Southwest and Chase currently offer different welcome bonuses on each of the three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. The Priority Card has the largest bonus, but that does not necessarily make it the best deal.
The more expensive the card, the more points you can earn. However, each step up also comes with a higher annual fee and a larger spending requirement.
That makes the decision more complicated than simply choosing the card displaying the largest number. The Plus Card offers fewer points but requires less spending and costs considerably less to keep. Meanwhile, the Priority Card may justify its higher cost for travelers who value better seat-selection benefits.
If you decide to apply for one of Southwest’s personal credit cards, we’d appreciate it if you used our referral link. We may receive Southwest points for a qualifying referral, which helps support Your Mileage May Vary.
The Current Southwest Credit Card Welcome Offers
The three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards currently offer different bonuses and spending requirements:
| Card | Welcome Offer | Minimum Spending Requirement | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | 50,000 bonus points | $1,000 in the first 3 months | $99 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card | 55,000 bonus points | $1,500 in the first 3 months | $149 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | 60,000 bonus points | $2,000 in the first 3 months | $229 |
The Priority Card offers 10,000 more points than the Plus Card, but it also requires another $1,000 in spending and has an annual fee that is $130 higher.
The Largest Bonus Comes With The Highest Cost
Each step up in the Southwest card lineup provides another 5,000 bonus points:
- The Premier Card offers 5,000 more points than the Plus Card, but it has a $50 higher annual fee and requires another $500 in spending.
- The Priority Card offers 10,000 more points than the Plus Card, but it has a $130 higher annual fee and requires another $1,000 in spending.
That does not automatically make either of the more expensive cards a poor choice. However, the ongoing benefits matter more than the difference in welcome bonuses. Paying a higher annual fee makes the most sense when you expect to use the additional seating, earning or status-related benefits after the first year.
The Southwest Plus Card May Be The Most Sensible Choice For Many Travelers
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card currently offers 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months. It has a $99 annual fee.
For a $99 annual fee and only $1,000 in required spending, the card includes several benefits that became much more important after Southwest changed how it operates:
- First checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
- Complimentary Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure, when available.
- Boarding no later than Group 5 for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- A 10% anniversary flight discount promo code, excluding Basic fares.
- A 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.
- 25% back on inflight purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
I recently wrote about why we decided to keep the Plus Card instead of paying more for the Priority Card. When Southwest allowed two checked bags for everyone and used open seating, the Plus Card did not offer much that changed the travel experience. Now that cardholders can avoid the first checked bag fee and receive a seat-related benefit, the card has a clearer reason to exist.
For someone who flies Southwest occasionally and mainly wants to avoid paying for a checked bag, the Plus Card may provide enough ongoing value without paying more for benefits they may rarely use.
Does The Southwest Premier Card Offer Enough More?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card currently offers 55,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first three months. Its annual fee is $149.
The Premier Card includes many of the same basic benefits as the Plus Card, including a first checked bag free, Group 5 boarding, a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost and 25% back on inflight purchases.
Where it improves on the Plus Card is with:
- Complimentary Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure, when available, instead of Standard seat selection.
- 6,000 anniversary points instead of 3,000.
- A 15% anniversary flight discount promo code instead of 10%, excluding Basic fares.
- 3X points on Southwest Airlines purchases instead of 2X.
- 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually.
Those benefits are real improvements, particularly if you value having a better chance at selecting a Preferred seat. But the Premier Card now occupies an awkward spot in Southwest’s lineup. It costs $50 more each year than the Plus Card and requires another $500 in spending to earn only 5,000 additional welcome points.
When The Southwest Priority Card Makes Sense
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card currently offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first three months. It also has the highest annual fee, at $229.
The Priority Card includes the same first checked bag benefit and Group 5 boarding as the other two personal cards. What makes it different is its seating benefit:
- Complimentary Preferred seat selection at booking, when available.
- Unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, when available.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- 4X points on Southwest Airlines purchases.
- 2X points at gas stations and restaurants.
- 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually.
- A 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.
- 25% back on inflight purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Before Southwest changed its seating and checked-bag policies, the Priority Card was easier to justify because it offered benefits such as an annual Southwest travel credit and upgraded boarding privileges. The current version of the card is different. Its value now depends much more heavily on whether you care about selecting Preferred seats at booking or possibly moving into Extra Legroom seats before departure.
If you fly Southwest regularly and care where you sit, the Priority Card has the strongest ongoing perks. But applying solely for the additional 10,000 welcome points is harder to justify when the card costs $130 more each year than the Plus Card.
Which Southwest Credit Card Offer Should You Choose?
There is no single best card for everyone, but the decision breaks down this way:
- Choose the Plus Card if you want the lowest annual fee, the smallest spending requirement, and the first checked bag benefit without paying extra for stronger seating perks.
- Choose the Premier Card if you are willing to pay slightly more for Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure and improved anniversary and earning benefits.
- Choose the Priority Card if you fly Southwest often enough to value Preferred seat selection at booking, possible Extra Legroom upgrades and faster progress toward A-List status.
For many occasional Southwest travelers, the Plus Card may still be the most practical choice. Giving up 10,000 bonus points compared with the Priority Card also means paying $130 less each year and completing $1,000 less in required spending.
Remember The Application Restrictions
Chase states that these products are available to applicants who do not currently have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card within the last 24 months. This restriction does not apply to Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.
In addition, Chase credit cards are generally subject to the bank’s 5/24 application rule.
Final Thought
The Priority Card has the largest welcome bonus, but the differences among these offers are not large enough to ignore the annual fees and ongoing benefits.
The Plus Card may be the better choice for someone who mainly wants Southwest points, a free first checked bag and a manageable annual fee. The Priority Card makes more sense for frequent Southwest flyers who value better seat-selection benefits. The Premier Card remains the middle option, although its value depends on whether its modest upgrades justify paying more than the Plus Card.
If you decide one of these cards is right for you, we’d appreciate it if you apply through our Southwest credit card referral link.
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