American Airlines vs. Southwest: Which One Is Best?
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The U.S. has its share of airlines, from full-service options to carriers dedicated to cutting costs. Among these are American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, serving many of the same routes. If you’re trying to decide who’d win between an American Airlines versus Southwest showdown, read on.
In this guide, we’ll break down where each airline flies, the fees they charge, their loyalty programs and what to expect when flying with them.
Where they’re based and where they fly
Winner for route options: American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines is a Texas-based airline, located in Fort Worth. It’s one of the “Big Three” U.S. airlines, alongside United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
It's worth noting American flies to more locations than any other airline in the U.S. It currently flies to 350 destinations in 63 countries. Below are the airline’s primary hub cities.
» Learn more: The complete guide to American Airlines partners
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is based in Dallas and primarily flies within the U.S. However, its route network has grown over the past few years to include more international destinations.
As of writing, Southwest operates flights to 121 airports in 11 countries. Though the airline doesn’t use a hub model, it does have a significant presence at several U.S. airports listed below.
» Learn more: Where does Southwest fly?
Airline loyalty programs
Winner for value of program and rewards: American Airlines
American Airlines AAdvantage
American Airlines’ AAdvantage program has four published elite status levels available to members. These provide benefits such as complimentary upgrades, airport lounge access and free checked bags.
Members earn miles based on the price of their ticket, but redemptions with American are still based on semi-fixed pricing. This means it’s possible to extract much more than their 1.7 cents of value if you book tickets correctly.
» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines elite status
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program allows customers to earn and redeem points when they travel with the airline. Depending on your elite status and the fare class ticket you buy, you’ll earn a specific number of Rapid Rewards points on each flight.
Unlike American’s loyalty program, the price of an award ticket is tied directly to the cash cost of your airfare, meaning the amount you need for a particular flight can vary.
For this and other reasons, we value Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents each.
The most frequent flyers on Southwest can earn a Companion Pass, which entitles them to bring a guest along for free when they fly. It’s a highly valuable perk and unique in the travel world, though it requires a hefty number of points to acquire.
Earning elite status on Southwest can grant you perks such as priority boarding and free drink coupons, but overall it’s a fairly similar experience whether you’re flying as a top-tier member or with no status at all.
» Learn more: Southwest Airlines makes elite status easier to earn
Extra fees
Winner for lowest fees: Southwest Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines operates with a more typical airline fee structure than Southwest. Those without elite status or co-branded credit cards are subject to additional fees if they want more than just the basics. This means that if they’d like to check a bag or choose preferred seating, it’s going to cost extra.
Southwest Airlines
There’s no contest when it comes to who wins in the fees category. Southwest has long been known as one of the best airlines for fee-free flying. All customers are granted two free checked bags and incur no change or cancellation fees. Seats aren’t assigned, so you don’t have to pay extra to pick a seat, either.
» Learn more: Which airlines have the best (and worst) fees?
In-flight experience
Winner of the sky: American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines operates several different cabins of service depending on where you’re flying, including economy, Main Cabin Extra, Premium Economy, business class and first class. On some long-haul flights, you may have the option to choose a lie-flat bed.
The airline offers complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic drinks on shorter flights, while a free meal and alcoholic beverages are offered on longer trips. Those in premium cabins can also expect perks such as pajamas and amenity kits.
American also requires you to use your own device to watch streaming movies or TV shows. Wi-Fi costs vary depending on your flight but start at $10, and there’s no free texting option onboard.
» Learn more: The best airline for in-flight entertainment
Southwest Airlines
Southwest operates a single-class cabin on all its flights, meaning everyone who boards will be sitting in economy. Although complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are available, alcohol must be purchased and there aren’t any substantial food options for sale.
If you want to watch a movie or TV show while traveling, you can do so for free, but you’ll need to bring your own device and headphones. Wi-Fi is available for an $8 fee, but messaging through WhatsApp or iMessage is free.
» Learn more: The guide to Southwest priority boarding
Credit card offerings
Winner for most credit card options: American Airlines
American Airlines
American has a robust selection of 11 co-branded cards, and many come with benefits like unlimited priority boarding, airport lounge access and free checked bags. However, they can also be expensive, with the top-tier card requiring a $595 per year fee.
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $99.
$595.
$99.
• 2 miles per $1 at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.
• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, up to $150,000 spent per calendar year (5 miles per $1 spent thereafter for the remainder of the calendar year).
• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.
• Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
• Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
• Free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to four companions.
• Annual companion certificate ($99 plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000.
• Up to $25 per anniversary year in statement credits for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases.
• 25% off in-flight food and beverage services.
Here's a deeper dive into individual card offerings.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® | AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0. | $99. | $149. |
Welcome offer | Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making one purchase and paying your annual fee within 3 months of account opening. | Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. |
Earnings on American Airlines purchases | 2x miles per $1. | 2x miles per $1. | 4x miles per $1. 5x after spending $150,000 in a calendar year. |
Other earnings | 2x miles per $1 spent on grocery stores. 1x mile per $1 everywhere else. | 1x mile per $1 everywhere else. | 10x miles per $1 spent on car rentals and hotels booked through American Airlines. 1 mile per $1 everywhere else. |
25% back on in-flight purchases | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Free checked bag | - | Yes. | Yes. |
Priority boarding | - | Group 5. | Group 4. |
Priority check-in | - | - | Yes. |
Earn elite status | - | - | Earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points after you reach 50,0000 Loyalty Points or 90,0000 Points during the qualifying status year. |
Additional benefits | - | Annual companion certificate, $25 back on in-flight Wi-Fi. | Admirals Club membership, Lyft credit, Avis or Budget credit, GrubHub credit, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit. |
Southwest Airlines
Southwest’s credit card versus American Airlines’ offerings aren’t much of a comparison. Southwest offers three personal co-branded cards alongside two business options. These cards can grant perks such as early check-in, upgraded boarding and an annual travel credit.
On the whole, however, they’re lower to mid-tier cards, with the most expensive personal card costing $149 per year.
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare, and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.
• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Reimbursement for 4 upgraded boardings, when available, each anniversary year.
• $75 Southwest travel credit each year.
• 7,500-point anniversary bonus each year.
Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.
• 6,000-point anniversary bonus each year.
Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Reimbursement for 2 EarlyBird check-ins each anniversary year.
• 3,000-point anniversary bonus each year.
Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Here's an even closer look at the brand's consumer cards and what they offer.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. | |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $69. | $99. | $149. |
Welcome offer | Companion Pass plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months. | Companion Pass plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months. | Companion Pass plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months. |
Earnings on Southwest purchases | 2x points per $1. | 3x points per $1. | 3x points per $1. |
Other earnings | 2x points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car purchases, local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone and select streaming. 1x point per $1 everywhere else. | 2x points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car purchases, local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone and select streaming. 1x point per $1 everywhere else. | 2x points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car purchases, local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone and select streaming. 1x point per $1 everywhere else. |
25% back on in-flight purchases | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Upgraded boardings | - | - | 4 per year. |
EarlyBird check-in | 2 per year. | 2 per year. | - |
10,000-point Companion Pass boost | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
$75 travel credit | - | - | Yes. |
Tier-qualifying points | - | Yes. | Yes. |
If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for award flights, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from an airline card in that you can book flights with multiple carriers, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.
The more high-end the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including airport lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs. That said, a brand-specific airline card can net you benefits like waived baggage fees, which can have meaningful dollar value.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
American Airlines vs. Southwest: The results
American Airlines comes out ahead in most of these categories, but the truth is that the airline that’s best for you will likely depend on your flying habits, where you live and where you’re traveling.
If you’re an infrequent traveler who tends to carry a lot of luggage or travel mostly within the U.S., Southwest might be a better option for you. If you value the additional perks and amenities American has to offer or if you want to travel abroad, it may provide a better experience.
The information related to AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
