Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs United Quest Card
Annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr, United Quest Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining, United Quest Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardChase · $229/yr
United Quest CardChase · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card$229LowestUnited Quest Card$350
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card60,000 pointsUnited Quest CardUp to 90,000 miles
- Rewards
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid RewardsUnited Quest CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardNoneUnited Quest CardNone
- Network
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardVisa SignatureUnited Quest CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xUnited Quest Card2x
- Gas Stations
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighestUnited Quest Card1x
- Streaming
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Quest Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Quest Card
- $200 United travel
- $150 Renowned Hotels
- $80 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- $150/yr JSX credit
- Rideshare & transit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Quest Card
- $100/yr rideshare · $8 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $10/mo Instacart+
- DoorDash DashPass · $10 monthly
United Quest Card- $15/mo Instacart+ · $15 monthly
- 3 months Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- 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 Quest Card- Annual 10,000-mile award flight discount
- Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
- 2 Economy Plus upgrades after $40K annual spend
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Other perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- No foreign transaction fees
- 7,500 points every year
United Quest Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500,000 travel accident insurance
United Quest Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person 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 Quest Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Quest Card
- Primary rental car insurance up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500 per claim on theft or damage
United Quest Card- 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 Quest 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 Quest 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 Quest Card- Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion (up to $440 per roundtrip)
- $200 annual TravelBank credit effectively reduces fee to $150
- $180/year in Instacart credits ($15/month through 2027)
- 10,000-mile award discount annually plus another 10K after $20K spend
- Earns 1 PQP per $20 spent (up to 18,000 PQP/year) plus 1,000 bonus PQPs
- 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 Quest Card- $350 annual fee is substantial without lounge access
- TravelBank credits only work on United/United Express flights
- PQP earning cap of 18,000 limits status acceleration potential
- 2x on non-United travel is lower than some competitors
- Instacart credits expire December 2027
Expert Analysis
Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and United Quest Card come from the same issuer, but they target different spending profiles. Understanding where each card excels helps you pick the one that matches your lifestyle — or decide if holding both makes sense.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's strongest category is Southwest Purchases at 3X, while the United Quest Card leads with 3X on United Purchases. Neither card dominates across the board — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $229/yr vs $300/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the more accessible option. The United Quest Card needs to deliver at least $71 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers 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 $300/yr — a $71 annual gap
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 Quest CardUnited Quest Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on united airlines
United Quest CardUnited Quest Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the United Quest Card's premium categories, the $71 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 Quest Card if:
The United Quest Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and united airlines. At $300/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
Since both cards are from the same issuer, you may be able to hold both or product-change between them. Check with your issuer for current policies.
Holding both cards can make sense if you want to maximize earn rates across different spending categories.
Category-by-Category Winner
The United Quest Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card leads in 1. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Gas Stations
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Streaming
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Travel
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
Depends: via Chase Travel
United Quest Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
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 Quest 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): $437 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $267 Year one: $1,227 | United Quest Card | United Quest 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): $437 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $807 Year one: $1,767 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Quest Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The United Quest 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 United Quest Card includes travel 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 United Quest Card needs roughly $121 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining 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:
- -Global Entry credit
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 Quest Card $350/yr — a $121 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the United Quest Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The United Quest Card costs $350/yr vs $229/yr for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $121 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Quest Card also lists travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or United Quest 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 Quest Card doesn't?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits. The United Quest Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the United Quest Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card has a lower $229/yr fee; the United Quest Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $350/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.