Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Rewards by category

Our take

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the top consumer card in Chase's Southwest lineup, and the December 2025 revamp cut both ways: the annual fee jumped from $149 to $229, the $75 Southwest travel credit and the four Upgraded Boardings disappeared, and in return Southwest purchases now earn 4x instead of 3x. Understand that trade before you apply — the fee is real money and there is no longer a credit offsetting it.

The earning is simple and strong where it counts: 4 points per dollar on purchases made directly with Southwest — flights, inflight purchases, gift cards and Getaways packages — plus 2x at gas stations and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery. At SwipeCaddy's 1.3-cent point valuation, 4x is roughly 5.2% back on Southwest spend and 2x about 2.6%. Unlike the cheaper Plus card, the Priority's 2x categories carry no spend cap, and it bonuses dining instead of groceries. Everything else earns 1x, with no foreign transaction fee.

The perks are what carry the $229 fee: 7,500 anniversary points each account anniversary year (about $97 at 1.3 cents), first checked bag free for you and up to eight passengers on the same reservation, a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each calendar year, unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure when available, Group 5 boarding, 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi, and 2,500 A-List tier qualifying points per $5,000 spent. New cardmembers earn 60,000 points after $2,000 in purchases in the first three months.

In a wallet, it plays the Southwest specialist: every Southwest purchase goes on it at 4x, and it can hold gas and dining at 2x when nothing stronger claims those categories. Pick it over the Rapid Rewards Plus only if you fly Southwest often enough for the seat upgrades, Preferred seat selection at booking and 7,500 anniversary points to outrun the extra $130 a year — for one or two round trips, the Plus is the better buy.

The math

Run $400 a month of dining through this card and you're earning about $125 a year at our conservative valuations. Against the $229 annual fee, that top rate needs roughly $3,200 a month of dining spend before it beats a no-fee flat 2% card.

Store bonuses

• Southwest Airlines4x

Key benefits

• 7,500 anniversary points each year
• First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each calendar year
• Unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, when available
• Complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking, when available
• Group 5 boarding on Southwest flights
• 25% back on Southwest inflight drinks and WiFi as a statement credit
• 2,500 A-List tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent annually

Common questions

Does Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card have an annual fee?

Yes — $229 per year.

What does Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earn on dining?

2x on dining.

What rewards does Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earn on everything else?

1x on all other purchases, in Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Is the Priority's $229 annual fee worth it over the $99 Plus?

The gap is $130 a year. For it you get 7,500 anniversary points instead of 3,000 (about $58 more at 1.3 cents), 4x instead of 2x on Southwest, unlimited Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure, complimentary Preferred seat selection at booking, and uncapped 2x categories — the Plus caps its 2x at a combined $5,000 a year. Group 5 boarding and 25% back on inflight purchases come with both cards. It pencils out if you fly Southwest several times a year; otherwise stay with the Plus.

Did the Priority card lose its $75 Southwest travel credit?

Yes. After the December 2025 lineup revamp, the product page no longer lists the $75 annual travel credit or the four Upgraded Boardings. The replacement perks are unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades near departure, complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking, and Group 5 boarding.

Do the 2x gas and dining categories have a spend cap?

No. Unlike the Plus card, which caps its 2x gas and groceries at a combined $5,000 per anniversary year, the Priority's rewards program agreement states no dollar cap on gas stations or restaurants — 2x applies to every dollar in those categories.

Related reading

• How we value points and miles (and why our numbers are lower than everyone else's)SwipeCaddy ranks cards by reward rate × a conservative cash value per point: 1¢ for cash back and transferable points (Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, Bilt), 1.1–1.3¢ for airline miles, 0.4–1.4¢ for hotel points, and 0.8–0.9¢ for store currencies. Optimistic transfer values are recorded for context but never ranked, because most people never achieve them.