Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card: Is the Fee Worth It?
My Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card renews this month. I am trying to determine if it is still a good fit in my wallet. We are flying Southwest less and less. So I need to break down if it is still a good fit.
Before the fee hike, the Priority card was the top-tier personal Southwest card, offering more perks than the Plus ($69) and Premier ($99) versions. At $149, it was a sweet spot for frequent Southwest flyers who wanted elevated benefits without going full premium. We used to fly Southwest for almost all our domestic flights. This card used to be a no-brainer for us. However, with the Southwest changes, we are flying Southwest less and less. I had to break this down to see if I am going to keep this card for another year.
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Key Benefits of the Chase Southwest Priority Card before changes
7,500 anniversary points each year
$75 annual Southwest travel credit
Four upgraded boardings per year (when available)
20% back on in-flight purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Tier qualifying points toward A-List status
These perks alone could offset the $149 fee if you flew Southwest even a few times a year.
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What Changed in 2025
These are the things I am using to help me decide whether to keep the card or not. I’ll be honest, before I listed them out I was set to cancel my card, but now I am thinking about keeping it this year. I’ll re-evaluate next year.
Annual fee increased to $229 (Mine renewed at $149)
Perks remain similar, but the value now depends more on more frequent travel.
Select a preferred seating at booking at no additional charge
First checked bag for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional guests. I usually carry on my bags, but we have booked Southwest for an upcoming Ski Trip, so this will save us $100.
Boarding Group 5 - cardmembers and guests on the same ticket get earlier access to the overhead bin space.
Travel Hack Tips
If you’re chasing the Southwest Companion Pass, this card can help you earn qualifying points faster.
Pair it with a business version of the card to stack bonuses and perks.
Use the $75 travel credit for taxes and fees on award flights—it counts! Before the year ends! This benefit goes away at the end of 2025.
Final Thoughts
Basically, I have 2 Southwest flights booked for next year, including my annual ski trip. The Ski trip alone, being able to get one free bag a person, saves us $100. I enjoy booking the cheapest ticket with points and using my card to reserve my Southwest Rapid rewards card benefits to pick out my seats. I am going to keep this card for another year and re-evaluate then.
Thinking about a Southwest card for your wallet? Check out the different cards available here.
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