Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) is a top contender for foodies and frequent flyers alike.

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• It offers an excellent rewards rate on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Annual credits for dining and Uber can effectively lower the cost of card membership.
• The card is a great travel companion, with no foreign transaction fees and flexible points that transfer to airline and hotel partners.

Terms Apply.

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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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Pros

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• Generous rewards on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Valuable monthly statement credits for popular dining and rideshare services.
• Flexible point redemption options, including transfers to many airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee.
• Statement credits are distributed in monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment.
• Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

American Express® Gold Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Amex Gold, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel style. Each card caters to a different type of consumer, offering unique benefits tailored to specific needs.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best for loyal Southwest Airlines flyers who travel with the airline a few times a year and want to earn points toward flights and enjoy day-of-travel perks.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for individuals who spend heavily on dining and at U.S. supermarkets and want to earn flexible rewards for travel.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for flights with Southwest Airlines, offering a straightforward way to book award travel. You can also use points for other options like international flights with partner airlines, gift cards, and merchandise.

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American Express® Gold Card: Membership Rewards points offer significant flexibility, as they can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Points can also be used to book travel through the Amex portal or redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.

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Travel Perks

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card’s ecosystem is centered on Southwest Airlines. Points are primarily redeemed for flights directly with the airline, and its travel perks are specific to the Southwest flying experience. It does not offer complimentary airport lounge access and includes a foreign transaction fee.
• American Express® Gold Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is the flexible American Express Membership Rewards program. Its key feature is the ability to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners, providing a wide range of booking options. The card does not have a foreign transaction fee, but it does not come with airport lounge access.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Receive personalized card recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 cards.
• Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Take advantage of a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Stack rewards by earning Kudos Boost rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at certain stores.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is designed for semifrequent Southwest flyers who want a solid balance of perks without committing to a top-tier annual fee. This cardholder typically flies with the airline a few times a year and is looking for more benefits than an entry-level card provides, such as anniversary bonus points and pathways to elite status. They are focused on accumulating Rapid Rewards points through everyday spending to redeem for flights and appreciate travel-day benefits like EarlyBird Check-In and a free checked bag to make their journeys smoother.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for foodies and frequent travelers who can maximize its premium rewards structure. This cardholder typically spends a significant amount on dining out worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, earning 4X points on both (on up to $25,000 per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1X), while also booking flights directly with airlines to capture 3X points. Ultimately, the ideal user is someone who can consistently leverage the card’s monthly statement credits, like the up to $120 in dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash (Terms Apply), to easily offset the annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our deep dive into the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs. American Express® Gold Card comparison shows that neither is quite right for you, there are other excellent options to explore.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer application rules: Issuers like Chase and American Express have specific restrictions on earning welcome offers.
• Plan for the spending requirement: Make sure you can meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer through your normal purchasing habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers may deny applications based on the number of cards you've recently opened.
• Confirm your Welcome Offer eligibility - Issuers often have rules about earning a bonus if you've had their cards before.
• Time your application strategically - Applying during a promotional period or before a large purchase can maximize value.

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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Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card worth it if I don't fly Southwest often?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card's value is heavily tied to flying with the airline, as its primary benefits include points on Southwest purchases and anniversary points. If you aren't a frequent Southwest flyer, you may find it difficult to maximize the card's benefits.

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Can I transfer points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards?

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No, you cannot transfer points directly between these two loyalty programs. Southwest Rapid Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards are separate ecosystems with their own airline and hotel transfer partners.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on everyday purchases like groceries and dining?

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The American Express® Gold Card generally offers superior rewards on everyday spending, with high earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. The Southwest card's earning structure is more focused on travel and purchases with its partners.

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