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United Club vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United Club℠ Card: This card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers who value premium travel perks like lounge access and priority services.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best for loyal Southwest Airlines customers looking to earn points on flights and everyday spending categories like transit, dining, and groceries.
United Club Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a look at what makes the United Club℠ Card a compelling choice for frequent flyers.
- Cardholders receive a complimentary United Club membership, granting access to over 45 United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges.
- The card offers valuable travel perks like free checked bags and Premier Access® priority services, though it does come with an annual fee.
- The value of the United Club membership alone, worth up to $650, can nearly offset the card's annual fee for those who use it regularly (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A complimentary United Club membership provides access to an extensive network of airport lounges.
- Valuable travel perks streamline the airport experience, including free checked baggage and Premier Access® services for priority check-in, security, and boarding.
- Cardholders receive robust travel and purchase protections, plus statement credits for expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.
Cons
- Carries a high annual fee that may be difficult to justify for travelers who do not regularly take advantage of the United Club lounge access.
- Benefits are heavily skewed toward United Airlines, limiting the card’s value for those who are not loyal to the airline and its partners.
- The rewards program is less competitive on non-United purchases compared to other premium travel cards.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier.
- Cardholders receive several valuable travel perks like two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins and priority boarding when flying with the airline.
- While the card has an annual fee, it offers strong rewards on Southwest purchases and has no foreign transaction fees.
- The 6,000 bonus points you receive each anniversary can cover more than half of the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Enjoy an enhanced travel experience on Southwest with perks like priority boarding, a free first checked bag, and complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins.
- Receive an annual bonus point deposit and a yearly boost toward earning A-List elite status and the Southwest Companion Pass.
- Earn bonus points on Southwest purchases and everyday spending categories, with flexible redemption options for flights with no blackout dates.
Cons
- The annual fee is relatively high for a mid-tier card, and the anniversary bonus may not fully offset the cost.
- It lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access and has fewer bonus categories than some competing cards.
- The rewards program is less flexible than general travel cards, as points cannot be transferred to other airline partners.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs United Club
Categories
Deciding which is better, United Club or Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, depends entirely on your travel habits and loyalty to a specific airline.
- The United Club℠ Card is a premium travel card designed for frequent United Airlines flyers. It is best for travelers seeking United Club lounge access and other elite travel perks.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-level airline credit card for semifrequent Southwest Airlines flyers. This card offers a balance of perks for those who fly with the airline occasionally.
Redemption
United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, which can be used for flights on United and its partner airlines, as well as for travel upgrades, hotels, and other experiences.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are redeemed through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for booking flights on Southwest, where the point value is tied to the fare price.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card includes a United Club membership, providing access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance partner lounges. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not offer lounge access.
- Booking Portal and Airline Network: With the United Club℠ Card, rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus portal, which can be used for flights on United and its large network of partner airlines. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card uses the Southwest Rapid Rewards portal, which is limited to booking flights on Southwest Airlines.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.
- Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections 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.
- Maximize rewards with a feature that autofills the best card to use at checkout to earn the most on every purchase.
Who Should Choose the United Club?
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is tailor-made for the die-hard United loyalist who practically lives in airports. If you frequently fly with the airline for business or pleasure, the complimentary United Club membership and Premier Access® services can transform the often-chaotic airport experience into a seamless one. Additionally, international travelers and those chasing MileagePlus Premier status will find the card’s global lounge access and ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) particularly compelling.
Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for the semifrequent Southwest flyer who seeks a middle ground between minimal perks and premium benefits. It's a solid choice for travelers who find the $149 annual fee justifiable for a significant step-up in benefits from the entry-level card, but don't fly enough to maximize the perks of the top-tier option. Ultimately, this card suits those who will take advantage of its anniversary bonus points, EarlyBird Check-Ins, and other travel perks detailed in this comprehensive review.
Alternatives to Consider
Perhaps our comparison of the United Club℠ Infinite Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has left you feeling like neither is the perfect fit. If the former feels too premium and the latter too restrictive for your travel habits, several other excellent cards are worth considering.
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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, as most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Review application rules, as issuers often have policies that can affect your eligibility for a new card or its welcome offer.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
Application Strategy
- Know the 5/24 rule, as some issuers like Chase may deny your application if you've opened too many recent accounts.
- Confirm bonus eligibility, especially for co-branded cards that may restrict offers based on your history with that brand.
- Align the card with your habits by choosing a card whose benefits match your most frequent travel or spending patterns.
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
Can I transfer points between United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards?
No, you cannot directly transfer rewards between the United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards programs. These are separate loyalty programs tied to different airlines, and they do not have a transfer partnership.
What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass is a highly sought-after travel perk that allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free, not including taxes and fees, whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight. You can earn this benefit by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning a set number of qualifying points in a calendar year.
Do United miles or Southwest points expire?
United MileagePlus miles no longer expire, so you don't have to worry about losing them due to inactivity. Similarly, Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire.
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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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