Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs United Club Card
Annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr, United Club Card $695/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining, United Club Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardChase · $229/yr
United Club CardChase · $695/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card$229LowestUnited Club Card$695
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card60,000 pointsUnited Club CardUp to 100,000 miles
- Rewards
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid RewardsUnited Club CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardNoneUnited Club CardNone
- Network
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardVisa SignatureUnited Club CardVisa Infinite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xUnited Club Card2x
- Gas Stations
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighestUnited Club Card1x
- Hotels
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Ridesharing
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Transit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Club Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- $200 Renowned Hotels
- $100 Avis/Budget travel
- $200/yr JSX flights
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- $150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $10/mo Instacart+
- DoorDash DashPass · $10 monthly
United Club Card- $20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- United Club membership with guest access
- Hotel status & programs
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
- Airline perks
- 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
United Club Card- Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year
- Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes
- Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Car rental
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- Avis President's Club®
- Other perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- No foreign transaction fees
- 7,500 points every year
United Club Card- 10% or more off United awards
- MileagePlus miles don't expire
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP)
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500,000 travel accident insurance
United Club Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
- Baggage
- 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
United Club Card- Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days
- Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
- Rental car
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Club Card
- Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500 per claim on theft or damage
United Club Card- Return Protection · up to $500
- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
United Club Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
United Club Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- 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
United Club Card- Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
- Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
- Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
- 5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
- Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
- Cons
- 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
United Club Card- $695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
- United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
- Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
- Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
- No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers
Expert Analysis
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and United Club Infinite Card represent two different tiers within the same card family. The core question is whether the premium card's benefits justify the higher annual fee — and the answer depends on your spending habits and travel frequency.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's strongest category is Southwest Purchases at 3X, while the United Club Infinite Card leads with 4X on United Purchases. Overall, the United Club Infinite Card wins in more bonus categories (7 vs 4) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $229/yr vs $695/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the more accessible option. The United Club Infinite Card needs to deliver at least $466 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers airport lounge access, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 3X on Southwest Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X on Rapid Rewards Partners vs 1X for the other
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X on Internet Cable Phone vs 1X for the other
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr vs $695/yr — a $466 annual gap
- Only the United Club Infinite Card offers airport lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on southwest purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on rapid rewards partners
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Club CardUnited Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 9,600 vs 2,400 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
$200/month on united airlines
United Club CardUnited Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 9,600 vs 2,400 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the United Club Infinite Card's premium categories, the $466 fee difference is hard to recover. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on southwest purchases and rapid rewards partners and keeping annual costs low. At $229/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Club Card if:
The United Club Infinite Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and united airlines and maximizing premium travel perks. At $695/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
Many cardholders start with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and upgrade to the United Club Infinite Card as their united purchases spending increases. You can often hold both cards simultaneously to maximize earn rates across all categories.
If you're considering downgrading from the United Club Infinite Card, tally up how much value you actually extract from its united purchases earn rates and benefits each year. If you're consistently leaving credits unused, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card likely delivers better value per dollar of annual fee.
Category-by-Category Winner
The United Club Card wins in 4 of 5 categories. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card leads in 1.
Gas Stations
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
United Club Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Travel
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Ridesharing
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Transit
United Club 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.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | United Club Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $188 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $34 Year one: $784 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: -$75 Year one: $1,005 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Club Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $750 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $596 Year one: $1,346 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: $465 Year one: $1,545 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The United Club Card costs $695/yr — that's $466 more than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card ($229/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $466 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The United Club Card includes travel 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 $466 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $466 fee gap means the United Club Card needs roughly $466 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and travel 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 United Club Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr, United Club Card $695/yr — a $466 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the United Club Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The United Club Card costs $695/yr vs $229/yr for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $466 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Club Card also lists lounge access, travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or United Club 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card have that the United Club Card doesn't?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the United Club Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card has a lower $229/yr fee; the United Club Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $695/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.