Southwest Priority Credit Card review: Valuable perks for frequent Southwest travelers
If you’re a Southwest Airlines frequent flyer, the (see rates and fees) may just be the perfect airline card for your wallet. The card offers perks like a Preferred seat at booking (when available), your first checked bag free and 7,500 bonus Southwest Rapid Rewards points every cardholder anniversary.
If you’re able to maximize all its perks, it’s easy to get outsize value out of the Southwest Priority. That said, those who only fly the carrier a couple of times each year will be better off with one of Southwest’s more affordable cards. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Southwest Priority Credit Card: The basics
The charges a $229 annual fee in exchange for a number of Southwest-connected benefits. Notable perks include:
- Access to a Preferred seat at booking (when available)
- Your first checked bag free for you and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation
- 7,500 bonus points each cardholder anniversary, worth about $94 according to TPG’s May 2026 valuations
- Unlimited upgrades to extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure (when available)
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year
- 2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent
- Priority boarding
In addition to these benefits, Southwest Priority cardholders can earn bonus points on Southwest purchases, as well as those made at restaurants and gas stations.
Southwest Priority Credit Card pros and cons
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Southwest Priority Credit Card benefits
In an age when many credit cards use statement credits for a wide selection of merchants, it’s nice to see the keep its perks dialed in on its own airline. You won’t need to break out a spreadsheet to ensure you’re getting optimal value from your card, but you will need to fly often enough on Southwest to justify the Priority’s $229 price tag.
Your first checked bag starts at $30 for interisland Hawaii travel and $45 for mainland U.S. travel, so it’s possible to save quite a lot with this card’s free first checked bag perk. Even if you travel solo, checking a bag five times on mainland U.S. flights will cover the entire annual fee.
It’s hard to place a dollar value on priority boarding and a Companion Pass qualifying points boost. If you’re generally a solo traveler, the opportunity to get a Companion Pass likely won’t be something you see much worth in. On the other hand, if you’re close to netting that coveted perk, receiving an additional 10,000 qualifying points could justify the annual fee on its own.
Overall, the Southwest Priority offers a very solid set of benefits for the annual fee it charges, provided you fly with Southwest several times each year. Airlines design their top-shelf credit cards with loyalists in mind, and I’d say the Priority delivers here.
How to earn and use your rewards
The earns Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:
- 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
For the annual fee it charges, I’d like to see the Southwest Priority offer more points per dollar spent on flights. This card only earns 1 additional point per dollar spent on Southwest flights compared to the much cheaper Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
While that’s not a huge ding against the Priority, I believe it’d make a stronger case for itself if it offered 5 or even 6 points per dollar spent on Southwest flights. That would feel like a more meaningful step up from what the Premier earns.
That said, if you’re a Southwest loyalist, this card is a great way to earn additional points for your flights. If you don’t strictly fly with Southwest, your spending may be better off on a Chase Ultimate Rewards card like the (see rates and fees) since Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a variety of airlines, including Southwest.
Where the Southwest Priority Credit Card falls short
If you’re not someone who flies with Southwest at least several times each year, you’ll struggle to get proper value out of the . Its $229 annual fee can be offset with perks like free checked bags and a Companion Pass qualifying points boost, but this is only the case if you’re committed to flying often with Southwest.
If you’re someone who flies with this airline only a few times each year or less, you’ll likely be better off with a cheaper Southwest card or an Ultimate Rewards card.
Southwest Priority vs. Southwest Premier
The Southwest Premier charges a more moderate $149 annual fee, making it a better fit for those who fly with Southwest two or three times each year. Like those with the Southwest Priority, as a Southwest Premier cardholder, you’ll receive your first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year, priority boarding and the ability to earn tier qualifying points through spending.
Unlike the Priority, the Premier offers access to Preferred seats within 48 hours of departure (when available), instead of at booking. You’ll also receive 6,000 bonus points each year with the Premier versus 7,500 points as a Priority cardholder. The Premier also swaps gas for grocery stores in its bonus categories and places a spending cap of $8,000 per year on its grocery and restaurant categories.
If you’re not a Southwest loyalist or you’re a big Southwest fan who only travels a couple of times each year, the Southwest Premier is likely the better choice for you. If you expect to fly with Southwest more than three times in a year, consider the Southwest Priority instead.
To learn more, check out our comparison of the personal Southwest cards.
Is the Southwest Priority Credit Card worth it?
For Southwest devotees, the card can be a big boost to their wallet. With a variety of perks to help frequent flyers justify its annual fee, the Priority can go a long way toward making your day-of-travel experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
That said, only Southwest’s biggest fans will get maximum value out of this card. If you’re an infrequent traveler or you fly on a variety of airlines, I recommend considering one of Southwest’s cheaper cards instead.
When to apply for the Southwest Priority Credit Card
Right now, new cardholders can earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s valuations, those 90,000 bonus points are worth $1,125.
It’s important to note that you need to accrue 135,000 qualifying points to earn a Companion Pass on Southwest. When combining the points in this offer with the 10,000 qualifying points boost this card offers, you’ll be roughly three-quarters of the way to that 135,000-point threshold.
This is an elevated offer for this card, so now is a good time to apply if you’ve been eyeing this card for a while. Just remember that Chase’s 5/24 rule applies to all Southwest cards.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Southwest Priority
If the isn’t worth a spot in your wallet, here are a few other cards to consider instead:
- If you want a Southwest card with a low annual fee: The (see rates and fees) charges $99 each year but still offers great perks like your first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions and priority boarding. To learn more, check out our full review of the Southwest Plus.
- If you want a card that earns transferable rewards: The earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to Southwest. It earns points on dining at a higher rate than the Southwest Priority, earning 3 points per dollar spent. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want a card that offers premium perks: The (see rates and fees) offers a slew of high-end benefits, including lounge access, statement credits for an array of merchants and expansive travel protections. It also earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to Southwest. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
For additional options, check out our picks for the best airline and travel cards.
Bottom line
For the right Southwest fan, the Southwest Priority can be a big bonus for your wallet. It offers a lot of valuable perks, including your first checked bag free, priority boarding and a boost toward the beloved Companion Pass.
When determining which Southwest card is right for you, consider how often you fly with the airline, whether you usually travel solo and how frequently you check a bag. Provided you can make this card’s annual fee work for you, it’s a card I recommend.
