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Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card comes from Cardless at $249/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($840 more in estimated value) than the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $249 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Cardless | Chase |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Best earning category (Airline) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card
$249/yr ·
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
$229/yr · 60,000 points
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has a public bonus (60,000 points, worth roughly $840), while the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card's $249 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- At $249/yr, the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Cardless and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card: no published min spend. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $2,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.