Earn a 75,000-Point Bonus and Secure a 2-Year Companion Pass with Southwest Latest Credit Card Promotions

Unlock multiple free flights on Southwest Airlines with substantial welcome bonuses. While other airlines are reducing their elite benefits, Southwest Airlines is taking a different approach in 2024. Initially, the carrier unveiled a series of positive changes to its frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, set to take effect next year. Now, Southwest has enhanced the introductory offers on all three of its consumer credit cards to 75,000 points, making it easier to score numerous free flights and the opportunity to earn Companion Pass status for 2024 and 2025.

Southwest's credit cards stand out in the industry, offering various travel benefits alongside low annual fees. These cards always feature an introductory bonus to sweeten the sign-up deal, typically around the 50,000-point mark. However, the introductory offers on all three of Southwest's personal cards have now been increased by 50 percent to 75,000 points.

You can earn this bonus with 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 card membership. When combined with the current welcome offers on Southwest's two business credit cards, this enhanced bonus could land you a valuable Southwest Companion Pass for the entire year of 2024 and 2025. Yes, you read that correctly!

Here are all the reasons why you should consider Southwest's credit cards at this time.

Obtaining a Southwest credit card for the points and benefits

Southwest Rapid Rewards points are roughly equivalent to a dollar value, with each point worth between 1.3 to 1.45 cents when redeemed for the airline's most affordable "Wanna Get Away" fares. This means that a 75,000 Rapid Rewards points bonus is valued at approximately $975 to $1,087 when used for Southwest flights.

In addition to the attractive introductory offers, Southwest's cards come with great travel benefits, making them a worthwhile long-term investment. Depending on the card, these benefits may include bonus points for eligible spending in specific categories, passes for complimentary EarlyBird Check-In (which automatically improves your boarding number in the Southwest queue) or Upgraded Boarding (moving up to boarding position A1-A15, 24 hours before the flight) on Southwest flights, and annual fee credits for Rapid Rewards points transfers.

What's inside each card?

Southwest's consumer cards offer competitive earning structures. All three of them provide two points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases. Furthermore, all three cards currently offer the same welcome offer: You'll earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening your account.

However, the three cards differ in terms of earnings on Southwest Airlines purchases and promised annual benefits, including account anniversary bonuses. Below are the three personal cards with essential information and benefits.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

With the lowest annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is still a points powerhouse.

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

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is a higher-end version with a higher annual fee and better benefits.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card after spending $3,000 within the first three months of opening your account. Annual fee: $99 Earnings on purchases: Same as the Plus card, except three points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases. Primary Southwest benefits: Get a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every 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 premium personal credit card Southwest offers, with additional benefits to match.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 Rapid Rewards points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card after spending $3,000 within the first three months of opening your account. Annual fee: $149 Earnings on purchases: Same as the Southwest Premier card. Primary Southwest benefits: Receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every calendar year, four Upgraded Boardings per year, an account anniversary bonus of 7,500 points annually, an annual $75 Southwest travel credit, and 25 percent back on Southwest in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi.

To simplify, we've compiled the most important information for each card in a chart:

Plus Credit Card Premier Credit Card Priority Credit Card Annual fee $69 $99 $149 Bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening 75,000 points 75,000 points 75,000 points Points earned every year on cardholder anniversary 3,000 points 6,000 points 7,500 points Points earned per $1 spent on Southwest purchases 2x 3x 3x Points earned per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases 2x 2x 2x Points earned per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshares 2x 2x 2x Points earned per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming 2x 2x 2x Points earned per $1 spent on everyday purchases 1x 1x 1x 25 percent back on in-flight purchases ✔ ✔ ✔ 10,000 boost of Companion Pass qualifying points each year ✔ ✔ ✔ 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins per year ✔ ✔ 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available ✔ $75 Southwest annual travel credit ✔

Focus on your business and secure a Companion Pass

Fortunately, the Southwest credit card story doesn't end with these three personal credit cards. Southwest also offers two business credit cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, each featuring significant introductory bonuses. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card rewards you with 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card offers 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Whether you run a large enterprise or a small sole proprietorship, you can apply for a business credit card. You don't need a business checking account, and you can use your Social Security number as your business ID. While you can't have two different personal cards or two different business cards, you can apply for both a personal and a business card and aim to obtain a Companion Pass.

The timing of the high introductory offers on personal cards and the current bonus on Southwest's business cards makes the Companion Pass, essentially a free ticket for a travel companion on every flight, easily attainable. The combined welcome offers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card amount to 135,000 points, which is typically required to earn Southwest's Companion Pass for the entirety of 2024 and 2025. Thanks to an annual Companion Pass boost as a cardholder, you only need 125,000 points to secure the Pass.

Apply for both cards in late October, but wait to meet the spending thresholds in January 2024. Since welcome bonuses count toward the Companion Pass, with the correct timing, you'll enjoy buy-one-get-one-free flights for the entire years of 2024 and 2025.

Which card to choose and why apply now

With the current welcome bonuses on personal cards offering 75,000 points, it's an excellent time to apply for Southwest credit cards. With the current bonuses, any personal card is a smart choice. The choice between them depends on how much you value the earning structure and primary benefits in comparison to the annual fee. While the higher-end Priority card is appealing for its numerous perks and credits, for most individuals, it makes sense to start with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. This card has a modest $69 annual fee but still provides over a thousand dollars in value on Southwest flights with the bonus points.

If you want to maximize your new Southwest miles, consider working towards Southwest's coveted Companion Pass. The timing of the high introductory offers on personal cards and the current bonus on Southwest's business cards places this pass, essentially providing a free ticket for a travel companion on every flight, well within reach. The combined welcome offers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card add up to 135,000 points, securing Southwest's Companion Pass for the entire years of 2024 and 2025. Just think, that's two years of flight buy-one-get-one-free offers, all for a combined annual fee of just $168.