The card_name is the THIRD — and most beneficial — option in Southwest Airlines portfolio of personal cards.

It comes with a higher annual fee (annual_fees), but a ton of benefits to offset the increased cost.

–> Read my full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card

I think this card is worth holding for a variety of reasons, which I’ll share with you below!

Thanks for using our affiliate links within this post to help support our ad-free content if you decide to apply for any travel cards.

 

10 Reasons to Get the card_name

card_name

Here are my top 10 reasons to consider upgrading to or applying for the card_name

Want to learn the EASY way to fly for free by collecting and redeeming travel rewards? Join us in Families Fly Free, the premier online travel club where you can learn our SIMPLE, step-by-step system and save thousands of dollars in the process, while enjoying 1-on-1 support, a vibrant community and timely travel webinars and alerts. It's helped hundreds of families and thousands of people be able to travel MORE while spending less -- all while making priceless memories with their families.

 

See what members have to say...

 

 

1. You Fly Southwest Frequently

Southwest Gate

If you fly Southwest a lot, I think this card MUST be in your portfolio.

But I recommend you get the points bonus in tandem with earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. We can help you map out a plan for you to earn the Pass in 2-3 months inside our Families Fly Free membership.

The many benefits it offers Southwest flyers make it indispensable in my eyes. They include…

 

2.  A $75 Travel Credit to Use for Purchasing Flights, Taxes & Fees or Early Bird

The Southwest airplane wing on the tarmac.
Credit Southwest Airlines

I love the $75 Southwest credit on this card that you can use to cover the mandatory government security fees, only $5.60 per person per way in the US, but closer to $80 if you’re returning from an international destination.

You can also use the $75 to pay for Early Bird seating (see more in No. 3 below).

Note: We NEVER recommend PAYING for Southwest flights in cash because the tickets are too inflexible compared with buying them in Southwest. If you want to learn how you can avoid EVER paying cash for a Southwest flight, join us in the Families Fly Free membership.

 

3.  EarlyBird Seating 

Southwest Early Bird Refund

This credit is also available to use for purchasing Southwest Early Bird seating.

Early Bird seating allows you to check in ahead of everyone else (aside from those who purchased Business Select tickets or who hold Southwest elite status), so you can get a better boarding position.

Check out my FAQs on Early Bird seating.

We sometimes pay for Early Bird for my husband who is tall and likes to be able to choose a seat that gives him the best opportunity to stretch out. This also usually allows him to “hold” a seat for my oldest son, though he’s never had to actually “hold” a seat. The middle seat is always available by the time my son boards (we usually end up in the B boarding position somewhere).

It’s also a great option if you tend to forget to check in at the 24-hour mark (ugh, me!) or if you’re traveling and it will be difficult for you to access WiFi (such as in a National Park, on a plane or on a boat) in order to check in at the 24-hour mark.

 

4.  FOUR A1-15 Boarding Positions

Upgrade your Southwest boarding zone at gate
The Southwest Priority Card gives you four A1-15 boarding positions yearly!

I don’t know about you, but this is worth its weight in gold to me!

I too often forget to check-in, no matter all the strategies I have put in place to avoid this, especially when RETURNING from our destination. So to know I could upgrade to A1-15 FOUR times in ONE year is AWESOME!

You can upgrade to A1-15 right after check-in online or in the app (these are usually allotted to those who buy Southwest Business Select tickets, so they may not have sold them all), but this will cost you between $40 to $60 per person.

With this perk, you simply purchase the upgrade WITH your Priority card and then the charge is “magically erased.” 😉

You can also upgrade your boarding position at the gate in addition to upgrading right after check-in online or in the app if these upgrades are available. You’ll see the option on the next screen.

Note: These are not always available and are especially difficult to come by going to and from Orlando.

 

5. bonus_miles after a $1,000 minimum spend in 3 months

Chase refer a friend

The points you earn by meeting the minimum spend can be used not just for free flights on Southwest, but they also qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass, which lets one person fly free with you for up to two years! Read more below in No. 9.

With many flights 5,000-7,500 points one-way (especially during sales), that could easily get a family of 4 (especially if one person flies FREE on a Companion Pass) on at least 1 to 2 trips.

 

6. Inflight Purchases Discount

Southwest Priority Card

The card offers a 25% discount on inflight purchases.

I almost always purchase the WiFi for $8, so I’ll happily pay $6.40 instead. 

While this alone is not a reason to get the card, it’s a nice added perk.

 

7.  Benefits More Than Offset the Annual Fee

Southwest Hawaii

When paying an annual fee for the card, I’m always looking to see if the benefits outweigh the annual fee, and I think they do here.

With the $75 credit + 4 upgraded boarding positions (worth between $160 to $240), I think you can see that definitely offsets annual_fees per year. 

 

8.  7,500 Anniversary Points Each Year

Southwest plane west

I value these anniversary points, as they help me get to my 135,000 points for my Companion Pass every year.

If you hold both a business and a personal card, that can give you thousands of Companion Pass-qualifying points each year. Plus, of course, you can use these points to book flights!

What’s not to like?! 🙂

 

9.  Points Earned From Card Purchases Qualify for the Companion Pass

Southwest companion Pass retirees

This is the case on all of Southwest’s cards, but it’s an important benefit, because it’s a KEY way to earn points you need to get that Companion Pass every year (like me) or every 2 years (if you get it early in the year, so it’s good through the END of the following year).

All points earned on Southwest credit cards count toward the 135,000 qualifying points (must be earned in ONE calendar year) you will need to earn your Companion Pass.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Go to Travel Gal

I recommend using the card_name or Chase Sapphire Reserve (read my comparison of these 2 cards) for dining and travel expenses, because they allow you to earn double or triple points on these expenditures, where the Southwest card does NOT.

And their points can be instantly transferred to Southwest to book free flights.

BUT these points DO NOT qualify for the Companion Pass.

 

10.  No Foreign Transaction Fees

I appreciate cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, because my family enjoys traveling internationally.

So far, we’ve been to Grand Cayman, Dublin, Rome, Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Bologna, Barcelona and Paris, and it’s handy to know you have a card that’s not going to “fee you to death.”

Trevi Fountain Rome Go to Travel Gal
In Rome by the gorgeous Trevi Fountain

11. Icing on the Benefits Cake and More Reasons to Love this Card

  • 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
  • 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming
  • 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent

What do you think? Will you be applying for the card_name?

Read More:

Author