Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

JetBlue Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the JetBlue Plus Card.

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• It features a strong rewards structure for travelers, offering 6X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores.
• While it has an annual fee, it comes with valuable perks like a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions, plus no foreign transaction fees.
• The annual fee is easily justified; taking just two round-trip flights with a checked bag can save you more than the card's annual cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Receive an annual points bonus and a statement credit toward JetBlue Vacations packages.
• Get a percentage of your points back every time you redeem for an award flight.
• Provides a pathway to earning JetBlue Mosaic elite status through card spending.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or credits for expedited security screening programs.
• The card’s benefits are heavily focused on the airline, and the annual travel credit is restrictive, limiting its value for infrequent JetBlue flyers.
• It does not grant automatic elite status; earning it requires a significant amount of spending on the card.

JetBlue Plus vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card or the JetBlue Plus Card, comes down to your travel habits and airline loyalty. Both are strong entry-level airline cards, but they cater to different types of travelers.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: This card is best for frequent travelers, particularly those who are loyal to Southwest Airlines and want an affordable way to earn points toward flights and the coveted Companion Pass.
• JetBlue Plus Card: This card is ideal for moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who want to access valuable travel perks for a modest annual commitment.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Points are redeemed for flights on Southwest Airlines, and these redemptions also count toward earning the highly sought-after Companion Pass.

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JetBlue Plus Card: TrueBlue points can be redeemed for any seat on any JetBlue-operated flight with no blackout dates, and they can also be used to book JetBlue Vacations packages.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card includes a foreign transaction fee, making it less than ideal for international travel. In contrast, the JetBlue Plus Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a better companion for trips abroad.
• In-Flight Savings: With the Southwest card, you receive 25% back on in-flight purchases like drinks and Wi-Fi. The JetBlue Plus Card offers a more substantial 50% savings on eligible in-flight food and cocktail purchases.
• Baggage Perks: The JetBlue Plus Card provides a free first checked bag for the cardmember and up to three companions on the same reservation. The Southwest card doesn't offer a specific baggage benefit, as Southwest Airlines already provides two free checked bags for all customers.
• Booking & Portals: Southwest points are redeemed for flights directly through the airline's website. The JetBlue ecosystem allows TrueBlue points to be used for flights or for booking travel packages via JetBlue Vacations, and cardholders get an annual statement credit after purchasing a vacation package.
• Priority Services: The Southwest card comes with two EarlyBird Check-In® services each year, improving your boarding position. The JetBlue Plus Card does not offer a comparable direct benefit for priority boarding.
• Lounge Access: Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access as a perk.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to take the guesswork out of choosing a new card, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated credit cards using your own spending data.

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• Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can test drive a credit card to see personalized earnings projections based on your actual transaction history.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different credit cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, they will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your existing credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• Personalized Matching: Discover which of the nearly 3,000 cards in their database will earn you the most rewards based on your unique spending habits.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an excellent choice for occasional Southwest flyers and beginners in the travel rewards world who want a card with a lower annual fee. It's particularly valuable for those working toward the valuable Southwest Companion Pass or budget-conscious travelers who still want perks like EarlyBird Check-In® credits. As our complete 2025 guide explains, this card is a great entry point for Southwest loyalists who aren't ready to commit to a premium card's higher cost.

Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card is an excellent fit for casual or moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who want to earn rewards and enjoy perks without a hefty annual fee. If you fly JetBlue a few times a year, the card's free first checked bag benefit for you and up to three companions can easily offset the $99 annual cost. It's designed for budget-conscious travelers and families who want to maximize value through benefits like the 5,000-point anniversary bonus and in-flight savings.

Alternatives to Consider

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After reviewing this Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs JetBlue Plus comparison, you might find that neither card is the perfect travel companion for you. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and other options may better align with your wallet and wanderlust.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer application rules - Some issuers have restrictions on earning a new bonus if you have or recently had a similar card.
• Plan your reward strategy - Research how you'll use your points to ensure you get the most value from them.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application around large planned purchases to help meet any minimum spend requirements.
• Know the issuer's rules, as some may restrict you from earning a new bonus if you already have a similar card from their lineup.
• Look for pre-approval tools or application flows that let you see your terms before a hard credit inquiry.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card offers better in-flight benefits?

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The JetBlue Plus Card generally provides more robust in-flight perks, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to three companions on the same reservation. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card offers benefits like two EarlyBird Check-In opportunities per year and 25% back on in-flight purchases.

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Can I earn a companion pass with either card?

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Yes, both programs offer a path to a companion pass, but the requirements differ significantly. The Southwest Companion Pass is earned after accumulating a substantial number of qualifying points or flights, while JetBlue offers a companion pass benefit to its top-tier Mosaic elite members.

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Are the points from these cards transferable to other loyalty programs?

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Neither Southwest Rapid Rewards points nor JetBlue TrueBlue points can be transferred to other airline or hotel loyalty programs. The points you earn are designed to be used exclusively within their respective ecosystems for flights and other redemptions.

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