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Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is best for frequent Southwest flyers looking to maximize rewards and enjoy premium travel perks with the airline.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card is ideal for earning flexible rewards on travel and dining, especially for existing Bank of America customers who can earn even more.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card stands out.
- It provides a strong set of travel-centric benefits, including four upgraded boardings per year and inflight discounts, tailored specifically for Southwest flyers.
- The card helps you earn points toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass® and A-List elite status, accelerating your progress with every purchase.
- While it carries an annual fee, the card's $75 annual travel credit and 6,000 anniversary bonus points can significantly offset this cost for regular travelers (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Helps you qualify for the valuable Companion Pass® and earn toward A-List status through card spending.
- Receive an annual travel credit for Southwest purchases and bonus points each year.
- Enjoy travel perks like complimentary upgraded boardings and rebates on inflight purchases.
Cons
- Its benefits are heavily skewed toward Southwest, offering little value if you don't fly the airline regularly.
- Points have limited flexibility and are most valuable when redeemed for Southwest flights.
- Lacks premium perks like airport lounge access found on other travel cards.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card stands out.
- The card features a straightforward rewards structure, earning elevated points on popular travel and dining categories.
- Although it comes with an annual fee, the card includes valuable travel credits that can help offset the cost.
- You can easily offset the annual fee just by taking advantage of the card's annual up to $100 airline incidental credit (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Eligible Bank of America customers can earn a rewards bonus on every purchase.
- Includes a suite of travel insurance protections.
- Features a simple redemption system with fixed-value points.
Cons
- Points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel partners.
- Lacks some premium travel benefits like airport lounge access.
- The best rewards rates are reserved for existing Bank of America customers.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Categories
Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Bank of America Premium Rewards, depends entirely on your travel habits and banking preferences. One card caters to airline loyalists, while the other offers broader flexibility for everyday spending.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is designed for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists who can take full advantage of its airline-specific benefits and perks. It's particularly valuable for travelers looking to earn elite status or the coveted Companion Pass®.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card is ideal for moderate travelers and everyday spenders who value flexible rewards that can be redeemed in multiple ways. It offers enhanced value for existing Bank of America customers.
Redemption
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for Southwest flights, but can also be used for international flights, hotel stays, rental cars, and gift cards through the airline's portal.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, or gift cards, offering a wide range of flexible options.
Travel Perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card’s perks are centered on the Southwest flying experience. It includes an annual Southwest travel credit, several Upgraded Boardings each year, and bonus points on your cardmember anniversary. It does not charge foreign transaction fees.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card offers broader travel benefits, including an annual airline incidental statement credit and a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. It also comes with various travel insurance protections and does not have foreign transaction fees.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To cut through the noise and find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending.
- Test Drive Cards: The platform’s standout feature allows you to “Test Drive” a card before applying. By securely connecting your bank accounts, Kudos analyzes your real transaction history to project your potential earnings and calculate a card's net value after annual fees.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for a new card based on your credit report, taking the guesswork out of applications.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through the platform, Kudos will match it.
- Maximize Rewards: Kudos helps you track sign-up bonuses, earn extra rewards through its Kudos Boost feature when shopping at partner stores, and automatically suggests the best card to use at checkout.
- Financial Dashboard: You can monitor all your transactions, spending habits, and credit score in one place to get a comprehensive view of your finances.
Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers who can consistently take advantage of its travel credits and upgraded boarding perks. It's particularly valuable for loyalists aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass® or accelerate their journey to A-List status through credit card spending. Families and domestic travelers who appreciate Southwest's flexible policies will also find significant value in this premium card.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card is an excellent choice for moderate travelers and everyday spenders who want strong rewards without a hefty annual fee. It is especially valuable for existing Bank of America customers, as those in the Preferred Rewards program can earn a 25% to 75% bonus on all points earned. Individuals who prefer simple, cash-back-like flexibility over navigating complex airline transfer partners will find this card a great fit, as detailed in this comprehensive review.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® comparison didn't seal the deal for you, let's look at a few other top travel cards. One of these alternatives might be the perfect addition to your wallet.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score: Most premium cards require good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
- Plan your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet the welcome offer spending requirement without going over budget.
- Review application rules: Check the issuer’s policies on welcome offer eligibility, especially if you’ve had their cards before.
Application Strategy
- Look for relationship bonuses: Some cards provide better rewards if you have existing accounts with the bank.
- Target ecosystem-specific perks: Consider how a card’s benefits, like points counting toward a Companion Pass, fit your travel goals.
- Use targeted offers: Check for elevated welcome offers through different channels before submitting your application.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Which card is better if I don't fly exclusively with Southwest?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card offers more flexibility, as its points can be redeemed for cash back or travel with any airline. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's benefits are most valuable when used for flights on Southwest Airlines.
Can I transfer points from the Bank of America Premium Rewards card to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
No, you cannot directly transfer points from your Bank of America® Premium Rewards® account to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. You can, however, redeem your Bank of America points for a statement credit to cover the cost of a Southwest flight.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has a $149 annual fee, while the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has a $95 annual fee.
Do the rewards earned on these cards expire?
Bank of America points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. Southwest Rapid Rewards points also do not expire.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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