Amex Business Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Which Is Better In 2026?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a look at why the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card stands out to us.

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• This card is an excellent choice for travelers who are loyal to Southwest Airlines and fly with them regularly.
• It provides a clear pathway to earning elite status and the coveted Companion Pass® through everyday spending.
• The card comes packed with valuable perks that significantly enhance the travel experience on Southwest flights.

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Pros

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• Spending on the card helps you earn the highly sought-after Companion Pass® and can accelerate your path to A-List elite status.
• Enhances your travel experience with valuable perks like upgraded boardings, discounts on inflight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.
• Offers peace of mind with robust travel protections, including coverage for lost luggage and rental car damage.

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Cons

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• The annual fee is higher than other Southwest card options.
• Points offer limited flexibility and are most valuable when redeemed for Southwest flights.
• It lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access, which are common on other high-end travel cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel preferences as the cards are designed for very different users.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is tailored for business owners with variable expenses across different categories who value flexible rewards.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent flyers and loyalists of Southwest Airlines who want to maximize their benefits and perks with the airline.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: With this card, you earn Membership Rewards® points that offer a high degree of flexibility. You can redeem them for travel through the Amex portal, transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners, or use them for statement credits and gift cards.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for flights on Southwest Airlines. While other redemption options like gift cards or merchandise exist, using points for airfare typically provides the most value.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, a financial companion like Kudos allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Use your real spending data to simulate how much you could earn with a new card before you apply, complete with personalized calculations and comparisons to your current cards.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you get approved for a card through Kudos and find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Rewards and incentives: Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your wallet and earn extra rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Personalized management: Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and stay on top of all your credit card perks with actionable insights from a single dashboard.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is best suited for businesses with significant annual spending and variable expenses across several key operational areas. Its primary value lies in automatically earning 4X points on the two highest-spend categories each billing cycle, a benefit that applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases annually before dropping to 1X. Terms Apply. Consequently, growing companies in sectors like marketing, tech, and logistics that consistently spend heavily in bonus categories like advertising or shipping will find the rewards can easily justify the $375 annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for loyalists who frequently fly with the airline and can fully leverage its premium perks. This includes travelers aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass®, achieve A-List status faster, or simply enjoy benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit. Ultimately, it's best for domestic travelers, families, and individuals whose travel patterns align with Southwest's network, making the annual fee a worthwhile investment for the enhanced experience.

Alternatives to Consider

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Neither card in our Amex Business Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority comparison feeling like the right fit for your wallet? Let's explore a few other top-tier cards that might be a better match.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to ensure it meets the typical requirements for premium cards.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer requirements without overspending.
• Review issuer-specific rules, as some banks have restrictions on how many cards you can have or how often you can earn a welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Try different browsers or incognito mode to find the best publicly available offers.
• Have business information ready for business card applications.
• Look for upgrade offers if you already have a card in the same product family.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for flexible travel rewards?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card generally offers more flexibility, as its Membership Rewards points can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel partners. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are primarily redeemable for flights on Southwest Airlines.

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Business Gold Card to Southwest?

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Yes, Southwest Airlines is a transfer partner of the American Express Membership Rewards program, allowing you to move points from your Business Gold card to your Rapid Rewards account. Terms apply.

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Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card good for international travel?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is most valuable for travel within the U.S. and to Southwest's international destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. For extensive travel outside of these regions, a card with a more global airline alliance might be more suitable.

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