Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card overview
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards. It has a $229 annual payment and gives 7,500 anniversary bonus factors. With essentially the most advantages of any of Southwest’s playing cards, that is the cardboard to get if you happen to’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Southwest Airways is in the midst of sweeping adjustments, together with an up to date boarding process beginning in January 2026 and bags no longer flying free. In contrast to different airways, Southwest does not provide lounges, however it plans to implement premium cabins and has began retrofitting planes to incorporate seats with extra legroom.
Amidst all of those adjustments, the airline’s full suite of cobranded credit cards was recently refreshed, introducing all kinds of adjustments.
This contains the Southwest Priority card, essentially the most premium card with perks geared toward making the Southwest journey expertise extra nice for frequent Southwest flyers.
This card gained the Greatest Airline Cobranded Credit score Card award within the 2024 TPG Awards, however with these new adjustments, solely time will inform if it’s going to take dwelling the crown once more this 12 months.
The Southwest Precedence card has a advisable credit score of 670 or above.
Let’s dive in and see if the cardboard’s advantages are useful sufficient to warrant its $229 annual payment, and whether or not now’s the best time so that you can apply.
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card execs and cons
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Southwest Precedence Credit score Card welcome provide
New Southwest Priority cardholders can earn an elevated 85,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
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In line with TPG’s October 2025 valuations, the 85,000 factors included on this welcome provide are value $1,190. This is without doubt one of the greater points-only welcome gives we’ve seen on the cardboard and meets our standards on when to use.
Be aware that Southwest cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. For those who’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards previously 24 months (from all banks, not simply Chase), you will not be authorised.
Moreover, you possibly can’t open a brand new private Southwest card you probably have one open. You additionally will not have the ability to get a brand new welcome bonus from a private Southwest card if you happen to’ve acquired one previously 24 months.
Associated: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Southwest Precedence Credit score Card advantages
The Southwest Priority card gives the next advantages, lots of which can assist offset the annual payment. Most advantages will make the day-of-travel expertise way more fulfilling.
It is vital to notice that present cardholders will obtain all their present advantages till Dec. 31.
Cardholders obtain:
- Anniversary bonus: In your card anniversary annually, you will obtain 7,500 Speedy Rewards factors, value $105 primarily based on TPG’s valuations.
- Annual Southwest journey credit score: Throughout every cardmember 12 months, you will obtain a $75 journey credit score that can be utilized on most Southwest purchases, together with tickets (excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases; this credit score will finish Dec. 31).
- Two EarlyBird Check-Ins yearly: These EarlyBird Test-Ins can price as a lot $99 (ends Dec. 31).
- 4 upgraded boardings per 12 months: For flights working in 2025, you will have the flexibility to improve your boarding as much as 4 instances (ends Dec. 31).
- Free first checked bag: Obtain a free first checked bag for you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation. (A normal first checked bag prices $35, which might save a household of 4 $280 on a round-trip itinerary.)
- Group 5 precedence boarding (for 2026 and past): When you have A-list status, you possibly can board with an earlier group.
- Most well-liked seat choice at reserving: When accessible, you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation can choose most well-liked seating on the time of reserving.
- Limitless extra-legroom upgrades: When accessible, you and as much as eight passengers touring on the identical reservation can choose extra-legroom seats inside 48 hours previous to departure. This arguably is essentially the most useful perk offered by the cardboard, as most home airways solely provide complimentary extra-legroom seating to their elite members or require a hefty spending quantity on a cobranded card.
- 25% inflight financial savings: Obtain 25% again (as an announcement credit score) after you employ your card to buy inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
- Tier qualifying factors increase: Earn 2,500 tier qualifying factors that depend towards A-Checklist and A-Checklist Most well-liked standing for each $5,000 you spend in a calendar 12 months.
- 10,000 Companion Go qualifying factors increase yearly: Cardholders obtain 10,000 factors towards a Companion Go annually.
Along with the Southwest-specific advantages, the cardboard comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
The cardboard additionally carries no foreign transaction fees, so it is a good selection for spending overseas.
Associated: How to get airline elite status
Incomes factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Here is what you will earn with the Southwest Priority card:
- 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return primarily based on TPG’s valuations)
- 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places (2.8%)
- 2 factors per greenback spent with Speedy Rewards resort and automotive rental companions (2.8%; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on local transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing apps (2.8%; ends Dec. 31)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on web, cable and cellphone providers and select streaming purchases (2.8%; ends Dec. 31)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all other purchases (1.4%)
This card gives a greater diversity of bonus classes than different airline credit cards; nonetheless, many of those bonus classes might be eliminated on the finish of the 12 months. You could be higher suited with different prime journey playing cards, as their earnings might be much more profitable.
You may earn 5.6% again on Southwest purchases and a couple of.8% again on choose purchases (in keeping with TPG’s valuations), which aren’t dangerous charges of return for a cobranded bank card. Plus, the fuel and grocery bonus class might be useful for many who plan to place a bulk of their on a regular basis spending on the cardboard.
Nevertheless, this will not be one of the best Southwest card for you if you happen to do not ebook Southwest flights usually or want to make use of different portals for resort and rental automotive bookings.
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Redeeming factors with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card
Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards factors with the Southwest Priority card could be very simple.
Southwest award costs are immediately tied to the money worth of the ticket, that means the variety of factors you want for a flight will fluctuate, however you will not often encounter instances when you possibly can’t use your factors. Plus, you possibly can redeposit your award with out penalty in case your plans change.
Whereas Southwest’s factors will not enable you fly in first-class suites, they will present nice worth.
As an example, you possibly can fly from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Chicago’s Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW) for as few as 8,091 factors one-way, relying on the time of 12 months. In the meantime, different airways usually cost 10,000 miles or much more (assuming yow will discover availability).
For those who ebook throughout certainly one of Southwest’s flash sales, you may rating awards for lower than 2,500 factors one-way. You’ll be able to even fly to enjoyable locations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico along with your Southwest factors.
As an example, Emily Thompson, a e-newsletter and partnerships editor at TPG, not too long ago took benefit of certainly one of these gross sales to ebook a round-trip ticket between Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA) and San Jose Mineta Worldwide Airport (SJC) in California for below 25,000 factors.
Associated: How to redeem your points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program
Which playing cards compete with the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card?
Southwest Airways gives three private playing cards, so you possibly can select the one that matches you finest.
- In order for you Southwest advantages with a extra modest payment: The Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card has a $149 annual payment. It gives most well-liked seat choice inside 48 hours previous to departure (when accessible), one 15% promotional code every cardmember anniversary (excluding primary fare), 6,000 anniversary bonus factors and a free checked bag. To study extra, learn our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
- In order for you a Southwest card with an excellent decrease annual payment: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a $99 annual payment and permits customary seat choice inside 48 hours previous to departure (when accessible), one 10% promotional code every cardmember anniversary (excluding primary fare), 3,000 anniversary bonus factors and a free checked bag. To study extra, learn our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
- In order for you transferable factors to make use of with Southwest and different airways: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch 1:1 to certainly one of Chase’s 13 companions, together with Southwest. You may get quite a few journey protections, a $50 annual hotel credit on resort bookings made by Chase Journey℠ and strong incomes classes for a $95 annual payment. To study extra, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
For extra choices, try our full checklist of travel credit cards.
The knowledge for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Is the Southwest Precedence Credit score Card value it?
For those who fly Southwest not less than just a few instances annually, you’ll come out forward with the Southwest Priority card. Its on a regular basis incomes charges aren’t essentially the most profitable, however spectacular built-in perks like most well-liked seat choice (when accessible), Group 5 boarding (for 2026 and past), free checked luggage for you and eight journey companions, and anniversary bonus factors make up for it. Nevertheless, if you happen to fly Southwest much less usually, you will possible want certainly one of our different favourite airline playing cards.
Associated: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Backside line
The Southwest Priority card is essentially the most rewarding of Southwest Airways’ private bank cards, permitting you to earn a very good stash of factors and get essentially the most advantages of any of the airline’s choices.
Regardless of the current refresh and annual payment improve, that is nonetheless one of the best Southwest card for you if you happen to fly the provider usually.
Nevertheless, if you happen to do not fly Southwest usually or wish to preserve your annual payment prices decrease, it’s possible you’ll wish to go for one of many different Southwest cobranded playing cards or a card that earns transferable rewards.
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
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