Chase Southwest Priority
Chase
Welcome Offer
Our take
A Southwest card for travelers who already fly the airline and can use its anniversary, boarding, and carrier-specific benefits. The card is strongest where Southwest schedules and policies fit planned trips. Companion Pass progress can be valuable, but it should not justify unnecessary flights or spending.
Best for
- ✓ Regular Southwest flyers
- ✓ Travelers pursuing Companion Pass through planned activity
- ✓ People near airports with useful Southwest routes
Not ideal for
- — Travelers who rarely fly Southwest
- — People needing airline-neutral rewards
- — Anyone valuing benefits without checking route and fare fit
Conservative break-even test
Use expected Southwest trips to value anniversary points, boarding benefits, and credits. Subtract any fare or schedule premium paid to remain loyal, and do not count Companion Pass value unless the qualification plan is realistic.
Is the Chase Southwest Priority right for you?
The Chase Southwest Priority is a premium $229-a-year Southwest Rapid Rewards card from Chase. Its strongest everyday earning is 3x on southwest, with 2x on most other purchases. It needs to earn at least $229 more a year than a no-fee alternative to justify the fee.
Who it's for
- ✓ People who spend steadily on southwest, where it earns 3x
- ✓ Regular Southwest Rapid Rewards customers who will redeem with that program
- ✓ People who would use the Southwest Travel and DoorDash Non-Restaurant credits without adding new spending
Who should skip it
- — People with no loyalty to Southwest Rapid Rewards
- — Anyone who won't earn at least $229 a year more than a no-fee card
First-year value estimate
Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $149 before credits ($378 in rewards minus the $229 fee).
Assumptions
- $3,000 a year in southwest (3x) and $9,000 on everything else (2x) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
- Rewards valued at 1.4¢ per Southwest Rapid Rewards (OpenCard valuation; cash-out value can be lower).
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1.4¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $700.
- Annual fee of $229 in year one and every year after.
- Recurring credits are listed separately below and are not counted here.
An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-06-21.
How the fee is offset by credits
Even at face value the listed credits ($115 a year) cover 50% of the $229 fee, so rewards and benefits have to make up the rest.
| Credit | Terms | Per year (face value) |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Travel Credit | $75 per year | $75 |
| DoorDash Non-Restaurant Credit | $10 per quarter, enrollment required | $40 |
| Total face value | $115 | |
How it compares
Rules and gotchas
- The welcome bonus requires $1,000 in 3 months — roughly $333 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.
- One of the listed credits requires enrollment before it works.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Chase Southwest Priority have an annual fee?
- Yes — $229 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.
- What does the Chase Southwest Priority earn?
- 3x on southwest, and 2x on other purchases.
- Is the Chase Southwest Priority worth it in the first year?
- Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in southwest), the first year comes out around $849 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $700. Year two drops to about $149 before credits.
- Do the Chase Southwest Priority's credits cover the annual fee?
- The listed credits add up to $115 a year at face value against a $229 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember one needs enrollment.
- What credit do I need for the Chase Southwest Priority?
- Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Chase Southwest Priority. Chase makes the final decision based on its own criteria.
Earning Rates
Benefits & Credits
$75 Southwest travel credit each year, usable on Southwest Airlines purchases.
/yearUp to $10 off one qualifying non-restaurant DoorDash order each calendar quarter (DashMart, 7-Eleven, CVS, Safeway, etc.). Requires active DashPass enrollment. Per Chase cobrand-doordash terms.
/quarterInsurance
Sources
Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026