Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on telecom.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
American Express
Chase
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 3X | 1X |
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card wins in 4 of 6 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card leads in 2.
Hotels
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Telecom
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Cable Tv
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Utilities
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr — a $121 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| Cable Tv |
| 1X |
| 2X |
| Dining | 2X | 2X |
| Gas Stations | 1X | 2X |
| Grocery Stores | 2X | 1X |
| Telecom | 1X | 2X |
| Utilities | 1X | 2X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Scenario |
|---|
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card |
|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
|---|
| Ongoing winner |
|---|
| Year-one winner |
|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Rewards: $188 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: -$19 Year one: $732 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Rewards: $750 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $544 Year one: $1,294 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr — that's $121 more than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card ($229/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $121 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $121 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $121 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs roughly $121 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card means losing:
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
