The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is the better choice if you’re indifferent between Alaska Airlines and Southwest. It offers 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and a Companion Fare. It has no foreign transaction fees. However, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card remains a strong contender, offering high rewards on Southwest purchases and anniversary bonus points.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Updated: October 28, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site
Who Alaska Airlines Signature Is Best For
The Alaska Airlines Signature card is better for frequent Alaska Airlines travelers who want to maximize their miles on Alaska Airlines purchases. This card offers a generous sign-up bonus, including a Companion Fare, and provides benefits like free checked bags and no foreign transaction fees. However, it may not be suitable for those who do not frequently fly with Alaska Airlines, as the rewards on non-Alaska purchases are limited to 1X miles.
Who Rapid Rewards Premier Is Best For
The Rapid Rewards Premier card is better for those who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines and want to earn rewards toward the Companion Pass and A-List status. It offers 3X points on Southwest purchases and includes benefits like anniversary bonus points and EarlyBird Check-In. However, it may not be the best choice for those who don't often fly with Southwest, as the rewards and benefits are primarily tied to the airline.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card's features align with your needs. For instance, if you're focused on airline rewards, Alaska Airlines offers 3X miles on its purchases, while Rapid Rewards Premier provides 3X points on Southwest purchases. Choose based on which airline you fly more frequently.
Regular APR: Alaska Airlines Signature
The Alaska Airlines Signature card is better for regular APR. Its starting APR is slightly lower at 20.74% compared to Rapid Rewards Premier's 20.99%.
Annual Fee: Alaska Airlines Signature
Alaska Airlines Signature is better for annual fees, costing $95 compared to Rapid Rewards Premier's $99. This lower fee can benefit those looking to minimize costs while enjoying airline-specific perks.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither Alaska Airlines Signature nor Rapid Rewards Premier offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers, making this feature a non-factor in choosing between them.
Rewards: Alaska Airlines Signature
Alaska Airlines Signature is better for rewards, offering 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and 2X on gas and streaming. Rapid Rewards Premier provides 3X points on Southwest purchases and 2X on transit and streaming services.
Welcome Offers: Alaska Airlines Signature
Rapid Rewards Premier is better for welcome offers, requiring only $1,000 spent for 50,000 points, resulting in a higher return on investment. Alaska Airlines Signature's $3,000 spend for 60,000 miles.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both Alaska Airlines Signature and Rapid Rewards Premier require a credit score of 670 to 850, making them equally accessible for those with good to excellent credit.
Penalties and Fees: Tie
Both Alaska Airlines Signature and Rapid Rewards Premier have similar penalties and fees. They charge up to $40 for late payments and have a penalty APR of up to 29.99%. Alaska Airlines Signature has a 4% cash advance fee, while Rapid Rewards Premier charges $10 or 5%, whichever is higher. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
Issuer Satisfaction: Alaska Airlines Signature
The Alaska Airlines Signature card is better for issuer satisfaction, with a 4.5 rating for Bank of America. Rapid Rewards Premier is issued by Chase, which has a rating of 4.1. This reflects a higher level of customer satisfaction with the Alaska Airlines Signature card.
Card Benefits: Rapid Rewards Premier
The Rapid Rewards Premier card is better for card benefits, offering higher expected value perks like anniversary points and EarlyBird Check-In. Alaska Airlines Signature provides valuable perks such as a companion fare and free checked bags but with a slightly lower expected value.
Rewards Comparison
Both the Alaska Airlines Signature and Rapid Rewards Premier cards offer valuable rewards. However, the Alaska Airlines Signature card may provide better rewards value for those who frequently fly with Alaska Airlines. With miles valued at approximately 1.4 cents, the card offers substantial earning potential on Alaska Airlines purchases.
The Southwest card, part of the Rapid Rewards program, also offers points valued at approximately 1.4 cents. It provides a solid rewards structure for Southwest purchases and other select categories.
For those indifferent to specific airline loyalty programs, both cards offer competitive rewards. The table below details the bonus categories for each card, allowing you to compare their earning potential.
Category | Alaska Airlines Signature | Rapid Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|
Airline Purchases | 3X miles | 3X points |
Gas | 2X miles | 1X point |
EV Charging | 2X miles | 1X point |
Internet & Cable | 2X miles | 2X points |
Streaming Services | 2X miles | 2X points |
Local Transit & Ride Share | 2X miles | 2X points |
Hotels | 1X mile | 1.25X |
Car Rental | 1X mile | 1.25X |
All Other | 1X mile | 1X point |
Redeeming Rewards
The Alaska Airlines Signature card allows you to redeem miles for flights with Alaska Airlines and its partners, with no expiration. However, redemption is limited to travel-related options. In contrast, the Rapid Rewards Premier card offers more flexibility, allowing points to be used for flights, gift cards and merchandise, with no expiration.
Card Benefits Comparison
The Alaska Airlines Signature card offers better perks for travelers who value companion fares and free checked bags. It provides a companion fare annually and free checked bags for up to six guests, making it ideal for those traveling with companions. However, the Rapid Rewards Premier card is better for frequent flyers who value consistent rewards. It offers 6,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird Check-In passes each year.
Both cards provide priority boarding, but Alaska Airlines Signature covers more guests. These differences highlight each card's unique benefits, catering to different travel preferences.
Alaska Airlines Signature Perks
Travel Perks
- Free checked first bags for you and up to six guests on the same booking
- Priority boarding
Credits & Discounts
- 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases
- $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership
All Other Perks
- Buy one, get one flight offer with 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Companion fare each account anniversary, offering a $99 fare plus taxes and fees
Rapid Rewards Premier Perks
Travel Perks
- Two EarlyBird check-ins each year
- 25% back on inflight purchases
Status
- Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs) for A-List status seekers
- Companion Pass Intro Offer Value, offering substantial savings for frequent flyers
Insurance & Protections
- Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance
Credits & Discounts
- DoorDash membership
All Other Perks
- 6,000 anniversary points each year
FAQ: Alaska Airlines Signature vs. Rapid Rewards Premier
What are the main differences in rewards between the two cards?
The Alaska Airlines Signature card offers 3X miles on Alaska purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Premier card offers 3X points on Southwest purchases. Both cards provide 2X on transit and streaming services.
Which card offers better perks for frequent travelers?
The Alaska Airlines Signature card offers a Companion Fare and free checked bags. Rapid Rewards Premier provides anniversary points and priority boarding. Both are great airline cards.
How do the annual fees compare?
The Alaska Airlines Signature card has a $95 annual fee, while the Rapid Rewards Premier card has a $99 annual fee.
Are there any foreign transaction fees?
Both cards have no foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
What credit score is needed for each card?
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score, typically 670 or higher.
Methodology
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the "Airline" category. Several factors determine this score:
- Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
- Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
- Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
- Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
- Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
- Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
- Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.