Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority 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 breakdown of what makes the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a top choice for many.

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• It's a powerhouse for foodies, offering generous rewards on spending at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• Frequent travelers will appreciate the accelerated rewards on flights and the lack of foreign transaction fees.
• Valuable annual credits for select dining partners and Uber provide substantial recurring value.

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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• Strong rewards on everyday spending, including at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• Valuable annual credits for select dining and Uber usage.
• Flexible point redemption with access to airline and hotel transfer partners.

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Cons

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• The annual fee can be steep for those who don’t take full advantage of the card’s benefits.
• Annual credits are paid out in monthly increments, which can be restrictive and easy to forget.
• Limited acceptance when compared to Visa or Mastercard.

American Express® Gold Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority or Amex Gold, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel preferences. Each card is designed to reward a different type of consumer, making the choice a personal one.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card: This card is built for dedicated Southwest loyalists. It offers the most value to those who frequently travel with the airline and want to maximize rewards and benefits within its ecosystem.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers who also spend a significant amount on dining. It provides premium rewards on both travel and everyday food purchases.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card: Points are redeemed directly through Southwest for flights, gift cards, merchandise, and experiences. This makes redemption straightforward but limits you to the airline's partners and offerings.

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American Express® Gold Card: Membership Rewards® points offer greater flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to a wide array of airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem them for travel, statement credits, or gift cards through the American Express portal.

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Travel Perks

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card: The travel ecosystem is exclusively tied to Southwest Airlines. Cardholders receive perks designed to enhance their experience with the airline, but it lacks the flexibility of a broader travel portal. This card includes foreign transaction fees, making it less suitable for international journeys beyond Southwest's destinations. It does not offer general airport lounge access.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card provides access to the expansive American Express Travel ecosystem. A key feature is that it has no foreign transaction fees, a major perk for travelers abroad. While it doesn't offer complimentary lounge access, cardholders can receive benefits through The Hotel Collection. Terms Apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision without relying on generic lists, a tool like Kudos can help you compare cards side-by-side based on your actual spending.

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• Simulate your potential earnings with the Test Drive feature, which uses your real spending data to project rewards before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Track your progress toward credit card sign-up bonuses and monitor your credit score for free.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists who can fully leverage its premium, airline-specific benefits. This includes travelers aiming to fast-track their way to A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass®, as the card's perks like the annual travel credit and upgraded boardings directly enhance the Southwest travel experience. Ultimately, if you fly with the airline several times a year and want to maximize rewards on those trips, this card offers significant value that can easily outweigh its annual fee.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for food enthusiasts who frequently dine out or spend a significant amount at U.S. supermarkets, as it offers high reward rates in both categories. This card also appeals to travelers who book flights directly with airlines, allowing them to accumulate valuable Membership Rewards® points on their trips. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is someone who can consistently take advantage of the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash (Terms Apply) to help offset the $325 annual fee, making it a powerful tool for their everyday spending.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Amex Gold comparison has revealed that neither card perfectly aligns with your needs. Fortunately, several other compelling travel rewards cards are available that may offer a better value for your specific spending habits.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium cards require good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.
• Review the card’s benefits – Ensure the credits and perks align with your spending habits to maximize value.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spend requirement.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Some issuers limit welcome offers to once per lifetime for a specific card.
• Choose a card that fits your habits – Select a card that rewards your lifestyle, whether it's for dining out or frequent flights on a specific airline.

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 transfer points between Southwest and American Express?

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No, you cannot transfer points directly between Southwest Rapid Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. They are separate loyalty programs with different transfer partners and rules.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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The American Express® Gold Card is generally better for international travel as it has no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply) and earns points on dining worldwide. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is more focused on domestic travel within the Southwest network.

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Can I have both the Southwest Priority Card and the Amex Gold Card?

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Yes, you can absolutely hold both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the American Express® Gold Card simultaneously. This can be a good strategy to maximize rewards across different spending categories and travel preferences.

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Do the points from these cards expire?

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Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your account remains open. American Express Membership Rewards points also do not expire, but you may lose them if you cancel all of your cards enrolled in the program.

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