United Explorer vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Which Is Better In 2026?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs United Explorer

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Explorer or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, depends entirely on your travel habits and airline loyalty.

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• United℠ Explorer Card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly those who often fly with United Airlines and value practical travel benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is best for loyal Southwest flyers looking to maximize rewards and enjoy premium benefits specific to the airline, including annual travel credits and upgraded boardings.

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Redemption

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United℠ Explorer Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its extensive network of airline partners. Miles can also be used for other travel purchases, including seat upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Your points can be redeemed for any available seat on any Southwest flight, with no blackout dates. The amount of points required for a flight is directly related to its cash fare, offering straightforward value.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United℠ Explorer Card includes two one-time passes to the United Club℠ each year. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card does not offer lounge access as part of its benefits.
• Application Fee Credits: With the United℠ Explorer Card, you can receive a statement credit for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. This perk is not available with the Southwest card.
• Airline-Specific Perks: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card provides an annual travel credit to be used on Southwest purchases and offers a number of Upgraded Boardings each year. The United℠ Explorer Card grants the primary cardmember and one companion a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are great for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• In-Flight Discounts: Cardholders receive a discount on in-flight purchases. The United card’s discount applies to food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, while the Southwest card’s discount is for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To help you decide, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best one for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see projected earnings before you apply.
• Get personalized card recommendations based on your transaction history to maximize rewards.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Unlock a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your card perks in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Explorer?

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The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent choice for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. It's also a strong contender for international travelers thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees and for those who value expedited security with its Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® credit. Ultimately, this card is best suited for travelers whose flying habits align with United's network, allowing the benefits to easily outweigh the annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for the airline's loyalists, particularly those who fly several times a year and can fully leverage its suite of benefits. It's an excellent tool for travelers aiming to accelerate their journey to A-List status or the highly sought-after Companion Pass® through points earned on spending. Families and domestic travelers who frequent Southwest's extensive network will also find significant value, especially when maximizing perks like the annual travel credit and upgraded boardings.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the United Explorer vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority comparison left you undecided, don't fret. Let's look at a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better match 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 to ensure you meet the typical good-to-excellent credit requirement.
• Plan your spending to naturally meet any welcome offer spending requirements.
• Research the loyalty program so you have a clear strategy for using your rewards.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules to understand any application restrictions that may apply.
• Align the card with your habits by choosing a co-branded card if you are loyal to a specific airline.
• Time your application strategically to maximize the value of introductory offers or benefits with expiration dates.

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 United Explorer Card is generally better for international travel because United Airlines has a vast global network and is part of the Star Alliance. Southwest Airlines primarily serves destinations within North America and the Caribbean.

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

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Yes, both United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards are transfer partners of Chase Ultimate Rewards. This allows you to move points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to top off your airline accounts for an award booking.

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What happens to my miles if I close my credit card?

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Your miles are deposited directly into your airline loyalty account, so they are safe if you decide to close your card. However, be sure to check the airline's own mileage expiration policy, as your miles could still expire due to inactivity.

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