Quick Verdict

The Southwest Priority credit card justifies its $149 annual fee for frequent Southwest flyers through a $75 travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, and premium perks like upgraded boarding. If you fly Southwest 4+ times yearly and can maximize the benefits, this card delivers excellent value. Casual travelers should consider the lower-fee Premier card instead.

Card Overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card sits at the top of Southwest's personal credit card lineup, offering the most comprehensive benefits package for dedicated Southwest travelers. While the $149 annual fee might seem steep, the card's combination of travel credits, bonus points, and premium perks can easily offset the cost for the right traveler.

Annual Fee: $149
Welcome Bonus: 50,000 points after $1,000 spending in 3 months
Earning Rate: 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x on select categories, 1x elsewhere
Key Benefits: $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 4 upgraded boardings, 7,500 anniversary points
Credit Score Needed: 700+ recommended

Key Features and Benefits Analysis

$75 Annual Southwest Travel Credit

The Priority card's most valuable benefit reduces your effective annual fee from $149 to $74. This credit applies automatically to Southwest purchases, including flights, EarlyBird check-in, upgraded boarding, and inflight purchases.

Real-world value: If you take just one roundtrip Southwest flight annually costing more than $75, you've already recouped half the annual fee. Most domestic Southwest flights range from $150-400, making this credit easy to use.

Maximization strategy: The credit resets each January, so book early-year flights to ensure you use the full benefit annually. You can also use it for EarlyBird check-in purchases if you don't fly enough to hit $75 in airfare.

Four Upgraded Boardings Per Year

Southwest's open seating means boarding position determines seat selection. The Priority card provides four upgraded boardings annually, typically placing you in the A1-A15 range for better seat choices.

Value calculation: EarlyBird check-in costs $15-25 per flight, while upgraded boarding costs $30-80 depending on route popularity. Four upgraded boardings could save $120-320 annually.

When it matters most: Upgraded boarding provides the highest value on full flights, popular routes, and when traveling with family members who need to sit together. It's less valuable on half-empty flights where seat selection isn't constrained.

7,500 Anniversary Points

Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you'll receive 7,500 Southwest points automatically. At Southwest's average redemption value of 1.35 cents per point, this bonus is worth approximately $101.

Comparison advantage: This is 1,500 more points than the Premier card's anniversary bonus, providing an extra $20 in value that helps justify the higher annual fee.

Enhanced Earning Structure

The Priority card earns 3x points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting, internet/cable/phone services, and select streaming services, plus 1x points on all other purchases.

Annual earning example: Someone spending $2,000 annually on Southwest flights would earn 6,000 points (worth $81) compared to 4,000 points ($54) with the Plus card's 2x rate. The extra earning provides $27 additional annual value.

Additional Perks

25% back on inflight purchases: Save on drinks, snacks, and WiFi during flights. For frequent flyers, this can add up to $25-50 annually.

10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost: Helps toward earning elite status and the valuable Companion Pass.

No foreign transaction fees: Use the card internationally without additional charges.

Earning Structure Analysis

The Priority card's earning structure focuses heavily on Southwest and travel-related spending, making it most valuable for travelers who can maximize the bonus categories.

Southwest purchases (3x points): This includes flights, EarlyBird check-in, upgraded boarding, and Southwest Vacations packages. For $3,000 annual Southwest spending, you'd earn 9,000 points (worth $122).

Travel partners (2x points): Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners offer double points, though selection is limited compared to other programs.

Everyday categories (2x points): Local transit, ride-sharing, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services earn bonus points. This broader category helps justify using the card for non-travel spending.

Base earning (1x points): All other purchases earn standard points, making this primarily a Southwest-focused card rather than an everyday spending card.

Redemption Options and Value

Southwest points offer straightforward redemption with no blackout dates and points values that fluctuate based on cash ticket prices. Recent analysis shows Southwest points average 1.35 cents each, though values can range from 1.1 to 1.7 cents depending on route and timing.

Best redemption strategies:

• Book during Wanna Get Away sales for highest point values
• Use points for expensive routes where cash prices are high
• Combine with Companion Pass for maximum value
• Book early for better award availability

Southwest's unique benefits:

• No change fees when using points
• Unused points refund automatically
• Points don't expire with account activity
• No blackout dates or capacity restrictions

Pros and Cons

Pros

Strong annual value: The $75 travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, and upgraded boardings can easily provide $200+ annual value for frequent Southwest travelers.

Premium travel perks: Upgraded boarding positions significantly improve the Southwest experience by ensuring better seat selection.

Straightforward benefits: Unlike complex airline cards with multiple categories and restrictions, the Priority card's benefits are easy to understand and use.

Companion Pass synergy: The card accelerates Companion Pass earning through bonus points and spending multipliers.

No foreign fees: Use internationally without worrying about additional charges.

Cons

High annual fee: $149 is substantial for travelers who can't maximize all benefits.

Limited airline flexibility: Benefits only work on Southwest, restricting travel options.

Narrow earning categories: Outside Southwest purchases, earning rates aren't competitive with general travel cards.

Boarding benefits vary: Upgraded boarding provides minimal value on half-empty flights.

Credit requirement: Good to excellent credit needed for approval.

Who Should Get This Card?

Perfect For

Frequent Southwest flyers: If you fly Southwest 4+ times annually, you'll easily maximize the travel credit and boarding benefits.

Companion Pass seekers: The enhanced earning and bonus points accelerate qualification for Southwest's most valuable perk.

Southwest loyalists: Travelers who prefer Southwest's no-change-fee policy and straightforward redemptions.

Family travelers: Upgraded boarding helps families sit together on Southwest's open seating flights.

Skip If

Infrequent Southwest travelers: Flying Southwest 1-2 times yearly makes it difficult to justify the annual fee.

Airline flexibility seekers: Those wanting to fly multiple airlines should consider transferable points cards instead.

Budget-conscious travelers: The Premier card offers 80% of the benefits for $50 less annually.

Poor credit applicants: The Priority card requires good to excellent credit for approval.

How It Compares to Other Southwest Cards

vs. Southwest Premier ($99 annual fee): The Priority provides $75 travel credit, 1,500 more anniversary points, and upgraded boarding for $50 more annually. If you value the boarding benefits and can use the travel credit, the Priority offers better value. Read our complete Southwest Premier card review for detailed comparison.

vs. Southwest Plus ($69 annual fee): The Priority costs $80 more but provides 4,500 additional anniversary points (worth $61), no foreign fees, upgraded boarding, and the travel credit. For any international travel or frequent Southwest flying, the Priority is worth the premium. See why we recommend skipping the Plus in our Southwest Plus card review.

vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee): The Sapphire Preferred offers more airline flexibility through transferable points but lacks Southwest-specific perks like upgraded boarding and the travel credit. Choose based on whether you want Southwest loyalty or broader travel options.

How to Maximize Value

Annual Fee Optimization

Use the travel credit early: Book flights in January to ensure you maximize the current year's $75 credit.

Track your spending: Monitor anniversary dates and spending requirements to optimize welcome bonuses and anniversary points.

Earning Optimization

Concentrate Southwest spending: Put all Southwest purchases on this card for 3x earning.

Leverage bonus categories: Use for internet, cable, streaming, and transit purchases where you earn 2x points.

Combine with other Chase cards: Pair with Chase Freedom cards for rotating 5x categories that transfer to Southwest.

Redemption Optimization

Book during sales: Southwest's Wanna Get Away fares offer the best point values.

Companion Pass strategy: Use the card as part of a two-card approach to earn Companion Pass faster.

Avoid cash plus points: These redemptions typically offer poor value compared to straight point bookings.

Application Process and Requirements

Credit Requirements

Minimum score: 650+ for consideration
Recommended score: 700+ for strong approval odds
Excellent score: 750+ for automatic approval

Income Considerations

Southwest/Chase doesn't publish minimum income requirements, but applicants typically need:

• Individual income of $30,000+
• Household income of $50,000+ if including spouse income
• Stable employment history

Chase-Specific Rules

5/24 rule: Chase will deny applications if you've opened 5+ credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.

Southwest restrictions: You cannot receive welcome bonuses if you currently hold any Southwest personal card or received a Southwest bonus in the past 24 months.

Application tips:

• Apply early in the month for better approval odds
• Ensure credit reports are accurate before applying
• Consider business cards first if approaching 5/24 limit

Current Welcome Offer

The standard offer includes 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first three months. Occasionally, Southwest raises this to 60,000+ points during promotional periods.

Offer timing: Southwest typically runs enhanced bonuses in January-March and sometimes fall, coinciding with their Companion Pass promotional periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Southwest Priority card worth the $149 annual fee?

For frequent Southwest flyers who can use the $75 travel credit and value upgraded boarding, yes. The combination of the travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, and boarding benefits can provide $200+ annual value. Occasional Southwest travelers should consider the Premier card instead.

How do I use the $75 Southwest travel credit?

The credit applies automatically to Southwest purchases including flights, EarlyBird check-in, upgraded boarding, Southwest Vacations packages, and inflight purchases. It resets each January regardless of when you opened the card.

What's the difference between EarlyBird check-in and upgraded boarding?

EarlyBird automatically checks you in and assigns a boarding position 36 hours before departure, typically in the A or B group. Upgraded boarding moves you to the A1-A15 range for earlier boarding and better seat selection. The Priority card includes four upgraded boardings annually.

Can I get both the Priority card and other Southwest cards?

You can hold one Southwest personal card and one Southwest business card simultaneously. However, Chase's 24-month restriction prevents earning welcome bonuses on multiple Southwest personal cards within 24 months.

How does this card help with the Companion Pass?

The Priority card provides 10,000 qualifying points annually toward Companion Pass status, plus enhanced earning rates on Southwest purchases. Combined with the welcome bonus and spending, it's possible to earn significant progress toward the 125,000-point requirement.

Does this card work internationally?

Yes, the Priority card has no foreign transaction fees and works internationally wherever Visa is accepted. However, you'll only earn 1x points on international purchases unless they're with Southwest or bonus category merchants.

The Bottom Line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card delivers strong value for dedicated Southwest travelers who can maximize its premium benefits. The $75 annual travel credit effectively reduces the fee to $74, while the 7,500 anniversary points, upgraded boarding positions, and enhanced earning rates provide additional value that can easily exceed the annual cost.

The card makes most sense for travelers who fly Southwest 4+ times annually, value priority boarding for seat selection, and can consistently use the travel credit. The enhanced earning rates and Companion Pass acceleration make it particularly valuable for those working toward Southwest's elite status.

However, occasional Southwest travelers or those seeking airline flexibility should consider alternatives. The Southwest Premier card offers many similar benefits for $50 less annually, while transferable points cards provide broader redemption options. For business owners, the Southwest Performance Business card provides excellent Companion Pass earning strategies.

For the right traveler, the Priority card transforms Southwest flying with measurably better experiences and substantial annual savings. Just ensure you can maximize the benefits before committing to the premium annual fee. Compare all Southwest card options in our complete Southwest credit cards guide.

Ready to apply? The current welcome offer provides 50,000 points after $1,000 spending in three months, worth $675 in Southwest flights. Combined with the first year's benefits, new cardholders can easily receive $800+ value in the first year.