Southwest Airlines operates differently from every other major carrier. No change or cancellation fees. Points that don't expire. And the Companion Pass — one of the most valuable benefits in all of consumer travel — which lets a companion fly with you free (just paying taxes and fees) on every flight for up to two years.
Both Southwest consumer credit cards earn toward the Companion Pass. The question is whether you should carry the Plus ($99/yr) or upgrade to the Priority ($229/yr).
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Rapid Rewards Plus ($99) | Rapid Rewards Priority ($229) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $229 |
| Anniversary bonus points | 3,000 points (~$42) | 7,500 points (~$105) |
| Annual travel credit | None | $75 Southwest travel credit |
| Upgraded boardings | None | 4 per year |
| Earning on Southwest | 2× points | 3× points |
| Earning on dining & hotels | 2× | 2× |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Counts toward Companion Pass | Yes | Yes |
The Companion Pass: Why Both Cards Matter
The Southwest Companion Pass requires 135,000 qualifying points earned in a calendar year — which includes sign-up bonuses and points earned from card spending. Once earned, it's valid through the end of the following year: up to 23 months of a companion flying free on every booking.
Both cards' sign-up bonuses count toward the pass. The Priority's higher spend may also earn more points faster if you book Southwest directly (3× vs. 2×). If earning the Companion Pass is your primary goal, the Priority gets you there slightly faster through spending.
Does Upgrading to Priority Pay for Itself?
The fee gap is $130/yr. Here's what Priority gives you that Plus doesn't:
- $75 Southwest travel credit: Applied automatically to Southwest purchases. Immediate $75 back.
- 7,500 vs. 3,000 anniversary points: That's 4,500 extra points worth roughly $63 in Southwest redemptions.
- 4 upgraded boardings per year: Upgraded boarding typically costs $30–$50 each at the airport. Four of them = $120–$200 in value if you'd otherwise buy them.
- 1 extra point per $ on Southwest purchases: On $2,000/yr in Southwest spending, that's 2,000 extra points (~$28).
If you use the $75 travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings: that's $75 + (4 × ~$40) + $63 in anniversary points = roughly $298 in concrete value vs. a $130 fee gap. The Priority pays for itself if you fly Southwest at least 4 times per year and upgrade your boarding.
Who Should Keep the Plus
- You fly Southwest occasionally — once or twice a year
- You never pay for upgraded boarding (you're fine with the general boarding group)
- You primarily want the card for the sign-up bonus to chase the Companion Pass
- You want to minimize the total annual fee paid across your card portfolio
Who Should Upgrade to Priority
- You fly Southwest 4+ times per year
- You'd otherwise pay for upgraded boarding — 4 per year covers itself
- You book Southwest directly and will benefit from 3× earning
- You'll reliably use the $75 travel credit each year
The Bottom Line
For casual Southwest flyers, the Rapid Rewards Plus is the sensible default — it earns toward the Companion Pass at a lower cost. For anyone who flies Southwest 4+ times a year, the Priority's perks pay for themselves before you earn a single reward point. Browse all airline cards to compare your options across carriers.
See how both Southwest cards stack up against each other.
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