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Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is best for frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who also want to earn rewards on groceries and dining.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card is ideal for travelers who fly American Airlines and want to earn extra miles at restaurants and gas stations.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a top contender for Southwest flyers.
- Cardholders can earn accelerated points on Southwest® purchases and benefit from no foreign transaction fees, though the card does have an annual fee.
- It comes loaded with valuable travel perks like an annual Southwest travel credit, anniversary bonus points, and four upgraded boardings per year.
- The combination of the annual travel credit and anniversary bonus points can significantly offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers valuable travel perks for Southwest flyers, including an annual travel credit, anniversary bonus points, and upgraded boardings each year.
- All points earned—including from a generous welcome bonus and on everyday spending—count toward qualifying for the coveted Southwest Companion Pass®.
- Cardholders benefit from key travel protections and pay no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Cons
- The card’s benefits are most valuable for frequent Southwest flyers, offering limited utility for those who travel with other airlines, according to a complete review.
- It lacks some premium perks common to other travel cards in its class, such as airport lounge access.
- The card has a higher annual fee than other Southwest card options and does not include an introductory APR offer.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong choice for American Airlines loyalists.
- You can earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, at restaurants, and at gas stations, with no cap on how many miles you can earn.
- While the card carries an annual fee, it is waived for the first year, and you won't pay any foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
- Checking a bag on just two domestic round-trip flights per year can easily offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- The annual fee is waived for the first year, letting you test-drive the card’s perks.
- Travelers benefit from a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights and pay no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
- Everyday purchases help you earn Loyalty Points, providing a pathway to AAdvantage® elite status.
Cons
- The card's earning rates are modest, even in its bonus categories, when compared to other travel rewards cards.
- It lacks many of the travel and purchase protections that were once standard, offering less of a safety net for travelers.
- Some of its benefits, like the annual flight discount, require a high spending threshold to unlock, and it doesn't include access to Admirals Club lounges.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Categories
Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, ultimately comes down to which airline you fly most and what kind of benefits you value.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is built for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists. It provides the most value to travelers who can maximize its airline-specific perks and are looking to earn elite status or the coveted Companion Pass®.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card is best suited for casual American Airlines flyers who want to enjoy some elite-like benefits without a premium card. It's a strong choice for those who fly the airline occasionally and want practical perks like a free checked bag.
Redemption
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on the airline, but can also be used for other travel, merchandise, and gift cards.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Miles are redeemed through the American Airlines AAdvantage program for flights on American and its extensive network of Oneworld airline partners, offering a wide range of global travel options.
Travel Perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is exclusively focused on Southwest Airlines, with all bookings made directly through the airline's portal. A key travel benefit is that it does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it useful for the international destinations Southwest serves. However, the card does not include any airport lounge access.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card's ecosystem extends beyond just American Airlines to the entire Oneworld alliance, providing a much larger global network for travel. Like its Southwest counterpart, it also comes with no foreign transaction fees, a valuable perk for international flyers. It does not, however, grant cardholders access to Admirals Club lounges or other partner lounges.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For those looking to dive deeper into card comparisons, tools like Kudos offer a way to analyze top-rated credit cards based on your personal spending.
- Test drive cards: Before you apply, you can test drive a credit card using your real transaction data to see personalized earning projections.
- Approval odds analysis: 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 approval, Kudos will match it.
- Extra rewards: Earn Kudos Boost rewards when shopping at participating stores, which you can stack on top of your regular card rewards.
- Personalized recommendations: The platform matches you with cards based on your unique spending history.
Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers who are loyal to the airline and can fully leverage its suite of travel-centric benefits. This includes travelers actively pursuing elite status like A-List or the highly valued Companion Pass®, as the card accelerates point earnings for both. It's also an excellent choice for families and domestic travelers who primarily fly Southwest's extensive network, making this credit card a powerful tool for earning rewards on vacation and business travel.
Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is an ideal choice for casual American Airlines flyers who want to enjoy some elite-like benefits without paying for a premium card. According to a full card review, its key benefits—like a free checked bag on domestic itineraries and accelerated earning at restaurants and gas stations—appeal to those who fly the airline occasionally but don't hold elite status. The card also serves as a practical tool for earning AAdvantage Loyalty Points through everyday spending, helping cardholders work their way toward status.
Alternatives to Consider
So, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select comparison didn't yield a clear winner for your wallet? No problem—let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be your perfect co-pilot.
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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. Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Plan your spending. Make sure you can comfortably meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
- Review your card history. Some issuers have rules that can affect your eligibility for a new welcome offer.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
- Know the issuer's rules, as some have restrictions on earning a new bonus within a certain timeframe.
- Be patient if searching for an elevated offer and don't settle for a lower one.
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 earning airline elite status?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® helps you earn Loyalty Points on every purchase, which count directly toward American Airlines elite status. While the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers a boost in Tier Qualifying Points, earning status on American is generally more straightforward through credit card spending.
Can I transfer points from other programs to Southwest or American Airlines?
Southwest Rapid Rewards is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, making it easy to top off your account with points. American AAdvantage has fewer major bank transfer partners, making points from other programs more difficult to consolidate.
Which card offers better in-flight benefits?
The Southwest Priority card provides up to four Upgraded Boardings per year and 25% back on in-flight purchases. The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card offers preferred boarding and a 25% savings on eligible in-flight food and beverage purchases.
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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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