United Explorer vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: Which Is Better In 2025?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier.

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• Cardholders receive a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, giving you a head start on earning the famous buy-one-get-one flight perk.
• Travel perks like two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and priority boarding for you and up to eight companions enhance your travel day experience.
• The 6,000 anniversary bonus points alone can cover more than half of the card's $149 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Save on baggage fees with a free first checked bag for you and your travel companions on the same reservation.
• Accelerate your path to A-List status with bonus tier qualifying points earned through spending.
• No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

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Cons

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• The annual fee is high for a card that lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access.
• The rewards program is less flexible than others, with points being most valuable for Southwest flights and no option to transfer to other airline partners.
• Bonus rewards on popular spending categories are either capped or are being removed entirely, diminishing the card's long-term earning potential.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs United Explorer

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Explorer or Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier, depends entirely on your travel habits and which airline you fly most often. Both cards offer unique perks tailored to their respective airline's loyal customers.

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• United℠ Explorer Card: This card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers who want to take advantage of airline-specific perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access. It's also a strong choice for international travelers due to its travel protections and no foreign transaction fees.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best suited for semi-frequent Southwest flyers looking for a balance of travel benefits and the ability to earn points toward the coveted Companion Pass. It provides valuable day-of-travel perks and anniversary bonus points.

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Redemption

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United℠ Explorer Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, offering flexibility for booking flights with United and its extensive network of Star Alliance partners, as well as for upgrades and other travel-related purchases.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Rapid Rewards points can be used to book any available seat on any Southwest flight, with the number of points required tied directly to the fare price, offering a straightforward redemption process without blackout dates.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both the United℠ Explorer Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card are strong choices for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
• Lounge Access: The United℠ Explorer Card provides two one-time United Club℠ passes each year. The Southwest Premier Card does not include lounge access, as Southwest Airlines does not operate its own airport lounges.
• Baggage Allowance: Cardholders of the United℠ Explorer Card and one companion on the same reservation get their first checked bag free. While not a card-specific perk, Southwest's generous airline-wide policy of two free checked bags for all travelers is a key part of its value.
• Boarding Benefits: The United card offers priority boarding on United flights. The Southwest Premier Card provides benefits like EarlyBird Check-In or a set number of Upgraded Boardings annually to help secure a better boarding position with the airline's open-seating policy.
• Expedited Security Screening: A statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee is a valuable perk of the United℠ Explorer Card. The Southwest Premier Card does not offer this benefit.
• Annual Perks: The United card's primary recurring benefit is the annual allotment of lounge passes. In contrast, the Southwest Premier Card awards cardmembers with bonus points each year on their account anniversary, providing a consistent boost to their points balance.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized approach, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Feature: See your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending history—before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at participating stores.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your unique spending patterns.

Who Should Choose the United Explorer?

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The United℠ Explorer Card is primarily designed for frequent United Airlines flyers who can take full advantage of its airline-specific perks. These travelers will benefit from features like a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and two annual United Club℠ passes, which enhance the airport experience. Additionally, it's a strong choice for international travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees and those who appreciate the value of an up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®, all while enjoying a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for semi-frequent Southwest flyers looking for a mid-tier card that balances benefits with its annual fee. This cardholder values day-of-travel perks like EarlyBird Check-In and wants to accelerate their progress toward earning the coveted Companion Pass and A-List status. Ultimately, it's a solid choice for those who want more than the entry-level card offers without committing to the higher fee of the top-tier option, as detailed in a full card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our United Explorer vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect co-pilot for your travel goals, don't worry. There are other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your wallet.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review application rules – Issuers often have restrictions that can affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Have a strategy – Plan how you will meet the spending requirement and use the card’s core benefits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers have restrictions on how many cards you can open or how often you can earn a bonus.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.
• Look for the best offer - Welcome offers can vary, so it pays to be patient and find the highest one available.

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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Do both the United Explorer and Southwest Premier cards have an annual fee?

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Yes, both cards typically come with an annual fee. However, the fee may be waived for the first year as part of a promotional welcome offer.

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Can I use United miles on Southwest flights, or vice versa?

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No, the rewards are exclusive to each airline's loyalty program. United MileagePlus miles are for flights on United and its partners, while Southwest Rapid Rewards points are for Southwest flights.

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Which card helps me earn a Companion Pass?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card helps you earn points toward the Southwest Companion Pass. This popular perk allows a designated companion to fly with you for only the cost of taxes and fees.

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