Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Review

For the most rewards and perks, the top-tier card Southwest offers is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. The catch? You need to pay an annual fee to access all those great cardholder benefits.

. . .

Overview of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

If you fly Southwest a lot, then you may find splurging on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card’s annual fee to be worth it. Out of all the Southwest Airlines credit card options, this card has the highest annual fee.

To make the most of that steep fee, you have to commit to flying Southwest often. This is especially true since this card lacks the broad travel benefits that other travel credit cards offer, like credits for TSA PreCheck® enrollment or swanky airport lounge access.

That said, if you are loyal to Southwest, you can earn points rapidly with this credit card and you also get 25% back on in-flight purchases.

You'll also earn 7,500 points each year on your cardmember anniversary without having to spend any money at all.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

While the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has a lot of redemption options, those options are limiting. For example, you can redeem points for hotel and flight bookings, but you can only book domestic flights with Southwest Airlines, which serves 121 locations across the U.S.  

You can also redeem points for event bookings, merchandise purchases, and gift cards, but again, these all come with limitations. Namely, lower redemption values, meaning you’re not getting the best bang for your buck with these options.

Card Benefits

The cardholder benefits that come with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card are beneficial if you find yourself frequently booking flights with Southwest Airlines. On the flip side, if you don’t fly with this airline often, you won’t get much out of this card. 

Firstly, you can enjoy upgraded boardings four times a year (when available). Once you’re in the air, you get 25% back on inflight purchases. You also get a $75 annual travel credit and a points boost each year of 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points.

Who Should Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is only a good fit for those who fly with Southwest Airlines frequently. Even if you love this airline, it needs to have enough routes flying in and out of your local airport and you need to travel often enough to balance the cost of the annual fee with perks and rewards. 

Before you apply, take a good look at your upcoming travel plans for the year. Research how much you are likely to spend on potential flights with Southwest Airlines and then crunch the numbers on how many rewards points you will earn for booking with this airline.

Who Shouldn’t Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card?

If you love to travel, but don’t hold any allegiance to Southwest Airlines, you may find that a more flexible travel rewards credit card (one that isn’t linked to a single specific airline or hotel chain) is a better fit.

Even if you do fly Southwest often, there are other Southwest credit cards with smaller annual fees that may get the job done.

For those who don’t travel often, a more general-purpose card, like a cashback card that rewards everyday spending, will deliver more value. 

Alternatives to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

For a lower annual fee: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

. . .

If you do fly Southwest Airlines frequently but want to avoid that high annual fee, you may find the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card better for your budget. The annual fee is much lower than the Priority.

In exchange for a smaller annual fee, you don’t get as many of the perks. It has the same welcome bonus, but with lower reward rates and a smaller annual gift (3,000 points versus 7,500).

Also note that this card charges foreign transaction fees, which the Rapid Rewards® Priority does not.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

For mid-tier Southwest benefits: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

. . .

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card differs significantly is the annual fee and the anniversary perk (6,000 points). Both cards offer 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest bookings.

LEARN MORE: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Erika.com. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For more flexibility: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

. . .

Even if you enjoy flying Southwest, paying an annual fee for a credit card that only rewards booking with that specific airline can be limiting. If you want more flexibility, you may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

With this credit card, you can transfer any rewards points you earn to a handful of different airline and hotel partners — including Southwest Airlines. 

The annual fee isn’t cheap, but it’s lower than the fee for the Rapid Rewards® Priority.

LEARN MORE: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Bottom Line

If you're a loyal Southwest customer, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can earn you hefty rewards on your Southwest purchases, including on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental purchases.

You also get perks like upgraded boarding four times a year, 25% back on inflight purchases, and a $75 annual travel credit.

The annual fee is a bit high, but if you frequently fly the skies with Southwest, it could balance out.

. . .

---

Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.