get your money's worth. That shouldn't be too hard if you can use this card's benefits. The 7,500 yearly bonus points alone are worth about $105 to $135. It also offers that $75 yearly Southwest credit, for an easy $180 or more in value.

Assuming you fly with Southwest often, you'll have no problem recouping the fee. If you're not sure, check out more credit card reviews to see if you find a better fit.

Limited airline benefits

This card does have a few extras, but its benefits with Southwest are limited. That's in large part because of the differences between Southwest and other airlines. Southwest doesn't offer airport lounges, so the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can't offer airport lounge access. Since the airline doesn't charge bag fees, the card can't offer a free checked bag benefit. And because Southwest only has one cabin, there's no possibility of a complimentary upgrade to first class.

None of these are major issues. But they are perks other airline credit cards offer to save cardholders money or improve their travel experience.

Find the best credit card for your needs
Image of reviewer

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare Cards

Suggested credit score

You should have a FICO® Score of 670 or better before applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. The card is meant for consumers with a good credit score, though you might be approved with a lower score.

There's also one more key application rule to know about. This credit card is offered by Southwest and Chase, so Chase's 5/24 rule applies. If you've gotten five or more new credit cards over the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application.

LEARN MORE: A Guide to Chase's 5/24 Rule

The Southwest Priority Card is right for you if:

Southwest is your airline of choice and you book several flights with it every year.

If you're a Southwest loyalist, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is one of the best credit cards to choose. It packs plenty of value with its bonuses and annual Southwest credit. This card is a top pick for adventurers who enjoy exploring the world on Southwest flights.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum starting credit limit for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is $2,000. Depending on your annual income and overall creditworthiness, you may be approved for a larger amount. Some cardholders have reported credit limits of $25,000 or more.

  • No, you can't have two Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Cards. You can only apply for the card if you don't currently have any Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit cards.

  • Yes, you can use this card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.