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Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and
Bilt Mastercard®

Detailed Comparison Overview

Key Facts
Annual Fee
Avg. Min. Credit Score
Ongoing APR
Balance transfers fees
Best Multiplier
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
Bonus Offer
Rating
Review
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Trip Protections
Free Checked Bags
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Roadside Assistance
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
No Fees for Authorized Users
Free Access to Credit Score
Earns Transferable Points
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Cell Phone Protection
Annual Fee
$69
Avg. Min. Credit Score
670-850
Ongoing APR
20.99%-27.99% (Variable)
Balance transfers fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Best Multiplier
3x Airfare

Applies only to tickets purchased directly from Southwest. Other airfare earns 1X.

2x Transit
2x Cable / Internet / VOIP Phone
2x Cellular Phone Service
2x Streaming Services
1x Everything Else
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.014
Bonus Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (See Companion Pass Guide!)

Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(3.73) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

The Southwest Plus Card charges the lowest annual fee of any Southwest credit card, making it a tempting option for travelers that enjoy flying Southwest.

In exchange for the modest $69 annual fee, cardholders will be reimbursed for up to two EarlyBird Check-In purchases each year, get 25% back on inflight purchases on Southwest Airlines, plus get 3,000 bonus points each card anniversary.

Get 25% back on Southwest inflight purchases.

Cardholders earn 2 Southwest points per dollar spent in a range of spending categories, including Southwest purchases (including inflight purchases), Southwest Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, local transit, commuting, rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.

Points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. However, Southwest Plus Credit cardholders won’t get Tier Qualifying Points toward earning A-List Status. If you want to earn Tier Qualifying Points, you’ll need to get the Southwest Priority or Premier Credit Card instead.

Southwest Plus cardholders can't earn Tier Qualifying Points on purchases

In addition, the Southwest Plus credit card charges foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases. While that might not be a problem for some travelers, international flyers may want to get the Priority or Premier Card instead.

Frequent Southwest flyers should consider the Southwest Priority Credit Card instead. Although it charges the highest annual fee of any Southwest credit card, the card offers a $75 Southwest annual travel credit, four Upgraded Boardings every cardmember anniversary, and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus. Plus, the card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Those perks more than offset the additional annual fee.

Lastly, this card is great for getting a large piece of the to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer, since the points earned from the signup bonus count. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Trip Protections
yes
Free Checked Bags
yes
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
Extended Warranty
yes
Purchase Protection
yes
Roadside Assistance
yes
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
yes
No Fees for Authorized Users
yes
Free Access to Credit Score
yes
Earns Transferable Points
no
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
no
No Foreign Transaction Fees
no
Cell Phone Protection
no
Annual Fee
$0 (Rates and fees)
Avg. Min. Credit Score
Ongoing APR
-
Balance transfers fees
-
Best Multiplier
3x Dining Out / Food Delivery
2x Airfare
2x Car Rentals
2x Hotels
2x Cruises
1x Rent
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.018
Bonus Offer
There's no traditional bonus offer, but you'll be eligible for Rent Day double points on the 1st of every month (excluding rent).
Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(4.13) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

What is Bilt?

The Bilt Mastercard® is the only credit card that lets you pay your rent with no transaction fees and earn one point per dollar in the process.

This works with any landlord, up to $100,000 in rent per year as long as you make 5 other purchases each statement period.

Alaska Airlines – a Bilt Rewards Transfer Partner (Image Courtesy: Alaska Airlines)

Bilt Transfer Partners

Bilt Transfer PartnersAll transfer at a 1:1 ratio except ALL. Transfer times below:
Alaska Airlines MileagePlanTBD
Aer Lingus AviosWithin 10 minutes
Air Canada AeroplanWithin 10 minutes
Air France Flying BlueWithin 10 minutes
Avianca LifemilesWithin 10 minutes
British Airways AviosWithin 10 minutes
Cathay Pacific AsiaMilesWithin 10 minutes
Emirates SkywardsWithin 10 minutes
Iberia AviosWithin 10 minutes
IHG RewardsWithin 10 minutes
Marriott BonvoyUp to 48 hours; generally within minutes. (5,000 point bonus when you transfer 20,000).
United Airlines MileagePlusWithin 10 minutes
Turkish Airlines Miles&SmilesWithin 10 minutes
TAP Miles&GoTBD
Virgin PointsWithin 10 minutes
World of HyattWithin 10 minutes
Accor Live Limitless (ALL)TBD - Note, transfer is 3:2

Rent Day

On the 1st of every month, Bilt Rewards has “Rent Day” – where you’ll earn double points on dining, travel and other purchases excluding rent and tax payments (up to 1,000 bonus points each Rent Day) on that one day.

On Rent Day, they also have other bonuses and giveaways, which may include status trials on an airline or hotel partner or a points transfer bonus.

Summary

Overall, this card is pretty much a “must have” for renters, since there is no other way to earn points – with no transaction fees – when paying your rent.

There is also no annual fee to hold the card and no Foreign Transaction Fees.

I have one myself and don’t see any reason for any renter not to have it.

Disclaimers

 

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Trip Protections
yes
Free Checked Bags
no
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
no
Extended Warranty
no
Purchase Protection
no
Roadside Assistance
no
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
no
No Fees for Authorized Users
no
Free Access to Credit Score
no
Earns Transferable Points
yes
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
No Foreign Transaction Fees
yes
Cell Phone Protection
yes

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