Delta SkyMiles® Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $229 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $343 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Up to 90,000 SkyMiles | 60,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $5,000 in 6 months | $2,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,332 | $789 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $432 | $189 |
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$200/yr (2 credits) | ~$75/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold carries the heavier credit stack (about $200 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
Same idea as any cross-airline matchup: the card only pays off on the airline you actually fly, and these two airlines have very different economics.
Delta charges for checked bags, so the Gold’s free-bag benefit is real savings. Southwest includes bags for everyone, so the Priority’s value is the Companion Pass and boarding upgrades instead. Your airline, and the Companion Pass, decide it.
Pros and cons
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta, real savings
- 2x on Delta, dining, and U.S. supermarkets
- A Delta flight credit and a lower $150 fee
- Good for the regular Delta flyer
- Only useful if you fly Delta
- No Companion Pass equivalent
- Miles locked to Delta
- Points count toward the Companion Pass
- $75 annual travel credit and four upgraded boardings
- Free checked bags standard on Southwest
- 7,500 anniversary points
- $229 fee, higher than the Gold
- Only useful if you fly Southwest
- No lounges
- Points locked to Southwest
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Airline | Depends | Delta for the Gold; Southwest for the Priority. |
| Checked bags | Different models | Gold gives a free Delta bag; Southwest bags are free for all. |
| Companion Pass | Southwest Priority | Its spend helps earn the Companion Pass. |
| Everyday earning | Delta Gold | 2x groceries and dining. |
| Annual fee | Delta Gold | $150 vs $229. |
The verdict
If Southwest is your airline and you’ll pursue the Companion Pass, the Priority’s ceiling is unmatched at this level, a companion flying with you for just taxes across every trip can be worth far more than any checked-bag savings. For Southwest-loyal couples and families, that’s the headline.
If you fly Delta, the Gold is the straightforward pick, it turns Delta’s paid checked bags into free ones and adds priority boarding and grocery earning at a lower fee. As with all airline cards, don’t pick one for a perk and then fly the other airline; choose by the carrier you actually use, and weigh the Companion Pass heavily if that carrier is Southwest.