Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority worth $229/yr?
The honest math on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: which credits you'd actually use, what its points earn beyond a plain 2% card, and what its protections would cost to buy — against the $229 annual fee.
Chase · $229 annual fee · earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Earning rates
- 4x Southwest Airlines purchases
- 2x Restaurants
- 2x Gas stations
- 1x Everything else
Statement credits (1)
- 7,500 Anniversary Points — Bonus points every account anniversary year — valued at your selected cents-per-point.
Protections and perks (11)
- First Checked Bag Free — Your first checked bag flies free on Southwest — the airline now charges $45 each way for it.
- Seat Upgrades & Group 5 Boarding — Unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure (when available), a Preferred seat at booking, and Boarding Group 5.
- 25% Back on Inflight Purchases — 25% back as a statement credit on Southwest inflight WiFi, drinks, and movies.
- Companion Pass & Tier Status Boosts — 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year, plus 2,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spent — progress boosts, not redeemable points.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement — Up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry-on luggage that's lost or damaged.
- Baggage Delay Insurance — Reimburses essentials when your bags are delayed by the carrier.
- Rental Car Coverage — Collision/damage coverage on rentals paid with the card — secondary to your personal policy for personal rentals (primary when renting for business).
- Purchase Protection — New purchases covered against damage or theft.
- Extended Warranty — Adds a year to eligible manufacturer warranties.
- Travel Accident Insurance — Accidental death or dismemberment coverage for covered losses during travel.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees — No surcharge on purchases abroad.
Card data verified against Chase on 2026-08-20.
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