Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a strong choice for Delta loyalists.

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• Cardholders earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and at hotels, plus 2X miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• The card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees) but includes valuable travel perks like a free first checked bag and priority boarding.
• Its annual companion certificate can easily offset the yearly cost, making it a great value for those who travel with a plus-one. (publisher-formulated estimate)

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Pros

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• An annual companion certificate for a domestic Main Cabin round-trip flight each year after you renew your Card. Terms apply.
• Valuable travel perks, including a first checked bag free on Delta flights and priority boarding.
• Annual statement credits for eligible rideshare and dining purchases, plus an accelerated path toward Medallion® Status. Enrollment may be required.

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Cons

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• The card carries a significant annual fee and lacks complimentary Delta Sky Club® access, a perk many frequent flyers expect from a premium travel card.
• Key benefits like the annual companion certificate are restricted to domestic travel, and some statement credits can be difficult to maximize fully.

_{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.}

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

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Categories

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Deciding between airline co-branded credit cards can be tough, so let's break down which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Delta SkyMiles Platinum, for your travel style.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a mid-tier option best suited for semi-frequent Southwest flyers looking for a balance of day-of-travel benefits and cost. It's ideal for those who value perks like priority boarding and opportunities to earn A-List status.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is designed for frequent travelers loyal to Delta who want to take advantage of airline-specific perks. This card is a strong choice for those seeking to accelerate their path to Medallion status and benefit from an annual companion certificate.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier: Points are redeemed for Southwest flights, and the number of points required is directly tied to the cash price of the fare. This system offers flexibility with no blackout dates on any available seat.

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express: SkyMiles can be redeemed for flights on Delta and its extensive network of partner airlines, offering broad global reach. Redemption values are dynamic, but cardholders can also use miles for seat upgrades and other travel perks.

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Travel Perks

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• Global Reach & Foreign Fees: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is built for international travel, featuring no foreign transaction fees and access to Delta's extensive global partner network. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is better suited for domestic travel, as it does incur foreign transaction fees.
• Airport Lounges: Cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express can access the Delta Sky Club lounge network for a fee when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or operated flight. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not offer any lounge access perks.
• Travel Perks & Booking: The Delta card provides an annual companion certificate for a domestic main cabin round-trip flight each year upon renewal (Terms Apply). The Southwest card focuses on enhancing the Southwest flying experience with benefits like two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and points toward A-List status.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To simplify your decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can use your real spending data to see personalized calculations of your potential earnings with any card.
• Personalized recommendations: Get matched with the best cards for you based on your actual spending history, not generic advice.
• Maximize rewards at checkout: The Kudos browser extension automatically identifies and autofills the best card from your wallet for online purchases, ensuring you never miss out on rewards.
• Check your approval odds: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances for new cards based on your credit report.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is tailored for semifrequent or regular Southwest Airlines flyers who want a balance of solid travel perks and a moderate annual fee. It’s an ideal choice for travelers who value Southwest-specific benefits like anniversary bonus points and EarlyBird Check-Ins but don’t need the highest level of perks that come with a more expensive card. As one comprehensive review notes, it's best for those with a good to excellent credit score who can maximize its day-of-travel benefits and rewards on Southwest purchases.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card is tailored for the dedicated Delta loyalist who flies the airline several times a year and wants to maximize their rewards. It's also a powerful tool for travelers chasing Medallion status and for couples or families who can take full advantage of the annual companion certificate. Ultimately, the ideal candidate is a moderate-to-heavy spender looking to extract significant value from Delta-specific perks and travel credits.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect co-pilot for your travel plans, don't worry. We've rounded up a few other excellent travel cards that might be a better fit for your wallet and your 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.
• Know the application rules - Issuers like Chase and American Express have restrictions that could affect your eligibility.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer spending requirement without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Check your 5/24 status - Some issuers may deny you for opening too many recent accounts.
• Confirm your bonus eligibility - Issuers often have rules that prevent you from earning a welcome offer more than once.
• Leverage existing bank relationships - A positive history with an issuer can sometimes improve your approval odds.

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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Can I transfer points between Southwest and Delta?

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No, you cannot directly transfer points between the Southwest Rapid Rewards and Delta SkyMiles loyalty programs. However, you may be able to transfer points from a flexible rewards program to either airline, depending on that program's transfer partners.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card is generally more advantageous for international travel because of Delta's large global network and airline partnerships. Southwest's route network is focused primarily on North America and the Caribbean.

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Do the points I earn with these cards expire?

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Fortunately, points earned in both programs do not expire. Southwest Rapid Rewards points and Delta SkyMiles will remain in your account as long as it is open and in good standing.

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What is a companion pass?

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A companion pass allows a designated person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees. Both Southwest and Delta offer a version of this perk, but the qualification requirements and usage rules are very different for each program.

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