Delta SkyMiles® Reserve vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | $229 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $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® Reserve | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 125,000 SkyMiles | 60,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $15,000 in 6 months | $2,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $892 | $789 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $-358 | $189 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve is ahead by roughly $103, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve after about 1 year. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve. Planning to keep it for years? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority pulls ahead.
*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® Reserve | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Yes — Centurion, Delta Sky Club | None |
| Annual credits | 3 listed credits | ~$75/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve gets you into airport lounges; the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority carries the heavier credit stack (about $75 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.
Both are airline cards, but one is a premium Delta lounge card and the other a mid-fee Southwest card, so it depends on your airline.
The Delta Reserve’s Sky Club access and companion certificate justify $650 for a frequent Delta flyer. The Southwest Priority’s $75 credit and Companion Pass progress reward Southwest loyalty at a lower fee. Delta lounges vs Southwest travel.
Pros and cons
- Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta
- An annual companion certificate
- Status boosts and first bag free
- A large SkyMiles bonus
- $650 fee, only for frequent Delta flyers
- Miles locked to Delta
- Low earning outside Delta
- Sky Club rules have tightened
- $75 annual Southwest credit and anniversary points
- Counts toward the Companion Pass
- Free checked bags on Southwest
- A big Rapid Rewards bonus
- $229 fee, only for Southwest flyers
- Points locked to Southwest
- No lounges (Southwest has none)
- Modest everyday earning
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Airline | Depends | Delta vs Southwest. |
| Lounge access | Delta Reserve | Sky Clubs; Southwest has no lounges. |
| Companion benefit | Split | Delta’s certificate vs Southwest’s Companion Pass. |
| Annual fee | Southwest Priority | $229 vs $650. |
| Best for | Depends | Frequent Delta flyers vs Southwest flyers. |
The verdict
If you fly Delta and want lounge access, the Reserve can pay off through Sky Clubs and the companion certificate, but only for a frequent Delta flyer.
If you fly Southwest, the Priority is far cheaper and its Companion Pass progress can be worth more than any single certificate if you’ll use it. Pick the airline you actually fly, and note the Reserve is a much bigger financial commitment.