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

JetBlue Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a quick look at what makes the JetBlue Plus Card a compelling choice for frequent flyers.

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• The card offers a strong rewards rate on JetBlue purchases and bonus points at restaurants and grocery stores.
• While it has an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it includes valuable perks like a free first checked bag and a yearly 5,000-point anniversary bonus.
• The free checked bag benefit can easily offset the annual fee with just two round-trip flights per year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Enjoy a free first checked bag for yourself and your travel companions on the same reservation.
• Earn accelerated points on JetBlue purchases, plus receive an annual points bonus on your card anniversary.
• Receive valuable travel perks like an annual statement credit toward a JetBlue Vacations package and savings on in-flight purchases.

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Cons

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• It lacks many premium travel perks found on competing cards, such as airport lounge access or statement credits for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
• The card’s value is heavily tied to flying JetBlue, with restrictive benefits and limited bonus categories outside of spending with the airline.

JetBlue Plus vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or JetBlue Plus, depends entirely on your travel habits and which airline you fly most often. Both cards offer compelling benefits for loyal customers of their respective airlines.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best suited for semi-frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who want a balance of travel perks and good value from their card.
• JetBlue Plus Card: This card is positioned as the best value for most JetBlue flyers, especially casual or moderately frequent travelers who want core airline perks.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are redeemed for Southwest flights, with the number of points needed directly corresponding to the ticket's cash price. This straightforward system means there are no blackout dates on any available seat.

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JetBlue Plus Card: Redemptions are made with TrueBlue points for any seat on a JetBlue flight, and the points required are based on the current fare. You can also combine cash and points, offering more flexibility when booking award travel.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Elite Status Pathway: Each card offers a way to fast-track elite status. The JetBlue Plus Card allows you to earn Mosaic status through card spending, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card provides a boost toward A-List status by awarding Tier Qualifying Points based on your spending.
• In-Flight Savings: Cardholders receive in-flight discounts on both airlines. The JetBlue Plus Card provides a 50% savings on eligible food and cocktail purchases, while the Southwest Premier card gives you a 25% statement credit back on in-flight purchases.
• Booking Ecosystem: JetBlue's ecosystem includes JetBlue Vacations, which allows you to book flight-and-hotel packages and pay with points, cash, or a combination. Southwest's ecosystem is more focused on its own flights, though you can earn points through its hotel and car rental partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized comparison, tools like Kudos can help you evaluate thousands of credit cards based on your actual spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, you can simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real transaction data. This gives you a personalized projection of annual rewards without a hard credit pull.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of applying through Kudos, they will match it.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop with participating merchants through the platform.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses for free.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for semi-frequent Southwest flyers seeking a balance of useful perks and a moderate annual fee. Its ideal user is someone who flies with the airline a few times a year and wants to earn points while enjoying day-of-travel benefits like EarlyBird Check-In and priority boarding. As a mid-tier option, it's best for travelers who value the anniversary bonus points and other perks that help offset the annual cost.

Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card is an excellent choice for moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who travel with the airline a couple of times a year. Its practical perks, like a free first checked bag and 5,000 anniversary bonus points, are designed to easily offset the reasonable $99 annual fee for loyal customers. Ultimately, this card is for travelers who want to enhance their JetBlue experience with valuable benefits without committing to the higher cost of a premium travel card; you can compare the cards to see which is right for you.

Alternatives to Consider

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After this Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs. JetBlue Plus comparison, you might find that neither card is the perfect co-pilot for your journey. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and we have a few other top-tier options for you to consider.

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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 to ensure it meets the card's recommended range.
• Plan your spending to meet the welcome offer requirements without overspending.
• Review issuer rules as you may be ineligible for a welcome offer if you have or recently had a similar card.

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Application Strategy

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• Heed issuer restrictions, as rules like Chase's 5/24 or bonus eligibility across card families can impact your application.
• Time your application strategically, especially if card benefits are changing or new perks are being introduced.
• Apply before a large purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer without forcing it.

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 is better if I don't fly often?

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For infrequent travelers, the best choice hinges on which airline better serves your home airport and potential destinations. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card is ideal if you prefer Southwest's extensive domestic network, while the JetBlue Plus Card may be a better fit if you frequent JetBlue's hub cities.

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Do points expire with Southwest Rapid Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue?

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Fortunately, neither program puts a time limit on your hard-earned rewards. Both Southwest Rapid Rewards points and JetBlue TrueBlue points do not expire, regardless of account activity.

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Can I earn elite status faster with one card over the other?

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Both cards offer a shortcut to elite status, but through different mechanisms. The JetBlue Plus Card grants you automatic Mosaic 1 status after meeting an annual spending requirement, whereas spending on the Southwest Premier Card earns qualifying points toward A-List status and the Companion Pass.

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