8 Southwest Priority Card Benefits You Didn’t Know About
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Written by
Michelle Lambright Black
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is one of the best Chase credit cards available for frequent Southwest travelers. As of its latest refresh, the card now comes with a higher annual fee of $229 (up from $149). But it also introduced new perks and improved existing benefits to compensate for the increased expense.
If you want to evaluate whether the card still delivers value, here are some of the best Southwest Priority Card benefits — including lesser-mentioned perks that many people aren’t talking about much yet.
1. First Checked Bag Free (for the Cardholder and Up to 8 Additional Passengers)
One of the most tangible benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is something the card issuer just introduced with the card’s recent changes. As a cardholder, you and up to eight additional passengers on your same reservation, can check your first bag for free when you fly Southwest.
Since it now costs $35 per bag, per trip to check luggage on Southwest flights, this perk can add up fast. For a family of five like mine, we can save up to $350 on a single round-trip itinerary using this new feature of my card (and larger parties could save even more). For this reason alone, paying the extra fee is a no-brainer for me — even with the newly increased $229 annual fee.
2. Improved Rewards on Southwest Purchases and Bonus Categories
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card now earns 4x points on eligible Southwest Airlines purchases; previously, those purchases earned 3x points. Additionally, the card now offers 2x points on eligible purchases at gas stations and restaurants with no annual cap. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.
Those enhanced earning rates can make a difference if you’re a frequent Southwest traveler. And if you use the card on a regular basis or commuting, dining or fuel, your rewards could add up as well. However, you can find other rewards credit cards that are more competitive in these bonus categories.
3. New Seating and Boarding Perks (2026 and Beyond)
Some perks are still becoming active. But they’ll definitely be nice once Southwest Airlines introduces assigned seating in January 2026.
Starting in 2026, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card will include additional benefits like:
- Complimentary Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking (based on availability) for you and up to eight passengers on your reservation at no added cost
- Unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours before departure (based on availability) for you and up to eight passengers on your reservation at no added cost
- Group 5 boarding for you and up to eight passengers on your reservation, likely improving your access to overhead bin space
4. Anniversary Points and Companion Pass Boost
One cardholder perk that hasn’t changed (but is still valuable) is the 7,500 anniversary points you get each year. You’ll need to wait until after your one-year cardmember anniversary before these points kick in for the first time.
You also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually. If you’re working to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, these points can be helpful since it now takes either 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar to earn this benefit.
The Companion Pass can offer massive savings if you’re able to qualify for it. The year my husband and I opened our Southwest Priority cards, we both earned separate Companion passes thanks in large part to the welcome bonus Southwest was offering at the time. Together, we flew our children on over a dozen (nearly) free flights over the following months and saved thousands of dollars in the process.
5. Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) and A-List Status Acceleration
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card now earns 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend each year. That’s an increase compared to the previous 1,500 TQPs the card offered previously.
These TQPs can help you earn Southwest’s A-List status faster. With A-List status, you can unlock perks like priority boarding, priority check-in/security lane access and dedicated phone lines.
6. 25% Back on In-Flight Purchases
Using your Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card for in-flight purchases comes with additional benefits. When you buy in-flight drinks or Wi-Fi and pay with your card, you’ll automatically receive 25% back as a statement credit. It’s worth noting, however, that at the end of October 2025, all Southwest Rapid Rewards members will have access to free unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi at no extra cost.
7. No Foreign Transaction Fees
Even though Southwest Airlines has a limited selection of international flights compared to some other carriers, you may still find yourself making purchases abroad with your Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card. But whether you’re booking hotels, tours or shopping internationally, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees. This perk can save you 3% or more compared to credit cards that have this added expense.
8. Welcome Bonus
As with many of the best airline credit cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card comes with a generous welcome bonus for new cardholders. At present, you can earn 50,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
These bonus points not only help you book free flights sooner, but they also count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. If you time your application strategically at the beginning of a calendar year, you could stretch the value of your bonus even further. When you earn a Companion Pass, it’s good for the remainder of the year in which you earn it plus the complete following year.
The information related to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card Benefits
Is the Southwest Priority Card worth the $229 annual fee?
The $229 annual fee on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card can be worthwhile, especially if you’re a frequent flyer with Southwest Airlines and use the benefits like free checked bags for up to nine people per reservation, anniversary points and the Companion Pass boost. But if you only fly Southwest on occasion, the increased annual fee may outweigh the value the card offers.
When do the new seating and boarding perks take effect with the Southwest Priority Card?
The new Southwest Priority Card perks, like Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking (when available), extra legroom upgrades (also when available), and Group 5 boarding, kick in beginning January 2026 when Southwest transitions to assigned seating.
What happened to the $75 annual Southwest travel credit?
This Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card benefit goes away on Dec. 31, 2025. After that date, the card will no longer offer an annual credit to cardholders.
How many points do I earn with the Southwest Priority Card?
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, you’ll earn 4x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points at gas stations and restaurants and 1x points on all other purchases. Additionally, through Dec. 31, 2025, you’ll earn 2x points on internet, cable and phone service purchases, 2x points on select streaming services, and 2x points on local transit and commuting purchases.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card the best Southwest card?
The best Southwest Airlines credit card depends on your travel habits. If you fly Southwest on a frequent basis and value perks like free checked baggage and a faster path to Companion Pass qualification, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card stands out. But if you’re someone who prefers a lower annual fee, you might want to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($99 annual fee) or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149 annual fee) as possible alternatives.
