Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs British Airways Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

British Airways Visa Signature® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the British Airways Visa Signature® Card a strong contender for travelers.

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• You can earn accelerated rewards on British Airways flights and direct hotel bookings, making it a valuable tool for frequent flyers.
• While there is an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), the card has no foreign transaction fees and offers a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the US.
• Spending $30,000 in a year to earn the Travel Together Ticket can provide value that far exceeds the card's annual fee, particularly when redeemed for a companion on a premium cabin flight (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A generous welcome bonus of Avios points for new cardmembers who meet the initial spending requirement.
• The ability to earn a Travel Together Ticket, a valuable perk that allows a companion to fly on the same flight for just the taxes and fees.
• Accelerated rewards on purchases with British Airways and partner airlines, plus a discount on eligible flights and no foreign transaction fees.

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Cons

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• Reward redemptions are largely limited to British Airways and its airline partners, which may not suit all travelers.
• Significant taxes, fees, and carrier charges can apply to award flights, reducing the overall value of your Avios.
• The popular Travel Together Ticket comes with specific restrictions that can limit its flexibility and use.

British Airways Visa Signature® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or British Airways Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel habits and loyalty. Each card is tailored to a specific type of flyer, offering unique value propositions.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is designed for frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. It offers premium travel benefits and perks exclusive to the airline.
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: This card is ideal for frequent international travelers, particularly those who fly British Airways or its airline partners. It provides great travel rewards for transatlantic flights and beyond.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines. You can also use points for international flights, hotels, car rentals, and merchandise through the airline's travel portal.

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British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Rewards are redeemed as Avios points through the British Airways Executive Club for flights on British Airways and its Oneworld® alliance partners. Avios can also be used for flight upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees:The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is ideal for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, on the other hand, does have a foreign transaction fee.
• Airline Network:The Southwest card is tied to the Southwest Airlines network, which is robust for domestic U.S. travel. In contrast, the British Airways card unlocks access to the entire Oneworld® alliance, offering a vast web of global destinations for award travel.
• Signature Benefits:The Southwest card offers perks designed to improve the Southwest flying experience, including an annual travel credit and Upgraded Boardings. The British Airways card’s premier benefit is its Travel Together Ticket, a companion voucher earned after meeting a high annual spending threshold, which can offer immense value on international award flights.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: See how much you could earn with a new card based on your actual spending history—before you apply.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for a card with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
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• Personalized recommendations: Receive data-driven suggestions for the best cards based on your spending patterns.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for loyalists of the airline who fly several times a year. It's particularly valuable for travelers aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass® or achieve A-List status faster through Tier Qualifying Points earned on spending. Ultimately, the card provides maximum value to domestic travelers and families who can fully leverage its suite of Southwest-specific benefits to easily offset the annual fee.

Who Should Choose the British Airways Visa Signature®?

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The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for frequent flyers of British Airways and its oneworld alliance partners, particularly those with regular international itineraries. Cardholders who can meet the annual spending requirement will find immense value in the Travel Together Ticket, which allows a companion to fly for just the cost of taxes and fees. It's also a strong choice for travelers looking to earn bonus Avios on flights and hotel stays while avoiding foreign transaction fees.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card nor the British Airways Visa Signature® Card is the right choice for you, don't worry. While our Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs British Airways Visa Signature comparison highlights two great options, there are other cards that might be an even better fit.

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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 premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
• Review your travel habits: Consider if your travel patterns align with the card’s primary airline partner to maximize its value.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of any application restrictions the card issuer may have in place.
• Evaluate your airline loyalty: Co-branded cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or British Airways Visa Signature® Card offer the most value to frequent flyers of that airline.
• Time your application strategically: Align your application with major spending plans to help earn valuable perks like a welcome offer or companion ticket.

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'm not loyal to one airline?

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The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers more flexibility since its Avios can be used across numerous Oneworld alliance partners. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card's points are primarily redeemable for flights on Southwest Airlines.

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Which card is better for domestic travel?

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For travel within the United States, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is generally the stronger option due to Southwest's extensive domestic route network. British Airways has a much more limited presence for flights originating and ending within the U.S.

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Can I use points from one card on the other airline?

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While you cannot use Southwest points on British Airways, you can use British Airways Avios to book flights on its Oneworld partner, American Airlines. This provides an indirect way to use your points on a major domestic carrier that competes with Southwest.

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