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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Southwest Plus vs The Platinum Card from American Express

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

Southwest Plus card art
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Plus
Chase
More Info
The Platinum Card from American Express card art
American Express Membership Rewards
The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express
More Info
Annual Fee
$99/yr
$895/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
175,000 points
Spend $12,000 in 6 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Southwest Purchases 2x
  • Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • Flights (Direct or Amex Travel) 5x
  • Prepaid Hotels (Amex Travel) 5x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
None
  • Prepaid Hotel Credit $200
  • Uber Cash $15
  • Airline Fee Credit $200
  • +4 more
Card Perks
None listed
  • Centurion Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass Select
  • Delta Sky Club Access
  • +6 more
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more
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Common Questions: Southwest Plus vs The Platinum Card from American Express

Is the Southwest Plus or The Platinum Card from American Express better for dining?

Neither card offers a specific dining bonus — both earn their base rate on restaurant purchases.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Southwest Plus currently offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). The Platinum Card from American Express offers 175,000 pts signup bonus (spend $12,000 in 6 months). Southwest Plus 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 Southwest Plus and the The Platinum Card from American Express?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Southwest Plus is from Chase and The Platinum Card from American Express is from American Express, so they're governed by separate bank policies.