The Priority is the best personal Southwest card for frequent flyers, thanks to unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure when available, Preferred seat selection at booking and a free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions. The $229 annual fee is softened by a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 anniversary points, so the net cost is far lower than the sticker price. It earns 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points on gas and dining, with 1 point on everything else, plus 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List for every $5,000 spent and a 10,000-point Companion Pass boost. The catch is that Chase recently cut the signup bonus from 90,000 to 60,000 points, and every perk is tied to one airline. It makes sense if you fly Southwest several times a year, but it is a weak card for anything else.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Airlines Southwest Airlines purchases (flights, in-flight, gift cards) | 4x |
Gas | 2x |
Dining | 2x |
Everything Else | 1x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Annual Travel Credit Statement credit for Southwest Airlines purchases | $75 /yr |
Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year | 10,000 points /yr |
Inflight Purchase Rebate 25% back on inflight purchases | 25% |
First Checked Bag Free First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation (up to $90 round trip) | $90 |
Instacart Credit Up to $120 in annual Instacart credits ($0 delivery fees with 3 months of complimentary Instacart+ and $10 monthly credit) | $120 /yr |
| Total annual credits | $195 |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.24%–27.74% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |