British Airways Visa Signature® Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
Side-by-side comparison
| British Airways Visa Signature® Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $149 |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 Avios | |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 3x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $328 | $382 |
| Points type | Locked to Avios | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card earns about $328 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The British Airways Visa Signature® Card charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The two are effectively tied on value, with the British Airways Visa Signature® Card marginally ahead, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. Note that Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the British Airways Visa Signature® Card if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier if your spending leans toward dining, groceries.