A comparison of the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards: Priority, Premier, and Plus

Welcome offers are often a key differentiator among credit cards within the same brand. But what about the Southwest Airlines consumer credit cards, which frequently feature identical sign-up bonuses?

The three cards below all provide the same sign-up bonus of 50,000 points (valued at $700 based on TPG's June 2024 valuations) when you spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening your account:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Even though their names are quite similar, these three cards have significant differences. The best choice for you will depend on how frequently you fly with Southwest and how well you can take advantage of each card's unique benefits. Here’s what you need to know to make your decision.

The details for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been verified or provided by the card issuer.

Overview of Southwest credit cards

Are you a regular Southwest traveler? Opt for the Priority card.

The Southwest Priority card presents a strong argument in its favor.

As a regular traveler with Southwest, you'll easily maximize the $75 annual travel credit, bringing your effective out-of-pocket expense for this card down from $149 to just $74.

Keep in mind that every dollar (or point) spent on Southwest tickets goes twice as far when you have the Companion Pass. Why? Because when you purchase one ticket using points or cash, you can take a companion along for just the taxes and fees. Therefore, you could argue that a $75 credit is really worth $150 for Companion Pass holders, effectively eliminating the annual fee for the Southwest Priority card.

Even if you’re hesitant to consider those calculations, you’ll still end up spending less each year with the Southwest Priority compared to the mid-tier Southwest Premier. The Southwest Priority card grants you extra bonus points on your cardholder anniversary—1,500 more than the Southwest Premier—which could yield about $21 in additional rewards based on TPG's valuations.

The primary drawback of the Southwest Priority card is that you need to pay the full $149 annual fee upfront. However, if you can utilize the mentioned perks, you can significantly offset that cost.

Prefer a lower annual fee? Choose the Premier over the Plus

If you're after a reduced annual fee to qualify for the current sign-up bonus, you can choose between the Southwest Premier (with a $99 annual fee) or the Southwest Plus (with a $69 annual fee).

What does the additional $30 each year on the Southwest Premier provide? For starters, your anniversary bonus will be 6,000 points instead of 3,000. TPG values 6,000 Southwest points at $84, effectively covering the higher annual fee.

Choosing the most affordable card — the Southwest Plus — means you'll incur a 3% fee on foreign transactions. While this may not be a major issue given that most of Southwest's routes are domestic, their low fares and excellent customer service offer a great reason to visit a Caribbean destination at a reasonable price. If you plan to take advantage of this option, it’s wise to avoid a card with foreign transaction fees.

Ultimately, with the Southwest Premier card, you can accumulate tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward elite status: earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent in a calendar year, with no cap on how many TQPs you can earn through credit card purchases. If you're aiming for A-List or A-List Preferred status, the Southwest Premier is the way to go.

Criteria for Southwest credit card eligibility

Chase's restrictions on credit card applications often prevent many from applying for Southwest credit cards.

The issuer's 5/24 rule is applicable to all three of these cards. Chase is likely to deny applications from those who have opened five or more credit cards (across any issuers) in the last 24 months. If you're at or above the five-card threshold, we suggest not wasting an application on these cards, as a decline is probable. Keep in mind that business cards from any issuer typically don't count toward 5/24.

Alongside the 5/24 rule, the terms and conditions for the sign-up bonus for each of these cards specify:

This offer is not available to (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) former Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus in the past 24 months. This restriction does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.

Therefore, if you currently possess one of these Southwest personal credit cards or have earned a bonus from one in the last 24 months, you will be ineligible for these offers.

Final thoughts

Southwest Airlines credit cards remain a popular choice. Anyone who travels with Southwest even a few times a year should easily maximize the travel benefits associated with the Southwest Priority. Considering all its advantages, this card undoubtedly provides the greatest value for regular Southwest flyers.

If the annual fee for the Southwest Priority card feels too steep, the Southwest Premier offers better value compared to the Southwest Plus.

For more details, check out our comprehensive reviews of the Southwest Priority, Southwest Premier, and Southwest Plus cards.

Discover more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card