Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card

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.

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.

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.

This card does not have a rewards program or offer cash back, so you won’t earn rewards for spend. Rewards credit cards tend to carry high APRs and are suitable for those that do not carry a balance.

The Diamond Preferred card is all about the Introductory Purchase and Balance Transfer offers and ideal for those that already have credit card debt.

You can use this offer to help get your debt under control and think about rewards and cash back cards later – once you are debt free and won’t need to carry a balance. Be sure to read all rates, fees, and disclosures before you apply.

It also offers Citi “My Deals” both on the Citi Mobile App and Citi Online. My Deals provides easy access to national and local coupons across categories such as dining, shopping, and entertainment. Offers depend on your geographic location.

You’ll also have access to discounted gift cards select brands and a daily gift card deal.