Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $229.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | 60,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-5x points |
| Regular APR | 19.24Min. of (6.75+12.49) and 29.99%–27.74Min. of (6.75+20.99) and 29.99% variable APR. |
About this card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns a 'Good' overall rating of 3.9 out of 5.0, bordering on 'Excellent,' largely due to its exceptional value proposition for its specific target audience: frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. This card boasts outstanding strengths in its rewards program (4.9/5.0), fee structure (4.5/5.0), and a very strong reputation (4.6/5.0). The **rewards program** is a major highlight, offering excellent earning rates (4X on Southwest, 2X on gas/restaurants, 5X on Lyft), a generous 60,000-point sign-up bonus with a low spend requirement, and unmatched flexibility within the Southwest Rapid Rewards ecosystem (no blackout dates, points never expire). Beyond points, the card delivers substantial tangible benefits such as upgraded boardings, free checked bags, a Companion Pass qualifying point boost, and pathways to A-List status, all of which significantly enhance the travel experience and provide immense value. The **fee structure** is also highly favorable. Despite a $229 annual fee, it is effectively reduced to a very reasonable net cost (around $41.50) by the $75 annual Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points. The absence of foreign transaction fees further solidifies its appeal as a travel card. These benefits make the annual fee easily justifiable for loyal Southwest customers. However, the card has one significant **weakness**: its very poor APR rating (1.3/5.0). With a variable APR ranging from 19.24% to 27.74% and no introductory period, this card becomes extremely expensive for anyone who carries a balance. This high interest rate significantly increases the cost of borrowing and limits the card's broader appeal, making it a poor choice for those who do not pay their statement in full monthly. **In summary,** for the dedicated Southwest flyer who always pays their balance in full, this card is undoubtedly 'Excellent' or even 'Exceptional' due to its rich benefits and value. However, the extremely uncompetitive APR is a critical factor that lowers its overall rating, preventing it from achieving a higher score and making it unsuitable for a segment of consumers who might need to carry a balance from time to time.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on travel and specific categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- Valuable airline travel perks
- Annual bonus points
- Path to airline elite status and Companion Pass
- Purchase and travel protections
Things to consider
- Annual fee
- No intro APR period
- High regular APR
- Rewards primarily focused on a single airline
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards
- 4X points on Southwest Airlines purchases
- 2X points at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 5X total points on qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft mobile application through 12/31/2027.
Other features
- Complimentary Preferred seat at booking - Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their bag at no additional cost. Save up to $90 round trip ($45 per bag per trip).
- 7,500 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary.
- Extra Legroom seat upgrade - Enjoy unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available.
- Spend your way to A-List - Earn 2,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually accelerating your way to A-List status.
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year.
- Boarding benefit - Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement — Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.
- Baggage Delay Insurance — Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.
- Extended Warranty Protection — Extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
- Purchase Protection — Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
- Contactless - Just Tap To Pay — For fast, easy and secure checkout simply tap to pay where you see the Contactless symbol.
- Apply for a card, use it the same day — Receive instant access to your card by adding it to a digital wallet, like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
- Doordash — Get one-year complimentary DashPass, membership for both DoorDash and Caviar. Activate by Dec 31, 2027. Plus, DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.
- Lyft — Earn 5X total points on qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft mobile application through 12/31/2027.
- Instacart — Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually. $0 delivery fees with 3 months of complimentary Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit. Service fees apply.
- Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments.
- After purchase: Pay off an eligible purchase you've already made of $100 or more in smaller, equal monthly payments. No Interest- just a fixed monthly fee with plan durations that range from 3-24 months.
- At checkout: Chase Credit card members may have the option to create a payment plan at checkout on Amazon.com. Orders totaling $50 or more using your eligible Chase credit card at Amazon.com could be eligible for Chase Pay Over Time.
- No change fees.
- Unlimited reward seats with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
- Your points don't expire, a benefit of the Rapid Rewards program.
Additional Notes
This product is available to you if you do not have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.