The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card and the United Quest Card are premium airline miles credit cards offered by major U.S. airlines in partnership with Chase bank. Still, they cater to different airline loyalty programs and have distinct benefits.
General Comparison
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card, linked with Southwest Airlines renowned for its widespread domestic routes, provides substantial advantages for regular Southwest travelers. Cardholders benefit from an annual $75 Southwest travel credit, four upgraded boardings annually, and 7,500 anniversary points.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is perfect for frequent Southwest flyers, offering great benefits like a $75 annual travel credit, four upgraded boardings per year, and 7,500 anniversary points. Southwest is known for its extensive domestic network, making this card a strong choice for those who often travel with the airline.
On the other hand, the United Quest Card is linked with United Airlines and has a higher annual fee, but it offers valuable perks such as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, along with free first and second checked bags.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the cards’ main features:
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Credit Card Points Battle: A Side-by-Side Analysis
Based on our analysis, there’s not much difference in the points earned with both cards. Additionally, the value of each United and Southwest point is quite similar, so despite the differences in annual fees, the estimated redemption value for both cards is nearly the same.
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Spend Per Category | United Quest Card | Southwest Priority Card |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 15,000 miles | 15,000 points |
$5,000 – Restaurants | 10,000 miles | 5,000 points |
$6,000 – Hotels | 12,000 miles | 12,000 points |
$8,000 – Airline
| 24,000 miles | 24,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles | 4,000 points |
Total Points | 65,000 miles | 60,000 points |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 point = ~1.2 cents
| 1 point = ~1.3 cents
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Estimated Annual Value | $780 | $780 |
United Airlines provides various ways to redeem MileagePlus miles, including booking flights, upgrading seats, or covering fees. Plus, you can use miles for hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise through the MileagePlus Shopping portal.
Southwest Airlines offers flexible redemption options for its Rapid Rewards points. You can use points to book flights with no blackout dates or seat restrictions, making it easy to plan your travels. Additionally, points can be used for hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, and experiences through the More Rewards program.
Travel And Airline Benefits: Comparison
United Quest Card
- $125 Annual United Purchase Credit: Cardholders receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases each account anniversary year.
- Up to 10,000 Miles in Award Flight Credits: Starting from the first anniversary, cardholders get 5,000 miles back in their MileagePlus account after taking up to 2 United or United Express-operated award flights annually.
- Free First and Second Checked Bags: The primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation enjoy complimentary first and second standard checked bags on United-operated flights.
- Priority Boarding: The primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation receive priority boarding on United-operated flights.
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Fee Credit: Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.
- 25% Back on United Inflight and Club Premium Purchases: Cardholders get a 25% statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights, as well as Club premium drinks.
- Premier Upgrades on Award Tickets: The primary cardmember with MileagePlus Premier status, traveling on an award ticket, and one companion on the same reservation are eligible for complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United and United Express-operated flights.
- DoorDash: Cardholders receive a one-year complimentary DashPass membership, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
7,500 Points Annually: Cardholders receive 7,500 bonus points every year on their Cardmember anniversary, adding a consistent boost to their Southwest Rapid Rewards balance.
$75 Southwest Annual Travel Credit: This credit helps offset the annual fee, providing cardholders with a yearly $75 credit for eligible Southwest travel expenses.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per Year: Enjoy enhanced travel experience with four upgraded boardings per year when available.
- 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.
- 25% Back on Inflight Purchases: Receive a 25% rebate on inflight purchases, making onboard snacks, drinks, and entertainment more affordable for travelers.
- 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.
- DoorDash Benefits: Cardholders receive a complimentary one-year DashPass membership, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders through DoorDash and Caviar.
Which Protections You'll Get With Each Card?
While both cards issued by Chase, the United Quest card offers broader coverage.
Here are the protections you'll get on both cards:
- 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.
Here are unique protections for the United Quest card:
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: In the event of trip cancellation or interruption due to covered situations like sickness or severe weather.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: If common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, the card covers unreimbursed expenses, including meals and lodging.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: By declining the rental company's collision insurance and charging the entire rental cost to the card, primary coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad, up to the actual cash value of the vehicle.
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When You Might Want the Southwest Priority Card?
You might prefer the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card if:
You're Focused On Earning miles: according to our analysis, both cards earn a similar amount (and value) of point rewards. Therefore, if you are mainly looking to earn miles, the Southwest Priority card may be a better choice.
Frequent Domestic Travel: If you primarily travel within the United States, especially to destinations covered by Southwest's extensive domestic network, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card may be preferable due to its focus on domestic routes and benefits tailored to Southwest Airlines.
Prefer a Lower Annual Fee: If you are cost-conscious and prefer a lower annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card might be a better choice, as it often has a lower annual fee compared to the United Quest Card, while still providing valuable Southwest-specific benefits.
When You Might Want the United Quest Card?
You might prefer the United Quest card over the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority in the following situations:
You Fly United Frequently: If you are a loyal United Airlines customer and frequently fly within their extensive global network, the United Quest Card might be preferable due to its airline-specific benefits, such as enhanced award availability and a broader range of destinations.
You Can Leverage Premium Rewards: Opt for the United Quest Card if you frequently travel internationally and can leverage statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or use complimentary first and second-checked bags for you and your travel companions.
You Prefer A Wider Range Of Travel Partners: United Airlines belongs to the Star Alliance, which provides access to a vast network of partner airlines worldwide. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's partner network is more limited, focusing primarily on Southwest and its affiliated airlines.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a premium travel credit card with airline rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
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Capital One Venture X | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $395 | $550 | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
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Rewards |
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 |
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.
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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.
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Welcome bonus |
75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
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Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 19.99% – 29.74% (Variable) | 21.99% – 28.99% variable APR | 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable) |
Compare Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If you're looking for airline travel rewards, there is a clear winner. But what about other premium travel benefits?
Here's our comparison: Delta SkyMiles Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
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
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is the winner with higher cashback value and better travel and airline benefits. But, it has higher annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
Compare United Quest Card
The Quest card has recently launched in order to provide a premium alternative to the old Explorer card. How they compared & is it worth it?
United℠ Explorer Card vs United Quest℠ Card: Which is Better?
While having the same annual fee, we think the Delta SkyMiles Platinum is a better choice than the United Quest card. Here's why.
United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
The United Infinite card offers luxury benefits that the Quest card doesn't, but for most consumers, it is not worth the higher annual fee.
While having higher annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a clear winner with much higher total cashback and better premium travel perks.
