2020 Review: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card – Is It The Best Value?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Review) is perhaps the best personal credit card in the Southwest Airlines family.

It features stronger benefits than the Rapid Rewards Plus, but has a higher annual fee. However, one of those benefits, along with a larger anniversary point bonus and 20% back on in-flight purchases, is a $75 annual travel credit. That credit effectively drops the Priority’s annual fee to $74.

That’s pretty close to what the Rapid Rewards Plus card asks, but the Priority offers much more. The reward programs are the same, so all of the redemption options outlined above still apply here, which means you’d be getting a better card for practically the same price.

• $75 annual Southwest travel credit: Receive a $75 annual travel credit to use to book your flights, Rapid Rewards hotel stays, or car rentals each year.
• 7,500 anniversary points: Every year you’ll receive 7,500 bonus points.
• Four upgraded boardings: Snag an A1–A15 seat, without the hassle. Each anniversary year, you’ll be reimbursed for up to four Upgraded Boardings for A1 through A15 seats. The price of an Upgraded Boarding varies depending on your flight, but usually costs between $30 and $50.
• 20% back on in-flight purchases: You’ll receive 20% back on in-flight Southwest purchases like drinks, meals, entertainment, and WiFi.
• No blackout dates or restrictions: There are no blackout dates or restrictions on award flights.
• Travel protections: Rental car insurance, roadside dispatch, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, and travel and emergency assistance
• Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $149

The JetBlue Plus Card is another example of a co-branded airline travel card.

It features higher rewards than the Rapid Rewards Plus card, and is focused on JetBlue. So your points can be earned and redeemed for JetBlue flights, where they could be worth anywhere from 1–1.5 cents in most cases. You’ll get more useful benefits here, like a big in-flight discount and 10% point refund when you redeem for award flights.

It’s hard to say exactly what kind of shopping and travel protections are attached, but they’ll probably end up being similar to the Rapid Rewards card. If you prefer JetBlue, this card can be pretty rewarding and would save you some money.

• Anniversary points: Get 5,000 points on the anniversary of your account opening.
• 50% savings on in-flight food and drink: As long as your account is in good standing, you’ll save 50% on your in-flight drinks and snacks.
• 10% point refund for award flights: You’ll get 10% of your points back if you redeem them for a JetBlue award flight.
• Free first checked bag: You and up to three companions will get your first checked bags free of charge.
• $100 statement credit: Every calendar year you purchase a JetBlue vacation package worth $100 or more, you’ll receive a $100 statement credit.
• Purchase APR: 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months (for balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening), then 18.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $99

• Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
• Earn 6X points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2X points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Earn 5,000 bonus points every year automatically after your account anniversary.
• Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem.
• No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights.
• Free first checked bag for you and up to three traveling companions.
• 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases like cocktails and food.
• Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card.
• Enjoy a $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• $99 annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) is an example of a general travel card, not tied to any airline.

The main focus of this card is the reward program, which includes some excellent redemption options. The bonus categories differ quite a bit from the Plus card, and their redemption options are far from equal. The Sapphire Preferred earns on all things travel, and isn’t consigned to a single airline. There’s also a dining category, and you’ll earn 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides.

Through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal, your points will be worth 1.25 cents for travel. That’s pretty comparable to what you’d get with the Rapid Rewards card if you redeem through Southwest Airlines. But with the Sapphire Preferred, you can transfer your points to Chase’s travel partners for a much higher value, potentially 2 cents or more, giving you a 4% cash back equivalent or more.

You’ll also gain the Shop through Chase and Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection benefits, both of which could provide more savings than what the Rapid Rewards Plus card offers.

Chase boasts a very rewarding program for point redemption, called Chase Ultimate Rewards. While you’ll get a slight bonus (25%) to your point value if you redeem for travel expenses through that program, you can find an even better deal by transferring your points to Chase’s travel partners.

And, one of Chase’s travel partners is Southwest, so even if you choose this card over the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, you would still be able to redeem your points for Southwest airfare.

• 1:1 point transfer: 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value – that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points. The travel and hotel partners include Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, United, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards Club.
• DoorDash membership: You’ll get a free DoorDash membership for at least a year, known as a DashPass. That’ll get you free delivery and reduced service fees for orders over $12.
• Referral bonus points: You can invite friends to apply for the Sapphire Preferred, and for every friend who’s approved you’ll get 15,000 bonus points. You can earn up to 75,000 bonus points per year in this way.
• Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection is provided by Chase, and includes benefits at over 1,000 locations around the world.
• Shop through Chase: Cardholders can get more points at select retailers with the Shop through Chase marketplace.
• Chase Offers: Receive exclusive offers from a variety of different merchants through Chase.
• Credit Journey: Monitor your VantageScore 3.0 credit score based on your TransUnion credit report, and get advice to improve your credit.
• Visa Signature Concierge: You can call 1-800-953-7392 to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, 24/7.
• Travel protections: Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, and roadside dispatch
• Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $95

• Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R).
• 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
• Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
• Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That’s 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.

The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is a high-end card that first popularized the high fee, high reward travel card trend.

The annual fee is far greater than what the Rapid Rewards Plus asks, but its benefits far outshine that card as well.

Don’t be intimidated by the large fee; the Platinum Card features several annual credits that can drop it all the way to $50. That’s even less than the Rapid Rewards Plus. The credits include $200 for Uber, $100 for Saks, and $200 for incidental fees on an airline of your choice.

Not only that, but you can earn over double the rewards when you book through Amex Travel. You can also get more for your points when you transfer them to Amex’s travel partners. You could see 2 cents or more, which is far better than the 1.3 cents you’d often get from the Rapid Rewards card.

If you can redeem your points for 2 cents or more, you could earn a minimum 10% cash back equivalent in the 5X categories. To do so, transfer your points to Amex’s travel partners and look for a great deal.

• Global Lounge Collection: Cardholders get the best airport lounge access available on a credit card with the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Centurion Lounges, and more.
• $200 annual airline fee credit: Every year you can select an airline, and you’ll get a statement credit for up to $200 in incidental fees (like checked bag fees or in-flight meals) charged by that airline.
• $200 annual Uber credit: You’ll get a statement credit for up to $15 in Uber rides each month, except for December, which has a $35 credit.
• $100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Get a statement credit for the application fee for either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 every four-and-a-half years).
• Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
• Fine Hotels and Resorts Collection: Book at least two nights from a list of specific hotels and get a room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, up to $100 credit for eligible charges when you check out, and more.
• Point transfer: To airline and hotel loyalty programs, like Delta, British Airways, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hyatt (Southwest is not a partner)
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $550

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
• Enjoy VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• Enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more when you select one qualifying airline.
• Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $550 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees