There are some offers mentioned below that are no longer available.
New cardholders earn 50,000 bonus Southwest points after spending $1,000 on your new card in the first three months of account opening. This welcome bonus is available on all of the Southwest consumer cards:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Now is the perfect time to get a Southwest credit card if you're interested in earning a Southwest Companion Pass and unlocking the ability to bring a companion along on all Southwest flights for just the cost of taxes and fees. You have to earn 135,000 qualifying points within a calendar year to get the Pass, which is then valid for the rest of that year and all of the following year. That means by opening a Southwest card now, you lock in your chance to earn its hefty bonus in early 2024, which maximizes the length of time you can use it.
Last call: Southwest card offers
The personal Southwest cards all currently have the same bonus offer, but each card comes with unique perks and a different annual fee. The best credit card for you will depend on your travel habits and what you want out of an airline credit card.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee and is best if you only occasionally fly with Southwest. Cardmembers get 3,000 bonus points on their cardmember anniversary and 25% off inflight purchases.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the mid-tier Southwest card. It offers cardholders a chance to earn tier qualifying points and expedite their journey to Southwest elite status and comes with a 6,000-point bonus every cardmember anniversary.
Diehard Southwest loyalists can do well with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Cardholders receive 7,500 bonus points every cardmember anniversary, an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and four upgraded boardings per year (when available).
Who should get a Southwest credit card?
Southwest is known for having affordable flights and charging fewer fees with no change or cancellation fees. If you live near or frequently travel to/from a Southwest hub airport, opening a Southwest card is a great option for cutting your travel expenses.
Getting a Southwest personal card is an even better deal if you also qualify for one of the airline's small business credit cards because the intro bonuses will stack to help you earn a Companion Pass. You need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to get a Companion Pass, and you get a 10,000-point boost just for having a Southwest card. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) or Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) bonuses should give you a head start to a Companion Pass.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card can help your business save on Southwest travel but offers less value for other travel.
- Valuable welcome bonus helps you qualify for a Companion Pass
- 6,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Up to $500 in credits for point transfer fees every year (Benefit expires December 31, 2025)
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
- No bonus spending categories for common business purchases like office supplies, shipping or advertising
- Welcome bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass
- Up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits every year
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year (when available)
- Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck® credit every four years
- High annual fee
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Earning a Companion Pass will also indirectly make the travel rewards you earn with certain Chase credit cards more valuable. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) allow you to transfer Chase points to all of Chase's travel partners — including Southwest. These point transfers won't help you earn a Companion Pass, but if you already have one then you're essentially doubling the value of using Chase points for Southwest redemptions because you can bring someone on flights booked with points.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- Annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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Bottom line
The increased Southwest credit card welcome bonus offers are ending soon. Now is an ideal time for these deals because the intro bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass. When you earn the Companion Pass you can use it for the rest of the year you earned it and all of the following year. Earning it earlier in the year gives you more time to take advantage of this benefit.
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