Don't Miss Your Chance to Grab a 75,000-Point Bonus with Southwest’s Credit Card Offers

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While many airlines are cutting elite benefits, Southwest Airlines is making positive strides in 2024. The airline has announced a series of improvements to its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program, effective next year. Additionally, Southwest has boosted the introductory offers on all three of its personal credit cards to 75,000 points, making it easier to access multiple free flights and the opportunity to earn Companion Pass status for 2024 and 2025.

Southwest’s credit cards stand out in the industry by providing numerous travel perks while maintaining low annual fees. They consistently offer enticing introductory bonuses to enhance the sign-up experience, usually around 50,000 points. Now, all three personal cards from Southwest have seen a 50% increase in their introductory offers to 75,000 points. Act fast; you have until the end of December 8, 2023, to seize this exceptional offer.

You can earn this bonus on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card by spending $3,000 within the first three months of your card membership. When combined with the current welcome offers on either of Southwest’s two business credit cards, this enhanced bonus could secure you a valuable Southwest Companion Pass for all of 2024 and 2025. Seriously!

Here are all the reasons you should think about Southwest’s credit cards right now.

Why you should get a Southwest credit card for the rewards and perks

Southwest Rapid Rewards points have a flexible dollar value—each point is worth between 1.3 and 1.45 cents when redeemed for the airline’s lowest “Wanna Get Away” fares. This means that a bonus of 75,000 Rapid Rewards points is valued at around $975–$1,087 for Southwest flights.

Beyond the fantastic introductory offers, Southwest’s credit cards come with excellent travel perks that make them valuable over time. Depending on the card, these benefits can include bonus points for qualified spending in certain categories; if available, passes for complimentary EarlyBird Check-In (which moves you up in the boarding line) or Upgraded Boarding (elevating your boarding position to A1–A15, 24 hours prior to your flight); and annual fee credits for transferring Rapid Rewards points.

What does a card offer?

Southwest’s consumer cards feature competitive earning structures. All three cards offer two points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting expenses (including rideshares), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services. Currently, they all share the same welcome bonus: earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Conversely, the three cards provide different earning rates on Southwest Airlines purchases and offer various annual benefits, including account anniversary bonuses. Below are the details of the three personal cards, highlighting their key features and benefits.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Despite having the lowest annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card offers substantial points earning potential.

• Welcome offer: With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.
• Annual fee: $69
• Earnings on purchases: Earn two points per dollar on purchases with Southwest, its hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services. Earn one point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Primary Southwest benefits: Receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year; two EarlyBird Check-Ins annually; and an account anniversary bonus of 3,000 points each year.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a more premium option, featuring a higher annual fee and enhanced benefits.

• Welcome offer: With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.
• Annual fee: $99
• Earnings on purchases: Similar to the Plus card, but earn three points per dollar on Southwest purchases.
• Primary Southwest benefits: Receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year; two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year; and an account anniversary bonus of 6,000 points annually.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most elite personal credit card offered by Southwest, complete with additional benefits to match.

• Welcome offer: With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.
• Annual fee: $149
• Earnings on purchases: Identical to the Southwest Premier card.
• Primary Southwest benefits: Receive one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year; four Upgraded Boardings annually; an account anniversary bonus of 7,500 points each year; an annual $75 Southwest travel credit; and 25 percent back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi on Southwest flights.

To make it easier, we’ve summarized the essential details for each card in a chart:

Mind your business—and earn a Companion Pass

Fortunately, the Southwest credit card offerings extend beyond these three personal cards. Southwest also provides two business credit cards: the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, both featuring generous introductory bonuses. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card grants 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card awards 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the same period. If you're running a business—whether large or small, even as a sole proprietor—you can apply for a business credit card without needing a business checking account; your Social Security number can serve as your business ID. While you're limited to one of each type of personal and business card, you can hold both to aim for a Companion Pass.

The current high introductory offers on personal cards and the enticing bonuses on Southwest’s business cards make the Companion Pass—essentially a free ticket for a travel companion on every flight—easily attainable. The combined welcome bonuses from the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card total 135,000 points, which is typically required for the Companion Pass for all of 2024 and 2025. However, as a cardholder, you benefit from an annual Companion Pass boost, meaning you only need 125,000 points to qualify for the Pass.

Apply for both cards in late October, but wait until January 2024 to meet the spending requirements. Since welcome bonuses count towards the Companion Pass, if you time it right, you’ll be able to enjoy BOGO flights for all of 2024 and 2025.

Which card should you choose, and why apply now?

With current welcome bonuses of 75,000 points on personal cards, now is an excellent time to apply for Southwest credit cards. (Just remember to submit your application by December 8, 2023, to take advantage of this offer.) Given the existing bonuses, any personal card is a wise pick. Your choice will depend on how you prioritize the earnings structure and primary benefits against the annual fee. We particularly favor the more premium Priority card for its extensive perks and credits. However, for most people, starting with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card makes sense; it has a modest $69 annual fee yet still offers over a thousand dollars in value on Southwest flights through bonus points.

If you’re looking to maximize your new Southwest miles, consider pursuing Southwest’s highly sought-after Companion Pass. The combination of generous introductory offers on personal cards and the current bonus on Southwest’s business cards makes this pass—essentially a free ticket for a travel companion on every flight—easily attainable. The combined welcome offers from the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card total 135,000 points, granting you the Companion Pass for all of 2024 and 2025. That’s two years of BOGO flights for a total annual fee of just $168.

This article was initially published in 2022 and was last updated on December 9, 2023, with the latest information. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time and may have altered or may no longer be available.