The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit cards cater to different travel and airline preferences, each associated with a major U.S. airline.
General Comparison
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card is connected to American Airlines, allowing cardholders to earn AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent, with bonus miles for categories like airfare, dining, and gas.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is tied to Southwest Airlines, earning Rapid Rewards points that can be redeemed for Southwest flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the main features of each card:
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Point Rewards Analysis: Which Card Is Better?
When we compare how many points cardholders earn for the same spend, the AAdvantage Platinum Select Card has a small edge, but the difference isn’t major. Of course, results can vary depending on your spending habits.
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Spend Per Category | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select | Rapid Rewards Premier |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 miles | 10,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 8,000 miles | 4,000 points |
$5,000 – Airline | 10,000 miles | 15,000 points |
$5,000 – Hotels | 5,000 miles | 10,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 8,000 miles | 4,000 points |
Total Points | 41,000 miles | 43,000 points |
Redemption Value (Estimated) | 1 mile = ~1.5 cents | 1 point = ~1.3 cents
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Estimated Annual Value | $615 | $559 |
With the Citi Platinum Select Card, you can redeem your points in a variety of ways, including cash back, travel rewards, gift cards, and merchandise.
Whether you’re looking for cash back, planning a trip, or treating yourself to something special, this card offers flexible and straightforward redemption options.
With Southwest Airlines, you can use points for flights with no blackout dates, allowing flexible travel. Points cover ticket costs, taxes, and fees. Additionally, you can redeem points for international flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards.
Airline Benefits And Protections: Comparison
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select
First Checked Bag Free: Travelers with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card enjoy the benefit of a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for themselves and up to four companions on the same reservation.
Preferred Boarding: Cardholders also receive preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, allowing them to save time and enhance productivity during the boarding process.
25% Savings on Inflight Food and Beverage: When using the card on American Airlines flights, users receive a 25% discount on purchases of inflight food and beverages, providing additional savings during air travel.
$125 American Airlines Flight Discount: By spending $20,000 or more in purchases during the cardmembership year and renewing the card, users can earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount, adding a valuable incentive for cardholders who meet the specified spending threshold.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
- 25% Back on Inflight Purchases: Receive a 25% rebate on inflight purchases, making onboard snacks, drinks, and entertainment more affordable for travelers.
6,000 Points Annually on Cardmember Anniversary: Cardholders receive an additional 6,000 bonus points every year on their Cardmember anniversary, further enhancing the annual point accumulation and boosting the overall rewards potential.
- Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs): For every $10,000 spent, earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status, with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can accumulate, facilitating progress towards elite status and associated benefits.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® Each Year: Enjoy the convenience of two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, allowing cardholders to secure earlier boarding positions.
- DoorDash Benefits: Cardholders receive a complimentary one-year DashPass membership.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Receive coverage up to $3,000 per passenger for lost or damaged checked or carry-on luggage.
- 10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost: The card provides an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, bringing cardholders closer to earning the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursed for essential purchases (up to $100 per day for 3 days) in case of baggage delays over 6 hours.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extend the manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Purchase Protection: Enjoy coverage for new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account, providing added security for your acquisitions.
When You Might Want the Southwest Premier Card?
Here are situations when you might prefer the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card over the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®:
- You Fly Southwest Airlines Frequently: If Southwest Airlines is your preferred carrier, using this card consistently will naturally result in accruing more points and rewards due to your frequent flights with the airline.
- You Want Tier Qualifying Points for Elite Status: Consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier if you're interested in achieving elite status. The card offers tier qualifying points, which count toward A-List status with Southwest, providing benefits like priority boarding, bonus points, and other perks that enhance the overall travel experience.
- You Want Better Travel Protections: According to our examination, the Southwest card offers travel protections such as lost luggage reimbrsment and baggage delay insurance.
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When You Might Want the AAdvantage Platinum Select?
Here are situations when you might prefer the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard over the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card:
- American Airlines Loyalty: Opt for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select if you have a strong loyalty to American Airlines, as this card allows you to earn AAdvantage miles, enhancing your benefits and privileges when flying with American Airlines.
- Checked Bag Benefits: If you frequently check bags, the Citi® card's first checked bag free benefit on domestic American Airlines flights for you and your companions can result in substantial savings over time, making it a favorable choice.
- You Plan To Spend At Least $20,000: If you anticipate significant annual spending, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® offers a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during the cardmembership year and renewing the card, providing an attractive incentive for high spenders.
Compare The Alternatives
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The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $550 | $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
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1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
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Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
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60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
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Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0 | $0
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Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR | 21.99% – 28.99% variable APR | 19.99% – 29.74% (Variable) |
Compare Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
We think the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier wins – it's cheaper and there is no significant difference in points rewards or airline perks.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Priority: Side By Side Comparison
If you're a frequent flyer, the Premier card has the edge so that you can cover the annual fee difference. If not, the Plus card is enough.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Premier: Side By Side Comparison
The United Explorer and the Southwest Premier card have numerous shared features. Let's explore the distinctive strengths of each card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs. United Explorer: Comparison
While the Southwest Premier card extra travel perks are better, the JetBlue Plus Card is our winner in this comparison. Here's why.
JetBlue Plus Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Side By Side Comparison
Both cards have similar annual cashback value and diverse airline benefits. While there is no clear winner, each card has its unique perks.
Frontier World Mastercard vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Side By Side Comparison
Both Alaska and Southwest Premier have similar annual cashback values. While there is no clear winner, each card has its own unique perks.
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Compare AAdvantage Platinum Select
We think that for most consumers, the no-annual-fee AAdvantage MileUp card may be a better option. When you may consider the Platinum Select?
Paying an annual fee with higher rewards rate & benefits, or getting a no annual fee card with access to Amex membership?
Here's our analysis: Delta SkyMiles Blue vs AAdvantage Platinum Select
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive offers better cashback value and perks than the Platinum Select, but usually it doesn't worth the annual fee.
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite vs. Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select
While the AAdvantage Platinum Select and the United Explorer Card have many common features, the Explorer card is our winner. Here's why.
Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. United Explorer: How They Compare?
While the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select wins at cashback value, the Aviator Red World card offers better airline perks.
AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard vs AAdvantage Platinum Select
The Delta Gold and AAdvantage Platinum Select offer similar cashback value, but the Delta card is the winner due to its diverse travel perks.
Delta SkyMiles Gold vs. Citi/ AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Card Wins?
While the airline perks are quite comparable, the JetBlue Plus Card emerges as the preferred choice thanks to higher cashback rates
Citi/ AAdvantage Platinum Select vs JetBlue Plus Card: Side By Side Comparison
