Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Review

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a keeper card in my book since it helps you earn Companion Pass, and you receive travel credits each year.

Key Features

• $75 Southwest travel credit each year

Spend multipliers:

• 2x on Southwest purchases
• 1x on all other purchase
• 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available
• 20% back on in-flight drinks and WiFi
   
• Foreign transaction fees: 0%

Who qualifies for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card?

This card is not available to anyone who already has a Southwest Rapid Rewards personal card, or who has received a welcome bonus on said card within the past 24 months.

This card is available to you if you already have a Southwest business card.

Since the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card is a  Chase card, it is also subject to the 5/24 rule, which means you’re not likely to be approved if you’ve opened five new cards in the last 24 months.

Additional Card Benefits

4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available

Up to four bookings per year are eligible for an upgrade reimbursement. In order to qualify, the upgrades must be purchased on the day of travel at either the ticket counter or the departure gate. Reimbursements will be applied as a statement credit.
 

Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-list status

To earn A-list status, you’ll need at least 35,000 tier-qualifying points or book 25 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year.

Earn up to 15,000 tier-qualifying points per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. Get 1,500 points for every $10,000 you spend.

A-list status in the Rapid Rewards program gets you access to benefits including:

• priority boarding
• priority check-in and security lane access
• 25% more Rapid Rewards points earned on flights
• free same-day standby
• dedicated customer service phone line
   

A-List Preferred status

In addition to the above mentioned A-List perks, you’ll have access to:

• free in-flight Wi-Fi on equipped planes
• 100% points bonus when purchasing eligible Southwest flights (rather than just a 25% bonus)

To qualify for A-List Preferred you must earn 70,000 tier-qualifying points in a calendar year; the tier-qualifying points you earn with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card apply to this status as well.

Once you earn either Companion Pass and A-List/A-List Preferred status, they're good for the rest of the calendar year and the whole next year.
 

Other Benefits

• Auto rental collision damage waiver: Secondary within the US, and primary internationally
• Baggage delay coverage & lost luggage reimbursement: Reimbursement up to $3,000 if your bag is damaged or lost
• Roadside assistance, travel accident insurance: Depending on the situation, maximum coverages range from $250,000-$500,000
• Extended warranty protection: Extends your US manufacturer warranty by one year on eligible warranties of three years or less on purchases made with the card
• Purchase protection: Covers you for up to 120 days from date of purchase for damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account

What is Southwest Companion Pass?

Southwest Companion Pass allows one traveling companion to fly with you for free (minus taxes or fees) whenever you purchase or redeem points for a trip.

You can change your designated companion up to three times per year.

One way to get the pass is to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a year. All points earned with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, including sign-up and anniversary bonuses, count toward the pass.

How to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards

You can redeem points for travel, reward flights and upgrades on Southwest flights only. Note that these points are not eligible to be transferred to travel partners or other airlines.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Worth It?

Of the three Southwest cards on the market, this is the best choice for Southwest loyal flyers regardless of the annual fee if you can maximize the credits each year. However, if you’re not restricting yourself to one airline, consider a general travel card that offers more redemption flexibility instead.

For example,  Chase Ultimate Rewards is a transfer partner with Southwest Rapid Rewards. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio and are far more flexible and can be earned a lot faster.

If earning Companion Pass is at the top of your list, it’s best to go with a Southwest Rapid Rewards card. If earning the most points is your priority, consider another  Chase travel card and transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to your Rapid Rewards account for redemption as needed.

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