Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Iberia Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

Iberia Visa Signature Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Iberia Visa Signature Card a compelling choice.

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• Cardholders earn accelerated rewards on eligible airline and direct hotel purchases.
• The card offers a discount on eligible Iberia flights and has no foreign transaction fees, though it does come with an annual fee(See Rates & Fees).
• An annual discount voucher, earned after meeting a spending requirement, can provide value that more than covers the card's yearly cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A valuable introductory bonus for new cardholders and accelerated rewards on select travel purchases.
• Cardholders receive a discount on eligible flights and can earn a yearly discount voucher.
• Points can be transferred to several partner airline loyalty programs, adding redemption flexibility.

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Cons

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• Lacks common airline card perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding.
• The airline's website can be difficult to navigate, making the redemption process frustrating for some users.
• Key benefits have restrictive terms, and points can expire after a period of inactivity.

Iberia Visa Signature vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Iberia Visa Signature® Card, depends on your personal travel habits and loyalty. Each card is designed for a different type of traveler, offering distinct benefits for flying with specific airlines and their partners.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best for semifrequent Southwest Airlines flyers who want to earn Rapid Rewards points and enjoy valuable day-of-travel benefits. It serves as a strong mid-tier option for travelers who appreciate perks like anniversary bonus points and improved boarding.
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card: This card is ideal for travelers who frequently fly with Iberia, British Airways, or other Oneworld alliance partners. It is especially useful for those looking to earn and redeem Avios points and take advantage of Iberia-specific flight discounts.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines. The value is directly tied to the cost of the flight, offering a simple and transparent redemption process for domestic and near-international travel.

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Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Rewards are given as Avios, which can be redeemed for flights on Iberia, British Airways, and other Oneworld alliance partners. This system provides significant flexibility for international travelers looking to leverage a global airline network.

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Travel Perks

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• Airline Network: The Iberia card provides access to the global Oneworld alliance, including partners like British Airways and American Airlines, making it ideal for international flyers. The Southwest card is limited to the Southwest Airlines network, which focuses on domestic and near-international routes.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: The Iberia Visa Signature® Card does not charge foreign transaction fees, whereas the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does, making the former a better option for spending abroad.
• Signature Perks: A key benefit of the Iberia card is an annual flight discount voucher earned after meeting a spending requirement. The Southwest card offers anniversary bonus points and provides a pathway to earning the Southwest Companion Pass®, one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel.

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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 thousands of cards and find the best match for your wallet.

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• Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can test drive a credit card using your real spending data to see personalized calculations of your potential earnings.
• Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when you shop at participating stores.
• Personalized Recommendations: The platform analyzes your spending history to provide data-driven recommendations, helping you discover the best new cards for your wallet.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is tailored for semi-frequent to regular Southwest Airlines flyers who can maximize the card's specific travel perks. These cardholders value benefits like the 6,000 anniversary bonus points, two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins, and pathways to earn A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass. As detailed in a comprehensive review, it's an ideal choice for those with a good credit score of 670 or higher seeking a solid return on a moderate $149 annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Iberia Visa Signature?

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The Iberia Visa Signature® Card is best suited for frequent flyers of Iberia and its Oneworld alliance partners, such as British Airways and Aer Lingus, who are looking to accumulate Avios. This card is particularly valuable for U.S.-based travelers who often fly to Spain or elsewhere in Europe and want to take advantage of the ability to transfer points between different airline loyalty programs. Additionally, as detailed in a comprehensive review, cardholders can benefit from perks like a 10% discount on Iberia flights, making it a strong choice for those loyal to the airline.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Iberia Visa Signature® Card comparison has left you undecided, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel goals.

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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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review application rules – many issuers have restrictions, like Chase’s 5/24 rule, that can impact your eligibility.
• Have a spending plan – make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend for a welcome offer without forcing purchases.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer’s rules – some issuers have strict policies, like the 5/24 rule mentioned for the Southwest Premier card and Iberia Visa Signature card, that can affect your approval.
• Wait for an elevated offer – welcome bonuses often fluctuate, so patience can lead to a much higher reward.
• Time your application – apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement organically.

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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Can I use points from one card on the other airline?

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No, you cannot directly use Southwest Rapid Rewards points for Iberia flights or Iberia Avios for Southwest flights. The points you earn are specific to each airline's loyalty program.

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Which card is better for earning a companion pass?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is the clear choice for this goal, as points earned from the card count toward the famous Southwest Companion Pass, a benefit the Iberia Visa Signature Card does not offer.

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Is one card better for international travel?

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The Iberia Visa Signature Card is generally better for international travel, particularly to Europe, due to Iberia's extensive global network. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is more focused on travel within the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

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