Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $89 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | 70,000 miles | |
| Dining | 1x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 2x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $310 | $373 |
| Points type | Locked to Miles & More | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Mastercard | 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 Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® earns about $310 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® charges $89, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus delivers more total value, about $54 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if your spending leans toward groceries, gas.