Southwest Performance Business Credit Card Review 2022

Southwest Performance Business Credit Card Review 2022

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card reviewSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn 4X points on Southwest® purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 2X points on rideshare; 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Annual fee$199 applied to first billing statement
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Welcome bonusThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers a lucrative 80,000-point welcome bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Note that you won’t be able to receive the welcome bonus if you already have this business card or if you’ve previously received a welcome bonus for the same card within the last 24 months, even if you’re no longer a cardholder.If you’re able to meet the minimum-spending requirement, you’ll have an impressive number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points to start out with. Since they’re generally valued at 1.3 cents per point, you’ll end up with roughly $1,100 in value within the first few months of card membership, reflecting a 22% return on your spend once you hit that mark.As you continue to spend more with the card and rack up Rapid Rewards points, you’ll be well on your way to earning the highly-coveted Southwest Companion Pass, a level of status that serves as a buy-one-get-one ticket for you and your chosen traveling companion — you’ll only have to pay taxes and fees for their flight once you reach the threshold of 125,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar year, making it an extremely valuable perk. Plus, there’s no limit on how often you can use the Companion Pass as long as it’s active.Benefits and perksThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers cardholders access to a variety of benefits and features. By making the most of these perks, its $199 annual fee becomes much easier to justify.Cardholders receive the following benefits:

  • 9,000 bonus points for each account anniversary
  • Four Upgraded Boardings per year (based on availability)
  • Up to 365 in-flight WiFi credits per year when flying with Southwest Airlines
  • A $100 credit every four years to put toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment
  • The chance to earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List elite status for every $10,000 you spend
  • A $500 fee credit each anniversary year when you transfer Rapid Rewards points to another member
  • The ability to add authorized users for no additional fee
  • Lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance
  • Travel and emergency assistance and roadside dispatch services
  • Auto rental collision damage waivers on car rentals booked with the card
  • Extended warranty protection and purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your business card abroad
  • $0 delivery fees on restaurant orders above $12 (or groceries over $25), reduced service fees and $10 off your next order when you use the card and activate your complimentary year of DoorDash membership by Dec. 31, 2024.

Earning points for spendingWhen you spend on the card, you’ll earn: 

  • 4X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases made with Southwest Airlines
  • 3X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
  • 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising, as well as internet, cable, and phone services
  • 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on transit and commuting, including ride-sharing services
  • 1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn by using this card:

  • Groceries: 5,174 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Gas: 2,218 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Dining out: 3,675 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Travel: 8,976 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (assuming all travel dollars are spent with Southwest Airlines).
  • Utilities: 4,862 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • General purchases: 3,953 Southwest Rapid Rewards points

With all spending considered, you would end up earning 28,858 Southwest Rapid Rewards points within the first year — if you were to include the 80,000-point welcome bonus, this type of spending would yield 108,858 Rapid Rewards points. Over a five year period, cardholders could potentially earn 224,290 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, although the total amount would depend more on an individual or business’ annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsEarning Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsThere are two main avenues when it comes to earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points: fly with the carrier or spend with one of Southwest Airlines’ co-branded credit cards. Depending on your status and which Southwest credit card you’re using, you’ll earn a different amount of points per flight. By also paying for daily purchases with your card, you’ll see those points accumulate pretty quickly.Cardholders can also earn more points as they fly, though the amount varies by which fare is booked:

  • If you book a ‘Wanna Get Away’ ticket, you’ll earn 6X points per dollar on the base fare
  • If you book an ‘Anytime’ ticket, you’ll earn 10X points per dollar on the base fare
  • If you book a ‘Business Select’ ticket, you’ll earn 12X points per dollar on the base fare

Note that the base fare is the price of the ticket alone, without any additional taxes or fees.Another way to earn Rapid Rewards points is by using credit cards that offer transferable points as a perk. Travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® let cardholders earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Southwest Airlines, one of its travel partners. Should you decide to fly with another airline like British Airways or United Airlines, Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to their loyalty programs as well.If you believe a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is the best solution for your travel needs but aren’t 100% sold on the Performance Business Credit Card, here are some other co-branded cards to consider:PersonalBusinessRedeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsOnce you’ve earned enough points for a free flight, the redemption process is simple. All you need to do is visit the Southwest Airlines website and log into your Rapid Rewards account. You can then begin searching for flights — just remember to click the “points” button rather than “dollars” before you submit.While the most valuable use by far of Rapid Rewards points is cashing them in for free flights, you can also choose to redeem them for car rentals, hotels, gift cards or other merchandise. Because the overall value of your points will be reduced, it’s best to use your hard-earned points for free flights, which offer the biggest bang for your buck.Rates and feesCard comparisonThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a solid choice for small business owners looking to save on future Southwest flight costs. But is it the best card for you?Select analyzed two other business travel credit cards to see how they match up with the Southwest Performance Business card.Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express CardThe Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is a fine airline card geared toward small business owners who enjoy flying with Delta. To get you started, the card comes with a lucrative welcome offer, which ends April 13, 2022, letting you earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card comes with an array of benefits, including a status boost to help you get closer to Delta elite status, as well as priority boarding, a yearly Companion Certificate, 20% in in-flight savings, a $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and travel insurance coverage, among other perks, like no foreign transaction fees.As you spend on the card, you’ll earn 3X miles per dollar spent with Delta and directly with hotels, 1.5X miles per dollar spent on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 miles per year) and 1X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.If you’re trying to decide between the two cards, keep a few factors in mind. First of all, Delta has a much larger flight network featuring many international destinations while Southwest Airlines is primarily a domestic airline, though it does currently fly to 14 destinations in 10 countries outside the U.S. Also, if you know where you’ll be flying most, compare Delta and Southwest flights to those destinations to see which airline has more frequent and direct options from your home airport.Another thing to consider is how often you fly with someone else, as it may be worth going for the Southwest Companion Pass if this is something that happens a lot and you’re looking to continue that trend. Lastly, are you married to luxury benefits such as priority boarding and discounted lounge access when it comes to your flight experience? If the answer is yes, the Delta Platinum Business card may be the better option of the two.Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card On the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 3X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 1.5X miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. 1X mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
  • Welcome bonusLimited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. Offer ends 4/13/2022.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% – 24.99% variable on purchases
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. United ClubSM Business CardThe United Club Business Card is a suitable option for business owners who prefer flying with United Airlines. Once approved, you’ll be able to earn the 100,000- mile welcome bonus after spending $10,000 within the first three months of opening your account.The card offers terrific benefits for United frequent flyers, including access to United Airlines airline lounges, free first and second checked bags, premier access travel services such as priority boarding and check-in, travel insurance and Avis President’s club status, among other perks. There are also no foreign transaction fees to worry about if you’re using your card outside the U.S.When it comes to earning valuable United MileagePlus miles, the spending categories are quite simple — 2X miles per dollar spent on United purchases and 1.5X miles per dollar spent elsewhere.There is one big difference between these two cards: The United Club Business Card carries a hefty $450 annual fee, while the Southwest Performance Business Credit Card’s is just $199. If you’re considering both cards, think hard about which annual fee you’re willing to stomach and be honest about whether or not you’ll be able to use benefits such as airline lounges and priority boarding enough to justify it. Most importantly, before you select a new credit card, make sure your current budget is solid enough to absorb the new expenses.United Club℠ Business CardInformation about the United Club℠ Business Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases and 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 bonus miles after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.49% to 23.49% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is best forThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a great option for business owners who want to save money on flight costs, have a few perks when flying Southwest and potentially earn the Southwest Companion Pass, which over time would allow them to save even more.The Performance Business Card comes with a handful of helpful travel benefits and is a great fit for frequent flyers focusing on value over luxury. Flying with the budget airline doesn’t mean you’ll be sacrificing quality either, as Southwest is consistently ranked one of the best airlines to fly with in terms of customer service.Bottom lineCatch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card Review: Rewards, Fees and More

Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card Review: Rewards, Fees and More

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.The Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is a credit card offered by Alaska Airlines and Bank of America that gives consumers the opportunity to earn Alaska miles on their expenses as well as enjoy perks when traveling with the airline.While this is a relatively simple airline credit card, the beauty of the miles you earn lie in being able to book flights with Alaska’s partner airlines which include: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airways and more. And while the airline is largely centered around airports on the West Coast, this card has more potential than meets the eye.Below, Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Alaska Airlines credit card to help you decide if it’s right for your needs.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card reviewAlaska Airlines Visa® credit card

  • RewardsEarn unlimited three miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and one mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Welcome bonus60,000 bonus miles after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee3% of each transaction (minimum $10)
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Welcome bonusThe welcome bonus for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is simple: you can earn 60,000 Alaska bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of card membership.And if you’re able to meet the spending requirement, you’ll have a minimum of 63,000 miles in your account to get started. So at a modest one cent per point value, that is $630 in value right away. However, many people value Alaska miles much higher than 1 cent apiece, so it’s possible to get significantly more value than $630 depending on how you use your miles.And what’s more is that you’ll also receive an Alaska Companion Fare™, which is a buy-one-get-one ticket for an Alaska Airlines flight. You’ll receive this each year after paying your $75 annual fee. And when you redeem your pass, you’ll only need to pay $99 for the companion’s fare plus taxes and fees.Benefits and perksWhile there are other airline credit cards available that may offer more benefits, the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is concise in its value with its great welcome bonus and solid benefits for Alaska flyers. The card offers the following benefits:

  • Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines for you and up to six guests on the same reservation
  • 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases
  • 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge when you pay with your card
  • Receive an Alaska Companion Fare every year
  • $0 liability protection
  • No foreign transaction fees

While the card isn’t packed with a ton of benefits, the value in the ones included are solid. For example, the free checked bag benefit on one round-trip will save you $60 — almost covering the entire annual fee for the card. And if you travel internationally, you won’t be charged a pesky 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the U.S. And if you desire to visit an Alaska lounge before your flight, your entry is sliced in half from $60 to $30 when you pay with the card.So in short, the card’s annual fee can be justified quickly just by using the benefits it offers.Earning miles for spendingAs you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

  • 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
  • 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

This makes the card simple enough for consumers to know that all non-Alaska purchases will earn 1 mile per dollar, whereas some cards have multiple spending categories.Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn using this card:

  • Groceries: 5,174 Alaska Airlines miles
  • Gas: 2,218 Alaska Airlines miles
  • Dining out: 3,675 Alaska Airlines miles
  • Travel: 6,732 Alaska Airlines miles (Assuming all travel dollars are spent with Alaska Airlines).
  • Utilities: 4,862 Alaska Airlines miles
  • General purchases: 3,953 Alaska Airlines miles

With all spending considered, this would net 26,614 Alaska Airlines miles in the first year of card membership, and if you include the 60,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 86,614 Alaska Airlines miles in just the first year. Over a five-year period, cardholders could potentially earn 193,070 Alaska miles — although the total amount will depend on an individual’s annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Alaska Airlines milesEarning Alaska Airlines milesThere are two obvious ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles: spend on the Alaska Airlines card as well as fly on the airline.However, there are a few more ways you can earn Alaska miles.First, you can fly with one of their many airline partners, including domestic partners like American Airlines. When you book your flight, be sure to have your miles credited to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plant loyalty account.You can also transfer points from other loyalty programs into your Alaska Airlines account, such as Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio. In addition, you can earn an additional 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.Finally you can earn miles when shopping with select retailers through the Alaska shopping portal, making hotel bookings with Alaska hotel partners and dining with restaurants that are apart of Mileage Plan dining.Redeeming Alaska Airlines milesOnce you’ve earned the miles you need for a free flight, the exciting part is redeeming them for a (nearly) free flight.To redeem your Alaska Airlines miles, visit the Alaska Airlines website and log in to your loyalty account. And then start searching for your preferred itinerary, but be sure to select “use miles”.Additionally, if you’re earning transferable credit cards rewards such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points or American Express Membership Rewards® points, you can transfer your miles to any Oneworld partner, like British Airways, and redeem them for a flight on Alaska Airlines.However, the best part of redeeming Alaska miles is you can roughly estimate how much your flight will cost using their award chart. This is rare for domestic airlines as many have shifted to dynamic pricing, which means each flight and seat can cost a different amount based on their supply and demand.So for example, if you want to book a flight from Los Angeles to Miami in economy, it will cost between 12,500 and 50,000 miles each way. While the range of miles needed is large, it’s still helpful to know how far your miles can take you.You can get great value when redeeming Alaska Airlines miles for international business and first class flights. For example, you can book a one-way ticket from the U.S. to Asia in first class on Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific for 70,000 Alaska miles. That flight can easily cost upwards of $7,000 when paid for in cash.Rates and feesCard comparisonThe Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card is a great airline credit card for Alaska flyers. It’s a concise card as it offers a valuable welcome bonus, great spending categories and a modest annual fee. But how does it match up against other similar cards?Select analyzed two other travel credit cards to see how they match up against the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card.Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardThe Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is another great airline card that earns Delta SkyMiles when its used for purchases. With the card, you’ll earn:

  • 2X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarket purchases and restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 1X mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Additionally, you can earn a solid welcome offer bonus of: 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 4/13/2022. Terms apply.The card also comes with helpful benefits for your travels, including: first checked bag free, a $100 Delta travel credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year, *rental car insurance and 20% off in-flight purchases.The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99 after that. (See rates and fees)If you’re deciding between these two cards, it really comes down to your home airport, preferred airline and where you’re traveling to. If you live on or near the West Coast, the Alaska Airlines card may be a better fit as Alaska Airlines hubs are all located along the left side of the country. If you live in Atlanta or along the east coast, or travel internationally regularly, the Delta Gold card may suit your needs a bit better.Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card vs. United℠ Explorer CardThe United℠ Explorer Card is another great pick for an airline credit card as it earns United miles on all eligible purchases for a low annual fee.As you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

  • 2X miles per dollar spent on dining, hotel stays when booked with the hotel and United® purchases
  • 1X mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

And when you’re approved for the card, you’ll be able to earn the welcome bonus, which is: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. these 50,000 miles can be redeemed on United and its airline alliance partners.The card comes with great perks, including: two United Club one-time passes per year, free first checked bag, a $100 credit to enroll in TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and 25% back on United in-flight purchases.The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and then $95 thereafter.Similar to the matchup above, the difference between the two cards comes down to where you live and your flight preferences. If you primarily travel up and down the West Coast, the Alaska Airlines card may be the better card. If you like to travel internationally and live in either the middle or East Coast of the U.S., the United card could be the better option.Who the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card is best forThe Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is a solid choice for anyone who lives on the West Coast, flies at least occasionally with the airline and wants a simple card without a long list of features or spending categories to track. So if you appreciate simplicity while earning valuable airline miles, this card is a great pick.Additionally, the card is great for someone who enjoys traveling with someone else as it comes with an annual Companion Fare — which is essentially a buy-one-get-one ticket. When you use the Companion Fare, your travel partner will travel for just $121. So if you have an expensive flight coming up you’d like to take with someone, this benefit can be a big money saver.Lastly, if you have plans to travel internationally, Alaska Airlines has a great award chart for international travel (especially in premium cabins). So if you want the flexibility of earning miles that can be redeemed on other airlines (including American), this card could be a good fit.Bottom lineCatch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

How to maximize the Capital One Venture X 100,000-mile welcome bonus

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.If you’re in the market for a new premium travel rewards credit card that really packs a punch, look no further than the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is currently offering an impressive 100,000-Mile welcome bonus. That’s enough to cover $1,000 worth of travel when booking flights and hotels through one of its 17 transfer partners or through Capital One Travel. Earning Capital One Miles is easier than ever with the Capital One Venture X card. Not only can you pick up 100,000 Capital One Miles after spending $10,000 within the first six months of opening your account, you’ll earn 2X Miles on all purchases, plus 5X Miles on flight and 10X Miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel. Cardholders also receive an annual up to $300 travel credit, 10,000 bonus Miles on each account anniversary, a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years and the chance to visit more than 1,300 Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges worldwide.While the $395 annual fee may seem intimidating, remember that you’ll get $300 back in travel credits when booking through Capital One Travel and for a limited time, an extra $200 back via statement credits when booking vacation rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa, or TurnKey. The annual fee really does pay for itself if you use all your perks properly, making the Capital One Venture X a top-tier premium travel rewards credit card.Below, Select breaks down the best ways to maximize 100,000 Capital One Miles.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights when booked via Capital One Travel; unlimited 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR16.99-23.99% variable APR
  • Balance transfer feeEither $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Transfer Capital One Miles to airline partnersCapital One Rewards is connected to 14 airline partner rewards programs, which extends your redemption options across all three airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Nearly all of them transfer at a 1:1 ratio — EVA Air converts at a 2:1.5 ratio — so you’ll be getting the best value by booking flights through the following carriers and their alliance partners:

  • Aeromexico (Club Premier)
  • Air Canada (Aeroplan)
  • Air France KLM (Flying Blue)
  • Avianca (LifeMiles)
  • British Airways (Avios)
  • Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)
  • Emirates (Emirates Skywards)
  • Etihad (Etihad Guest)
  • EVA Air (Infinity MileageLands) — transfer ratio is 2:1.5, not 1:1
  • Finnair (Finnair Plus)
  • Qantas (Qantas Frequent Flyer)
  • Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer)
  • TAP Air Portugal (TAP Miles & Go)
  • Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles)

While there aren’t any domestic carriers listed as airline partners, that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible to fly them for free. Thanks to airline alliances, you can convert Capital One Miles to British Airways Avios, then use those to book domestic U.S. flights on American Airlines, its Oneworld alliance partner. You could also transfer Capital One Miles to Turkish Airlines or Avianca, then use those to book flights on Star Alliance partner United Airlines.Redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at hotelsCapital One Rewards has three hotel transfer partners — Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, and Accor Live Limitless (AccorHotels) — letting cardholders cash in Capital One Miles for free nights at hotels worldwide.Capital One Miles can be transferred to Choice Privileges points at a 1:1 ratio, allowing you to book free nights at more than 7,000 properties in over 40 countries at brands including Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, and Surburban Extended Stay Hotel, Cambria Hotels and The Ascend Hotel Collection. Thanks to connections with Penn National Gaming, Inc., Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Nordic Choice Hotels, and AMResorts (all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean by brands like Dreams and Secrets) you can also redeem for stays at casino hotels and independent boutiques.Here’s an idea of what you can redeem through Choice Privileges for 100,000 Capital One Miles:

  • Four nights at the Comfort Inn Manhattan – Midtown West in New York City (25,000 points a night)
  • Five nights at Avenue Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, in Los Angeles (20,000 points a night)
  • Eight nights at Comfort Hotel Nation Pere Lachaise Paris 11 in France (12,000 points a night)

Wyndham Rewards also lets you transfer Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio, giving you access to free nights at over 9,000 hotels in more than 80 countries at brands including Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Garden, Registry Collection Hotels, AmericInn, Tryp, Dazzler, Esplendor, Wingate, Trademark Collection, Dolce Hotels and Resorts, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Ramada, Baymont, Microtel, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Hawthorn Suites.With redemptions from 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night, here’s what transferring 100,000 Capital One Miles could yield:

  • Three nights at Wyndham Grand Athens in Greece (30,000 points a night)
  • Six night at Ramada by Wyndham Queenstown Central in New Zealand (15,000 points a night)
  • 13 nights at Ramada by Wyndham Princess Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (7,500 points a night)

Thanks to a nifty partnership with Vacasa, you can also redeem Capital One Miles for free nights at more than 15,000 hotels, vacation clubs and home rentals, while a separate connection allows for redemptions at Caesars Rewards casino hotels around the U.S. Wyndham Rewards is also linked with Margarita Vacation Club, Club Wyndham, Cottages.com, Shell Vacations Club, Worldmark and Landal Greenparks so you can opt to redeem for vacation rental brands around the world.Another hotel transfer partner of Capital One is ALL Accor Live Limitless, which offers hotel redemption options at a ratio of 2:1 and works a little differently from the last two programs. For starters, you’ll need to have at least 2,000 ALL Rewards in your account, which means you’d need to transfer over 4,000 Capital One Miles, and redeem them in increments of 2,000 ALL Rewards points — 2,000 points gets you 40 euros (about $45) off your stay, while 4,000 translates to 80 euros (about $90) and so forth. While you likely won’t get the best value for your points this way, the ALL Accor Live Limitless program can still be beneficial depending on your travel plans and style, as award options through it include more than 5,100 hotels in over 100 countries at brands like Fairmont, Raffles, Faena, Delano, Sofitel, SLS, Museum Hotel, Mondrian, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Mantra, Novotel and Ibis, among others. While there are just 100 hotels in North America, Accor brands are seemingly omnipresent throughout Europe, Asia and Oceania, so this is still a valuable points-transfer option.Book flights, hotels and car rentals through Capital One TravelIf you enjoy having the flexibility to book flights, hotels, and rental cars without having to worry about award availability or blackout dates, consider making your reservations through Capital One Travel, a new travel portal that offers added benefits like cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance (for a small fee), a freeze-your-price feature that helps you lock in lower rates, price drop protection (if you find a lower price, Capital One will refund you the difference), and a nifty price match guarantee (if you happen to find a better price within 24 hours of booking, you could get a refund). While this also allows you to book travel at a fixed redemption rate of 1 cent per mile, it’s always worth comparing redemption rates — in other words, seeing how many points and miles are needed for an award redemption directly through the carrier or hotel versus booking through the Capital One travel portal.Depending on your points and miles status goals, you may also want to consider booking travel directly to maintain elite status or double-dipping by reserving tickets or rooms through another third-party website, then simply “erasing” the travel purchase (more on that below).Use Capital One Miles to “erase” recent travel purchasesOne of the most valuable perks of the Capital One Venture X card is the ability to “erase” or redeem Capital One Miles to cover travel purchases made within the last 90 days. Simply use the card to book fights, hotels, car rentals or make other travel-related expenses (like Uber rides or Airbnb stays) then click on “Redeem Travel Purchases” to select which ones you’d like to cover or put your Capital One Miles toward — partial credit is fine, too, as long as you redeem more than 2,500 Miles.Capital One Miles are worth 1 cent per mile when choosing this redemption option, meaning 100,000 miles could erase $1,000 in travel purchases.Redeem miles for gift cards and online shoppingIf you know you won’t be traveling for a while, there’s always retail therapy. With the Capital One Venture X card, you’ll be able to redeem Capital One Miles at a rate of 1 cent per point for gift cards to all your favorite restaurants and retail shops like Apple, Bath & Body Works and Starbucks.Note that if you’re redeeming Capital One Miles for Amazon gift cards — or using Capital One Miles to shop online via Amazon or PayPal — the redemption rate drops to 0.8 cents per point (you’d get $0.80 cents in value per 100 Miles) so it won’t be the best value among all your other options.Cash back is a low-value redemptionWhile this is the least valuable redemption option for your newly earned Capital One Miles, you can still opt to exchange them at a rate of 0.5 cents per mile for cash in the form of an account credit or a check.Other cards with large welcome bonusesIf you’re interested in other cards with large welcome bonuses, consider the following. The value and utility of the rewards from each card varies, but you’ll still be able to get plenty of “free” travel with their hefty welcome bonuses.The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (starting January 1, 2021, this applies on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of account opening. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

  • Rewards5 Avios for every $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and LEVEL within your first 18 months from account opening, thereafter 3 Avios; 3 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations when booked directly with the hotel within your first 18 months, thereafter 2 Avios; 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 bonus Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn a Travel Together Ticket after you spend $30,000 on purchases every calendar year, and 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® CardInformation about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

  • Rewards12X points per dollar for eligible purchases on your card made directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6X points for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3X points for other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.74% to 24.74% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass card, click here.Information about the Capital One Venture X card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card Review

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the most premium version of the personal Southwest cobranded credit cards. This card was designed for travelers who fly with the airline on a regular basis and for those who can take advantage of the many perks offered.With benefits like a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 7,500 annual anniversary points, four Upgraded Boardings each year, travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees and broad spending categories — this card is a great fit for an avid Southwest flyer.Below, Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card to help you decide if it’s right for your needs.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card reviewSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn Companion Pass® through 2/28/23 plus 30,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR15.99% to 22.99% variable
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

Pros

  • Southwest upgraded boarding on up to 4 tickets per year
  • 7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit
  • 4 upgraded boardings per year when available

Cons

  • $149 annual fee
  • No special financing offers
  • Estimated points earned after 1 year: 52,672
  • Estimated points earned after 5 years: 196,030

Rewards totals incorporate the miles earned from the welcome bonusWelcome bonusThe welcome bonus for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a bit different than a simple chunk of airline miles. After signing up for the card you can earn the Southwest Companion Pass® through Feb. 28, 2023, plus 30,000 Rapid Rewards points by spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.This welcome bonus is great: not only will you have the highly-regarded Companion Pass but you’ll also earn a minimum of 35,000 Southwest points to use on a flight of your choosing. The Companion Pass allows you to bring along anyone of your choosing onto a Southwest flight for free, all you have to do is pay taxes and fees for your companion’s ticket (usually just $5.60 for a one-way domestic flight within the U.S.). Plus, as long as it’s active, there’s no limit on how many times you can use the Southwest Companion Pass.Keep in mind that this bonus isn’t available to everyone. You can’t currently have a personal Southwest credit card and also must not have received a welcome bonus for a personal Southwest credit card in the last 24 months.Benefits and perksThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers cardholders access to the following benefits:

  • 7,500 bonus points for each account anniversary
  • $75 Southwest travel credit per year
  • Four upgraded boardings per year
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • You can earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards Southwest A-List elite status for every $10,000 spent, with no limit on the amount of elite points you can earn.
  • DoorDash benefits
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use the card abroad

All points earned with the card count toward the highly-coveted Southwest Companion Pass®, which allows one person to fly with you for free (except for taxes and fees) when you buy or redeem points for flights after reaching the threshold of 125,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar yearEarning miles for spendingWhen you spend on the card, you’ll earn: 

  • 3X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines
  • 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
  • 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
  • 2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on internet, cable, phone and select streaming services
  • 1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Other benefitsSouthwest Airlines is a favorite airline for many as you get to enjoy two free checked bags per person and no change fees on tickets. And all of the points you earn through flying or spending on a Southwest credit card will never expire.And when you hold the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you’ll also receive these benefits at no charge:

  • Complimentary travel accident insurance and emergency assistance, reimbursement for lost luggage, auto rental collision damage waivers for car rentals, roadside dispatch service, purchase and extended warranty protection and baggage delay insurance
  • DoorDash benefits, including $0 delivery fees on restaurant orders above $12 (or groceries over $25), reduced service fees and $10 off your next order when you use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card after you activate your complimentary year of membership by Dec. 31, 2024.

Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn using this card:

  • Groceries: 5,174 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Gas: 2,218 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Dining out: 3,675 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • Travel: 6,732 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (Assuming all travel dollars are spent with Southwest Airlines).
  • Utilities: 4,862 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
  • General purchases: 3,953 Southwest Rapid Rewards points

With all spending considered, this would give a cardholder 26,614 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in the first year, and if you include the 30,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 56,614 Rapid Rewards points. Over a five year period, cardholders could potentially earn 133,070 Southwest Rapid Rewards points — although the total amount will depend on an individual’s annual spending habits.How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards milesEarning Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsEarning Southwest points is simple: either spend on one of the Southwest credit cards or fly with the airline.However, it’s difficult to earn heaps of points since you can only earn one welcome bonus every two years with a personal co-branded Southwest credit card. And unless you fly multiple times per month with Southwest, earning hundreds of thousands of points may not be realistic through these avenues.If you want to earn large amounts of points, consider earning rewards through credit cards with transferable rewards. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. These cards are some of the best travel credit cards because you have the flexibility to redeem your rewards in a variety of ways, including transferring them to Southwest.If you’re thinking of adding a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card to your wallet but aren’t sure if the Southwest Priority card is right for you, consider another one of the airline’s co-branded personal or business credit cards:PersonalBusinessRedeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards pointsOnce you earn enough points for a free flight, then comes the fun part of booking award travel.And while some airlines make it difficult to use their rewards programs, Southwest has a straightforward redemption process. To use your miles, simply log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and when you search for a flight, click “points” rather than “dollars”. Southwest points have a fixed value of around 1.3 to 1.4 cents apiece and prices for award flights are dependent on the current cash price of the ticket. So if a flight costs $100 you can expect to pay 6,000 to 7,000 points for that flight.As you search for flights, you’ll notice that you fill have to pay taxes and fees, depending on where you fly. If you’re flying within the United States, you will pay $5.60 for each one-way flight. International fees will vary.And you don’t need to pay your taxes and fees with a Southwest credit card credit card, so feel free to use another card that you prefer.Rates and feesCard comparisonWhile the Southwest Priority credit card is a solid pick for Southwest flyers, how does it fare other value-packed rewards credit cards?Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardThe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great travel credit card as it earns a consistent 2X miles per dollar spent on all eligible purchases. And it has benefits including a valuable 60,000 bonus miles welcome offer once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.You’ll also receive up to $100 statement credit for your application fee for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years.So if you’re deciding between the two cards, it comes down to a few factors:

  • Do you only fly Southwest? If so, the Southwest card may be the better option.
  • Do you prefer having spending categories or earning a flat-rate on all purchases? The Venture card has a flat-rate on all purchases, while the Southwest Card has different earnings for various category purchases.
  • Do you value transferable rewards more, or the Companion Pass?

Based on these questions, you should quickly know which one of the two is a better fit for you. But at a high level, if you travel with a companion regularly and mainly travel domestically, the Southwest card will likely be the better fit. If you travel on various airlines and prefer to go outside the U.S., the Capital One Venture card would probably be the better choice of the two.Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a great choice for someone who enjoys flying internationally, and possibly lives near an American Airlines hub airport like Miami, Phoenix or Los Angeles.With this card, you’ll earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations and on eligible American Airlines purchases. All other eligible purchases will earn 1X mile per dollar spent.The welcome offer packs a punch as you can earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. In addition, there are no foreign transaction fees and a waived annual fee the first year ($99 after that).When you’re comparing the two cards, it simply comes down to which airline loyalty program will serve your needs and if you value Southwest’s Companion Pass benefit. The American Airlines loyalty program is part of the Oneworld airline alliance, which has 14 total airlines that partner to serve one another’s customers. This means you can use American miles to fly around the world on over a dozen different airlines.While Southwest isn’t part of an airline alliance, the card comes with an extremely valuable automatic benefit in the Companion Pass, giving you the ability to travel with someone for free, less taxes and fees.Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is best forThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a solid airline credit card and designed for consumers who fly regularly with Southwest. And with the new welcome offer the card is targeted towards those flying with a companion.But if you aren’t flying regularly with a companion to make the welcome offer ‘worth’ it, you may be better off selecting another card or waiting for a welcome bonus that is solely Southwest points.The card has a hefty $149 annual fee but does offer ample benefits to Southwest flyers that can help offset the cost. For instance, just the annual $75 Southwest credit and anniversary 7,500 Southwest points alone can be worth more than $150. Plus, you’ll get four Upgraded Boardings every year and 25% back on Southwest inflight purchases. These perks are geared toward Southwest flyers but if you can use them, which shouldn’t be too hard if you fly Southwest a handful of times per year, then you’ll likely enjoy having the Southwest Priority card in your wallet.Bottom lineThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a great choice for someone who flies Southwest often.The recently refreshed welcome bonus which includes the Companion Pass, as well as the benefits of earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points on all eligible purchases, a $75 Southwest annual credit and multiple Upgraded Boardings each year make the card worth considering. And now that the Companion Pass is obtainable by spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership, it’s a great fit for someone who travels with a partner or friend often.However, even though welcome offer is extremely appealing for avid travelers, it can be tempting to hastily spend the $5,000 needed to earn it. But as always, its never advised to apply for a credit card when you’re not in a solid financial situation. But as long as you follow your budget carefully and continue to invest for the future, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is worth considering for any avid Southwest flyer.Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.Information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .