Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card a strong contender for frequent flyers.

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• The card offers a suite of travel benefits like a free first checked bag and an annual companion certificate that can easily offset its annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• You can accelerate your earnings with 3X miles on Delta purchases and at hotels, plus 2X miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• With the first checked bag free saving you up to $70 per round-trip, just five such trips a year could cover the card's annual fee from this benefit alone (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A generous Welcome Offer provides a significant boost to your SkyMiles balance right from the start.
• Fast-track your way to Delta's coveted Medallion elite status through card spending.
• Includes valuable travel protections and a fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, adding peace of mind and convenience to your trips.

_{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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Cons

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• Comes with a significant annual fee that isn't waived for the first year.
• Lacks complimentary access to Delta Sky Club® lounges.
• Key benefits like the annual companion certificate come with significant restrictions, limiting their flexibility.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum, depends entirely on your travel habits and loyalty to a specific airline.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is ideal for frequent Southwest flyers and families who appreciate the airline’s flexible policies and primarily domestic network. It's especially valuable for travelers pursuing the Companion Pass® or those who can maximize the card's airline-specific benefits.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best suited for loyal Delta flyers who travel multiple times a year and are aiming for Medallion elite status. Couples and families can also extract significant value from its annual companion travel perks.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed for Southwest flights, with the number of points required tied directly to the cash price of the ticket. This straightforward system means there are no blackout dates, and points can be used for any available seat.

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Miles can be redeemed for flights on Delta and its extensive network of partner airlines, providing global travel options. The value of miles is dynamic, but they can also be used for other perks like seat upgrades and partner offers.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Airport Lounge Access: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card provides access to the Delta Sky Club and Escape Lounges for a fee. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card does not offer any lounge access benefits.
• Travel Network: The Southwest card’s ecosystem is centered on its own flight network, which is extensive within the U.S. but has limited international reach. The Delta card provides access to a significantly larger global network through Delta and its SkyTeam airline partners, opening up worldwide travel possibilities.
• Signature Perks: The Southwest card’s main advantage is its role in earning the highly-valued Companion Pass®, which allows a designated person to fly with you for only the cost of taxes and fees. The Delta card’s signature benefit is its annual companion certificate, which provides for a round-trip Main Cabin flight for a companion each year upon card renewal (Terms Apply).

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a comprehensive tool that evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards, helping you find the optimal card for your unique spending habits rather than relying on generic "best of" lists.

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• Test drive credit cards: Use your real spending data to simulate how much you would earn with a new card before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Approval odds: Get a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of applying through Kudos, they will match it.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward: Unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card’s rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• Personalized card matching: Discover new cards that are personally matched to you based on your actual spending history.

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 who can easily take advantage of the $75 annual travel credit and perks like upgraded boardings. It's also an excellent choice for loyalists chasing A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass®, as all points earned contribute toward qualification. Ultimately, travelers deeply committed to the Southwest ecosystem—including families and those who primarily fly domestically—will find the most value in this premium airline card.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card is tailor-made for dedicated Delta flyers looking to elevate their travel experience and accelerate their journey toward Medallion status. It's also a strong contender for couples and families who can take advantage of the annual companion certificate, as well as for moderate-to-heavy spenders who can maximize rewards on travel, dining, and groceries. Ultimately, this card is best for travelers who can leverage its specific Delta-centric perks to outweigh the annual fee, as detailed in our comprehensive card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express comparison didn't land you on a clear winner? Not to worry, as there are plenty of 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

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
• Review the benefits - Understand perks like companion passes and statement credits to see if they fit your travel and spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer rules - Be aware of policies from issuers like Chase or American Express that could affect your approval.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
• Consider your airline loyalty - Co-branded cards offer the most value when you frequently fly with a specific airline like Southwest or Delta.

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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Which card is better for international travel?

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The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card is generally better for international travel due to Delta's extensive global network and partnerships with other international airlines. Southwest primarily operates in North America and the Caribbean.

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Can I transfer points from other programs to Southwest or Delta?

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Yes, both airlines are transfer partners with major credit card rewards programs. You can transfer points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest and American Express Membership Rewards to Delta.

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How do the companion passes for Southwest and Delta compare?

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The Southwest Companion Pass is a highly coveted perk earned after accumulating a large number of points, allowing a companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. In contrast, the Delta Companion Certificate is an annual benefit of the SkyMiles Platinum card, valid for one specific round-trip domestic flight.

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