Southwest flyers, listen up: The personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards are currently offering increased welcome bonuses.
For a limited time, you can earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening any personal Southwest co-branded card. This includes the following cards:
What makes this offer even more valuable is that the welcome bonus and points you earn from spending with these cards help you qualify for a Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, just having a Southwest card gives you a 10,000-qualifying-point boost toward earning a companion pass. Once you earn the pass, you’ll be able to bring a guest on Southwest flights (paid with points or cash) for just the cost of taxes and fees.
Below, CNBC Select has the details on this new bonus and how to qualify for the offer.
Limited-time Southwest card welcome bonuses
- New offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.
- Old offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The value of Southwest points varies slightly depending on the type of fare you book but is generally around 1.4 cents per point. So it wouldn’t be difficult to book over $1,000 worth of Southwest flights with this new, 75,000-point bonus.
Not only are these limited-time bonuses worth 50% more than the previous offer, but Southwest’s upcoming overhaul of its loyalty program will make it easier to earn elite status with certain Southwest credit cards. Currently, you can earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you spend on eligible Southwest cards. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, you’ll earn 1,500 TQPs after spending $5,000 on an eligible Southwest card.
On the flip side, the spending requirement to earn the bonus is slightly higher now so you’ll want to make sure you don’t overspend on purchases you wouldn’t ordinarily make just to earn it.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Southwest personal credit card perks
The various Southwest consumer cards have different annual fees and features. However, there are certain benefits available across all of the cards.
Each card provides an annual 10,000 qualifying point boost for earning a Southwest Companion Pass, which means you’ll only need to earn 125,000 qualifying points (or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights with Southwest) to get a companion pass. In addition to offering 25% back on inflight purchases, the three Southwest personal cards also earn Southwest points at the following rates:
- 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming services
- 1X points on everyday purchases
For Southwest purchases, the Southwest Plus card earns 2X points, while the Southwest Premier card and Southwest Priority cards earn 3X points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
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Rewards
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fees
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Credit needed
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a good fit for occasional Southwest fliers. It has the lowest annual fee of $69 and every year cardholders get 3,000 points (worth roughly $42 in Southwest airfare) on their cardmember anniversary.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
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Rewards
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fees
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Credit needed
The mid-tier Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee and an annual 6,000-point bonus (worth roughly $84 in Southwest airfare), which you receive on your cardmember anniversary.
This card can also help you fast-track your way to Southwest A-List elite status. Cardholders currently earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent on the card. Starting in 2024, you’ll only need to spend $5,000 on the card to earn the 1,500 TQPs.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
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Rewards
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fees
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Credit needed
If Southwest is your go-to airline, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the card for you. It has a $149 annual fee and a host of perks that make the cost easy to justify. Every cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive 7,5000 bonus points (worth roughly $105 in Southwest flights) and a $75 annual Southwest travel credit. It also has the same TQPs bonus as the Southwest Premier card.
Getting approved for a Southwest credit card
Earning more Southwest points
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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Rewards
$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
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Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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Rewards
Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
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Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Bottom line
All three of the personal Southwest credit cards are offering an elevated welcome bonus. After being approved, you can earn 75,000 bonus Southwest points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This bonus is 50% higher than the previous offer and the best part is that the welcome bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass.
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