Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Earn 4X points on Southwest flights and enjoy premium benefits including a free checked bag, priority boarding, and annual anniversary bonus points.
Annual fee
$229
Top rate
4x flights
Welcome bonus
$900
Quick look
4X Points on Southwest Flights
Plus free checked bag and priority benefits
3.9
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers—people who take at least 2-3 trips per year on the carrier and can leverage the annual bonus points, free checked bags, and in-flight perks to justify the $229 annual fee.
The verdict
This is a premium card built for one audience: people who fly Southwest multiple times per year. If that's you, the math works. You earn 4X on flights, collect 7,500 bonus points annually (worth ~$98), get free checked bags on up to eight passengers per reservation, and pocket up to 4 upgraded boarding credits per year. The $229 annual fee becomes background noise against that pile of benefits.
But the moment you step outside Southwest's ecosystem, the card stops working. You earn a pedestrian 2X on gas and dining, 1X on everything else, and your points evaporate if you want to book a different airline. There's no intro APR, the foreign transaction fee situation goes unaddressed in the documentation, and you're locked into an airline-specific rewards program with no redemption flexibility. For occasional flyers or people loyal to other carriers, this is a pure tax.
Pros
- 4X points on Southwest Airlines purchases accumulate quickly and pair well with the 7,500 annual bonus to cover a free flight or two per year for frequent flyers
- $229 fee is effectively offset by annual 7,500 bonus points (~$98 value) plus one free checked bag (~$30-50 per trip)
- 25% statement credit on in-flight drinks, Wi-Fi, and purchases delivers tangible per-trip value without jumping through redemption hoops
- Free checked bags for cardholder and up to eight passengers on the same reservation is a genuine luxury on a high-frequency travel pattern
Cons
- Points lock exclusively to Southwest with no flexibility; you cannot transfer to partners or redeem outside the airline's ecosystem
- Card only makes economic sense if you fly Southwest at least 2-3 times per year; otherwise the $229 fee is pure dead weight
- Mediocre earning rates outside flights: 2X on gas and restaurants, 1X on everything else leaves cash-back and flexible-rewards cards ahead
- No introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers, unlike many competing travel cards at similar price points
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 4x | 4X points on Southwest Airlines purchases |
| Gas & EV charging | 2x | 2X points at gas stations |
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | 2X points at restaurants |
| Everything else | 1x | 1X point on all other purchases |
The 4X rate on Southwest purchases is competitive within the airline-specific card segment—it ranks 21st among 48 cards that offer flight bonuses. However, the card sacrifices breadth for specialization: 2X on gas and dining places it 17th and 32nd respectively in those categories, and 1X elsewhere (33rd among 100 cards). If you fly Southwest frequently, the high rate in your primary category and the 7,500 annual bonus points drive significant value. If Southwest isn't your airline, you're paying a premium fee for mediocre earning everywhere else.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
At $229, this is among the higher fees in the catalog—17 other cards occupy the $114-$400 band. But Southwest lavishes tangible benefits that offset it: 7,500 annual bonus points (~$98 retail value), free checked bags (worth $30-50+ per round-trip flight for frequent travelers), and up to 4 upgraded boarding reimbursements ($100-200 annual value if you use them). The net payback hinges entirely on flight frequency. If you fly Southwest 3+ times per year, the fee dissolves. If you fly once a year, it's an anchor.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
60,000 bonus points after $2,000 spend in 3 months represents a $900 retail value (assuming 1.5¢ redemption per point, a conservative mark for Southwest's award calendar). The spend threshold is reasonable—$667 per month for three months is achievable for existing Southwest flyers, who typically already carry a balance. That bonus can fund a round-trip domestic flight, instantly erasing the first year's fee plus change.
Similar cards
The entry-level Southwest card ($149 fee) earns only 2X on flights but cuts $80 off the annual cost—worth considering if you fly Southwest 1-2 times per year instead of more.
Broader earning (5X on travel), lower annual fee ($95), and points that transfer to airline partners—a smarter choice if you value flexibility over Southwest specialization.
Frequently asked questions
How many Southwest flights per year do I need to make this card worth it?
At minimum, 2-3 round-trips annually. Each domestic round-trip generates roughly $100-150 in rewards value (4X points on $200-300 ticket, plus perks like free checked bags). The 7,500 annual bonus points add another ~$98 value. Combined, that covers the $229 fee with room to spare. Below 2 annual trips, the fee becomes harder to justify.
What's the difference between the Priority and Premier cards?
The Priority card earns 4X on Southwest flights and costs $229/year; the Premier earns 2X and costs $149/year. Priority includes 7,500 annual bonus points (Premier gets none) and up to 4 upgraded boarding credits per year (Premier gets none). If you fly Southwest frequently, the extra points and perks on Priority pay for the $80 fee difference. If you're casual, Premier is sufficient.
Can I transfer Southwest points to other airlines or use them with partners?
No. Southwest points are locked into Southwest's own award system and cannot be transferred, combined, or redeemed with partners. This is both the card's biggest strength (no devaluation risk from partner depreciation) and biggest weakness (zero flexibility). If you want points that work across airlines, a flexible card like Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better fit.
Is the 60,000-point welcome bonus enough for a flight?
In most cases, yes. A round-trip domestic Southwest flight averages 20,000-30,000 points depending on distance and day booked. The 60,000 bonus covers a round-trip for two people or a round-trip flight with points left over for in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi. International flights cost more (40,000-60,000 points each way), so the bonus alone won't cover a round-trip to Mexico or Hawaii.
What happens if I close my account before earning back the annual fee?
The annual fee is not refundable—it posts on your first statement and is yours to keep even if you cancel immediately. However, if you've already earned the welcome bonus and any annual bonus points, you own those points indefinitely (as long as you maintain active flight activity on your Southwest account). You can use them to book a flight and then close the card, which effectively recovers some of your fee.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026