Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is a solid choice for Marriott loyalists.

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• Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and other travel benefits that help justify the annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• You'll earn accelerated points on Marriott stays, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Redeeming the annual Free Night Award (earned after spending $15,000 in a calendar year) for a stay valued at more than the card's annual fee makes the card pay for itself (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers the flexibility to transfer points to dozens of airline partners.
• No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Includes key travel protections like car rental loss and damage insurance and baggage insurance (Terms apply).

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Cons

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• The annual Free Night Award requires a high spending threshold to unlock.
• Its value is heavily dependent on frequent stays at Marriott properties.
• Bonus points on popular spending categories like dining and at U.S. supermarkets are capped annually.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, it's crucial to understand that each card is tailored to a very different type of traveler.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is built for frequent Southwest flyers and travelers looking to maximize value on the airline, especially those pursuing the Companion Pass® or elite status.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is designed for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott properties who want to maximize hotel rewards and earn elite status perks.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed for flights on Southwest Airlines, as well as for gift cards, merchandise, and other travel experiences through the Rapid Rewards portal.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Points are primarily redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts in the Marriott Bonvoy collection, but can also be transferred to numerous airline partners; terms apply.

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Travel Perks

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• Ecosystem and Redemption: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card is laser-focused on its airline, with points redeemed for flights through the Rapid Rewards portal. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® card, on the other hand, is built for hotel loyalists, with points used for free nights across Marriott's global portfolio or transferred to various airline partners.
• On-the-Go Perks: Both cards are ideal for international travel as they do not charge foreign transaction fees. The Southwest card includes an annual travel credit and several upgraded boardings. The Marriott card provides complimentary Gold Elite status, which offers benefits like potential room upgrades and late checkout; terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
• Lounge Access: In a notable distinction from other high-end travel cards, neither the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Card nor the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card includes complimentary airport lounge access as a standard perk.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-backed decision, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: The ‘Test Drive’ feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your real spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for specific cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of applying through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Rewards and Incentives: Unlock sign-up bonuses and earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at partner stores with Kudos Boost.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get card recommendations based on your actual transaction history to ensure you’re maximizing every dollar spent.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is designed for frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who are loyal to the airline. It's particularly valuable for travelers looking to earn elite status or the coveted Companion Pass®, as all points earned contribute to these goals. Ultimately, those who fly Southwest several times a year will get the most value from this premium card's benefits, including the annual travel credit and upgraded boardings.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is primarily designed for frequent Marriott guests seeking to maximize their stays with automatic Gold Elite status. It also suits travelers who value elite perks but don't stay frequently enough to earn them organically, and high spenders who can meet the $15,000 annual spend for a Free Night Award. Finally, as this card review points out, it's a strong choice for earning on everyday spending, with 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases annually (then 2X points).

_{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.}

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might better suit your needs.

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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 you meet the typical good-to-excellent credit requirement.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any minimum spend requirements for welcome offers.
• Review the rewards ecosystem to confirm the card's benefits align with your travel habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Understand issuer-specific rules before submitting your application to improve your approval odds.
• Prepare for co-branded card requirements, like having a loyalty program number ready for hotel or airline cards.
• Consider your long-term card strategy, including potential upgrades or how a new card fits with others you hold.

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 Marriott?

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You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards, though the conversion rate is generally not ideal. However, transfers are not reciprocal, meaning you cannot move Southwest points to Marriott.

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Do these cards offer complimentary elite status?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card provides complimentary Gold Elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program (Terms apply). The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card does not grant elite status directly, but points earned from spending do count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass®.

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Which card is better for everyday spending?

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Your ideal card for daily purchases depends on your spending patterns. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ card offers bonus points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, whereas the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card's earning structure is more focused on travel-related spending with Southwest and its partners.

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