Is Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or Priority Better in June 2026?
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Priority compared on annual fees, Southwest earn, checked bags, priority boarding, travel credits, and who should pick each personal Southwest card.
Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
Southwest Plus vs Priority vs Premier at a glance
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Occasional Southwest flyers who want the lowest personal Southwest annual fee
- Rewards
- 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners; 1X elsewhere under current Chase terms — verify earn rates and anniversary bonus on Chase's site.
- Annual fee
- $99 (verify current offer)
Pros
- Lowest annual fee among personal Southwest cards in this comparison.
- 2X Southwest earn helps light flyers stack Rapid Rewards points.
- Anniversary bonus points can offset part of the fee when terms apply.
Cons
- No priority boarding or upgraded boarding group benefits.
- Fewer annual credits than Priority.
- Southwest-only value — weak if you rarely fly WN routes.
Issuer terms are authoritative. Card links may point to issuer pages or approved partners when available.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Regular Southwest flyers who want priority boarding, credits, and stronger Southwest perks
- Rewards
- 4X points on Southwest purchases; 2X on local transit, rideshare, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming under current Chase terms — verify credits and caps on Chase's site.
- Annual fee
- $229 (verify current offer)
Pros
- Higher Southwest earn (4X) than Plus for frequent flyers.
- Priority boarding and upgraded boarding benefits when terms apply.
- Annual travel credits can offset fee for regular Southwest travelers.
Cons
- Much higher annual fee — needs real Southwest travel to break even.
- Credits require tracking and eligible spend categories.
- Still no lounge access; Southwest does not operate traditional airline clubs.
Issuer terms are authoritative. Card links may point to issuer pages or approved partners when available.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Middle-ground Southwest flyers who want more points than Plus but lower fee than Priority
- Rewards
- 3X points on Southwest purchases; 2X on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners under current Chase terms — verify anniversary bonus and foreign transaction fee waiver on Chase's site.
- Annual fee
- $149 (verify current offer)
Pros
- Sits between Plus and Priority on fee and Southwest earn.
- Foreign transaction fee waiver under current Chase terms — useful for some trips.
- Anniversary bonus points when offer terms apply.
Cons
- No Priority's boarding perks or highest Southwest multiplier.
- May lose to Priority on credits if you fly Southwest often.
- Value is still tied to Southwest route network.
Issuer terms are authoritative. Card links may point to issuer pages or approved partners when available.
Southwest flyers usually choose between Rapid Rewards Plus (lower fee) and Priority (more perks and higher Southwest earn). This head-to-head compares fees, earn rates, boarding benefits, and who should step up to Priority — with Premier as a middle option.
Is Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or Priority better?
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is better for occasional Southwest flyers who want the lowest personal card fee. Priority is better when you fly Southwest often enough to use 4X Southwest earn, Priority boarding, and annual credits that offset the higher fee. Neither card makes sense if you rarely touch Southwest routes — a general Travel card may fit better. See which credit card for flights.
Madeen’s catalog includes three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards cards with published earn rules: Plus, Premier, and Priority (Madeen analysis, snapshot 2026-06-01). This comparison focuses on the Plus vs Priority pairing searchers ask about most; Premier is the middle tier in the table below.
How do Plus and Priority compare?
| Feature | Rapid Rewards Plus | Rapid Rewards Priority | Rapid Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Annual fee | ~$99 | ~$229 | ~$149 |
| Southwest purchases earn | 2X points | 4X points | 3X points |
| Priority boarding | No | Yes (when terms apply) | No |
| Annual Travel credits | Limited vs Priority | Stronger credit package | Middle tier |
| Best for | Light Southwest flyers | Frequent Southwest flyers | Moderate Southwest flyers |
Verify all fees, credits, and earn rates on Chase’s site before you apply. Welcome offers change.
Who should pick Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus?
Plus fits when:
- You fly Southwest a few times a year and want a co-brand without a $200+ fee.
- You mainly need 2X Southwest earn and anniversary bonus points.
- You do not value Priority boarding enough to pay Priority’s premium.
Plus loses when you fly Southwest monthly and leave credits and 4X earn on the table.
Who should pick Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
Priority fits when:
- Southwest is a primary airline in your market.
- You will use Priority boarding and annual credits that Chase lists for the card.
- 4X on Southwest purchases outweighs the extra Annual fee on your real spend.
Priority loses when you fly Southwest once or twice a year — Plus or a flexible Travel card may be cheaper.
How does Madeen help Southwest cardholders?
Madeen does not book flights or move Rapid Rewards points. At checkout for non-Southwest spend — groceries, dining, gas — it picks the best owned card by category using catalog rules, without bank login. Use your Southwest card for Southwest purchases; let Madeen route everyday spend elsewhere when another card earns more.
FAQ
See the FAQ block above for fee comparisons, boarding perks, Companion Pass context, and general Travel card alternatives.
Related encyclopedia topics
Frequently asked questions
Is Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or Priority better?
Plus wins on lowest annual fee for occasional Southwest flyers. Priority wins when you fly Southwest often enough to use 4X earn, priority boarding, and annual credits that offset the higher fee. Compare your actual Southwest trips before you choose.
What is the annual fee on Southwest Plus vs Priority?
Southwest Plus typically carries a lower annual fee (often around $99) than Priority (often around $229). Verify current fees and welcome offers on Chase's site before you apply — offers change.
Does Southwest Priority include priority boarding?
Priority cardholders usually receive priority boarding and upgraded boarding benefits when terms apply. Plus does not include the same boarding perks. Confirm current card benefits on Chase's product page.
Which Southwest card helps earn Companion Pass?
Any Southwest personal card can help you earn qualifying points toward Companion Pass, but the card alone does not grant it. You still need to meet Southwest's annual qualifying-point threshold through flights, partners, and eligible spend.
Should you get a Southwest card or a general travel card?
Southwest cards maximize value when Southwest is a primary airline. Flexible bank points from cards like Sapphire Preferred may offer more destination choice. See our flights guide and compare based on where you actually fly.
Sources and notes
- Madeen analysis Madeen card catalog analysis - Madeen Accessed 2026-06-11.
- Issuer terms Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card - Chase Accessed 2026-06-11.
- Issuer terms Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card - Chase Accessed 2026-06-11.
- Methodology Which credit card for flights? - Madeen Accessed 2026-06-11.