Southwest Priority bank card overview: Valuable perks for Southwest flyers

Editor’s be aware: This publish has been up to date with the newest bank card info.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest’s private bank cards, with a $75 annual Southwest credit score and seven,500 anniversary bonus factors. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

Southwest has made a reputation for itself with its customer-friendly journey insurance policies and repute of going above and past for passengers. Unlike different airways, it doesn’t supply lounges, any kind of premium cabin and even seating with further legroom. But it does supply a full suite of cobranded bank cards to assist frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest journey objectives.

Want extra bank card information and recommendation from TPG? Sign up for our day by day e-newsletter!

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is essentially the most premium private bank card within the Southwest lineup. It affords tons of of {dollars} in worth with Southwest every year, plus a brand new sign-up bonus of fifty,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

But are its advantages invaluable sufficient to warrant the $149 annual charge? Let’s discover out.

Who is that this card for?

The Southwest Priority Card is the highest-earning (and costliest) client Southwest card. It’s finest suited for many who are loyal to Southwest and fly with the airline frequently.

All Southwest playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means should you’ve opened greater than 5 bank cards previously 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you is probably not accepted. Also, you may’t open a brand new private Southwest card should you presently have one open or should you earned a sign-up bonus previously 24 months on any private Southwest card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is presently providing 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Rapid Rewards factors at 1.5 cents every, which means 50,000 factors are price $750.

Related: Southwest Airlines provides extra Hawaii routes

• 7,500-point anniversary bonus: Each 12 months in your card-opening anniversary, you’ll obtain 7,500 Rapid Rewards factors, price about $112, primarily based on TPG’s valuations.
• $75 annual Southwest journey credit score: During every cardmember 12 months, you’ll obtain a $75 journey credit score that can be utilized on most Southwest purchases, together with tickets (however excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases), dropping the cardboard’s precise value to $74.
• Four upgraded boardings per 12 months: Use your card to pay for A1-A15 boarding spots and also you’ll be reimbursed the price as much as 4 occasions per 12 months. Ordinarily, upgraded boarding prices between $30 and $50 per round-trip improve, relying on the itinerary, so this perk could be price as much as $200 per 12 months. As of August 2022, now you can buy upgraded boardings on-line, by way of the app or on the airport.
• 25% inflight financial savings: Receive 25% again within the type of an announcement credit score after you utilize your card to buy inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and films.
• Tier qualifying factors enhance: Earn 1,500 TQPs that rely towards A-List and A-List Preferred standing for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months.

In addition to the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with misplaced baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance coverage, prolonged guarantee protection and buy safety. The card has no international transaction charges, so you may make purchases abroad with out accumulating further costs.

And whereas this isn’t a card profit, don’t overlook that every one Southwest flyers don’t pay change or cancellation charges, get two free checked baggage and have entry to the easy-to-use Rapid Rewards program. These insurance policies alone are sufficient to persuade many to take a position their rewards earnings with Southwest.

Earning and redeeming

Here’s what you’ll earn with the Southwest Priority Card:

• 3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases.
• 2 factors per greenback spent with Rapid Rewards resort and automotive rental companions.
• 2 factors per greenback on native transit and commuting, together with rideshare.
• 2 factors per greenback on web, cable, cellphone companies, and choose streaming.
• 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.

Redeeming factors with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card may be very simple. Southwest award costs are straight tied to the money worth of the ticket. In different phrases, factors keep a reasonably fixed worth and it’s best to by no means have a tough time redeeming them. Plus, in case your plans change, you may redeposit your award with out penalty.

Some factors and miles fans keep as far-off from these kinds of rewards currencies as attainable, however they’ll usually present considerably higher worth than conventional airline miles. For occasion, you may fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (MDW) for simply 5,743 factors one-way, relying on the time of 12 months. Meanwhile, American Airlines and United usually cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming yow will discover saver-award availability).

(Screenshot courtesy of Southwest Airlines)

If you ebook throughout considered one of Southwest’s flash gross sales, you might rating awards for lower than 1,500 factors one-way. You may even fly to enjoyable faraway locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

Southwest Airlines presently affords three private playing cards. Both the Priority and Premier playing cards supply the identical join bonus because the Priority, so it may be tough to decide on the right card in your pockets.

Let’s check out the incomes charges, perks, and annual charges throughout all three private Southwest bank cards:

The Southwest Priority Card Credit Card is the apparent selection for anybody who flies Southwest two or extra occasions a 12 months. The $75 journey credit score successfully drops the cardboard’s annual charge to $74. Factor in its 7,500-point anniversary bonus, price $112.50 based on TPG’s newest valuations, and also you’ll truly come out $38.50 forward simply by having the cardboard. This is earlier than even contemplating the cardboard’s different perks.

However, the Southwest Priority card does not simply compete with different Southwest playing cards. It can also go face to face with extra basic journey playing cards — which can even supply a direct pathway to incomes Rapid Rewards factors.

Two playing cards that successfully earn Southwest factors are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Southwest is a 1:1 switch accomplice of Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you may simply switch your factors earned with both of those playing cards to the airline. The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual charge and earns:

• 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by way of the Chase Travel Portal.
• 5 factors per greenback on Lyft (by way of March 2025).
• 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming companies, and on-line groceries (excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale golf equipment).
• 2 factors per greenback on all journey not booked by way of the Chase Travel Portal.
• 1 level per greenback on every little thing else.

It additionally affords invaluable journey advantages, together with main automotive rental protection and journey delay safety.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred card overview

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve affords 3 factors per greenback on all journey and eating purchases plus most of the similar journey protections because the Sapphire Preferred. In addition, you will get pleasure from a $300 annual journey credit score together with Priority Pass lounge entry. However, it does include a notably larger annual charge of $550.

If you worth the flexibleness of a transferable factors program like Chase Ultimate Rewards (however nonetheless need the selection to transform your earnings to Southwest factors), then considered one of these playing cards could also be your finest wager.

Otherwise, should you’re after Southwest-specific perks while you journey, the Southwest Priority card may make plenty of sense.

If you fly Southwest at the very least a couple of occasions every year, you’re certain to come back out forward with the Southwest Priority Credit Card. The card’s on a regular basis incomes charges go away one thing to be desired, however spectacular built-in perks like a $75 annual journey credit score and seven,500-point anniversary bonus simply make up for it.

Apply right here for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Benét J. Wilson, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler and Christina Ly.