JetBlue Card vs. Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card Comparison

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.

The JetBlue Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card are both excellent choices for travelers seeking rewards without high annual fees. The JetBlue Card is the better option for dining enthusiasts and those who prefer JetBlue, offering 3x points on JetBlue purchases and no annual fee. It also provides bonus points on dining and groceries, making it versatile for everyday spending.

The Rapid Rewards Plus card, however, is ideal for Southwest loyalists. It offers a substantial sign-up bonus and 2x points on Southwest purchases. Despite its $69 annual fee, the anniversary points and travel perks make it a strong contender for frequent Southwest flyers.

JetBlue Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

MoneyGeek Rating

4.2/ of 5

Rates & Fees

MoneyGeek Rating

2.4/ of 5

Rates & Fees

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Regular APR
20.74%–29.99% variable
20.74% - 27.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
$69
Recommended Credit
670–850 (Good to Excellent)
670–850 (good to excellent)
Rewards Summary
Earn 1X–3X points
Earn 1X–2X points
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 10,000 bonus points
Earn $400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
Foreign Transaction Fee
0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
3% of the amount per transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR
-
-
Not sure?
The JetBlue Card is better for those who want no annual fee and earn 3X points on JetBlue purchases, plus no foreign transaction fees. The Rapid Rewards Plus Card suits those seeking a big sign-up bonus and 2X points on Southwest purchases, despite its $69 annual fee.
JetBlue Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Issuer Satisfaction Rating:
3.5/ of 5
Issuer Satisfaction Rating:
4.1/ of 5
Overall Rewards Rate Rating:
4.8/ of 5
Overall Rewards Rate Rating:
0/ of 5
Grocery Rewards Rating:
2.8/ of 5
Grocery Rewards Rating:
0/ of 5
Gas Rewards Rating:
1.6/ of 5
Gas Rewards Rating:
0/ of 5
Dining Rewards Rating:
3.5/ of 5
Dining Rewards Rating:
0/ of 5

Who JetBlue Card Is Best For

The JetBlue Card is likely to be better for travelers who prefer JetBlue and want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. It offers 3X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points on dining and groceries, making it a good choice for everyday spending. Additionally, it has no foreign transaction fees, which is beneficial for international travelers. However, it may not be ideal for those who prioritize perks like free checked bags.

Who Rapid Rewards Plus Is Best For

The Rapid Rewards Plus is likely to be better for individuals who fly Southwest Airlines occasionally and want to earn a substantial sign-up bonus. This card offers 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months, which can be appealing for those looking to quickly accumulate points. However, due to its foreign transaction fees, it may not be the best choice for those who frequently travel internationally.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card stacks up in areas like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you're looking for dining rewards, the JetBlue Card offers 2X points at restaurants, while the Rapid Rewards Plus focuses on travel categories. .

Regular APR: Rapid Rewards Plus

The Rapid Rewards Plus is better, offering a lower starting APR of 20.99%, compared to JetBlue Card's 21.24% variable. This makes the Rapid Rewards Plus more favorable for those concerned about interest rates.

Annual Fee: JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is better for annual fees, as it has no annual fee compared to the $69 fee of the Rapid Rewards Plus. This makes the JetBlue Card more appealing for budget-conscious users who prefer to avoid annual costs.

Introductory 0% APRs: JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is better for introductory 0% APRs, offering a 0% APR on balance transfers for the first twelve billing cycles. The Rapid Rewards Plus lacks any introductory 0% APR offers.

Rewards: JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is better for rewards, offering 3X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores. In contrast, the Rapid Rewards Plus card provides 2X points on Southwest purchases and select services, making it less rewarding for everyday spending.

Welcome Offers: JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is better for welcome offers due to its higher return on investment (ROI). It offers 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in 90 days, while Rapid Rewards Plus offers 50,000 points for the same spending, but with a lower ROI.

Recommended Credit Score: Tie

Both the JetBlue Card and Rapid Rewards Plus require a recommended credit score range of 670 to 850, making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.

Penalties and Fees: JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is better for penalties and fees due to its 0% foreign transaction fee, compared to the Rapid Rewards Plus's 3% fee. Both cards have a late fee of up to $40 and no penalty APR.

Issuer Satisfaction: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Rapid Rewards Plus is better for issuer satisfaction, as Chase Bank has a higher rating than Barclays Bank, which issues the JetBlue Card.

Card Benefits: Rapid Rewards Plus

The Rapid Rewards Plus is better for card benefits, offering 3,000 anniversary points and 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins annually, which provide tangible value for Southwest travelers. The JetBlue Card's benefits are more focused on earning and redeeming points.

Rewards Comparison

Overall, the JetBlue Card offers better rewards value due to its higher earning rates on JetBlue purchases and dining. The JetBlue TrueBlue points are valued at approximately 1.45 cents, slightly higher than the SouthWest Rapid Rewards points, which are valued at 1.4 cents.

For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the JetBlue Card's rewards structure may appeal more to those who frequently dine out or shop for groceries. In contrast, the Rapid Rewards Plus card provides value for users who spend on transit and streaming services.

The following table will provide a detailed breakdown of the rewards categories for each card, allowing you to compare them at a glance.

Category	JetBlue Card	Rapid Rewards Plus
Airfare	3X points	2X points
Dining	2X points	1X points
Groceries	2X points	1X points
Taxi & Ride Share	1X points	2X points
All Other Transit	1X points	2X points
Internet & Cable	1X points	2X points
Streaming Services	1X points	2X points
Hotels	1X points	1X/1.25X if booked through Rapid Rewards
Car Rental	1X points	1X/1.25X if booked through Rapid Rewards
All Other	1X points	1X points

Redeeming Rewards

Both the JetBlue Card and Rapid Rewards Plus offer flexible redemption options, but they have distinct differences. JetBlue points can be redeemed for any seat on JetBlue flights and do not expire, making them ideal for frequent JetBlue flyers. Southwest points, also non-expiring, offer broader redemption options, including flights, hotels and more, but are limited to Southwest and its partners. JetBlue's slightly higher point value may appeal to those prioritizing flight flexibility.

FAQ: Rapid Rewards Plus vs. JetBlue Card

What are the annual fees for each card?

The JetBlue Card has no annual fee, while the Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual fee.

How do the rewards programs differ between the two cards?

JetBlue Card earns 3X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X on dining and groceries. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Card earns 2X points on Southwest purchases and select categories.

Which card offers better travel perks?

Southwest offers 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird Check-In per year. JetBlue offers no foreign transaction fees.

What are the introductory offers for each card?

JetBlue offers 10,000 bonus points after $1,000 spend in 90 days. Southwest offers 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in three months.

Are there any foreign transaction fees?

JetBlue Card has no foreign transaction fees, while Rapid Rewards Plus charges 3%.

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.

Read Full Bio »

*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.

JetBlue Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card