Annual Fee: $229
Our best points offer this year: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 5 months from account opening. Offer ends 9/18/25 at 9:00 AM EST.
Our best points offer this year: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 5 months from account opening. Offer ends 9/18/25 at 9:00 AM EST.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a co-branded travel credit card designed for Southwest Airlines loyalists. It offers a range of benefits for frequent Southwest travelers, including annual travel credits, priority boarding, and the opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards points on eligible purchases. This card is best for flyers who benefit from the travel credit, upgraded boarding, and elite status boosts.
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on everyday purchases
🏆 Best Southwest Starter Card
🏆 Best Southwest Starter Card
Annual Fee: $99
Annual Fee: $149
Our best points offer this year: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 5 months from account opening. Offer ends 9/18/25 at 9:00 AM EST.
At Daily Drop, our mission is simple: to help you explore the world affordably and experience life-changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score credit cards using a proprietary formula based on dozens of metrics across six key categories: annual fee, welcome offer, rewards rates, redemption value, benefits & perks, and travel protections. Higher scores indicate better overall value.
We net the annual fee against statement credits you'll likely use and focus on a welcome offer’s true return on spending (ROI) rather than just the headline number. We value rewards by their actual worth in cents per point, which is why flexible, transferable points typically score highest. APR is not a standalone scoring category because we recommend paying in full to maximize points and miles, but an intro 0% APR counts as a perk.
Our reviews are editorial and experience-driven. Our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and tested these cards around the world. After all, we would not be Daily Drop if we were not practicing what we preach.
Read our full methodology for more information.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the best personal Southwest card out there (in my opinion). It’s not the cheapest Southwest option, but the extra perks more than make up for it if you’re loyal to the airline. Between the generous welcome offer, annual anniversary points, and travel perks like Upgraded Boardings and Preferred seat selection, this card can quickly pay for itself. If you’re chasing the Companion Pass or fly Southwest even a few times a year, this is a great option for you.
[.pro] Opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards points for Southwest Airlines flights and everyday spending [.pro]
[.pro] Complimentary Preferred seat at booking when available [.pro]
[.pro] Early boarding for you and up to eight companions on your same reservation [.pro]
[.pro] Access to other Southwest Airlines travel benefits, including in-flight discounts [.pro]
[.con] Decent annual fee [.con]
[.con] Points have limited use outside of Southwest’s own program [.con]
[.con] No lounge access or premium travel benefits beyond Southwest [.con]
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming (through December 31, 2025)
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on everyday purchases
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming points for non-flight rewards [.dontreco]
While you can use your Rapid Rewards points for things like gift cards, the value per point is significantly lower compared to booking flights. Save your points for flights to get the best value and enjoy those free trips.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking directly through Southwest’s website [.sometimesreco]
Booking directly on the Southwest Airlines website often unlocks promotional offers and ensures you earn points on your fare. Just keep an eye on blackout dates and availability, as value can fluctuate depending on travel dates.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Utilizing the Companion Pass [.alwaysreco]
The Companion Pass is a game changer, letting a friend or family member fly with you for just the cost of taxes. This benefit makes the card especially valuable for frequent travelers. And, make sure to take advantage of the card's points-earning potential when booking flights to maximize your rewards.
Southwest and Hyatt have a partnership that lets you transfer points between programs. Pairing the Priority with the Hyatt card means you can earn points on hotel stays and potentially convert them into Rapid Rewards for flights (or vice versa). It’s a good combo for Southwest fans who want both a hotel and airline option.
If you already fly Southwest frequently, pairing the Priority card with the Sapphire Reserve gives you premium benefits the Southwest card doesn’t provide, like airport lounge access, travel protections, and a flexible travel credit. You’ll still use the Priority card for Southwest purchases, but the Reserve helps you cover the rest of your travel.
1. The Southwest Loyalist
If you’re flying Southwest multiple times a year, this is the personal card to have. The free checked bag, Preferred seat selection, and Upgraded Boardings make your travel days better while saving you money. Add in the anniversary points, and you’ll easily justify the annual fee. And honestly, even if you don’t travel every week, this card offers enough built-in value to make sense for occasional flights.
2. The Companion Pass Fan
The Companion Pass is Southwest’s holy grail, letting a companion fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. Every point earned from this card counts toward earning the pass, plus you get an automatic 10,000-point head start each year. If the Companion Pass is on your wish list, the Priority card makes a ton of sense.
You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Southwest Plus Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
A decent credit score is recommended for the Southwest Priority Card. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted this card. The worst they can say is “no,” and more often than not, we’ve found these people want to help!