Unlock up to 80,000 points with these enticing Southwest welcome offers: Should you apply today?

For loyal Southwest travelers, a co-branded Southwest credit card is an excellent way to accumulate points for travel.

If you’re aiming to build a substantial collection of Rapid Rewards points, now is an ideal time to add a personal card to your collection.

You can earn up to 80,000 bonus points with their current welcome offers. However, if you’re working towards a Companion Pass for 2025 and 2026, consider delaying your application for one of these cards until early October. Complete the minimum spending requirement after your December statement date to ensure your bonus points post in January. This strategy will help secure your Companion Pass for 2025 and 2026 (instead of just for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 if your points post in December).

Let’s explore the current sign-up bonuses available for Southwest Airlines business and personal credit cards.

Southwest Personal Cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

• Ideal for: New users and occasional travelers
• Annual fee: $69
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
• Points earning rates: 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting expenses, including ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft; 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services, and selected streaming service purchases; 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases; 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Key benefits: Two EarlyBird check-ins and 3,000 points awarded each year on your card anniversary.

For further information, please refer to our comprehensive review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

• Ideal for: Frequent Southwest travelers
• Annual fee: $99
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
• Points earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting expenses (including ride-hailing services), 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services, and selected streaming services, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Key benefits: Two EarlyBird check-ins each card anniversary, a 6,000-point anniversary bonus, unlimited Tier Qualifying Points earning of 1,500 for each $5,000 spent annually, and no foreign transaction fees.

The information regarding the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details provided on this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Discover more: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

• Ideal for: Loyal Southwest customers who benefit from day-of-travel amenities
• Annual fee: $149
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
• Points earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting expenses, including ride-hailing services, 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services, and selected streaming services, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Key benefits: Unlimited TQP earning of 1,500 for every $5,000 spent annually, a $75 annual Southwest credit, a 7,500-point anniversary bonus, and no foreign transaction fees.

This card was recognized as the Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card at the 2023 TPG Awards by TPG.

For additional information, refer to our comprehensive review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card.

Southwest business credit cards

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

• Ideal for: Business owners who frequently fly with Southwest
• Annual fee: $99
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
• Points earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting expenses (including ride-hailing services), 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Key benefits: Two EarlyBird check-ins each card anniversary, earn tier-qualifying points for A-List elite status, a $500 fee credit for transferring Rapid Rewards points to another member, a 6,000-point anniversary bonus, and no foreign transaction fees.

For more information, check out our comprehensive review of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

• Ideal for: Business owners who frequently fly with Southwest
• Annual fee: $199
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
• Points earning rate: 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting expenses (including ride-hailing), 3 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2 points per dollar on social media and paid search advertising, internet, cable, and phone services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Key benefits: Four upgraded boardings annually, earn tier-qualifying points for A-List elite status, $500 fee credit for transferring Rapid Rewards points to another member, a 9,000-point anniversary bonus, up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($120 starting Oct. 1, 2024), up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year, and no foreign transaction fees.

For additional information, check out our comprehensive review of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business card.

Is now the right time to apply for a Southwest credit card?

Southwest has a loyal following, with many fans appreciating the airline's friendly vibe and the benefit of two free checked bags (though this may change soon).

The Rapid Rewards program is well-liked for its straightforwardness. The number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points needed to book a flight directly correlates with the flight's current fare, and savvy travelers often find great deals by timing their redemptions right.

Additionally, due to Southwest's policy of no cancellation or change fees, you can re-price a Southwest flight if you book a trip and later find the same itinerary for a lower fare before your departure. Plus, Southwest points don’t expire, so you can earn them without the pressure of using them right away.

You can maximize the value of your Southwest points even further by earning a Companion Pass. This benefit allows you to take a designated companion on all your Southwest flights — whether paid or on award tickets (though you’ll need to cover taxes and fees).

To qualify for a Companion Pass, you typically need to earn 135,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year. However, points from credit card welcome bonuses and spending can count toward this total, making the current card offers a great way to kickstart your Companion Pass qualification.

By opening both a personal and a business Southwest credit card and timing your spending to earn bonuses at the start of a year, you can potentially enjoy nearly two years of buy-one-get-one flights. This is because the standard Companion Pass is valid for the year it’s earned and the entire following year.

Southwest cardholders receive a 10,000-point bonus at the start of the year (for existing members) or within 30 days of opening a new account (for newcomers). To make the most of your Companion Pass, consider timing your credit card application so that your welcome bonus is credited after the new year begins, if possible.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a new Southwest card, there are some excellent current welcome offers available to help you earn a substantial amount of bonus points. Southwest occasionally combines bonus points with a Companion Pass for new cardholders throughout the year; however, if your priority is to enhance your Rapid Rewards account with bonus points, this is a great opportunity to apply.