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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is a great choice for frequent Southwest flyers who want to earn points toward flights and take advantage of airline-specific travel perks.
- The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is designed for frequent travelers who use mobile wallets, offering high reward rates on travel and mobile pay purchases alongside premium benefits.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a closer look at why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier.
- Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like priority boarding and a free first checked bag, though the card does come with an annual fee.
- You'll earn an accelerated rate of points on Southwest purchases and on several everyday spending categories like groceries and local transit.
- The 6,000-point anniversary bonus combined with two EarlyBird Check-In credits each year can more than cover the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Cardholders receive valuable day-of-travel benefits, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, and EarlyBird Check-In credits.
- Earn bonus points on Southwest purchases and in several everyday spending categories, plus receive a yearly anniversary points bonus.
- Accelerate your path to Southwest A-List status and the coveted Companion Pass with annual qualifying point boosts and the ability to earn more through spending.
Cons
- The annual fee is high for the perks offered.
- Its rewards program is limited by spending caps and the removal of several bonus categories.
- It lacks the premium benefits and redemption flexibility of other travel cards.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® stands out in the premium travel card market.
- You'll earn a high rewards rate of 3x points on both travel and mobile wallet purchases, a rare combination for a premium card.
- While the card carries an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees), making it a great companion for international trips.
- The generous $325 annual travel credit effectively lowers the annual fee to just $75, a value easily recouped by taking just one or two trips per year (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers a high rewards rate on mobile wallet purchases, making it easy to earn points on everyday spending with services like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Includes a generous and easy-to-use annual travel credit, plus complimentary airport lounge access through Priority Pass Select.
- Provides flexible redemption options, including the ability to instantly redeem points for recent purchases and get more value when booking travel through the rewards center.
Cons
- Carries a high annual fee that may be difficult to justify for infrequent travelers.
- You must have an existing relationship with U.S. Bank to apply, which limits accessibility for new customers.
- The rewards program lacks direct airline or hotel transfer partners, which can limit redemption flexibility.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
Categories
Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier or the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve, depends on your specific travel habits and spending style. One card is designed for loyalists of a specific airline, while the other offers broader rewards for those who value flexibility.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - This card is best for semi-frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who want to earn points within the airline's loyalty program and take advantage of day-of-travel benefits.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card - This card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to earn rewards on general travel and mobile wallet purchases and prefer flexible redemption options.
Redemption
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are redeemed through the airline's loyalty program, primarily for booking Southwest flights, but can also be used for merchandise, gift cards, and other travel-related experiences.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: This card offers more flexible redemption, allowing you to use points for travel booked through the U.S. Bank rewards center or as a real-time statement credit for travel and mobile wallet purchases.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier card does not offer this benefit.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travel, the Altitude® Reserve card holds an advantage as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. In contrast, the Southwest Premier card does charge a fee for purchases made abroad.
- Trusted Traveler Programs: The Altitude® Reserve provides a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, a perk not available with the Southwest Premier card.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos, which allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your personal spending habits.
- Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can test drive a credit card using your actual spending data to see a personalized projection of your potential earnings.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
- $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards when you add select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is tailored for semi-frequent Southwest flyers who want a solid set of airline perks without committing to a top-tier annual fee. It's a great fit for travelers who can leverage benefits like EarlyBird Check-Ins and priority boarding, while also accelerating their progress toward A-List status and the coveted Companion Pass. Ultimately, it's for loyalists who fly the airline a few times a year and can easily offset the annual fee with the card's travel benefits, as detailed in a comprehensive review.
Who Should Choose the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®?
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who are also heavy users of mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. This card allows cardholders to maximize their earnings with 3x points on both travel and mobile wallet purchases, which can accumulate quickly for those who spend often in these categories. According to a Kudos review, existing U.S. Bank customers who can leverage the card's annual travel credits and other perks will find it easy to offset the $400 annual fee.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve comparison has shown that neither the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier nor the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is the right card for you, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel cards to consider.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score to ensure it aligns with the card's requirements.
- Review issuer-specific application rules, such as Chase's 5/24 rule or existing bank relationship requirements.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any welcome offer threshold.
Application Strategy
- Time your application - Align it with a large planned purchase to help meet spending requirements.
- Prioritize your applications - Consider issuer rules like Chase's 5/24 to determine which cards to apply for first.
- Establish a relationship - Open a checking or savings account if required by the issuer, like with some U.S. Bank cards.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Which card is better for international travel?
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is generally better for international travel as it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and its points can be redeemed flexibly. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is more focused on domestic travel within the Southwest Airlines network and does have foreign transaction fees.
What are the annual fees for each card?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card carries a $400 annual fee.
Can I transfer points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve?
No, you cannot directly transfer points between the Southwest Rapid Rewards program and the U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards program. They are separate loyalty programs with no transfer partners in common.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos 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.
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