Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $229.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn 60,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | Earn 1x-4x 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 stands out as an exceptionally strong offering for its specific niche: frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. Its primary strengths lie in its outstanding rewards program (rated 4.7), which offers high earning rates on Southwest purchases (4x points) and common categories like gas and dining (2x points), along with a highly valuable sign-up bonus of 60,000 points. The card's fee structure (rated 4.1), while featuring a $229 annual fee, is effectively mitigated by significant annual benefits, including a $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points, making the net cost very reasonable for loyal cardholders. Furthermore, its strong reputation (rated 4.3), backed by Chase and positive sentiment from financial publications and users, reinforces its reliability and value proposition within its target demographic. These factors combine to create an excellent value proposition and a near-perfect fit for Southwest loyalists who can fully leverage its extensive travel perks such as free checked bags, upgraded boardings, and pathways to elite status. However, the card has one significant drawback: a very poor APR (rated 1.3), ranging from 19.24% to 27.74%. This makes it a highly expensive card for anyone who might carry a balance, which is a considerable risk for general cardholders, even if the ideal user pays in full. For a cardholder who flies Southwest often and always pays their statement balance in full, this card offers an exceptional return. But for those who might carry a balance, the high APR is a substantial concern. Considering its exceptional strengths for its intended use case, but acknowledging the serious flaw in its APR for broader applicability, an overall rating of 3.9 reflects a 'Good' card that borders on 'Excellent', but is held back by its high interest rates.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on airline purchases and common categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- Numerous airline-specific travel perks (e.g., free checked bags, preferred boarding, seating upgrades)
- Annual bonus points and pathways to airline elite status
- Travel and purchase protections
Things to consider
- High annual fee
- High regular APR
- No intro APR period
- Rewards are airline-specific
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards
- Earn 4 points for each dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- Earn 2 points for each dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
Other features
- First checked bag free.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Complimentary Preferred seat at booking - Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, valued, on average, at $70 round trip, when available.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost. Save up to $70 round 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the U.S.
- Contactless - Just Tap To Pay
- 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.
- Get one-year complimentary DashPass, membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. Activate by Dec 31, 2027.
- Plus, DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.
- Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments.
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.