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

Anniversary Bonus:

🎁 Get 7,500 Rapid Rewards points every card anniversary.
 

Point Multipliers:

• 4x points on Southwest purchases (flights, gift cards, in-flight purchases)
• 2x points at gas stations and restaurants
• 1x  points on everything else
   

Also, Until 12/31/25:

• 4 Upgraded Boardings when available for flights flying in 2025
• $75 annual Southwest Travel Credit
• 4x on Southwest Cruises
• 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel + rental car partners
• 2x on transit, rideshare, cable, phone, internet, and streaming

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

🏆 Big Wins (Cardmember + 8 Companions on the Same Reservation):

• Preferred Seat at Booking
  • Select a Preferred or Standard seat at no extra cost when available for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation.
• Extra Legroom Seats
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary upgrades to extra legroom seats within 48 hours of departure for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, when available.
• Group 5 Boarding
  • You and up to 8 companions on the same reservation automatically board in Group 5. Helpful for earlier access to overhead bins.
• First Checked Bag Free
  • You and up to 8 companions on the same reservation get your first checked bag free. This can save up to $280 round-trip for a family of four, based on a $35 fee each way per bag.
• 25% Back on Inflight Purchases
• Get 25% back as a statement credit when you use your card for in-flight Wi-Fi, drinks, and snacks. Applies to purchases made by the primary cardholder.

🎯 Status and Companion Pass Boosters:

• Spend Toward A-List Status
  • Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 in purchases on the card. No cap.
• 10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points
  • Each calendar year, you receive 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points automatically just for being a cardmember.

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.

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.

4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available (until 12/31/25)

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.
 

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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