Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card on everyday spending, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican Express · $650/yr
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardChase · $229/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card$650Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card$229Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card—Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card60,000 points
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMilesSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardNoneSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican ExpressSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighest
- Gas Stations
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $200 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $20/mo Resy · $20 monthly
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $10/mo Instacart+
- DoorDash DashPass
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Delta Sky Club access with unlimited visits after $75K spend
- Access to The Centurion® Lounge
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Hotel status & programs
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- MQD Headstart
- Access to Complimentary Upgrades
- MQD Boost
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate
- First & second bags free (2nd bag domestic only)
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades
- 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points
- Free Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking
- Free first checked bag for you and 8 companions
- Boarding benefit
- Inflight purchase discount
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- Concierge Services
- Upgrade Priority
Show 1 more
- No foreign transaction fees
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- No foreign transaction fees
- 7,500 points every year
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 6 hours
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $500,000 travel accident insurance
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- $100/day baggage delay coverage, up to 3 days · up to $300
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Hertz President's Circle® Status
- Car rental insurance up to $75,000
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Up to $300 per item if merchant won't accept return
- Purchase protection for new items
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $500 per claim on theft or damage
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
- Cell phone
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $800 cell phone protection per claim
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card— - Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits a year when flying Delta same-day, with unlimited access after $75,000 in card spend (estimated $600+ annual value)
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate with no spend requirement
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus MQD Boost ($1 Medallion Qualification Dollar per $10 spent)
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year accelerates path to free companion flights
- 7,500 anniversary bonus points ($112+ value) help offset the annual fee
- Earn 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status per $5K annual spend
- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades at 48 hours when available
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers on same reservation
- Cons
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $650 annual fee is highest among Delta personal cards
- $175 authorized user fee adds significant cost for family travelers
- Sky Club access requires same-day Delta flight; no standalone entry
- Sky Club guest access is limited to four one-time guest passes a year
- Miles locked to Delta SkyMiles with limited transfer flexibility
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card- $229 annual fee is steep compared to mid-tier airline cards
- Legacy $75 travel credit and EarlyBird benefits ended December 2025
- Only 1x points on non-category purchases limits everyday earning
- No lounge access included despite premium pricing
- Southwest's limited route network reduces card utility for some travelers
Category-by-Category Winner
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card leads in 0.
Dining
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
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.
Both scenarios favor the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$189 Year one: -$189 | Rewards: $188 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: -$19 Year one: $732 | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $243 Year one: $243 | Rewards: $750 Credits (our usable estimate): $23 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $544 Year one: $1,294 | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card costs $650/yr — that's $421 more than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card ($229/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $421 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, 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 $421 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $421 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card needs roughly $421 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on everyday spending and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr — a $421 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $229/yr for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $421 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card have that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card has a lower $229/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $650/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.