Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card $99/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card on gas stations, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardChase · $99/yr
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardChase · $229/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card$99LowestSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card$229
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card50,000 pointsSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card60,000 points
- Rewards
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid RewardsSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardNoneSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardNone
- Network
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardVisa SignatureSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card1xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighest
- Gas Stations
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card2xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card2xHighestSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1x
- Everything else
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card1xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- $40/yr DoorDash + DashPass
- $10/mo Instacart+
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $10/mo Instacart+
- DoorDash DashPass
Perks & access— means none on record
- Airline perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Free first checked bag for you and 8 companions
- Board with Group 5 for overhead bin access
- 10% off Southwest flights each anniversary year
- Free Standard seat selection 48 hours before departure
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades
- 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points
- Free Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking
- Free first checked bag for you and 8 companions
- Boarding benefit
- Inflight purchase discount
- Other perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- No foreign transaction fees
- 24/7 roadside assistance dispatch
- 24/7 travel and emergency assistance
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- No foreign transaction fees
- 7,500 points every year
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- $500,000 travel accident insurance
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $500,000 travel accident insurance
- Baggage
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Lost luggage reimbursement coverage
- $100/day baggage delay coverage for up to 3 days · up to $300
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- $100/day baggage delay coverage, up to 3 days · up to $300
- Rental car
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- 120-day purchase protection coverage
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $500 per claim on theft or damage
- Extended warranty
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Extended warranty protection for purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
- Other protections
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card—Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Lowest annual fee ($99) among Southwest cards while still earning 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually
- 3,000 anniversary bonus points help offset annual fee
- 2x points on gas and groceries (first $5K combined) adds everyday earning value
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers on same reservation
- 10% anniversary promo code for Southwest flights
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year accelerates path to free companion flights
- 7,500 anniversary bonus points ($112+ value) help offset the annual fee
- Earn 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status per $5K annual spend
- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades at 48 hours when available
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers on same reservation
- Cons
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Only standard seat selection (Premier/Priority get preferred seats, Priority gets Extra Legroom)
- Lower 3,000 anniversary points vs 6,000 (Premier) or 7,500 (Priority)
- No tier qualifying points toward A-List status
- Only 1x points on non-category purchases limits everyday earning
- $5,000 combined cap on 2x gas/grocery earning restricts bonus potential
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $229 annual fee is steep compared to mid-tier airline cards
- Legacy $75 travel credit and EarlyBird benefits ended December 2025
- Only 1x points on non-category purchases limits everyday earning
- No lounge access included despite premium pricing
- Southwest's limited route network reduces card utility for some travelers
Category-by-Category Winner
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card wins in 1 of 1 categories. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card leads in 0. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $5,000/yr
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card earns 2X when conditions are met; Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $150 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $93 Year one: $746 | Rewards: $188 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: -$19 Year one: $732 | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $600 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $543 Year one: $1,196 | Rewards: $750 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $544 Year one: $1,294 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr — that's $130 more than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card ($99/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $130 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card includes dining credits, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $130 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $130 fee gap means the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card needs roughly $130 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and gas stations and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card $99/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr — a $130 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr vs $99/yr for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $130 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card also lists dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card have that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card doesn't?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card focuses on earn rates, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits.
- Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card has a lower $99/yr fee; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $229/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.