The Southwest Rapid Rewards PRIORITY Credit Card hits the sweet spot of benefits vs. annual fees.  Learn why this is my FAVORITE Southwest credit card as a frequent domestic traveler! 

WELCOME BONUS (September 2021)

Earn 40,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $1K in the first 3 months of opening your card.  PLUS, earn 3X points on dining at restaurants (including takeout & eligible delivery services) in the first year.  The approximate value of the 40K points = $600 for Southwest flights.

ANNUAL FEE = $149

EARN SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS POINTS

- 2X Southwest purchases*

- 1X Other purchases

Includes purchases made on Rapid Rewards hotels and car rental partners.

REDEEM SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS POINTS

- Flights = 1.5¢ per point (avg.)

- Other redemption options include cruises, hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards (usually at a worse value).

PERKS & BENEFITS

- 7,500 Anniversary Points:  Automatically deposited into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account each cardmember anniversary year.

- $75 Southwest Annual Travel Credit:  Automatic statement credit when you make Southwest purchases on your card, up to $75 in credits per cardmember anniversary year. 

EXCLUDES: Upgraded Boardings and inflight purchases.

Source

- 4 Upgraded Boardings:  Get reimbursed for up to 4 Upgraded Boardings charged to your card each cardmember anniversary year.  Upgraded Boardings may be purchased at the departure gate or ticket counter only on the day of travel, when available, and provide an A1 – A15 boarding position.  Price of Upgraded Boardings is based on your itinerary.

- Elite Status Boost:  Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 in purchases, up to $100,000 in purchases annually (i.e., max earnings of 15,000 TQPs).  "Annually means the year beginning with your account open date through the first December statement date of that same year, and each 12 billing cycles starting after your December statement date through the following December statement date.”

- 20% Discount:  Receive 20% off inflight purchases, including Wi-Fi and drinks.

- DoorDash:  Free DashPass membership for 12 months.  Activate by 12/31/2021.

- No Foreign Transaction Fees

INSURANCE & PROTECTIONS

- Lost Luggage Reimbursement:  If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

- Baggage Delay Insurance:  Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days.

- Extended Warranty Protection:  Extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.

- Purchase Protection:  Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

SHOULD YOU GET IT?

YES if you…

- Fly Southwest every year

- Will use the $75 credit every year

- Want to “buy” 7,500 points annually at a discount

- Normally buy Upgraded Boardings (or at least Early Bird) every year

- Want to qualify for A-List or A-List Preferred elite status faster via spend

NO if you…

- Don’t fly Southwest every year

- Wouldn’t use the Southwest-specific benefits

- Prefer flexible / transferrable travel rewards

- Prefer cash back rewards

- Are over Chase 5/24 Rule

- Can’t make sense of the $149 annual fee

- Want to earn Southwest points quickly

Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Mark Reese is not a financial advisor.

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