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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard vs Southwest Premier

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard card art
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard
Synchrony Bank
More Info
Southwest Premier card art
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Premier
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$99/yr
$149/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
38,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Cathay Pacific 3x
  • Dining 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • Southwest Purchases 3x
  • Grocery Stores and Restaurants 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
None
None
Card Perks
  • Earn 10 Status Points
  • Priority Boarding & Check In
None listed
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status
    After $5,000 spend
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard vs Southwest Premier

Is the Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard or Southwest Premier better for dining?

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard earns 2x on dining; Southwest Premier earns 2x on dining. Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard currently offers 38,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Southwest Premier offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 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 Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard 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. Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard is from Synchrony Bank and Southwest Premier is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.