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Chase

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual fee
$149
Welcome bonus
60,000 points
Intro APR
No intro APR offer on purchases
Reg. APR
21.49% – 28.99% Variable
Apply at Chase →

Quick verdict

Best for frequent southwest flyers with 4+ flights per year. Skip if you rarely fly southwest — the rewards are southwest-specific and can't be transferred to other airlines. also skip if you don't fly 3+ times per year, as the $149 af is hard to justify without regular southwest travel.

Rewards
★★★½
3.5 / 5
Perks
★★★★
4 / 5
AF Value
★★★★
4 / 5
Approval Ease
★★★☆☆
3 / 5
Overall
★★★½
3.8 / 5

🎁 Welcome bonus

60,000 points after $2,000 spend in 3 months (worth ~$900 in Southwest travel)

Rewards

CategoryRateType
Southwest purchases 3x points
Dining 2x points
Rapid Rewards hotel & car rental partners 2x points
Local transit & rideshare 2x points
Internet, cable & phone services 2x points
Everything else 1x points

Points/miles valued at 1.50¢ each (CreditStud.io estimate based on typical travel redemption).

💰 Annual Credits ($187 total face value)

7,500 anniversary points (~$112 value) $112
$75 Southwest travel credit $75

Credit value depends on you actually using them. Many credits are split monthly or semi-annually, so factor in your usage habits before counting them against the AF.

Perks

🎯 Who should consider this card

✅ Best for

  • Frequent Southwest flyers with 4+ flights per year
  • People working toward the Southwest Companion Pass
  • Anyone who values upgraded boarding and WiFi on Southwest flights

❌ Skip if

You rarely fly Southwest — the rewards are Southwest-specific and can't be transferred to other airlines. Also skip if you don't fly 3+ times per year, as the $149 AF is hard to justify without regular Southwest travel.

📊 Example: Typical traveler/diner

Dining: $400/mo × 12 × 2x$144 value
Everything else: $1500/mo × 12 × 1x$270 value
+ Annual credits (full use)$187
– Annual fee–$149
Net annual value+$452

Based on illustrative spending. Use our AF Worth It Calculator to plug in your real numbers.

📋 Application tips

Credit needed
Good to Excellent (670+)
Issuer rules
5/24 rule applies. Chase will typically deny if you've opened 5+ cards (any issuer) in 24 months. This includes all Chase personal and business cards.

Not sure if you'll qualify? Try our credit score simulator to see what rate range you might fall into.

⚖️ Compare to similar cards

Side-by-side comparison tool →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Southwest Priority Card worth the $149 annual fee?
Yes, if you fly Southwest 4+ times per year. The 7,500 anniversary points (~$112) and $75 travel credit together cover $187 of the $149 AF — you're already $38 ahead before earning a single point on spending. Add upgraded boarding (worth $30-60/flight) and WiFi, and this card pays for itself easily for loyal Southwest flyers.
What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The holy grail of airline perks: a named companion flies free with you every time you fly Southwest, for the rest of the calendar year plus the following year. You need 135,000 qualifying points, and the Priority card gives you 10,000 toward that each year. If you're close, the card can push you over the edge.
How does the Priority compare to the Southwest Plus and Premier?
Priority ($149 AF) gives 7,500 anniversary points + $75 travel credit. Premier ($99 AF, discontinued) gave 6,000 points. Plus ($69 AF) gives 3,000 points + $50 travel credit. Priority is the best value for frequent flyers - the anniversary bonus alone covers most of the fee.
Can I use the Companion Pass with any ticket?
Yes — even award tickets. Book a flight with points, add your companion for free. This essentially doubles the value of every Southwest point you earn. Families love it: one ticket per trip, one free companion seat every time.
How much are Southwest Rapid Rewards points worth?
~1.5¢ each for Wanna Get Away fares. That means the 60,000 signup bonus is worth ~$900 in travel. Points don't expire as long as you have earning activity within 24 months, and there are no blackout dates or capacity controls on award flights.
Should I get the Priority or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Get both if you can. Priority for Southwest earning and Companion Pass progress. Sapphire Preferred for everything else (5x on travel portal, 3x dining). Plus, holding both lets you earn more flexible Chase UR points that you can transfer to Southwest (among other partners).

Ready to apply?

Application takes 5 minutes. Approval decision typically instant for qualified applicants.

Apply at Chase →

Reviewed by CreditStud.io editorial team • Last updated 2026-04-30 • Methodology & disclosure