For avid travelers and loyal customers of Southwest Airlines, the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card stands out as a premier choice among airline co-branded credit cards. This isn’t just another piece of plastic; it’s a powerful tool designed to maximize your travel rewards, enhance your Southwest flight experience, and accelerate your path to elite status and even the coveted Companion Pass. If you frequently fly with Southwest, or aspire to do so with greater comfort and benefits, understanding this card’s offerings is crucial.
This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the features, benefits, and important considerations of the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card. We’ll explore its generous points earning structure, the invaluable perks it provides, its associated fees, and a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process. Our aim is to equip you with all the necessary information to determine if this card perfectly aligns with your travel goals and financial strategy.
Key Features and Rapid Rewards Earning Potential
The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is engineered to generously reward cardmembers on Southwest Airlines purchases and everyday spending, ensuring your points balance grows rapidly.
Current Welcome Offer: As of June 2025, new cardmembers typically have the opportunity to earn a substantial welcome bonus. A common offer might be 50,000 to 75,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards bonus points after spending a certain amount (e.g., $2,000 to $3,000) on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. These welcome bonuses provide a significant jumpstart to your Rapid Rewards balance, often enough for multiple one-way flights. It is always critical to check the most current welcome offer directly on Chase’s official website, as these promotions can change periodically.
Points Earning Rate: The card boasts an accelerated earning structure that maximizes your points accumulation:
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases. This includes flights, in-flight purchases, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations® packages. This is ideal for those who frequently book directly with the airline.
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshares, taxis, tolls, and mass transit.
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services, and on select streaming services.
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
These earning rates ensure that your everyday spending, beyond just flights, consistently contributes to your next free trip.
Annual Fee: The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card comes with an annual fee, which is typically $149. While this might seem higher than some other cards, the extensive benefits it offers often far outweigh this cost for frequent Southwest flyers. We’ll detail these benefits below.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: A significant advantage for international travelers, this card charges no foreign transaction fees. This means you can use your card for purchases anywhere outside the U.S. without incurring additional percentage-based fees, saving you money on your global adventures.
Variable APR: The card features a variable Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases, typically ranging from 21.49% to 28.49% variable, depending on the applicant’s creditworthiness. As with any credit card, paying your balance in full each month is highly recommended to avoid accruing interest charges.
Exclusive Southwest Travel Benefits
The true power of the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card lies in its array of exclusive travel benefits designed to enhance your journey with Southwest Airlines.
- $75 Southwest Travel Credit Annually: Each year, you receive a $75 Southwest® travel credit. This is automatically applied to your account as a statement credit when you make a Southwest Airlines purchase with your card. This benefit alone significantly offsets the annual fee.
- 7,500 Bonus Points Every Cardmember Anniversary: As a loyal cardmember, you’ll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards bonus points each year on your Cardmember anniversary. These points add directly to your Rapid Rewards balance, bringing you closer to your next free flight.
- Upgraded Boarding: Enjoy up to 4 A1-A15 Upgraded Boardings per year when available. These allow you to board the aircraft earlier, giving you a better chance to choose your preferred seat and overhead bin space. Simply purchase the upgrade at the gate or check-in kiosk on the day of travel.
- 20% Back on In-flight Purchases: When you use your card for in-flight purchases (such as drinks or Wi-Fi) on Southwest flights, you’ll receive 20% back as a statement credit.
- Points That Qualify for A-List Status & Companion Pass: A portion of the points you earn with this card count towards both A-List elite status and the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass®. Each year, you earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $10,000 in purchases on the card. This provides a direct path to elite status benefits like priority boarding, dedicated customer service lines, and a 25% earning bonus on flights. More importantly, all points earned from spending on this card (including the welcome bonus and anniversary points) count towards the 135,000 qualifying points needed to earn the Companion Pass, allowing a designated companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees for nearly two years.
Additional Chase and Visa Benefits
Beyond the Southwest-specific perks, the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, being a Visa card issued by Chase, comes with a suite of standard benefits that provide added security, convenience, and peace of mind.
- Purchase Protection: Covers new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- 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.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier, up to $100 per day for 3 days.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Covers you or your immediate family members for checked or carry-on luggage that is lost or damaged by the carrier, up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Reimburses you for your non-refundable passenger fares if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered reasons, up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.
- Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver: Provides secondary coverage for damage due to collision or theft for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Concierge Services: Access to a dedicated concierge team for assistance with travel planning, event tickets, dining reservations, and more.
- Fraud Protection: Zero Liability protection for unauthorized purchases.
How to Apply for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
Applying for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is a secure and straightforward online process.
Eligibility Requirements: To be approved for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, applicants generally need a “Good” to “Excellent” credit score. While Chase does not publicly disclose specific minimum scores, common industry standards suggest a FICO score of 690 or higher gives you a strong chance of approval. Chase will evaluate your overall credit history, your debt-to-income ratio, your existing relationship with Chase (if any), and your reported income.
- Chase 5/24 Rule: Be aware of Chase’s informal “5/24 rule.” If you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts (from any issuer) in the past 24 months, your application for most Chase cards, including this one, will likely be denied. This rule applies to you, not just Chase cards.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Residency: You must be a U.S. resident with a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
- Income: You must demonstrate a consistent and sufficient income to support the credit line.
Application Process:
- Visit the Official Chase Website: The most direct and secure way to apply is by visiting Chase’s official website (chase.com) or navigating through Southwest Airlines’ credit card page on their official site (southwest.com).
- Locate the Card: Find the section dedicated to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card.
- Click “Apply Now”: Select the “Apply Now” button to initiate the secure online application form.
- Complete the Form: You will be prompted to provide essential personal information, including your full legal name, current address, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and contact details. You will also need to provide financial information, such as your annual income, the source of your income, and your employment status.
- Review and Submit: Before finalizing, meticulously review all the information you have entered to ensure its accuracy. It is crucial to read and understand all the terms and conditions, including the rates and fees, associated with the card. Once satisfied, submit your application.
- Decision: Many applicants receive an instant decision regarding their application. In some instances, Chase may require additional time to review your application, or they might contact you for further verification or information.
- Card and Welcome Kit Delivery: Upon approval, your physical card will be mailed to your specified address, usually within 7-10 business days. It will arrive with a welcome kit detailing your benefits.
- Activation: Activate your card upon receipt (online or by phone) to immediately begin enjoying its benefits and earning points towards your next Southwest adventure.
Pros and Cons of the Card
Understanding the advantages and potential drawbacks of the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is crucial for making an informed decision.
Pros:
- Generous Annual Travel Credit: The $75 Southwest travel credit significantly offsets the annual fee.
- Valuable Anniversary Points: 7,500 bonus points annually are a great boost to your Rapid Rewards balance.
- Upgraded Boarding: A fantastic perk for frequent flyers who value early boarding and seat selection.
- Path to A-List Status & Companion Pass: Points earned from spending count towards these elite benefits, making it easier to achieve them.
- Strong Earning Rates: Excellent multipliers on Southwest purchases and common spending categories like transit and home utilities.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Ideal for international travel.
- Comprehensive Travel Protection: Solid insurance benefits provide peace of mind during your journeys.
Cons:
- Annual Fee: The $149 annual fee, while offset by credits, is a commitment.
- Southwest-Specific Rewards: Rapid Rewards points are primarily valuable for Southwest flights, limiting flexibility if you prefer other airlines.
- “5/24 Rule” Applies: Can make it challenging to get approved if you’ve recently opened many credit accounts.
- No Elite Status Automatically: Unlike some premium cards, it doesn’t grant instant top-tier elite status (though it helps you earn it).
Who Is This Card Best For?
The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is an excellent choice for a specific segment of travelers and spenders:
- Dedicated Southwest Flyers: If Southwest is your airline of choice for domestic (and some international) travel, this card is indispensable for maximizing rewards and comfort.
- A-List Status & Companion Pass Aspirants: It significantly accelerates your progress towards these highly desirable elite benefits.
- Value-Conscious Travelers: The combination of the annual travel credit, anniversary points, and upgraded boarding can easily provide value exceeding the annual fee.
- Families & Frequent Travelers: Those who can fully utilize the Companion Pass benefit will find enormous value in this card.
- U.S. Residents: As it’s a U.S.-issued card, it’s primarily for those living in the United States.
Conclusion
The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card offers a robust and highly rewarding experience for individuals committed to flying with Southwest Airlines. Its blend of generous point-earning potential, significant annual credits, valuable in-flight perks, and a direct path to elite status and the legendary Companion Pass makes it an exceptional value for its annual fee. While primarily beneficial for Southwest loyalty, for the right individual, it transforms everyday spending into unforgettable travel adventures. By understanding its comprehensive features and application process, you can confidently decide if this card is the perfect addition to your wallet, helping you soar higher with Southwest.
