Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Which Is Better In 2025?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2161", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Southwest Flyers"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

This section breaks down why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier.

‍

• It comes with a suite of travel perks like two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins and a free first checked bag to improve your travel day.
• While the card has an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees and offers accelerated points on Southwest purchases.
• The 6,000 bonus points awarded each account anniversary help offset a significant portion of the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

‍

Pros

‍

• Get a head start on earning Southwest A-List status and the coveted Companion Pass with annual qualifying point boosts.
• Redeem your points with confidence thanks to a flexible policy with no blackout dates or change fees on award flights.
• Improve your travel day with perks like priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases.

‍

Cons

‍

• The rewards structure is restrictive, with spending caps on some bonus categories and the removal of others.
• It offers less flexibility and fewer premium travel perks than other general travel rewards cards in its class.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, depends on your travel frequency and how you value specific airline perks.

‍

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is designed for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists who want to maximize premium travel benefits and earn rewards toward elite status or the Companion Pass®.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier option ideal for regular Southwest travelers who value day-of-travel perks and want to earn points toward flights and status without committing to a top-tier card.

‍

Redemption

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points can be redeemed for flights, and cardholders also receive an annual travel credit and upgraded boardings to enhance the travel experience. Your spending also helps you earn tier qualifying points toward A-List status.

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Cardholders can redeem points for flights and earn tier qualifying points that count toward A-List status. You also receive anniversary points each year, adding to your overall rewards balance for future redemptions.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card are ideal for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
• Travel Portal: Cardholders of both cards book travel and redeem points directly through the Southwest Airlines website or app, rather than a separate card-specific portal.
• Lounge Access: Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access.
• Boarding Benefits: The Priority card offers a distinct advantage with four Upgraded Boardings to an A1-A15 position each year, when available. The Premier card provides two EarlyBird Check-In® services annually.
• Travel Credits & In-Flight Perks: With the Priority card, you receive an annual Southwest travel credit and statement credits for in-flight purchases like Wi-Fi. The Premier card does not include these specific credits but does provide anniversary points each year.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To eliminate the guesswork, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

‍

• Test Drive Feature: Simulate how a new card would perform with your actual spending history—before you apply—with the Test Drive feature. This tool calculates your potential earnings and net value without a hard credit pull.
• Personalized Approval Odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval likelihood for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Kickstart+ Rewards: Unlock $100 in rewards when you add select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get card recommendations tailored to your unique spending patterns to ensure you're maximizing your rewards.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists who can fully leverage its airline-specific perks. It's particularly valuable for travelers aiming to achieve A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass®, as spending on the card contributes to both goals. Additionally, families and domestic travelers who appreciate Southwest's flexible policies will find that the card's benefits, like the annual travel credit and upgraded boardings, provide significant value.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

‍

As a mid-tier option, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for semifrequent or regular Southwest Airlines flyers who want a balance of perks and a moderate annual fee. This card is ideal for travelers who value day-of-travel benefits and anniversary bonus points but don't need the highest level of perks offered by premium cards. It's also particularly well-suited for Southwest loyalists aiming to earn points toward the coveted Companion Pass or A-List elite status.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

If our Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier comparison has you feeling like neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that could be a better match for your spending habits and travel goals.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["118", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Generous Travel Rewards", "$300 Annual Travel Credit"]} ]]

‍

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Review your credit score, as most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Understand issuer rules, as policies like Chase's 5/24 rule or previous cardholder restrictions can impact your approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement through your regular budget.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Use trusted channels, since applying through the issuer or a known partner ensures you're viewing the best available offer.
• Time your application strategically by planning to apply before a large purchase to help meet spending minimums without overspending.
• Consider your loyalty because co-branded cards offer the most value when you frequently use that specific airline or hotel brand.

Our Methodology

‍

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

‍

Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

Can I hold both the Southwest Priority and Premier cards at the same time?

‍

Chase has rules that may restrict you from holding multiple personal Southwest cards. It's best to check Chase's application rules before applying for a second card.

‍

Do points from both the Priority and Premier cards count towards the Southwest Companion Pass?

‍

Yes, points earned from spending on both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority and Premier cards, as well as their welcome bonuses, qualify towards earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass.

‍

Is it possible to upgrade from the Premier card to the Priority card?

‍

Cardholders may be eligible to upgrade from the Premier to the Priority card after a certain period. You can check for upgrade offers by calling the number on the back of your card or logging into your Chase account.

‍