The Southwest Premier edges out the American Express Green Card for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 85,000 pts signup bonus. The American Express Green Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.
American Express Green Card vs Southwest Premier
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- On Travel Including airfare, hotels, tours, campgrounds, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals, and more 3x
- On Transit Including trains, buses, ferries, subways, and more 3x
- Dining At Restaurants Worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. 3x
- Southwest Purchases 3x
- Grocery Stores and Restaurants 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- CLEAR Plus Credit $209
- 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List statusAfter $5,000 spend
- Flying Blue
- Delta SkyMiles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qatar Avios
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- +13 more
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The Southwest Premier edges out the American Express Green Card for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 85,000 pts signup bonus. The American Express Green Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, Southwest Premier tops out at 3x versus 3x for American Express Green Card. Current signup bonus values are roughly $800 for American Express Green Card and $850 for Southwest Premier. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/american-express-green-card-vs-southwest-premier
- Southwest Premier wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Southwest Premier reaches 3x; American Express Green Card reaches 3x.
- Annual fee: Southwest Premier is $149/yr; American Express Green Card is $150/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $800 and $850.
Common Questions: American Express Green Card vs Southwest Premier
Is the American Express Green Card or Southwest Premier better for dining?
American Express Green Card earns 3x on dining; Southwest Premier earns 2x on dining. American Express Green Card wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
American Express Green Card currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). Southwest Premier offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,000 in 3 months). Southwest Premier has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the American Express Green Card and the Southwest Premier?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. American Express Green Card is from American Express and Southwest Premier is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.