United Quest vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Which Is Better In 2025?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority.

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• The card provides strong rewards on Southwest purchases and bonus points on everyday spending at grocery stores and restaurants.
• While it has an annual fee, it comes packed with valuable benefits for frequent flyers, including an annual travel credit and upgraded boardings.
• The value from the annual travel credit and anniversary bonus points alone can significantly lower the card's effective annual cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• All points earned with the card count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass®, and spending helps you earn elite status.
• Enjoy a more comfortable travel day with enhanced boarding for your group and statement credits on inflight purchases like drinks and WiFi.
• The card includes key travel protections and charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international trips.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is primarily for frequent Southwest flyers, offering limited benefits to those who use other airlines.
• Unlike many other premium travel cards, it does not include airport lounge access.
• The rewards program is less flexible, as points are most valuable when redeemed for Southwest flights.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs United Quest

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Quest or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, depends entirely on your travel habits and airline loyalty. Both cards offer compelling benefits, but they cater to very different types of flyers.

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• United Quest℠ Card - This card is built for frequent United Airlines travelers looking to maximize their MileagePlus miles and enjoy valuable travel perks like priority boarding and free checked bags.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - This card is best for loyal Southwest flyers, particularly those aiming for the Companion Pass® or who travel often on the airline's domestic routes.

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Redemption

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United Quest: United's MileagePlus miles can be redeemed for flights on United and its extensive network of Star Alliance partners, providing significant flexibility for international travel. This makes it a strong choice for travelers looking to book award flights to destinations across the globe.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority: Rapid Rewards points are redeemed for flights on Southwest, with the point value directly tied to the cash price of the ticket. This creates a straightforward, easy-to-understand redemption system without blackout dates on Southwest-operated flights.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal & Network: The United Quest card provides access to United's travel portal and the extensive Star Alliance partner network, opening up possibilities for global award travel. In contrast, the Southwest Priority card is limited to Southwest's own booking platform and network, which is robust domestically but offers fewer international destinations.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for travel abroad, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Lounge Access: Herein lies a major difference. The United ecosystem includes a network of United Club lounges, though the Quest card does not grant membership. Southwest, as an airline, does not operate its own airport lounges, so this perk is not part of its ecosystem.
• Unique Ecosystem Perks: The Southwest Priority card's main advantage is its role in earning the coveted Companion Pass®, which allows a designated person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. The United Quest card's perks are more aligned with a traditional global airline, offering benefits like annual United purchase credits and access to a wider range of travel partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision easier, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using personalized, data-driven recommendations.

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• Access detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
• Use the Test Drive feature to simulate potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data before you apply.
• Receive a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better public offer if you find one within three months.
• Unlock exclusive offers and Kudos Boost rewards for shopping at partner stores.
• Monitor your spending, transactions, and credit score all in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for loyal United Airlines customers who fly the airline several times per year. These travelers will get the most value from its rich set of benefits, including free checked bags, an annual United purchase credit, and comprehensive travel protections. It's also a strong choice for MileagePlus members looking to earn status faster through spending, though it's less suitable for those who prefer cash back or don't fly United often enough to justify 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 who fly several times per year. Its value shines for travelers who can consistently use perks like the annual $75 travel credit and four upgraded boardings, which help offset the annual fee. Furthermore, it's an excellent tool for those strategically pursuing the coveted Companion Pass® or aiming to fast-track their way to A-List status through credit card spending.

Alternatives to Consider

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If you've followed our United Quest vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority comparison and decided neither card is the right co-pilot for your journey, don't fret. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel style.

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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: Ensure you can naturally meet any spending requirements for welcome offers or bonus rewards.
• Review Issuer Rules: Be aware of any application restrictions from the card issuer, which may affect your eligibility for a new card or its welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically - Align it with large purchases to help meet any spending requirements for welcome offers.
• Align with your loyalty - Choose a card that matches your preferred airline, like United or Southwest, to maximize benefits.
• Evaluate long-term value - Look beyond the welcome offer to consider ongoing perks like annual credits and anniversary bonuses.

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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Is it better to be loyal to one airline or fly with multiple carriers?

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Sticking with one airline can help you earn elite status and rewards faster, but flying with multiple carriers offers more flexibility in pricing and scheduling. Your travel habits and home airport will largely determine the best strategy for you.

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How do I determine the value of an airline mile or point?

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The value of an airline mile or point is typically calculated by dividing the cash price of a flight by the number of points required to book it. This value can fluctuate based on the specific redemption, so it's wise to aim for redemptions that offer a higher-than-average value.

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Should I get an airline credit card if I don't fly often?

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Even if you're an infrequent flyer, an airline credit card can be worthwhile if its benefits, such as free checked bags or annual credits, outweigh the annual fee. Consider how the card's perks align with your occasional travel needs.

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