Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card review

Editor’s observe: This can be a recurring put up, frequently up to date with new info.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is probably the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards, providing a $75 annual Southwest credit score and seven,500 anniversary bonus factors. With a wholesome sign-up bonus and probably the most advantages of any of the airline’s choices, that is the cardboard to get if you happen to’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐½

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

Southwest Airways has a legion of followers — largely as a consequence of its versatile change/cancellation insurance policies and providing two free checked baggage for all passengers. In contrast to different airways, Southwest doesn’t provide lounges, premium cabins and even seating with additional legroom. Nevertheless it does provide a full suite of cobranded credit cards to assist frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest journey objectives.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is probably the most premium private bank card within the Southwest lineup. It affords lots of of {dollars} in worth with Southwest every year, and its present sign-up bonus affords a wholesome level bonus.

However are its advantages precious sufficient to warrant the $149 annual payment? And is now the fitting time so that you can apply? Let’s discover out.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card at present affords a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus factors plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. TPG values Speedy Rewards factors at 1.5 cents every, which means 60,000 factors are price $900.

That is the primary time Southwest has provided a promo code as a part of a sign-up bonus on a bank card. The code will seem immediately in your Southwest.com account inside eight weeks of assembly the spending requirement. It may be used — solely as soon as — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Enterprise Choose fare, and is accessible to be used till October 31, 2024.

Given it’s a single-use promo code, it might be finest to save lots of this for a costlier ticket. You will get the most important financial savings when utilizing the code for round-trip journey and/or throughout peak journey intervals just like the summer season or the vacations.

Observe that the welcome bonus will rely towards incomes the provider’s honored Companion Pass, which usually requires 135,000 factors in a calendar 12 months.

Associated: 13 lessons from 13 years’ worth of Southwest Companion Passes

All Southwest playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This implies if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards up to now 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you is probably not accredited. Additionally, you may’t open a brand new private Southwest card if you happen to at present have one open or if you happen to earned a sign-up bonus up to now 24 months on any private Southwest card.

This can be a large number of bonus classes in comparison with different airline credit cards, although top travel cards are usually much more profitable.

Associated: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming factors with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card may be very simple. Southwest award costs are immediately tied to the money worth of the ticket, which means the variety of factors you want for a flight will fluctuate, however you’ll hardly ever encounter instances when you may’t use your factors. Plus, in case your plans change, you may redeposit your award with out penalty.

Whereas Southwest’s Speedy Rewards factors received’t provide help to fly in first-class suites, they will present nice worth. As an example, you may fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) for simply 8,091 factors one-way, relying on the time of 12 months. In the meantime, different airways typically cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming you could find availability).

In case you ebook throughout one in every of Southwest’s flash sales, you might rating awards for lower than 2,500 factors one-way. You may even fly to enjoyable faraway locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico together with your Southwest factors.

• Anniversary bonus: Annually in your card-opening anniversary, you’ll obtain 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors, price about $112, based mostly on TPG’s valuations.
• Annual Southwest journey credit score: Throughout 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 price to $74.
• 25% inflight financial savings: Obtain 25% again (as a press release credit score) after you utilize your card to buy inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and flicks.
• Tier qualifying factors enhance: Earn 1,500 TQPs that rely towards A-Checklist and A-Checklist Most popular standing for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months.

Along with the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with misplaced baggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection. The cardboard has no international transaction charges, and the annual payment is $149.

Southwest Airways at present affords three personal cards — all with the identical sign-up bonus. Thus, it may be troublesome to decide on the fitting one.

• If you need Southwest advantages with a extra modest payment: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has the identical welcome bonus however additional perks to justify its $99 annual payment. These embody 6,000 anniversary bonus factors, 2 EarlyBird check-ins per 12 months, 25% again on inflight purchases and 1,500 TQPs in the direction of A-Checklist standing for every $10,000 spent on the cardboard. For extra particulars, learn our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
• If you need a Southwest card with a good decrease annual payment: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual payment and an anniversary bonus of three,000 factors. You’ll additionally obtain 2 EarlyBird check-ins each card anniversary. For extra info, learn our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
• If you need factors you should utilize with Southwest and different airways: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch 1:1 to Southwest — in addition to a variety of airways — for making flight redemptions. You’ll get quite a few journey protections, a $50 annual hotel credit and strong incomes classes, and the cardboard has a $95 annual payment. For extra info, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

For extra choices, try our full record of travel credit cards.

Associated: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier, and Plus Credit Cards

In case you fly Southwest a minimum of a number of instances every year, you’ll come out forward with the Southwest Priority Credit Card. The cardboard’s on a regular basis incomes charges aren’t probably the most profitable on the market, however spectacular built-in perks like upgraded boardings, a $75 annual journey credit score and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus simply make up for it.

Official software hyperlink: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

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