Updated: October 21, 2024
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The JetBlue Plus Card is the better choice because it offers a higher rewards rate on airline purchases and no foreign transaction fees. Its benefits, like free checked bags, make it stand out.
However, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is more accessible, with a lower credit requirement and annual fee.
The JetBlue Plus will likely be better for those who want to maximize their rewards on JetBlue purchases. With six points on JetBlue flights, free checked bags and no foreign transaction fees, it caters to those who travel often with JetBlue. However, its higher annual fee and excellent credit score requirement may not suit those who fly less frequently or have lower credit scores.
The Rapid Rewards Plus works well for Southwest Airlines travelers seeking rewards without a high annual fee. It's great for occasional flyers who value sign-up bonuses and anniversary points. However, it may not suit international travelers due to foreign transaction fees. This card is a good choice for value-seeking travelers focusing on earning points on everyday spending like transit and streaming services.
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card stacks up in areas like APRs, fees and rewards. For example, if you're focused on earning rewards, the JetBlue Plus offers six points on JetBlue purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Plus gives two points on Southwest purchases.
Regular APR: Rapid Rewards Plus
The Rapid Rewards Plus offers a lower APR range of 20.99%–27.99% than JetBlue Plus' 21.24%–29.99%.
Annual Fee: Rapid Rewards Plus
The Rapid Rewards Plus has a lower annual fee of $69 fee than JetBlue Plus's $99.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: JetBlue Plus
The JetBlue Plus offers six points on JetBlue purchases and two points at restaurants and grocery stores. The Rapid Rewards Plus provides two points on Southwest purchases, transit, internet, cable and streaming services.
Welcome Offers: JetBlue Plus
JetBlue Plus' welcome offers have a higher return on investment (ROI). It requires spending $1,000 and paying the annual fee within 90 days, while the Rapid Rewards Plus requires only spending $1,000 in three months.
Recommended Credit Score: Rapid Rewards Plus
The Rapid Rewards Plus requires a good to excellent credit score (670–850), while the JetBlue Plus needs an excellent score (740–850), limiting eligibility to those with top-tier credit.
Penalties and Fees: JetBlue Plus
The JetBlue Plus has no foreign transaction fee, while the Rapid Rewards Plus charges 3%. Both cards have a late fee of up to $40 and no penalty APR.
Issuer Satisfaction: Rapid Rewards Plus
Customers report higher satisfaction with Chase Bank, Rapid Rewards Plus' issuer, rating it 4.1 compared to Barclays Bank Delaware’s 3.5, JetBlue Plus' issuer.
Card Benefits: JetBlue Plus
The JetBlue Plus offers free checked bags and inflight savings, valued at around $343. The Rapid Rewards Plus provides 3,000 anniversary points and EarlyBird Check-In but lacks significant expected value for travelers.
The JetBlue Plus offers a higher rewards value overall, with TrueBlue points valued at about 1.45 cents. It provides six points on JetBlue purchases, significantly boosting rewards for loyal JetBlue travelers.
The Rapid Rewards Plus has a more diversified earning structure, offering two points on Southwest purchases, transit and select services. Rapid Rewards points are valued at roughly 1.4 cents, making them slightly less valuable than TrueBlue points.
The JetBlue Plus appeals to frequent JetBlue flyers, while the Rapid Rewards Plus attracts those who value flexibility in earning categories. Below is a table detailing the rewards categories for each card.
Category | JetBlue Plus | Rapid Rewards Plus |
|---|---|---|
JetBlue Purchases | 6X points | 1X point |
Southwest Purchases | 1X point | 2X points |
Dining | 2X points | 1X point |
Groceries | 2X points | 1X point |
Taxi, Ride Share and All Other Transit | 1X point | 2X points |
Internet and Cable | 1X point | 2X points |
Streaming Services | 1X point | 2X points |
Car Rental | 1X point | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal |
Hotels | 1X point | 1X point/1.25X points if booked through the Rapid Rewards portal |
All Other Purchases | 1X point | 1X point |
You can redeem JetBlue Plus points for any seat on JetBlue flights. The number of points needed depends on the fare when booking. Points never expire, giving you flexibility for future travel. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus points can be used for flights, hotels and more, and they have no expiration date. However, redemptions are limited to Southwest and its partners.
The JetBlue Plus offers superior benefits, including free checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to three companions, plus 10% points back on redemptions. In contrast, the Rapid Rewards Plus provides 3,000 anniversary points and EarlyBird Check-In, appealing to those who value convenience and loyalty rewards.
Travel Perks
Status
Credits and Discounts
All Other Perks
Travel Perks
All Other Perks
The JetBlue Plus offers six points on JetBlue purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Plus gives two points on Southwest purchases.
The JetBlue Plus is better for travel perks, providing free checked bags and no foreign transaction fees. The Rapid Rewards Plus offers a sign-up bonus towards Companion Pass.
The JetBlue Plus has a $99 annual fee, higher than Rapid Rewards Plus' $69.
The JetBlue Plus has no foreign transaction fees, while the Rapid Rewards Plus charges 3%.
The Rapid Rewards Plus requires good to excellent credit (670–850), but you need excellent credit (740–850) for the JetBlue Plus.
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:
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.
