Credit Cards » Compare Credit Cards » Frontier World Mastercard vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Side By Side Comparison
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Frontier World Mastercard 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
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: April 15, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: April 15, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

The Frontier World Mastercard and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier are airline miles credit cards offering different benefits and rewards for cardholders. Let's compare them side by side.

General Comparison

The Frontier World Mastercard, associated with Frontier Airlines, is tailored for those who frequently fly with this carrier. Its appeal lies in the airline-specific benefits it offers, including priority boarding, 0% intro APR, and the potential for elite status through qualifying spending.

On the other hand, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card is affiliated with Southwest Airlines, renowned for its extensive domestic route network and benefits such as 2 EarlyBird Chec-In, companion pass points boost, and 25% back on inflight purchases.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the card's main features:

FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard® review

southwest_rapid_rewards_premier_art

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Annual Fee
$89
$99
Rewards
5x miles per dollar on purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3x miles per dollar at restaurants and 1x miles on all other purchases
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
40,000 travel miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. 20,000 travel miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®
50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
0% Intro APR
15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
N/A
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
$0
Purchase APR
21.24% – 29.99%
21.49%–28.49% variable
Read Review
Read Review
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
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
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

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
50,000 miles 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your first six months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Point Rewards Analysis: Which Card Is Better?

When we analyze the amount of points cardholders can get for each card for the same spend, we can see that while Frontier earns more miles than Southwets, the estimated annual worth of both cards is quite similar, so there is no clear winner in this category. Here's the comparison:

FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard® review

southwest_rapid_rewards_premier_art

Spend Per Category
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Rapid Rewards Premier
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
10,000 miles
10,000 points
$4,000 – Restaurants
12,000 miles
4,000 points
$5,000 – Airline
25,000 miles
15,000 points
$5,000 – Hotels
5,000 miles
10,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 miles
4,000 points
Total Points
56,000 miles
43,000 points
Redemption Value (Estimated)
1 mile = ~1 cent
1 point = ~1.3 cents
Estimated Annual Value
$560
$559

With Southwest Premier card, 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.

Find and redeem points for Southwest flights
Find and redeem points for Southwest flights (screenshot from Southwest app)

What Airline Benefits And Protections Each card Offers?

There is no definitive winner in terms of additional benefits. While the Frontier card stands out with its $100 annual flight voucher, a perk not offered by Southwest, Southwest, on the other hand, provides a range of travel insurance and protection options that are not available with the Frontier card.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard® review

  • $100 Flight Voucher: Receive a $100 flight voucher every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases during your cardmembership year.
  • Priority Boarding: Enjoy Zone 2 boarding on Frontier Airlines flights, allowing for a more convenient and expedited boarding process.
  • Earn toward Elite Status: Accumulate Qualifying Miles at a rate of 1 mile for every $1 spent on purchases or by flying Frontier, contributing towards achieving Elite Status.
  • Award Redemption Fee Waiver: Benefit from a waiver on award redemption fees when booking an award ticket, provided the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard is used to pay the related taxes and fees (starting from $5.60 for a one-way ticket).
  • Mastercard World Elite Benefits: World Elite Mastercards give you some cool deals from other stores, and they also come with good things like special benefits at hotels, a helpful concierge service, cell phone protection, and fraud protection.
  • Customized Card Design: Personalize your Frontier Airlines World Mastercard by selecting an animal design, with the added environmental benefit of the card being made from 85% recycled material, showcasing endangered species to support the airline's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

southwest_rapid_rewards_premier_art

  • 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.
  • 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.
Southwest a progress towards Companion pass and A-List Status
Southwest a progress towards Companion pass and A-List Status (screenshot from Southwest app)
  • 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.
  • 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.
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
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
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

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
50,000 miles 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your first six months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

When You Might Want The Southwest Premier Card?

You may prefer the Southwest Premier Card in the following cases:

  • Extensive Domestic Travel: Opt for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier if you prioritize domestic travel, as Southwest Airlines has an extensive domestic route network, offering more flexibility and options for your travel needs.

  • Better Travel Insurance: As we've shown above, the travel insurance and protections the Southwest Premier card offers are better than the Frontier card, so if you prioritize this aspect – it may be a better choice.

  • Aspiration for Companion Pass: If you aspire to attain the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly for free (excluding taxes and fees), the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card offers an accelerated path towards achieving this valuable benefit.

Use Companion pass on Southwest Flight
Boost and use Companion pass on Southwest flight

When You Might Want The Frontier World Mastercard?

You may prefer the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard in the following cases:

  • Frequent Frontier Flyers: Opt for the Frontier World Mastercard if you frequently fly with Frontier Airlines, as it offers airline-specific perks, including priority boarding and the opportunity to earn Elite Status through qualifying spending.

  • Value the $100 Flight Voucher: Choose the Frontier card if you place high value on the $100 annual flight voucher, a unique benefit not offered by the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.

  • 0% Intro APR: if you need 0% intro APR and an airline miles credit card, this may be a perfect fit

Compare The Alternatives

If you're looking for an airline credit card with travel rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:

jetblue plus card

southwest_rapid_rewards_premier_art

The JetBlue Plus Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite
Annual Fee
$99
$99
$99 (waived for the first 12 months)
Rewards
1X – 6X 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases
1X – 3X 3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
1X – 2X Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Welcome bonus
50,000 points 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days
50,000 Points 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
50,000 Miles 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
$0
$0
Purchase APR
21.24% – 29.99% variable
21.49%–28.49% variable
21.24% – 29.99% (Variable)

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Picture of Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Credit Card Reviews Methodology

In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.